USA: How density makes us safer during natural disasters

"Unlike the blatant shortcomings of sprawl, the resilience of cities is often under-appreciated. New York after September 11 and several California cities that were struck by earthquakes or fires in the latter half of the twentieth century are prominent examples of American cities that, with the right mix of private and public-sector coordination, have grown stronger and more sustainable than before. In time, and with the right mix of pro-growth policies, dense American cities can withstand the effects climate change, and even more important, they can address those causes—surging energy use and irresponsible land-use patterns—that make climate change such an insidious threat," writes Vishaan Chakrabarti of the Center for Urban Real Estate at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation on the pages of The Atlantic Cities.