Disaster Preparedness


DARPA Hails Smartphone-Sized Radiation Detectors

The networked devices were developed as part of the SIGMA program, which began in 2014 with the goal of creating a cost-effective, continuous radiation-monitoring network that can cover a large city or region.

Preparedness Month Begins with Floridians on Alert

"Disasters don't always occur when we are together with our family and friends, and so it is important to take a few minutes now to plan what you will do in the event you are separated," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said.

Everyone is Out of the Building. Now What?

Be prepared to communicate. This is an element of response that is often overlooked and needs to be continually practiced.

Fifth Grader Wins Ohio's 2016 Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest

The winner of the annual statewide contest was recognized Aug. 6 at the Ohio State Fair for her tornado safety poster.

CSB Makes Emergency Planning/Response a Most Wanted Improvement

The board did this because the members concluded that poor emergency planning is a recurring finding in its investigations to date.

NRC Agrees Modifications to South Carolina Nuclear Plant Adequate If Dam Fails

NRC said the flood modifications included building new or enhanced flood walls and other features, as well as moving some power lines and equipment to locations less prone to flooding. Duke Energy informed the agency two months ago that those modifications were complete, and a subsequent inspection caused NRC to determine that the company has satisfied the commitments in the 2010 confirmatory action letter.

The monsoon season is Arizona

Arizonans Urged to Be Ready for Monsoon Season

The season is Arizona's most active weather period, beginning in mid-June and ending in late September. Residents and visitors can expect extreme heat, severe thunderstorms, high winds, lightning, and dust storms, and possibly flash floods and wildfires.

PG&E Testing Earthquake Early Warning Technologies

The San Francisco-based utility's exercise on June 8 involved more than 400 employees in San Francisco, Oakland, Concord, San Ramon and in other locations and a simulated earthquake lasting 10-25 seconds that devastated much of the Bay Area. The drill consisted of two parts to practice the immediate response after the earthquake and restoration and customer support efforts 72 hours later.



The National Hurricane Center will use predictions of storm surges and storm surge mapping during the 2016 U.S. hurricane season.

Senate Hearing to Examine Hurricane Forecasting

The hearing will examine two new tools the National Hurricane Center is using for the 2016 hurricane season: storm surge watches and warnings and maps of potential storm surges.

Coast Guard Releases 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics Report

Boating fatalities were the third-lowest on record.

California Governor Mandates Long-Term Water Conservation

His executive order establishes longer-term water conservation measures, including permanent monthly water use reporting, new permanent water use standards in California communities, and bans on wasteful practices such as hosing off sidewalks, driveways, and other hardscapes.

Texas Senator Files Bill to Speed Study of Texas Coastal Protection

The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reported a companion bill will be filed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Weber, R.-Texas, soon.

Companies often send out an all-staff email if bad weather is predicted, but would employees really know what to do in a serious emergency, be it related to nature or man-made?

Providing Psychological First Aid Following a Disaster

PFA doesn't rely on skills of a professional mental health provider, but rather, engages the skills that most of us already have.

Texas DPS Hosts Annual Emergency Management Conference

"As a large and geographically diverse state, Texas faces the full gamut of public safety threats, including severe weather and natural or manmade disasters, and preparedness is our number-one defense against such emergencies," said Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw.

FEMA Releases Final Flood Insurance Rate Maps for New Orleans

The new maps remove many properties from Special Flood Hazard Areas, Mayor Mitch Landrieu said.

Devastating Floods Hit Louisiana, Mississippi Hard

In Louisiana, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness reported March 13 that initial reports indicated more than 4,958 homes in the state had been damaged by flooding.

OIG Audit Finds Deficiencies in DOT IT Systems' Resilience

The DOT agencies have not all effectively tested their plans to ensure they will work in the event of a disruption, the audit found, with OIG reporting that the Federal Aviation Administration did not conduct annual contingency plan testing for certain high-impact systems as required.

Realistic Tsunami Stars in Norwegian Disaster Movie

"The Wave," which imagines a tsunami devastating a small town that really is vulnerable to such a disaster, opened March 4 in the United States.

Get Ready for Spring Storms, NOAA Advises

The agency's Weather-Ready Nation website has preparedness information for whatever the season may throw at you, from heat to floods and lightning.

Magnitude 9.0 Pacific Northwest Quake Drill Set for June 7-10

The "Cascadia Rising" drill involving federal, state, and local agencies takes place June 7-10 and uses a scenario of a major earthquake on the Cascadian Subduction Zone.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence

Webinars