Water Supply Stress Index
While world leaders are talking climate in Durban, you can use the Water Supply Stress Index to project what climate change might look like in your own backyard. This Eastern Forest Threat Assessment Center tool allows users to enter variables like temperature, precipitation, land cover, and water use in order to simulate future water and carbon sequestration. Although the site warns that the projections are no crystal ball, the tool can help planners, researchers, and anyone else get a clearer view of climate change in their neighborhood.
Rad Resilient City
What more rad than living through a nuclear threat? Pretty much nothing, which is why anyone responsible for preparing their community for nuclear fallout should check out this site. Rad Resilient City is a detailed checklist meant to help cities prepare for a nuclear incident. Whether it’s raising awareness, communicating issues, assessing shelters, or planning for evacuation, Rad Resilient City has resources and an easy to follow action plan that can be implemented at your own pace.
Flu Near You
It might seem like everyone you know is down with the flu, but what’s the real diagnosis in your area? Flu Near You is crowdsourcing the misery so you’ll know what you're up against. Visitors can register to provide flu updates, or just browse trends, see flu activity, and find health resources close to home. And if you really want to stay on top of the bugs in your burg, you can sign up for e-mail or RSS feed outbreak alerts.
Digital Coast Needs Assessment Survey
A recent American Planning Association survey of coastal community planners identified a resounding need for more GIS data, especially that related to elevation and sea level rise. More training on available GIS tools and assistance communicating with policy makers were also high on the list of coastal planners' needs. Full survey details are available online, including capacity, communication, and needs broken down by region. A project history, key findings, and overview are also included.
Ocean Today
Watching Ocean Today videos on your laptop might be slightly less stimulating than the full-effects version available at the Smithsonian, but for most of us it’s a lot more convenient and just as edifying. Along with a wealth of general ocean info, visitors will find hazard-specific offerings on topics such as tsunami tracking, sea level rise, and hurricane survival. And the two- to three-minute films are updated often, so you can get educated on recent events like the Japanese tsunami and the Gulf Coast dead zone.
Catastrophic Risk Finance and Insurance Information Portal
If you’re looking for a little light reading on the world of financing catastrophic risk, this new resource from the Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center is for you. With over 200 resources searchable by author, title, subject, or date, you’ll find what you’re looking for in no time. The collection of risk databases, journals, papers, and legal info works both ways, so if you have something to contribute, don’t be shy.