06-27-2021 By Earth.com staff writer More than half of the structures in the United States are threatened by natural disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and wildfires, according to a new study published by the American Geophysical Union. While this dangerous trend is strongly influenced by clinate change and rising temperatures, the experts have found that risky development and land use changes are also to blame. Study lead author Virginia Iglesias is a research scientist in the University of Colorado Boulder Earth Lab. “We know that climate change is increasing the risk of damage from some natural hazards,” said Iglesias. “But are losses also increasing because of the way that we are developing our cities, our towns?”