RESIN: Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure Networks
The intricate networks that carry our water, electricity, vehicles, and numerous other necessities allow communities to prosper in new ways. Unfortunately, they also allow for failure on an unprecedented scale. The RESIN project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will examine how this growing interdependence—physical, social, economic, and environmental—can be more resilient during crises and ultimately better managed. With a wealth of news and resources from an interdisciplinary team of researchers—including Natural Hazards Center Director Kathleen Tierney—you’ll want to check out all the RESIN site has to offer.
Communities on the Horizon
If the glossy sheen of the 2010 Gulf Coast oil spill is on your horizon, then the Communities website is for you. This easy-to-use site is full of resources for those in the sight line of the ugly spill and anyone else who's interested. With sections devoted to news reports, volunteer opportunities, maps, hotline numbers, and even jobs, Communities on the Horizon will help you keep on top of the encroaching contamination.
Price of Peril: Homeland Security Spending by State
Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has thrown billions at stemming a potential tide of terrorist threats. While some of these Homeland Security Grants have outfitted first responders to face attack, others have bought equipment that’s unused and unwanted. Visitors to the Center for Investigative Reporting’s interactive map, cobbled together from Freedom of Information Act requests, will find a full analysis of grants by state, along with documents provided to CIR by each state.
GAO Report: U.S. Tsunami Preparedness
U.S. Tsunami preparedness has improved in the past six years, but there's still plenty of room for growth, according to a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. The GAO examined several expanded National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tsunami preparedness programs. While the GAO found that NOAA’s strategic planning could be more complete, the agency has made headway in expanding the reach of it’s programs and improved how it funds mitigation projects. Practical application of research results and assessing barriers to program participation are among the areas that still need work, according to the report.
FEMA For Your Phone
When you need disaster assistance information on the fly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has you covered. FEMA has just introduced a new mobile website designed especially for those times you need to use your phone to log in. Check out the site at the link above, or listen to Craig Fugate tell you why it’s great in this YouTube video.