disaster planning News

Viewpoint: Disaster Reduction Requires Advance Plan and Discussion about Lessons Learned

The need for comprehensive disaster risk management has never been more evident. In recent years, major storms, earthquakes, wildfires, tornados, derechos, and other destructive large-scale events have been significant. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there has already …

Tokyo Government Offers Book With Unique Tips on Surviving a Disaster

You’re faced with a big disaster, like an earthquake, plus a small one – say, running out of diapers. What can you do? Cut open a plastic supermarket bag, place a small towel on it and wrap your baby up. …

FEMA Offers Tips, Plan for Disaster Response to El Nino

Winter in the Southwest and West Coast could be fraught with flooding, evacuations, power outages and landslides because of El Nino, and federal officials Wednesday released their emergency plan and gave tips on how to be prepared. Officials with the …

Survey: 75% of Small Businesses Don’t Have a Disaster Plan

While 52 percent of small business owners say it would take at least three months to recover from a disaster more than 75 percent don’t have a disaster plan, according to a newly released survey by Ohio-based Nationwide Insurance. Nationwide …

Louisiana to Include Sinkholes in Disaster Planning

Sinkholes will be recognized as threats in the state’s updated hazard mitigation plan. The Daily Comet reports the state is working on a five-year update to its hazard mitigation plan, which must be in place to receive federal money after …

University of Louisiana Gets Grant for Disaster Database

A research center at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette has received a $1.3 million grant to build a tool to educate property owners about the potential for flooding or other risks in their area. The Advocate reported the university’s National Incident …

State Cites Illinois Town for Flawed Emergency Plan

When a tornado siren went off during a meeting at Belleville’s City Hall and nobody took charge to move people to safety, it got the attention of Alderwoman Lillian Schneider. Her formal complaint to the Illinois Department of Labor led …

Illinois Provides Disaster-Planning Money

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is sending $62 million to 55 communities around the state for use on disaster plans. The department announced Thursday the money is part of the IKE Disaster Recovery Planning Program. The program …

Survey Highlights Need for Evacuation Plans and Disaster Preparedness

Americans and emergency management experts agree on one thing. Over the past few years, the U.S. has experienced a record number of natural disasters that have destroyed neighborhoods and cost lives. In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency made 99 …