Tuesday, December 30, 2008

DHS Accomplishments – 2008

Department of Homeland Security. Fact Sheet: DHS End-of-Year Accomplishments. Washington, DC: DHS, Dec 18, 2008. At: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1229609413187.shtm

DHS ANNOUNCES REVISED NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Release Date: December 18, 2008 Release Number: HQ-08-259

"WASHINGTON--The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released a revised National Incident Management System (NIMS)—the national standard for incident management. NIMS establishes standardized incident management processes, protocols, and procedures that all federal, state, tribal and local responders will use to coordinate and conduct response actions.

NIMS expands on the original version released in March 2004 by clarifying existing NIMS concepts, better incorporating preparedness and planning and improving the overall readability of the document. The revised document also differentiates between the purposes of NIMS and the National Response Framework (NRF) by identifying how NIMS provides the action template for the management of incidents, while the NRF provides the policy structure and mechanisms for national-level policy for incident management."

Click on the above title for more information.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Small Boat Attacks & the DHS

Click on the title above for a great article on how the DHS has thought about small boat attacks in the past as part of proactive planning. They do not need to take the skeptics comments to seriously. Isn't is interesting how in this business you just can't (and will not) satisfy everyone.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Do You Realize We Have Spent Billions On Bioterrorism Preparedness Since 9/11?

Click on the title above for more amazing statistics on what we have spent and for what level of preparedness. Maybe you should sit down first!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Why Do Terrorists Love To Strike Around Elections?

Click on the title for an interesting article on this ugly phenomenon.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Focus on Fire Safety: Prevent Home Fires!

Did you know that in 2007 approximately 78% of all structure fires occurred in residences? Do you regularly check for home fire hazards? The theme for Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11) is It’s Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires! A special emphasis is being placed on leading causes of home fires – cooking, heating, electrical, smoking materials, and candles. For more information, click here...

Lowering the U.S. Flag

Did you know that the law requires the U.S. flag be lowered in tribute on only a few days each year? Quite appropriately, one of these days is the observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush approved legislation requiring the U.S. flag to be lowered to half-staff on all Federal buildings to memorialize fallen firefighters. Public Law 107-51 requires this action to occur annually in conjunction with observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Hazmat Exposure Leaves 2 Dead, Prompts Lockdown of Hospitals

Sunday, August 31, 2008

ST. LOUIS — Officials say two people are dead after being exposed to a hazardous material in Missouri, MyFOXSTL.com reported Click on the link in the title to find out more information...

Homeland Security study outdated upon its release

By Associated PressFriday, September 26, 2008

The Homeland Security Department paid $450,000 for an independent organization to make recommendations on a classified terrorism program, but the review — which took two years to complete — is practically outdated as it’s released today. Click on the link in the title to read more...

Monday, September 29, 2008

Radioactive material found in Kalamazoo County drums

Thu, Sep 25, 2008 Grand Haven Tribune

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, MI (AP) — Cleanup work is continuing near two Kalamazoo-area homes where about 500 barrels of toxic materials have been found. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials said radioactive substances are in three of the barrels. The chemicals found in Kalamazoo County's Texas Township are flammable and explosive. They include benzene and carbon tetrachloride. Some mercury has been cleaned from a barn floor.

EPA officials said they have found no evidence of groundwater contamination or risk to area homes. The agency started the cleanup on Sept. 10 following a pole-barn fire in August that led to the discovery of the barrels. How the drums got there remains unknown.

Copper Thefts Threaten U.S. Critical Infrastructures

According to recent unclassified law enforcement reporting, copper thefts are threatening U.S. critical infrastructures by targeting electrical substations, cellular towers, telephone land lines, railroads, water wells, construction sites, and vacant homes. “Copper thefts from these targets have increased since 2006, and they are currently disrupting the flow of electricity, telecommunications, transportation, water supply, heating, and security and emergency services, and present a risk to both public safety and national security.”

Click here for more information:
http://www.csoonline.com/article/221225/Red_Gold_Rush_The_Copper_Theft_Epidemic?contentId=221225&slug=&

http://wwwr.westfieldgrp.com/jsp/business/business_losscontrol_monthlytopic2.jsp

Thursday, September 18, 2008

WELL.....Are You Safe To Drink?

United States Public Health Service Helps Test and Treat Contaminated Wells (Click on this link for more information)
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500


Madison, Wis. -- A team of environmental health specialists deployed by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) is now assisting the state of Wisconsin with flood-related public-health issues, disaster recovery officials announced today.

