It's not a pretty scenario, but a FEMA report released last year suggests that most of D.C. would survive a nuclear explosion. more ›

In recent years, the District has been hit by record snowfalls, torrential rains, a hurricane and an earthquake. Fortunately, none of them have been particularly catastrophic -- but that doesn't mean that District officials aren't constantly preparing for one that could be. more ›

Never has a bowl of peanuts been so portentous. Director Steven Soderbergh lets his camera linger over a bowl of airport bar peanuts after a coughing, sniffling Gwyneth Paltrow leaves the frame, and the message is clear: the next person to reach into that bowl is getting more than a snack. more ›

This morning, the Virginia Task Force 1 rescue team from Fairfax County returned from helping with USAID efforts in Japan. Despite a week's worth of searching, earthquake damage and weather conditions proved too extensive to find survivors around the seaport city of Ofunato. Previously we linked to this video, released by the Department of Defense, of the search and rescuers laboring through rubble and helping with recovery efforts. According to WTOP, over $145,000 worth of gear, supplies and vehicles was left behind for the continuing effort. The Embassy of Japan has setup a website with information of agencies collecting donations. more ›

By some miracle, so far no fatalities have been reported in the wake of three tornadoes and other violent storm activity in southeastern Virginia, with the worst of the damage having happened in Suffolk, Va., just under 200 miles from Washington. Dozens of photos of the destruction of homes and businesses are being posted online. The Suffolk News-Harold has a photo gallery up, and photos on Flickr tagged with suffolk offer plenty more. more ›