NHERI Five Year Science Plan
With so many natural hazards challenges to study and address, the Network Coordination Office of the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure has just released its five-year plan to help determine and guide research that lessens earthquake, storm, and wind damage. The plan is a collaboration tool for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers that outlines NHERI resources and can aid in preparing National Science Foundation proposals.
Seattle Times Tsunami Video
When the Seattle Times learned that a local elementary school would have just 20 minutes to reach high ground after a tsunami, they sent a top high school athlete to run the course. He made it just in time, but watching this video makes it clear that kindergarteners wouldn’t. It’s an impactful look at what the difference between having a plan, and having a workable plan can be.
Safer, Stronger, Smarter: A Guide to Improving School Natural Hazard Safety
Speaking of school safety plans, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently released this guide to school administrators, emergency managers, and teachers. The guide includes an overview of assessments and planning requirements, ways to make buildings safer, examples of good practices for various hazards, and advice on applying the Whole Community approach to school planning.
Facing the Nation’s Largest Active Disaster: Liquid Asset Poverty
For 63 percent of Americans, finding $500 to make it through an emergency is an impossibility. That fact came as a surprise to many when put forward during the Larry A. Larson lecture at the most recent Natural Hazards Workshop. This blog post by Hagerty Consulting’s Brock Long—now administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency—digs deeper into the unfortunate phenomenon and makes suggestions for how preparedness professionals can move beyond suggestions of stockpiling food to a more truly resilient community.
HAZUS Earthquake Losses for the United States
Building losses caused by earthquakes could cost the United States up to $6.1 billion annually, according to this recent update of a 2008 report. The report, which was released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey and National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, looks at earthquake hazards and exposure using the HAZUS loss estimation tool and estimates economic losses by region across the nation.
HazNet Climate Issue
If you haven’t yet read the latest edition of the HazNet, you’ll find a wealth of interesting viewpoints from our Canadian counterparts. This issue examines climate with a collection of interviews, policy considerations, practice concerns, and research perspectives. Those interested in how our neighbors are working to build resilience to climate extremes should keep an eye out for the Fall issue, as well, when the conversation will continue.