News About Wisconsin Flooding in 2008

Disaster Aid Tops $93 Million (Click on this link for more information)
Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500


MADISON, Wis. -- The final days to apply for assistance for damages caused by the June and July storms and flooding are here.  The deadline is Monday, Sept. 15, at midnight.  Due to the high volume of registrations being received from other disasters throughout the country, Wisconsin applicants are urged to call 1-800-621-3362 or (TTY) 1-800-462-7585 for those with speech or hearing impairments from 6 to 8 a.m. and 9 to midnight.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

$63 Million...Chump Change When It Comes To Our Preparedness

DHS Awards $63 Million in Emergency Preparedness Grants

Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45733 on September 11, 2008.

Release Date: September 11, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-198

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today approximately $63 million in grant awards to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities under the new Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) Grant Program and the new Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP).

More than $14.5 million in fiscal year (FY) 2008 EOC grant awards will help address identified deficiencies and needs in order to support flexible, sustainable, secure and interoperable EOCs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state, local and tribal levels are essential to a comprehensive national emergency management system, ensuring continuity of both operations and government in major disasters, whether natural or man-made.

Click here for more information.

When You Consider It...Isn't the World Just a Piece of Work? From Something Ugly We Can Create Something Beautiful

FEMA's Citizen Corps Program Forms New Partnership With mygooddeed.org To Promote Community Preparedness
Release Date: September 11, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-199

Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45736 on Sept. 11, 2008.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a signing ceremony, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a new partnership between the Citizen Corps Program and MyGoodDeed.org to help promote volunteer service and encourage citizens to participate in disaster preparedness and response and recovery. The two organizations will also work together to help promote 9/11 as a day of charitable service.

The Statement of Affiliation was co-signed in Washington D.C. on Sept. 9 by FEMA's National Preparedness Directorate's Community Preparedness Division Director Brock D. Bierman and co-founders of MyGoodDeed.org David Paine and Jay Winuk.

Citizen Corps is FEMA's nationwide grass-roots effort which encourages community and government leaders to come together to involve community members and organizations in all-hazards emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Click here to get more information

Are Post 9/11 Objectives Being Met Here In America?

Are you aware that there have been terrorists arrested in North America since September 11, 2001?

Here are several links to websites that provide details on anti-terrorism activity in North America.

Post 9/11 Terrorist Arrests

Comprehensive List of Terrorists and Groups Identified Under Executive Order 13224

Monday, September 08, 2008

National Flood Insurance - 1989 To 2008

Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45682 on Sept. 8, 2008.

Release Date: September 6, 2008
Release Number: 1768-149

MADISON, Wis. -- The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) had its roots in the 1800s as the country recognized the federal government must play a leading role in controlling and responding to floods.

Two previous chronological articles traced the evolution of a National Flood Insurance Program from its origins in a Supreme Court ruling of 1824 through major flooding events and other disasters that prompted the government's responses and shaped the program.

The following chronology illustrates a shifting of flood management emphasis to mitigating disaster damage, promoting flood insurance participation and improving floodplain mapping:

1989 - Hurricane Hugo wreaks havoc in the Carolinas, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Structures that had been built to meet the NFIP's requirements for floodplain management performed well.

1989 - FEMA revises the definition of "substantial improvement" and, for the first time, defines "substantial damage" - terms that affect floodplain management and reimbursement of disaster losses.

Substantial improvement represents any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement of a building where the cost of the improvement equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the building before the start of construction.
Substantial damage reflects damage of any origin sustained by a building when the cost of restoring the building to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value of the building before the damage occurred.
1990 - NFIP establishes the Community Rating System, which discounts flood insurance premiums in communities that voluntarily adopt measures that reduce flood losses or that increase the number of flood insurance policies.

1992 - Hurricane Andrew devastates south Florida.

1993 - The Great Midwest Flood of the upper Mississippi and lower Missouri River basins results in presidential disaster declarations for 505 counties in nine states and damage as high as $16 billion. Only about one in ten affected structures are covered by flood insurance.

1993 - Extensive flooding causes NFIP losses of more than twice the historic level and forces the program to borrow $100 million from the U.S. Treasury. This is the first time such borrowing has been necessary since 1984. The funds are repaid in fiscal year 1994.

1993 - Congress passes the "Volkmer Amendment" to the 1988 Stafford Act.

