Federal Agency Contingency Plans
It’s 2 a.m., do you know where your federal agency is? With the entire government gone AWOL, this White House list of contingency plans is useful in determining exactly what will and won’t be getting done during the shutdown. For those who don’t have the inclination to read through a long list of government documents, however, this handy synopsis by CNN might be more palatable.
Children and Disasters Bulletin
When disasters strike, children are among the most vulnerable of victims, but it can be difficult to identify and incorporate specific needs of children in emergency planning. Now the National Center for Disaster Preparedness has created a publication to help disaster professionals keep abreast of the latest trends and research on what kids need in disaster. The Children and Disasters Bulletin will provide a monthly dose of science, news, tools, and resources that can help make sure a community’s smallest members can deal with weather hazards as well as everyone else.
Twitter Emergency Alerts
Emergency agencies that use Twitter can get important information to their followers faster than ever thanks to new Twitter emergency alerts. The social media outlet has made it possible for public institutions and NGOs to send emergency alerts as text messages and push notifications to user phones in times of crisis. Users must sign up to receive alerts from your account, so enroll your agency today. Just want to get alerts? Twitter users can sign up to receive the alerts on their setup page.
The Preparedness Brief
Local health departments looking to partner with federal programs and increase resilience will appreciate this new journal from the National Association of City and County Health Officials. The monthly update taps into NACCHO’s preparedness portfolio to provide tips on recovering from disasters, partnering with local health groups and volunteers, and developing tools for advocacy and communication.
Northeast Climate Change Adaptation
As evidenced by Hurricane Sandy, extreme coastal events can be the death knell for unprepared municipalities. Luckily for those in the Gulf of Maine, though, this website has a wealth of innovative ideas and case studies that can be used to help cities weather the watery effects of a warming climate. Read about how coastal towns have created adaptation strategies, refer your favorite reporter to the “journalist’s room,” or snuggle up with a series of reports on coastal resilience. The site is part of the StormSmart Coast Network, so you know it’s watertight.