Disaster Preparedness


Tornadoes Hit Central and Southern Illinois

A series of tornadoes tore through the Midwest on Sunday, primarily damaging areas of central and southern Illinois.

September 2013 flooding damaged a bridge in Longmont, Colo., shown in this photo by Patsy Lynch/FEMA.

Big Flood Insurance Battle Heating Up

The insurers and environmental groups in SmarterSafer.org are fighting to keep the Biggert-Waters Act of 2012 implementation on track as many members of Congress push for delays.

BP

BP Opens Houston Supercomputer Center

Calling it the world's largest supercomputer for commercial research, the energy giant said HP and Intel helped it increase its computing power to more than 2.2 petaflops, almost doubling its capability this year.

NYC's Mayor Seeks Delay in Flood Insurance Reforms

Mayor Bloomberg released a RAND Corporation study Oct. 25 that showed new FEMA flood maps will put thousands of additional properties in the floodplain, causing owners’ insurance premiums to soar.

Several environmental groups oppose Detroit Edison

NRC, FEMA Set Meeting on Emergency Planning Revisions

The Oct. 29-31 meeting in Rockville, Md., will review proposed guidance related to emergency classification, notifying the public about an emergency, and protective actions.

Global Earthquake Drill a Success

Millions participated in the "Great ShakeOut," a worldwide earthquake drill. Participants included nonprofits, government agencies, and workers.

Winning Designs Planned for Three Hard-Hit Cities

The "Designing Recovery" contest winners were created to withstand natural disasters – hurricanes and tornadoes – specifically in New York, New Orleans, and Joplin, Mo.

NASA, DHS Partner on Technology to Locate Disaster Victims

The FINDER technology is a portable radar device to detect the heartbeats and breathing patterns of people trapped in rubble.



Nearly Half of FEMA's Community Preparedness Awards Go to Texas

Texas-Based organizations win 3 of the 7 Individual and Community Preparedness Awards.

This photo taken at Normandy Beach, N.J., on Sept. 4, 2013, 10 months after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, shows reconstruction work at an apartment complex that was severely damaged. (Photo by Rosanna Arias/FEMA)

Technology Will Work During Emergencies, FEMA Reminds

Most people assume power will be out and they won't be able to reach loved ones or access crucial information, but that's not always true, Region III's administrator notes.

FEMA Touts National Preparedness Month

Every September since 2004, the agency's Ready Campaign has urged Americans to be ready for all types of emergencies and disasters.

Ten New Members Join FEMA's National Advisory Council

The newcomers include Dennis J. Storemski, director of the City of Houston's Mayor's Office of Public Safety & Homeland Security, and Bart Johnson, executive director of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

NYC Moves Ahead with Seaport City Planning

A levee protecting 1.5 miles of Lower Manhattan from the kind of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is central to the plan.

National Weather Service Using Upgraded Supercomputers

Dr. Louis W. Uccellini, NWS director, calls the more than doubled computing capacity "a game-changer for the entire public and private weather industry."

MSHA Ready to Award Brookwood-Sago Grants

The agency is making $550,000 available for educational and training programs to prevent unsafe conditions in and around mines.

Ailing FDNY EMS Dispatch System Back Online

Thirty years old, it's scheduled to be replaced in 2015.

FEMA to Discuss Building Elevations in New Orleans

The July 29 meeting in the city's Broadmoor neighborhood will present "The History of Building Elevation in New Orleans," which came about through the agency's work to ensure elevations comply with historic preservation laws.

New ISO Standard Assists Developing Countries with Seismic Assessments

It was developed specifically for countries that do not have national building codes already in place. The standard will help in assessing the safety of buildings before and after earthquakes.

Residents of New Orleans walked through Hurricane Katrina

The Importance of Cloud-Based Document Management Solutions for Disaster Preparation

A robust risk management policy and a multi-layer disaster recovery plan are essential to safe operations in disaster-prone areas.

Boxer Asks Nation's Governors to Control Ammonium Nitrate Hazards

The California senator chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, which held an oversight hearing last month about the West, Texas, explosion and two other blasts.

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