Increases federal support for relocating flood-prone properties.
Increases hazard-mitigation funds available after a disaster to 15 percent of all of FEMA's appropriated federal disaster funds, up from the previous 10 percent.
The federal share of approved mitigation projects increases from 50 percent to 75 percent.
Clarifies conditions for the purchase of damaged homes and businesses.
Dictates that purchased structures must be removed and the land dedicated in perpetuity for a use that is compatible with open-space, recreational or wetlands-management practices.
1994 - The National Flood Insurance Reform Act includes the most comprehensive changes to NFIP since 1973.

Strengthens requirement that flood insurance be purchased by recipients of federal disaster assistance.
Requires lenders to purchase flood insurance where required if the borrower fails to do so.
Imposes penalties for failure to require flood insurance or to notify borrowers when flood insurance is required.
Establishes notice requirements for properties located in flood hazard areas.
1995 - Congress passes the National Flood Insurance Reform Act.

Applicants for Individual and Family Grants who receive federal disaster assistance are required to purchase and maintain flood insurance on the flooded property until they move to another address.
In response to the act, FEMA increases the waiting period to 30 days from 5 days before flood insurance coverage becomes effective.
1997 - Increased Cost of Compliance coverage is included in all new and renewed flood insurance policies.

Helps cover the costs of bringing flood-damaged homes and businesses into compliance with community floodplain ordinances.
Coverage limit of $15,000 helps pay for elevating, flood proofing, demolishing or relocating structures that have been substantially or repetitively damaged by flooding.
Available only in communities that adopt and enforce substantial-damage or repetitive-loss provisions in the floodplain management ordinances and require action by property owners.
1999 - More than 4.2 million flood insurance policies in effect with coverage of more than $534 billion, an increase of more than 250 percent since December 1990.

2000 - Congress passes the Disaster Mitigation and Cost Recovery Act.

Provides technical and financial assistance to states and local governments to promote pre-disaster hazard mitigation measures designed to reduce injuries, loss of life and damage to property, critical services and public facilities.
Requires that states prepare a comprehensive program for disaster mitigation prior to receiving funds from FEMA.
Discontinues FEMA's Individuals and Families Grant Program and replaces it with a program entitled "Financial Assistance to Address Other Needs," more commonly known as "Other Needs Assistance" (ONA).
ONA provides for disaster needs such as transportation, medical and dental expenses, moving and storage fees, and replacement or repair of personal property.
2001 - NFIP eliminates its outstanding debt to the U.S. Department of the Treasury accumulated to pay flood claims since the 1970s. The debt had reached as much as $992 million.

2002 - FEMA consolidates the Temporary Housing Assistance and Individuals and Families Grant Programs into a single program called Federal Assistance to Individuals and Households (IHP) and establishes a maximum grant per applicant of $25,000.

2003 - FEMA becomes part of the newly-created U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

2003 - FEMA increases maximum claim payout for Increased Cost of Compliance coverage to $30,000.

2003 - NFIP has cash reserves of $580 million, which are available to pay future claims.

2004 - Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne strike Florida. Hurricane and tropical storm related disasters also are declared in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

2004 - FEMA pays out $1.9 billion in claims for 2004 and uses $225 million in NFIP borrowing authority to pay 2004 flood loss claims.

2005 - Hurricanes Katrina and Rita strike the Gulf Coast.

Flood wall and levee failures flood up to 80 percent of the city of New Orleans.
Congress increases NFIP borrowing authority from $1.5 billion to $3.5 billion.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that repayment of borrowed funds will not occur until after 2015.
FEMA estimates that NFIP claims could exceed $22 billion and notes that in its entire history prior to Katrina, NFIP had paid out a total of only $15 billion.
2007 - FEMA increases to $28,800 the maximum grant available under the Individuals and Households Program.

2008 - The NFIP has paid nearly $36 billion in claims since 1978 and today has 6 million policies in force in more than 20,600 participating communities.

NFIP loss experience indicates that $1 billion in flood damages are avoided each year as a result of NFIP floodplain management regulations for new construction.

FEMA is accelerating efforts begun in 1997 to update Flood Insurance Rate Maps nationwide.

