Fire Adapted Communities
More frequent and costlier wildfires are putting the agencies that prepare for and fight them in the hot seat lately, but ultimately, it’s the communities threatened by fire that feel the burn. Now there’s a resource that lets everyone from community members to land managers to civic leaders play a part in keeping fires at bay. Fire Adapted Communities is an education initiative aimed at informing all the players on the best way to protect their community based on their region, their role, and what matters most to them. With resources like ready-to-go public service announcements, grant opportunities, and preparedness tips, adaptation is made easy.
The Handbook for EMS Medical Directors
This recently released handbook is a comprehensive guide that touches on everything from becoming an EMS Medical Director to becoming the best EMS Medical Director you can be. Compiled by the U.S. Fire Administration and the DHS Office of Health Affairs, the handbook explains different agency design and staffing models, types of response services, best ways to deploy resources, liability issues, education needs, and fiscal considerations.
Stormstruck
Chances are you have at least a few silly-but-fun apps taking up space on your iPad or iPhone. Now you can download one that’s serious but fun. Stormstruck is an addictive little game that lets players ratchet up home preparedness before they loose a storm of their own making. Unlike real life, users have the chance to see just what mitigation efforts worked and what didn’t in storms of varying degree. It’s free, so download it (in acknowledgement of hurricane season, maybe) today.
Ocean Community
Anyone with a coast (or other marine resources) under their care will appreciate the planning and decision making tools available at Ocean Community, the National Ocean Council’s Data.gov information portal. The newly launched site is filled with federal data sets related to oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes, as well as tools to help visualize, map, and create scenarios from the information. Check out the many tools and technologies available and be sure to stop by the forums—Data.gov sites are participatory by design, so the more you use it the more useful it will become.
Surging Seas Sea Level Rise Analysis
While we’re on the topic of coastal concerns, data can be great, but sometimes you just want the bottom line. Enter the Surging Seas sea level rise analysis created by Climate Central. With a click of the mouse, visitors can see risks posed by sea level rise at a state, county, or community level. A few more clicks will lead users to plans and resources, more on how maps were compiled, and yes, even the data. Users are also able to share their thoughts and experiences regarding sea-level rise in their area.