What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, March 24

Mount Spurr Potential Eruption – Alaska: Shallow earthquakes, steaming and gas emissions from the Mount Spurr volcano led Anchorage to increase its alert level to 2. Scientists say an eruption is imminent but can’t determine the exact timing. Officials are preparing by creating plans and supply depots across the city. Mount Spurr, an 11,000-foot-tall volcano, is about 80 miles from Anchorage. When it last erupted in 1992, it covered the city in ash.

Tornado Outbreak – Multiple States: Between March 14 and March 16, at least 112 tornadoes touched down across 13 states, with 44 classified as strong (EF-2 or higher) tornadoes (more are being examined). The multi-day tornado outbreak was part of a massive storm system that began in California with an atmospheric river on March 13 and spread across the Midwest, Southern Plains, Southwest and Southeast U.S. and the East Coast.

Three tornadoes received a rating of EF-4, which is considered “violent,” leading to at least five deaths and several injuries. Two of the three EF-4s were nighttime tornadoes in Arkansas. It was the first time since March 1, 1997 that two EF-4s occurred on the same day in the state.

The other EF-4 twister tracked 65 miles from Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana to Covington County, Mississippi, killing five people. It was just one of several long-track tornadoes indicative of a major outbreak. More than 1,000 miles of tornadoes occurred in just four states: Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri.

Wildfires – Several States

• 344 Fire – Florida: After shutting down the road between the Florida Keys and Miami, the 344 Fire is now officially under control. Firefighters said on March 23 that the fire was 65% contained after burning 26,000 acres over 10 days.
• Oklahoma: At least 10 fires continue to burn in Oklahoma in the aftermath of the weather system that swept much of the south from March 13-16. All are in small communities, mostly rural. The biggest fire by acreage is the 33 Road Fire, which is 60% contained after burning 33,410 acres. The state says a total of 537 homes have been damaged or destroyed. In Stillwater, 200 homes, including 96 houses in the town and 74 campers at nearby Lake Carl Blackwell, were burned.
• Texas: Despite numerous wildfires, Texas continues to experience limited structural damage. Near Houston, a prescribed burn on March 19 led to a wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest, which closed schools and led to a short evacuation of about 900 households. The Pauline Road Fire burned 2,421 acres but was 85% contained as of March 23.

Complex Humanitarian Emergencies – Syria

When a country experiences political conflict, climate shocks, famine, economic challenges or other conditions, it may suffer a complex humanitarian emergency (CHE). CDP maintains complete profiles on several CHEs. Every week, we highlight these and other CHEs hoping to build awareness and philanthropic response.

Syria faces one of the world’s largest displacement and refugee crises, which continues to be exacerbated by ongoing fighting after 14 years of violence. However, as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) points out, “Following the rapid power shift in Damascus on 8 December 2024, Syria is undergoing a pivotal transformation, reshaping its humanitarian, political, and recovery landscape. This change has intensified population movements, exacerbating the complexities of displacement and return patterns.”

Since 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have left their homes due to conflict. Of these, close to six million fled to other countries, including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, and 6.99 million were internally displaced, including 2.11 million in camp settings.

On March 6, sectarian fighting in Syria between armed groups loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and those loyal to the new interim government dissolved into communal violence, resulting in the deaths of 745 Alawite civilians. Alawites now account for a surge in migration even while other Syrians try to return home after migrating to escape political upheaval.

The Alawite minority community has been targeted for attack because it is believed they are still loyal to Assad, the dictator ousted in December 2024, who is Alawite. At least 10,000 Alawites have fled to neighboring Lebanon, stoking fears of conflict across the border.

One in five displaced Syrians is living in makeshift shelters and tents in harsh living conditions. In the port city of Latakia, where much of the violence erupted, Alawite civilians have been abducted, and houses have had no water or electricity for several days. Lebanon has pleaded for more humanitarian aid to support the overwhelming number of Alawite refugees as resources are already stretched thin from an ongoing economic crisis. The movement of people inside Syria presents unique challenges since 90% of Syrians rely on humanitarian aid because years of conflict have devastated infrastructure and the economy. The UN and humanitarian partners are appealing for $1.2 billion to aid Syrians most in need.

Up to one million Syrians plan to return home within the next year, sparking concerns of a new humanitarian crisis. In February 2025, IOM tracked returnees, both to and within Syria. Since November 2024, over 720,000 internally displaced people returned within Syria and almost 260,000 returned from abroad. The majority have been homeowners, indicating greater proximity to wealth and resources. Within the IDP returnee population, most have returned to their place of origin, but newer returnees from abroad are more likely to end up in a place other than their place of origin.