Approximately 75 percent of FEMA flood maps post-Katrina are more than 10 years old.
Maps are being upgraded in digital format for more than 11,000 communities.
Maps are being created for approximately 2,700 flood-prone communities without flood maps.
Electronic and digital printing and distribution will make flood maps more readily available and easier to use.
Where feasible, and at the request of the community, flood maps will reflect future conditions as well as the traditional existing conditions.
Begun by our forefathers more than 180 years ago, the course of events and legislation passed over time have resulted in a comprehensive insurance system that covers flooding losses while providing the wherewithal to continue the practice of mitigating future losses.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Monday, 08-Sep-2008 11:32:17

Secretary Michael Chertoff U.S. Department of Homeland Security "Addressing 21st Century Threats: The U.S. Prevention Strategy

As we approach the seventh anniversary of the attacks on U.S. soil (New York - Manhattan, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania) and the fifth anniversary of the formation of the Department of Homeland Security, I post these (beginning) comments of Secretary Chertoff from a speech he delivered at Rice University, Houston, TX. The entire speech can be viewed at: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/speeches/sp_1219697784176.shtm

The following information was retrieved at www.dhs.gov/xnews/speeches/sp 1219697784176.shtm on Sept. 8th, 2008.

Release Date: June 5, 2008

Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice UniversityHouston, TX

Secretary Chertoff: "Thank you, Ambassador Djerejian, for your introduction. I’m delighted to be with you today. I appreciate the opportunity to speak at the Baker Institute for Public Policy, which is one of our nation’s most distinguished academic forums, named after one of our nation’s most distinguished policy makers.
As some of you know, our Department recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. We were established shortly after the September 11th attacks to mobilize our nation to prevent, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism and other threats to our security.
Reaching our five-year milestone has given us the occasion to look back over the past five years and assess our progress in a number of areas that are central to our mission. For all milestones - that's a very good opportunity to kind of look back. Maybe it's a better opportunity to look forward. The major focuses and activities of the Department of Homeland Security are, in my judgment, basically five in number.
One is to work to prevent dangerous people from coming into the United States and causing us harm. One is to keep dangerous things and dangerous cargo, dangerous weapons out of the country.
The third is to protect our infrastructure should somebody try to attack. That includes not only our transportation, but it includes things like our energy infrastructure, which, of course, is of greater interest to those living in this area.
A fourth is mitigating the effect of either a manmade disaster or a natural disaster by having an effective and swift response.
And finally, there's the task of any large organization institutionalizing the processes and procedures that allow this to work efficiently and allow us to integrate the activities in the Department which began its life in 22 separate components and now has over 280,000 employees."

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Before & After: Prepare For Hanna, Recover From Gustav

Retrieved 9/3/2008 from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45641
Release Date: September 3, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-183

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with numerous federal agencies and voluntary organizations to support state and local authorities in the Southeastern United States as they prepare for Hurricane Hanna even as they continue to support efforts in the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Gustav.

Federal, state and local resources in the Gulf Coast, and particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi, are focused on life-saving and safety-related activities. Federal officials understand that people will be anxious to return home following the storm, but are asking for everyone to be patient and to wait for the "all clear" from state and local officials. Evacuees attempting to return home early face road blocks, traffic delays, serious health hazards, as well as limited or no water, food, utility service, health care, and hospital access. Evacuees should remember that grocery stores, other retail establishments, hospitals, and other businesses face the same issues, and may not even be able to open their doors for some time. Recovery will take time, but federal resources will support the rebuilding effort.

Gulf Coast residents benefitted from their strong preparations and willingness to listen to local, state and federal officials on actions they could take to prepare as well as the need to evacuate. Residents in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina who face the potential threat of Hurricane Hanna should take similar precautions. Individuals, families and businesses should develop their own emergency plan. They should prepare an emergency kit with medicine, food, water, batteries and other materials that will help them to support themselves and their families for 72 hours as debris and weather can limit government response times. Everyone should pay attention to local media broadcasts and respect any evacuation order issued by state and local authorities. Residents are reminded to include text messaging in their communication plans in case cellular calls are limited. Information is available at www.Ready.gov on how families and individuals can best prepare before the storm.

An interagency team of federal, state and local officials also continues to monitor the progress of Hanna and to review preparations and plans to ensure Southeastern communities are as prepared as Gulf Coast communities were last week. Many agencies have positioned staff, supplies and resources to ensure they are ready to supplement state and local efforts should such actions be warranted.

Click on the link above for more information

Iowa Disaster underscores need for pet owners to develop evacuation plans

Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45565 on August 28, 2008.
Release Date: August 28, 2008Release Number: 1763-176

» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

DES MOINES, Iowa -- In June, when the Iowa River inundated Iowa City's neighborhoods, families rushed to safety - and many dropped their pets at the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center. But floodwaters engulfed the shelter itself, forcing the staff and dozens of pets to flee.

