Disaster Preparedness


Four New Incident Command Simulation Courses Released

The U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy has announced four Incident Command System (ICS) Simulation Series courses are now available through NFA Online.

DOL Grants Texas $7.4 Million for Hurricane Dolly Assistance

The funds will be used in part for projects that provide retraining services for those who cannot return to work and humanitarian assistance for disaster victims, including work on the homes of individuals eligible for the federally funded weatherization program.

Cooper Lighting Recalls Emergency and Exit Lights

Cooper Lighting Inc., of Peachtree City, Ga., in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling approximately 9,000 of its "Sure-Lite" and "AtLite" Exit and Emergency Lights. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

OSHA Renews Alliance with American Red Cross

OSHA announced yesterday that it has renewed its alliance with the American Red Cross and will continue to strive to improve employee awareness of safety and health issues in the workplace. The alliance focuses particularly on emergency preparedness, first aid, and disease prevention.

NIOSH Awards $9 Million to SBU 9/11 First Responder Program

Stony Brook University Medical Center's Long Island World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program was awarded $9 million for its medical programs until mid-July 2009.

CDC Updates Guidance for Bloodborne Pathogens After Mass-Casualty Events

CDC Updates Guidance for Bloodborne Pathogens After Mass-Casualty Events

The recommendations pertain only to bombings and other mass-casualty events, the agency noted, and not to "routine" emergency responses.

New Online Safety Social Network Seeks Traction

Workplace safety professionals who want the ability to interact with each other more than just once a year at trade shows and conferences now have a new resource.

Following August Storms, ASSE Offers Business Resumption Tips

To help communities and businesses affected by the recent storms resume operations safely, the American Society of Safety Engineers is offering the following business resumption safety tips.



ASIS to Develop Business Continuity, Risk Assessment Standards

ASIS International has announced its intent to initiate development of two American National Standards: a business continuity management standard and a risk assessment standard.

FEMA Releases Interim Government Preparedness Guide

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced the release of the interim "Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101: Producing Emergency Plans: A Guide for All-Hazard Operations Planning for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments."

New Storm Shelter, Safe Room Construction Standard Released

A new set of construction guidelines will increase public safety for people evacuated to storm shelters and those who use safe rooms in their homes during hurricanes and tornados.

Building Managers’ Group Battling Code Change Proposals

At the Sept. 17-23 International Code Council Final Action Hearing in Minneapolis, BOMA hopes to derail the required extra exit stairway for tallest buildings and an emergency responder radio coverage proposal.

Web Resource to Help People with Disabilities Prepare for Hurricane Season

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston professor Lex Frieden recently announced the launch of a Web site to help people with disabilities prepare for the 2008 hurricane season in the event they have to leave their homes or shelter in place.

Gulf Coast's Post-Katrina Health System Recovering

As the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, the health care system in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast shows encouraging signs of recovery, reports a special August issue of The American Journal of the Medical Sciences.

DHS Selects Accreditation Board to Support Preparedness Certification Program

The Department of Homeland Security announced today that it has signed an agreement with the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board to establish and oversee the development and implementation of the accreditation and certification requirements for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program.

DHS Releases National Emergency Communications Plan

By 2013, 75 percent of all jurisdictions should be able to demonstrate response-level emergency communications within three hours of a significant event, it states.

'ShakeOut' Organizers Plan Largest Earthquake Drill in U.S. History

"Yesterday's earthquake was a wake-up call--a reminder to us to make the important changes we need to survive the inevitable," said the U.S. Geological Survey's Dr. Lucy Jones, on Wednesday.

FEMA to Californians: Be Cautious, Expect Aftershocks

While there have been no reports of major damage or injuries in Los Angeles, San Diego, or Tijuana, some buildings in downtown Los Angeles reportedly swayed for several seconds, prompting some precautionary evacuations.

FCC's Pandemic Summit to Highlight Emergency Communications

The Sept. 16 event in Washington, D.C., will focus on how communications furthers response by health care, responders, government, and industry.

Drinking Water, Medical Care Top Hurricane Katrina Survivors' Concerns

Three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the Gulf Coast, a new survey conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health Project on the Public and Biological Security shows that one-third (34 percent) of those affected by the storm report they are very prepared if a major hurricane were to strike their communities in the next six months.

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