A Scholar Looks at History to Chart a New Narrative on Natural Disasters

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For a country besieged by natural disasters on multiple fronts, it's often difficult to see past the all-consuming trauma of the moment. In fact, some officials think it's inappropriate to comment on anything outside the suffering of the present day.

But one historian argues that human beings have always perceived natural disaster through a uniquely historical framework. Scott Knowles is a professor and the interim head of the Department of History at Drexel University, and he’s the author of "The Disaster Experts: Mastering Risk in Modern America," and he argues that it's only by studying history that we'll be able to mitigate the damage of future catastrophic events. 

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.