FEMA has announced that beginning on or after October 1, 2009, it will provide only a single paper Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) to each community when their maps are updated, and will convert all other distribution of maps and FIS reports for digital delivery. FEMA will continue to provide […]
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DHS Releases New Compendium of Disaster Assistance Programs
Posted on May 18, 2009
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security just released The Compendium of Disaster Assistance Programs (PDF 1.5 MB), and it’s arguably as imposing impressive as it sounds. While the 43-pages of tabular data on “federal programs providing assistance (financial and non-financial) to individuals, states, localities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses impacted by a disaster” may not be […]
National Hurricane Center Urged to Update Warning System
Posted on May 8, 2009
The Miami Herald reports that U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL) told forecasters and federal, state, local and Red Cross emergency managers on Friday that the nation’s emergency warning system needs to join the wired and increasingly wireless 21st century. During a House subcommittee hearing on national and state hurricane preparedness held in Miami, he argued […]
LEGAL: Liability of Government for Flood Damages Tested
Posted on April 21, 2009
As flood-damages grow, so do lawsuits alleging that certain individuals, organizations, or developments are responsible for exacerbating problems (see the legal section of this site). Yesterday a civil suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began in a federal court in New Orleans. The plaintiff contends that the 76-mile-long Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO: […]
TECHNOLOGY: Twitter for Evacuation?
Posted on April 20, 2009
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced a new plan to use micro-blogging phenomenon Twitter to help provide evacuees with the latest news on major evacuation routes. MDOT will update the feeds so anybody can access them via computer, cell-phone or other electronic devices. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with the the easy-to-use but […]
California Creates On-Line Climate Change Impact Maps
Posted on April 20, 2009
As part of a project funded by the California Energy Commission, California Department of Transportation, and the Ocean Protection Council, the Pacific Institute has created a web-accessible map of the California coast showing areas and infrastructure vulnerable to flooding and erosion under current ocean conditions, and those at risk with a 1.4m rise in sea […]
EDUCATION: FEMA Launches New School Program
Posted on April 16, 2009
FEMA has released a new online educational program designed to provide elementary and middle school teachers with resources to integrate natural disaster preparedness information into their curriculum. Ready Classroom (www.discoveryeducation.com/readyclassroom) provides teachers with activities, lesson plans and multimedia tools to teach students how natural disasters develop and how to build their own emergency preparedness plans […]
2009 Hurricane Season Predictions
Posted on April 9, 2009
Expect a near-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, with 12 named storms, including six hurricanes, two of which will be intense (winds reaching Category 3 or greater strength), according to the latest forecast by Colorado State University meteorologists Philip Klotzbach and Bill Gray. They estimate that the probability of a major hurricane landfall in the […]
Funding: NRCS Recovery Act
Posted on April 2, 2009
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that they will use $340 million from the Federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund three floodplain-related programs: Floodplain Easements ($145,000,000) NRCS may purchase easements to help restore, protect, maintain, and enhance the functions of the floodplain; conserve natural values including fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, […]
Florida to Weaken Price-Controls on Property Insurance Rates?
Posted on April 1, 2009
In an attempt to reduce its enormous financial exposure, the Florida Legislature is considering retreating from price controls on property insurance rates that the state promulgated two years ago. According to an article in the Ocala Star-Banner, the new legislation could: Allow the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to raise its rates annually by as […]