Public Sector
FEMA Denies Aid To Texas For Blast
June 12, 2013 4:53 pm | by RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI,Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Federal Emergency Management Agency is refusing to provide additional money to help rebuild the small Texas town where a deadly fertilizer plant explosion leveled numerous homes and a school, and killed 15 people. The decision likely means less money to pay for public repairs to roads, sewer lines, pipes and a school that was destroyed.
UN Reports $2.5 Trillion In Disaster Losses Since 2000
May 20, 2013 11:31 am | by EDITH M. LEDERER,Associated Press | News | 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."
Courts Office Hacked; Judicial Data Security Reviewed
May 10, 2013 9:46 am | by RACHEL LA CORTE,Associated press | News | CommentsThe Washington state Administrative Office of the Courts was hacked sometime between last fall and February, and up to 160,000 Social Security numbers and 1 million driver's license numbers may have been accessed during the data breach of its public website, officials said. The broader information "just happened to be on a server in an area that was accessed," said Veronica Diseth, director of the courts' information services division.
Boston Bombers Planned To Attack Times Square
April 26, 2013 12:01 pm | by COLLEEN LONG & JENNIFER PELTZ,Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Boston Marathon bombers were headed for New York's Times Square to blow up the rest of their explosives, authorities said Thursday, in what they portrayed as a chilling, spur-of-the-moment scheme that fell apart when the brothers realized the car they had hijacked was low on gas.
Bid To Arm Teachers Stalls
April 8, 2013 2:41 pm | by DAVID A. LIEB,Associated Press | News | CommentsWhen a gunman killed 26 children and staff at a Connecticut grade school, Missouri Rep. Mike Kelley quickly proposed legislation that would allow trained teachers to carry hidden guns into the classroom as a "line of defense" against attackers.
Audit Says Katrina Aid May Have Been Misspent
April 8, 2013 10:30 am | by ANDREW MIGA, Associated Press | News | CommentsFederal investigators said Wednesday that as much as $700 million in federal aid intended to help some 24,000 Louisiana families elevate their homes after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 may have been misspent. "The state did not have conclusive evidence" that $698.5 million in disaster recovery aid was used to elevate homes, the auditors wrote.
We Can Work It Out
May 5, 2011 5:17 am | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsLate last year, a group of experts from the United States and Britain came together to give a presentation at the London Workshop of the Multinational Community Resilience Policy Group. The title of the presentation was “Policy Challenges in Supporting Community Resilience.”
Social Capital
February 21, 2011 5:40 am | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsIf you want a thorough explanation of what social capital is (and especially if you are a participant in its creation), then I strongly suggest you read Robert Putnum’s book Bowling Alone.
You Say Tomato, I Say Toe-mah-toe
December 31, 2010 7:00 pm | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsPublic-sector emergency managers and private-sector business continuity professionals – we’re more alike than you might think.
Have You Met Your Local Emergency Manager?
October 31, 2010 8:00 pm | Articles | CommentsAll businesses in the United States operate within the jurisdiction of a municipality, county or state. Almost every municipality and county has an emergency management agency (EMA), and every state does. And that means they all have emergency managers too. Who is yours? Have you met this person? Do you know what she does, or what he can do for you? These are some basic questions that you must answer to fully understand where your organization fits in the emergency management plans for your jurisdiction, or whether you fit in to their plans at all.
Oil? Toil!
June 30, 2010 8:00 pm | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsWho would have thought a spurting oil rig more than 100 miles from shore could cause a business crisis? Makes you want to start planning for Apophis striking the earth … or an alien invasion. Businesses may have a boatload of continuity plans, but if beach tourism and water activities are what you do, and you didn’t plan for this, what do you do now?
Spotlight on SAFER Santa Rosa
December 31, 2009 7:00 pm | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsCommunity organizations active in disasters (COADs) are public/private partnerships that can be found nationwide. Many COADs will attempt to define themselves by developing a name that fits the mission or jurisdictional boundaries of that particular COAD. For example, SAFER stands for "support alliance for emergency readiness", and its logo reflects the jurisdiction as I'm sure you can see.
Critical Incident Protocol
October 31, 2009 8:00 pm | by Brit Weber CIP-Community Facilitation Program Director | Articles | CommentsDisasters, accidents, terrorism, and critical incidents can occur at any time in any community. In today’s economic times, local law enforcement, fire, EMS, health, and emergency management leaders are weighing their ability to provide services within budget restrictions. One way of bringing together community preparedness expertise and resources is to establish a government and business coalition.
Grassroots Public/Private
August 31, 2009 8:00 pm | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsCitizen Corps programs work to bring government and private citizens together to tackle local preparedness and response challenges. If you aren't already involved, find out why you should be.
Public-Private Partnerships: COADs, VOADs, and More
June 30, 2009 8:00 pm | by Daniel Hahn | Articles | CommentsThe whats, whys, and hows of initiating and organizing a partnership that benefits the private sector and the community at large. Plus, a list of organizations to help get you started on your own public-private partnership plans.