It was then that the shelter's employees began to appreciate the importance of disaster preparation.

Two months earlier, shelter director Misha Goodman had completed a disaster plan, designating the county fairgrounds as an alternate location in emergencies. She coordinated with the Red Cross, which set up a large shelter for human flood victims at the fairgrounds, a short distance from the relocated animal shelter.

These arrangements helped the shelter - now in a second temporary location on Sand Road – to weather a time of crisis. Flood victims gradually returned to reunite with their dogs and cats. Goodman says only one evacuated pet remains, a black and gray mixed breed dog named Tulip.
She is available for adoption.

Goodman describes Tulip as "a survivor." She was found among a litter of puppies placed in a plastic bag and left to die. Only Tulip lived. She spent two years with a family that adopted the pup, and she proved to be a vigilant protector. "One time the family noticed the dog was acting odd, even tugging at their arms," says Goodman. "When they finally looked to see what was wrong, they discovered a stranger in their yard near the children's room."

But when the floods came, Tulip's family had to move into temporary quarters where pets were not allowed. And, until she finds a new home, she is a reminder that disasters take a toll on owners and pets alike.

In the larger city of Cedar Rapids, there were hundreds of pets like Tulip. Their displaced owners could no longer keep them, a situation compounded by the fact that flooding destroyed the city's animal shelter. An emergency pet shelter established at Kirkwood Community College wound down last month. When flood victims failed to pick up their animals, scores of pets were shipped out of state.

"We were lucky to be able to tap into a national network of rescue organizations," says Cedar Rapids animal control supervisor Jim Clark, adding that as a result, the rate of euthanasia was "practically nothing."

What more can be done? Animal rescue officers in disaster-stricken Iowa communities continue to look for families willing to adopt pets remaining homeless after the severe tornadoes, storms and floods earlier this year. Clark says the Cedar Rapids shelter will move to another temporary location shortly and will be better able to handle any influx of displaced pets. Until then, he hopes those temporarily caring for flood victims' pets will remain patient.

Pet owners can do their part by learning lessons from this year's disaster and by preparing for the future.

Use the following guidelines to develop a plan for the small animals in your household.
  • Identify shelter.
  • Gather pet supplies.
  • Ensure your pet has proper identification and up-to-date veterinarian records.
  • Providing a pet carrier and leash.

Take the following steps to prepare to shelter your pet:

  • Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get advice and information.
  • Keep veterinary records to prove vaccinations are current.
  • Find out which local hotels and motels allow pets and where pet boarding facilities are located. Be sure to research some outside your local area in case local facilities close.
  • Know that, with the exception of service animals, pets are not typically permitted in emergency shelters as they may affect the health and safety of other occupants.
  • FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Thursday, 28-Aug-2008 16:41:28

Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center

September is National Preparedness Month
The following information was posted in the INFOGRAM 33-08 on August 28, 2008.

National Preparedness Month
Next week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s fifth annual National Preparedness Month (NPM) begins with the support of more than 2,700 national, regional, state, and local NPM coalition members, the largest number to date.

"National Preparedness Month is an important reminder about each American's civic responsibility to prepare for emergencies," according to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Those with the capacity and wherewithal to help themselves must do so in advance, so that in the event of an emergency, responders can first assist those who are unable to tend to themselves. From wildfires and earthquakes in California, to hurricanes and tropical storms along the Gulf Coast, to flooding in the Midwest, recent events remind us more than ever that we must prepare ourselves and our families for a disaster. This is the time, each year, when every American should ask the question, 'Am I ready?'"

In keeping with their tradition of serving and protecting the nation, hundreds of local, municipal, and state Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies are coalition members. ESS personnel, aware that citizen readiness potentially aids emergency assistance efforts, will encourage the public to take important preparedness steps—acquiring an emergency supply kit, devising a family emergency plan, becoming informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, and getting involved in community preparedness and response efforts—all with the goal of substantially improving their ability to survive and recover from all types of natural or man-made emergencies.

NPM coalition members will urge Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities by hosting events such as seminars, fairs, community outreach events, workshops, webinars, and training. An event calendar can be viewed at www.ready.gov. A Spanish language version is available at www.listo.gov. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center invites ESS personnel to visit http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/intro.html to register for coalition membership.

