Wells

Infectious disease expert Dr. Christopher Ohl describes Asheville's aging water infrastructure and backup system, both of which were submerged following Helene. He outlines the many uses of water — hydration, sanitation, cooling for hospitals and schools — disease risks following major floods, and health-related impacts of major flooding on individuals and health providers.

Abandoned gas and oil wells dot many states. These orphaned sites need to be capped and cleaned up, but doing so is difficult when the responsible companies have gone bankrupt.

The bust of the coal-bed methane industry has left Wyoming responsible for the exorbitant cost of plugging thousands of wells. The price tag for dealing with deep oil and gas wells may be even higher.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has pinpointed the tools with the greatest impact, from affordable tablets for schoolkids to an electrical grid in a box.