Asteroid Day
While most of the current awareness of asteroid danger comes from improbable Hollywood plots, a new movement is looking to change all that. The first Asteroid Day will be held on June 30 (marking the day in 1908 when huge asteroid exploded over the Tunguska river in Siberia) and aims to educate people on asteroids and ways to protect the planet. Visit the website for a wealth of information on asteroid detection and tracking, strike prevention, and other planetary defense tactics.
Archivist Pocket Response Plan
Local, state, and government archivist can now carry preparedness in their pocket thanks to this sturdy, credit-card sized response plan. The pocket plan is designed to be customized to hold all the information needed by archivists should their organization encounter a disaster. With elements such as an emergency communications directory and an emergency response checklist, this tiny guide will be a big addition to agency disaster plans.
FEMA Careers
Anyone with aspirations to join the Federal Emergency Management Agency team will appreciate this new website dedicated to helping navigate the federal employment process. Visitors can search for jobs, find career resources, learn about temporary and volunteer opportunities, and track their applications.
Drought Impacts to Critical Infrastructure
This recent report by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis examines the impacts of current drought conditions on critical infrastructure systems such as water and wastewater, energy, food, and agriculture. The report outlines the effects now visible on systems and planning and policy measures to address them.
Bracing for the Storm: How to Reform U.S. Disaster Policy to Prepare for a Riskier Future
This SmarterSafer report takes a hard look at how current disasters in the United States are handled and provides recommendations for creating a more sustainable model. Among its suggestions are encouraging more mitigation and planning, fortifying infrastructure, reforming flood insurance, ensuring equity in disaster preparedness and response, and improving coordination among federal, state, and local response agencies.