Friday, February 15, 2008

CDC tests confirm FEMA trailers are toxic






From an article in MSNBC.COM
By Mike Brunker
Projects Team editor
MSNBC
updated 6:23 p.m. CT, Thurs., Feb. 14, 2008

More than two years after residents of FEMA trailers deployed along the Mississippi Gulf Coast began complaining of breathing difficulties, nosebleeds and persistent headaches, U.S. health officials announced Thursday that long-awaited government tests found potentially hazardous levels of toxic formaldehyde gas in both travel trailers and mobile homes provided by the agency.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which requested the testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it would work aggressively to relocate all residents of the temporary housing as soon as possible.
Levels of formaldehyde gas in 519 trailer and mobile homes tested by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Louisiana and Mississippi were — on average — about five times what people are exposed to in most modern homes, the CDC reported. In some trailers, the levels were nearly 40 times customary exposure levels, raising fears that residents could suffer respiratory problems and potentially other long-term health effects, it said.

Friday, February 08, 2008

'Sugar dust' blast tears through factory

From the Fairfax Digital
Friday, February 8, 2008

February 8, 2008 - 5:02PM
A massive explosion has ripped through a sugar refinery in the US state of Georgia, with 38 people rushed to hospital, most in critical condition. At least six people remain unaccounted for, authorities said, although no fatalities had been reported so far. A fire has taken hold, apparently started by a blast in a bagging room at the Imperial Sugar company plant in Port Wentworth, a suburb of Savannah, police said. (Click here for video)

Sadness in Kirkwood, Missouri

CNN News
Friday, February 8, 2008

Gunman kills 5 at City Council meeting
A gunman killed five people and wounded two at a City Council meeting in suburban St. Louis on Thursday night before officers shot and killed him, police said. Two of those killed were police officers.
(click here for a link to video)

How do we mitigate such a thing from happening (before it happens) and maintain an individuals civil rights? There are early warning signs to this type of potential reaction. I believe that is just what it is...a reaction to years, sometimes decades, of personal issues that haven't been dealt with by productive and postivive measures. I submit Timothy McVeigh as the ultimate example - U.S. citizen, military service, raised in this country, educated in this country, and full of angry issues that were privatley held until one day those issues erupted into the bombing in Oklahoma City. Is it possible that we will never be able to completely prevent assassinations like this? With determination, I believe we can.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

FEMA Responds To Support Communities Struck By Tornadoes

Release Date: February 6, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-013

The Federal Emergency Management Agency situation report is found at this link. It's been a wild week, weatherwise, all across the country. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to all those affected. NIMS compliance and EMAC assistance is crucial during this time. Here is what the U.S. government is bringing to the table....
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=42479

Another source of information on the disaster is here:

News Alert 10:09 a.m. ET Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Dozens Killed as Tornadoes Rip Through South Crews search debris for more victims of deadly tornadoes that tore across five states, killing dozens and injuring hundreds.


Bring Your Tired, Your Hunger, and Your Stranded!

What a wonderful example of Midwestern hospitality when disaster strikes and is looking like a serious candidate for a crisis. Only one went to the hospital for personal reasons. With over 800 vehicles on the freeway, streching for 19 miles, and no one ends up seriously injured or dead. That is a miracle.

Link to an article describing the emergency response effort

But, there is always two sides to a story like this. Here is a link to the Wisconsin State Journal that speaks to the emotional side of an event like this.
Stranded Interstate motorists enraged
By MATTHEW DeFOUR and PATRICIA SIMMS Wisconsin State Journal

Of All The NERV

From Cisco Systems Inc.;
The NERV is a mobile communications vehicle that can act as a command center for your on-the-ground disaster management, as well as a central processing center for all communications. The NERV works using many different Cisco technologies including IPICS technology, which allows disparate radio systems to communicate with each other through IP, TelePresence, which allowing person around a virtual table and communicate as if it were in person, video surveillance, Wi-Fi, satellite communications, and IP telephony.

Here is a link to a video of the vehicle
http://webmail.gotoltc.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Yw3WqQOSE

He's Not Chicken To Cluck About the War On Terror

Here is a link to a Washington Post article regarding not everyone is sold on the "War Against Terror".

In War on Terror, Md. Farmer One of Many Skeptical Recruits
By Mary Beth SheridanWashington Post Staff WriterSaturday, September 1, 2007; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083102114.html

I thought the article really captured what most people in America really believe (and feel). My thoughts are whether or not a person is gathering and keeping up with honest and accurate information on a regular basis before making this kind of decision. It's like believing in a vehicle that can attain 60 miles per gallon of gas, but yet it never materializes. Understanding reality is one thing. Losing hope is, sadly, another.