WHO: 22 Deaths Worldwide From Coronavirus
May 24, 2013 10:54 am | by JOHN HEILPRIN,Associated Press | CommentsWorld Health Organization officials said Thursday that their probe into the deadly new coronavirus that has now claimed 22 lives is being delayed because of a dispute over the ownership rights to a sample — a claim disputed by the researcher at the center of the issue.
Hurricane Center: Beware Of The Storm Surge
May 24, 2013 10:45 am | by JENNIFER KAY,Associated Press | CommentsDuring a hurricane, storm surge is one of the greatest threats to life and land, yet many people don't understand the dire warnings from forecasters to get out of its way. So this season, they hope to offer easy-to-understand, color-coded maps and change the way they talk to the public.
Ardent Sentry Preps Northcom, First Responders For Disasters
May 24, 2013 10:37 am | by American Forces Press Service | CommentsA perfect storm of simulated disasters is slowly unfolding across the United States, as thousands of military and Defense Department members join their interagency partners in fine-tuning their disaster-response processes just ahead of the upcoming hurricane and wildfire seasons.
Flooding Forces Evacuation Of 1,300 In ND Town
May 24, 2013 10:30 am | by BLAKE NICHOLSON & DAVE KOLPACK, Associated Press | CommentsA dam that threatened to give way and flood a North Dakota town was holding back the water on Wednesday, though the 1,300 residents of Cavalier were still being told to stay away from their homes. The evacuations included two or three patients at a hospital and 63 people in a nursing home and assisted living center, county Emergency Manager Andrew Kirking said.
Emergency Management Drill Riles Keystone Pipeline Opponents
May 24, 2013 10:08 am | by The Associated Press | CommentsFall River County Emergency Manager Frank Maynard said an outside group of people in South Dakota with a stake in emergency management issues devised the scenario and he did not know what was being used as the source of the threat for Tuesday's drill until after it was carried out. He declined to identify any members of the group or where they are based, saying, "I'm not throwing anyone under the bus."
Japan To Host World Conference On Disaster Risk Reduction
May 24, 2013 9:46 am | by The United Nations | CommentsJapan will host the world conference slated to be held next year at which countries will adopt the successor to the current global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts, it was announced at a United Nation forum on the issue that wrapped up in Geneva.
Text Of President Obama's Speech On Terrorism
May 23, 2013 2:57 pm | by The Associated Press | CommentsPresident Barack Obama's speech on the fight against terrorism at the National Defense University, as provided by the White House:"It's an honor to return to the National Defense University. Here, at Fort McNair, Americans have served in uniform since 1791— standing guard in the early days of the Republic, and contemplating the future of warfare here in the 21st century ..."
Hurricane Forecast: Another Busy Atlantic Season
May 23, 2013 2:55 pm | by SETH BORENSTEIN,AP Science Writer | CommentsGet ready for another busy hurricane season, maybe unusually wild, federal forecasters say. Their prediction Thursday calls for 13 to 20 named Atlantic storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes.
UN Global Disasters Forum Opens With Condolences For Oklahoma City Tornado Victims
May 22, 2013 9:25 am | by The United Nations | Comments“Our thoughts and hearts go to the people of Oklahoma and we hope that help will reach those in need soon,” Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told participants at the opening of the 4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which is on the theme: “Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow.”
UN: Private Sector Must Engage In Disaster Risk Reduction To Avoid Economic Losses
May 22, 2013 9:23 am | by The United Nations | Comments“The beginnings of changing attitudes in the private sector now need to transform into a more systematic approach to disaster risk management in partnership with the public sector to make the world a safer place,” Ms. Wahlström said, adding that this will be a major focus of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Geneva next week.
Help Oklahoma Tornado Victims By Donating To The Red Cross
May 21, 2013 11:19 am | CommentsPeople who wish to make a donation can support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States. You can donate today by visiting www.redcross.org.
Tornadoes Slam Plains, Midwest
May 20, 2013 12:07 pm | by SEAN MURPHY,Associated Press | CommentsForecasters had been warning of bad weather since Wednesday and on Sunday said conditions had ripened for powerful tornadoes. Wall-to-wall broadcasts of storm information spread the word Sunday, leaving Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth grateful.
Smartphones Increasingly Targeted By Hackers
May 20, 2013 11:48 am | by TONY WINTON,Associated Press | CommentsResearch involved 20 computer servers that were used to send out more than 100,000 "phishing" emails. About 2,200 of the 3,000 responses the scam artists received came from smartphones. Doug Johnson, vice president of risk management for the American Bankers Association, said he expects those numbers to get worse.
UN Reports $2.5 Trillion In Disaster Losses Since 2000
May 20, 2013 11:31 am | by EDITH M. LEDERER,Associated Press | CommentsThe U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction warned in the 246-page report that economic losses from floods, earthquakes and drought will continue to escalate unless businesses take action to reduce their exposure to disaster risks. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the report saying the review of disaster losses in 56 countries clearly demonstrates that "economic losses from disasters are out of control."
Swine Flu Found In Elephant Seals Off California
May 20, 2013 11:27 am | CommentsResearchers have detected swine flu in elephant seals off the Central California coast, saying it was the first time a human pandemic strain has been found in marine mammals. The researchers raised the possibility that seabirds may have passed on the virus.



