When 911 fails, message a neighbor

Edition: US - Today's top story: Why social media apps should be in your disaster kit [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 9 September 2017 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note With a boost from Florida Governor Rick Scott, an app called GasBuddy is trending in Florida as residents evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma. Apps like GasBuddy (which helps users find service stations where fuel is available) provide real-time information that’s critical when disaster looms. Daniel Aldrich and Courtney Page have found that growing numbers of people also are using apps to [draw support from their social networks]( during and after storms. As residents of Florida prepare for Irma and potentially Jose as well, victims of Harvey in Texas and Louisiana are beginning to rebuild their lives. Given the intense media coverage of these and other storms, it’s easy to imagine catastrophic disasters are occurring much more frequently these days. But is that really true? Ohio State economist Jay Zagorsky crunches the data on “billion dollar disasters” going back to 1980 and [comes to a surprising conclusion](. Jennifer Weeks Editor, Environment and Energy Top story Shutterstock.com [Why social media apps should be in your disaster kit]( Daniel P. Aldrich, Northeastern University; Courtney M. Page, Northeastern University Social media apps are becoming as important as water, food and batteries when communities face natural disasters. One key function is helping people connect with neighbors and support each other. Economy + Business [What victims of Hurricane Harvey can learn from Katrina as rebuilding begins]( Justin Gallagher, Case Western Reserve University Researchers examined credit data on the victims of Hurricane Katrina to understand how the disaster affected their personal finances, revealing important lessons for those hurt by Harvey. [Apple and 7-Eleven show why Trump's threat to sever China trade over Korea rings hollow]( Greg Wright, University of California, Merced The president said he's considering ending trade with any country that does business with North Korea. Here's why that will never happen. [Are catastrophic disasters striking more often?]( Jay L. Zagorsky, The Ohio State University Saturated media coverage of hurricanes like Harvey and Irma can make it seem like disasters happen all the time. Is the frequency of billion-dollar disasters really rising? [Why giving cash, not clothing, is usually best after disasters]( Julia Brooks, Harvard University If you want to do the greatest good, send money. Politics + Society ['Is truth overrated?' What the experts say]( Daniel Klyn, University of Michigan; Christopher Beem, Pennsylvania State University; Maryanne Reed, West Virginia University; Troy Campbell, University of Oregon We gave four scholars from different disciplines a chance to offer their opinions on this important question. [How Muslim Americans are fighting Islamophobia and securing their civil rights]( Emily Cury, Northeastern University New survey data show that Muslim Americans are the most negatively perceived religious group in the US and are often victims of Islamophobic attacks. How are they responding? By getting organized. [Post-DACA: How Congress can replace Obama's program and make it even better]( Wayne Cornelius, University of California, San Diego Congress has an opportunity to build on DACA's success. An immigration expert explains how. [Why more grandparents are raising their grandchildren]( Nancy P. Kropf, Georgia State University; Susan Kelley, Georgia State University Millions of American children are being cared for by grandparents. To honor Grandparents Day we ask: What are the social and health impacts of this often unexpected turn of events? Science + Technology [The 'internet of things' is sending us back to the Middle Ages]( Joshua A.T. Fairfield, Washington and Lee University The companies that make our digital devices think – and act – like they still own them, even after we've bought them. Are we becoming digital serfs? [Massive sunspots and huge solar flares mean unexpected space weather for Earth]( Alexa Halford, Dartmouth College; Brett Carter, RMIT University; Julie Currie, RMIT University At a time in the sun's cycle when space weather experts expect less solar activity, our star is going bonkers with solar flares and coronal mass ejections. What effects will Earth feel? Arts + Culture [How fashion adapted to climate change – in the Little Ice Age]( Lane Eagles, University of Washington While today we sweat, early modern Europeans froze. Furs to the rescue. [In defense of HBO's counterfactual 'Confederate']( Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, Fairfield University Those calling it slavery fan fiction are ignoring the long, nuanced tradition of articles and films that wonder what would have happened if the South had won. Environment + Energy [In cities and on ranches, planning is key to protect animals during disasters]( Ragan Adams, Colorado State University During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, some people died rather than evacuating without their pets. Now emergency managers are required to include animals in their response plans. [How a tiny portion of the world's oceans could help meet global seafood demand]( Halley Froehlich, University of California, Santa Barbara; Rebecca Gentry, University of California, Santa Barbara A new study shows that sustainable fish farming in deep ocean waters could produce as much seafood as all of the world's wild fisheries, in a space the size of Lake Michigan or Africa's Lake Victoria. Health + Medicine [Why can't more American women access medications for preterm birth?]( Jodi Frances Abbott, Boston University There are two common medications that prevent preterm birth – and poor black women often can't access either one. [Don't blame food stamps for obesity in America]( Tasia Smith, University of Oregon The notion that obesity mostly afflicts the poor is a misconception. Ethics + Religion [Are natural disasters part of God's retribution?]( Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross The question of God's anger is intimately connected to the problem of human suffering. To understand the idea of divine retribution, one needs to know the meaning of suffering. [Explaining the Muslim pilgrimage of hajj]( Ken Chitwood, University of Florida Each year, Muslims from all over the world go on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, known as hajj. A scholar explains its spiritual significance. Today’s quote [Today people may see global warming as a modern phenomenon, but fashion has a long history of responding to worldwide climate change.]( [How fashion adapted to climate change – in the Little Ice Age]( Lane Eagles University of Washington [Lane Eagles] [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 625 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA