Disaster Preparedness


Storms Cause 2Q Loss for Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual Group was profitable in the first quarter but posted a $170 million 2Q loss due to "unprecedented" storms and tornadoes.

Conference Asks, 'Are We Prepared for the Next 9/11?'

NIOSH's Dr. John Howard and OSHA's Dr. David Michaels are among the speakers at the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health's Sept. 16 conference in New York City.

Eyes on Spent Fuel Pools at Reactor Safety Public Meeting

The July 28 meeting in Rockville, Md., to discuss recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Japan Task Force gives Public Citizen and others the chance to say they don't go far enough.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue ALS Team Triumphs

They took first place July 8 at the 2011 Bill Shearer International ALS/BLS Competition.

Travelers CEO: Spring Storm Losses Exceeded Katrina's

The Travelers Companies Inc., one of the largest property casualty companies in the United States, posted $1.09 billion in after-tax catastrophe losses in second-quarter results released July 21.

Rochester, MN Ranked Highest for Resilience

The Resilience Capacity Index ranks 361 metropolitan areas for their capacity to recover from stresses -- recession, natural disaster, etc. -- relatively unscathed.

AIHA Offers Mold Resources for Homeowners

Water is not the only danger of flooding. The mold that may occur after water has receded can be far more hazardous to the homeowner and family.

SBA, American Red Cross Launch Disaster Preparedness Outreach Initiative

The core of the SBA-Red Cross agreement is a plan to work with SBA District Offices and its resource partners to promote and, along with local Red Cross chapters, sponsor preparedness training workshops.



The Value of Precision Notification

Next-generation ENS eases compliance with timely notification.

A house in Snow Hill, N.C. lay in ruins after a tornado April 16. (Photo: David Fine/FEMA)

After the Tornadoes

The safety training you do today has a very long lifespan.

Federal, State Agencies Plan to Rebuild Public Facilities Smarter

The presidential disaster declaration of May 9, 2011, opened the door for federal Public Assistance (PA) in declared counties including state and federal cost-sharing for mitigation funding in all disaster-affected counties.

Climate Information Crucial to Help Reduce Risk, Limit Disaster Damage: Report

The report details ways in which disaster risk managers can improve their decision making by integrating climate information into their operations.

Britain’s government has initiated plans to build eight new nuclear power plants.

Britain Announces Sites for Eight New Nuclear Power Plants

UK Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations Mike Weightman filed an interim report last month, telling the British government there is no need to curtail operations at the country’s nuclear power plants in light of the Japanese crisis at the Fukushima plant.

Fire risk assessors would be expected to understand fire suppression systems, fire behavior, and how building occupants react to fires.

New Criteria Proposed for UK Fire Risk Assessors

The UK Fire Industry Association's Fire Risk Assessment Council wants comments on its draft "Competency Criteria for Fire Risk Assessors" document by Sept. 7.

Egyptian ASSE Chapter Copes Well with Tumult

The experience offers crisis management guidance for safety professionals elsewhere, Ahmed S. Azzam said during Safety 2011.

First Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test Planned

On Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. Eastern time, the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will take place, lasting up to three and a half minutes.

"The lack of information about components of a pipeline system can put emergency responders at greater risk and reduce the effectiveness of the response," NTSB said June 8.

NTSB's PG&E Inquiry Sparks Three Recommendations

The board said its investigation of the September 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion has revealed emergency responders nationwide may not have the information they need to react effectively to a leak or rupture.

NFPA May Break Out Integrated Testing Standard

A document being discussed June 14-15 at the annual conference is NFPA 3, Recommended Practice for Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems. Integrated testing may become a separate document.

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Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season Predicted

The six-month 2011 hurricane season begins June 1. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has predicted three to six major hurricanes will form during it.

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