Hurricane Master: Rule the Storm
If the recent string of hurricanes and tropical storms has left you feeling a bit ineffectual, then this Duracell-sponsored timewaster should restore some of your omnipotent. A quick visit to the site allows users to create their own animated hurricane with complete control over wind velocity, rain, and even the amount airborne debris. When you’re ready to return to a world of storms that are out of your control, you can check out tips for staying safe during real hurricanes.
Alternative Medical Treatment Sites
The Florida Department of Health’s Beta Fish Exercise—which tested plans for the alternative medical treatment sites (AMTS) that would be used in mass casualty situations to care for less critical patients—went so swimmingly that their partners at Florida State University’s Center for Disaster Risk Policy created a website so others could access information and tools used in the effort. Click on the fish for details of the exercises held in three Florida counties, as well as scenarios, victim and evaluator briefings, and even a certificate generator for those who participate in the exercise.
Pandemic Influenza Storybook
Personal narratives are being recognized more and more often as an effective tool in spreading awareness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have capitalized on that dynamic by collecting the sagas of those affected by past flu epidemics. The eloquently written tales are arranged in categories ranging from courage to loss to resourcefulness and include biographies of leaders during epidemics and links to modern-day resources. While the information is plentiful, it’s not “a closed book,” a CDC statement said—visitors to the site can submit their own family stories for pandemic posterity.
GAO Report on Voluntary Organizations
A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the nation’s top volunteer disaster response organizations would likely be unable to meet expected needs for services in the event of “worst-case, large-scale disaster.” The report is based on interviews with officials from the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the Southern Baptist Convention, Catholic Charities USA, and the United Way, as well as officials from large metro areas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The report recommends FEMA clarify the role of the Red Cross under the 2008 National Response Framework, incorporate other organizations in its assessments, and detail disaster preparedness grant funding.
Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Plan 2008-2013
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2008-2013. With an emphasis on risk management-based resource allocation, the plan lists five objectives ranging from protect the nation from “dangerous people” to strengthening preparedness and response capabilities. The plan is a “living document” and will be revised to address changing requirements, according to a DHS statement. Citizens can sign up to be notified of changes.
EIIP Forum Stafford Act Discussion
The talk-provoking Stafford Act provided fodder for the most recent Emergency Information Infrastructure Project (EIIP) virtual forum—this time questioning whether the act was robust enough to handle “catastrophic disasters” or if it should be modified to address extremely large-scale events. The transcript of the discussion, led by Drew Sachs of James Lee Witt Associates, is one of many that can be found on the forum website. Search the database or take part in an upcoming discussion, including a talk on crisis informatics with Natural Hazards Center researcher Jeannette Sutton on October 8.