National Health Security Preparedness Index
The nation now has a new tool to gauge its readiness to handle health emergencies during disaster. The National Health Security Preparedness Index, looks at a wide variety of state-level data to a snap shot of preparedness professionals can use to guide policy and improvements. The effort, which was guided by the Association for State and Territorial Health Officials along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be ongoing and collaborative, so take a look at the successes and challenges of 2013 and provide your feedback for the years ahead.


The National Academies of Sciences Year in Review
When it comes to keeping the nation informed on the latest scientific research, it’s hard to beat the many publications of the National Academies of Sciences. Last year was no exception. Now readers can find all the highlights of 2013 in one handy place. With reports on topics such as climate change, transportation safety, immunizations, land use, and levees, there’s sure to be a compelling report you want to read… or read again.


Risk-Based Adaptation Frameworks for Climate Change Planning in the Transportation Sector
Extreme weather and other climate-related issues can have crippling effects on transportation infrastructure. So how do we keep our show on the road in the face of climate change? That’s the topic tackled in this recent report published by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. The report synthesizes several shared features of commonly used risk-based approaches, including motivation for climate change adaption planning, principles used to develop frameworks, framework focus, and barriers to adaptation.


Disaster Reporter
If you already have the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Smartphone app, you’ll love the added functionality of Disaster Reporter, which allows those on the ground in a disaster to share photographs and report on conditions around them (and if you don’t have the app, download it easy access to a wealth of useful resources). Disaster Reporter contributions are transferred to a searchable map that can help disaster victims get a clearer picture of what’s going on around them.


President’s Climate Action Plan Tracker
Sure, you’ve probably meant to keep tabs on the progress of the President’ Climate Action Plan, but really, when was the last time you checked up? No worries, now that the Columbia Law School Center for Climate Change Law has implemented a convenient website to help you keep track. Just drop in to get the latest on the plan’s goals and what’s happened so far to achieve them.