Global Cities Get Help Preparing for Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather

The drought shows signs of lifting in the East -- but the forecast shows more trouble ahead as the drought is expected to intensify in the West and Central Plains this summer, according to NOAA.

In other news Friday, rescuers continued to search for survivors of the fertilizer explosion in the small town of West, Texas, where 60 people were still unaccounted for. Also, the Boy Scouts of America has proposed ending the organization's ban on gay scouts while continuing to ban gay adult leaders.

In other news Thursday, Mississippi resident Paul Kevin Curtis has been charged with sending letters tainted with ricin to President Barack Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker. Curtis claims to be innocent. Also, upper Midwest states were hit with intense flooding following heavy rainfall. A sinkhole in Chicago swallowed three cars.

The explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant has left scores injured and killed a still unconfirmed number of people. Although the cause of the explosion is yet unknown, authorities say there is no evidence of foul play. Ray Suarez talks with KERA Public Radio's BJ Austin for more on the investigation and the search for survivors.

A fire and resulting explosion at a fertilizer plant has ravaged the small Texas town of West. The massive blast, which occurred around 8 p.m. local time, left surrounding streets in ruins. Ray Suarez reports on the continuing search for survivors and the mounting toll of dead and wounded.

In other news Monday, three people died and dozens more were injured as a result of a massive pileup on a Southwest Virginia interstate. Police say a dense fog bank triggered 17 separate crashes along I-77 Sunday. Also, the Kenyan Supreme Court confirmed Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the country's recent presidential contest.

In 2011 Japan was hit with one of the strongest earthquakes in recorded history, prompting a devastating tsunami and a nuclear disaster. How are residents coping with the aftermath two years later? Ray Suarez interviews Yuki Tatsumi, senior analyst on U.S.-Japanese relations at the Stimson Center.

Special correspondent Emily Taguchi reports from Minamisoma, Japan, a town aching for a comeback after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown. When the whole region lost its faith in nuclear power, some residents looked to the possibility of rebuilding industry by utilizing renewable energy sources.

Poet and writer Gretel Ehrlich shares her reflections on the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, where she traveled to document the physical and emotional aftermath. Best known for her nature and travel writing, Ehrlich has authored 13 books, including three of poetry.

Gretel Ehrlich reads more from her book, "Facing the Wave: A Journey in the Wake of the Tsunami."