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• Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations [September 22, 2010]

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  "In the two decades since the country emerged from dictatorship, Chile has consistently maintained friendly relations with the United States. Serving as a reliable--if not always very public--ally, Chile has worked with the United States to advance democracy, human rights, and free trade in the Western Hemisphere. Chile and the United States also maintain strong commercial ties. Trade has more than doubled to over $15 billion since the implementation of a bilateral free trade agreement in 2004, and an income tax treaty designed to boost private sector investment was signed in February 2010 and is awaiting submission to the U.S. Senate for ratification. Additional areas of cooperation between the United States and Chile include renewable energy and regional security issues. [...] The 111th Congress has expressed interest in several issues in U.S.-Chile relations. In March 2010, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed resolutions (S.Res. 431 and H.Res. 1144) expressing sympathy for the victims of the country's February 27 earthquake and solidarity with the people of Chile. The House also passed legislation (H.R. 4783, Levin) to accelerate income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for earthquake relief in Chile. Other resolutions have been introduced to express support for the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, including clean energy cooperation with Chile (H.Res. 1526), and to honor the bicentennial of the call for independence in Chile and several other Latin American nations (H.Res. 1619).This report provides a brief historical background of Chile, examines recent political and economic developments, and addresses issues in U.S.-Chilean relations."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meyer, Peter J.

  2010-09-22
• Supply and Demand: The Case for Community Medical Resiliency

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  "Events such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and pandemic flu have led emergency response professionals to recognize the urgent need to plan for catastrophic medical events. How could the medical system deal with a large number of casualties--due to a nuclear detonation, massive earthquake, biological disease (intentional or novel), etc.--when the majority of hospitals operate at peak capacity normally and overcrowding is common during the normal flu season? Not since the Spanish Influenza of 1918 has the U.S. been pressed to manage the ill or injured on a national scale. Patients were cared for in public venues (arenas and concert halls) and even tents because the requisite hospital beds were not available. Half of all Americans were infected and reportedly 675,000 died, approximately half between the ages of 20-40.1 Yet despite the knowledge that we have less medical capacity now on a per capita basis, policy makers and emergency planners still fail to adequately address the most important aspect of emergency management: the ability to provide care to citizens during a catastrophe. Given that the supply of medical services has limitations, which can be quickly overwhelmed during a natural or manmade catastrophic incident, it is apparent that we must fundamentally evaluate our ability to reduce the demand side of the equation during these rare, but certain to occur events. Adequately reducing the demand for medical services will require development of 'community medical resiliency.'"

  Homeland Security Policy Institute (George Washington University)

  Lord, Gregg; Bogis, Arnold

  2010-09-17
• Defense: FY2011 Authorization and Appropriations [September 17, 2010]

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  "The President's FY2011 budget request, released February 1, 2010, included $733.3 billion in new budget authority for national defense. In addition to $548.9 billion for the regular (non-war) operations of the Department of Defense (DOD), the request included $159.3 billion for ongoing military operations, primarily funding the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing the total DOD request for FY2011 to $708.3 billion. The balance of the national defense request amounts to $25.1 billion for defense-related activities by agencies other than DOD. The President also requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010 totaling $33.6 billion. This included $33.0 billion for war costs and $655 million to pay DOD's share of the cost of humanitarian relief operations in Haiti, struck on January 12, 2010, by a devastating earthquake. The $548.9 billion requested for DOD's so-called 'base budget'--that is, all activities other than war costs--is $18.2 billion higher than the amount appropriated for DOD non-war costs in FY2010. By DOD's estimate, this 3.4% increase would amount to a 'real' increase of 1.8% in 'purchasing power, after taking into account the cost of inflation. The budget request would continue the Administration's policy of increasing the share of DOD's budget invested in capabilities for counterinsurgency and other unconventional types of combat, including helicopters, special operations forces, and unmanned vehicles."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Towell, Pat

  2010-09-17
• Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues [September 9, 2010]

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  "When civil unrest, violence, or natural disasters erupt in spots around the world, concerns arise over the safety of foreign nationals from these troubled places who are in the United States. Provisions exist in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to offer temporary protected status (TPS) or relief from removal under specified circumstances. A foreign national who is granted TPS receives a registration document and an employment authorization for the duration of TPS. The United States currently provides TPS or deferred enforced departure (DED) to over 300,000 foreign nationals from a total of seven countries: El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan. Liberians have had relief from removal for the longest period, first receiving TPS in March 1991 following the outbreak of civil war. The devastation caused by the January 12, 2010, earthquake in Haiti prompted calls for the Administration of President Barrack Obama to grant TPS to Haitians in the United States at the time of the earthquake. The scale of current humanitarian crisis--estimated thousands of Haitians dead and reported total collapse of the infrastructure in the capital city of Port au Prince--led the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to announce on January 13, 2010, that it is temporarily halting the deportation of Haitians. On January 15, 2010, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano granted TPS to Haitians in the United States at the time of the earthquake."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Ester, Karma

  2010-09-09
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [September 1, 2010]

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  From the Summary: "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2010-09-01
• Natural Hazards and Sustainability for Residential Buildings

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  "Sustainable building design concepts are increasingly being incorporated into residential building design and construction through green building rating systems. While the environmental benefits associated with adopting green building practices can be significant, these practices must be implemented in a manner that does not compromise the building's resistance to natural hazards, such as high winds, earthquakes, floods, or wildfires. This document examines current green building rating systems in a broader context. It identifies green building practices-the tools of today's green building rating systems-that are different from historical residential building practices and that, unless implemented with an understanding of their interactions with the rest of the structure, have the potential to compromise a building's resistance to natural hazard events. This document discusses how to retain or improve natural hazard resistance while incorporating these green building practices."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Gromala, David S.; Kapur, Omar; Ehrlich, Gary

  2010-09
• DOE New Madrid Seismic Zone Electric Utility Workshop Summary Report

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  "The DOE New Madrid Seismic Zone Electric Utilities Workshop, held in Memphis, TN for the electric utilities in the seismic zone was a chance to bring together a diverse set of industry partners to discuss the potential effects of an earthquake in the New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones. The electric sector was well represented by Independent Transmission System Operators (ISO), independent power producers, federal electric utilities, publicly-owned electric utilities, and cooperative electric utilities. Argonne National Laboratories (ANL), US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a representative from the State of Tennessee and an earthquake engineer from ABS Consulting were also in attendance. [...] This paper provides a brief summary of the potential impacts that a devastating earthquake within the New Madrid Seismic Zone would have on the Nation's critical energy infrastructure. It will conclude by addressing the potential major issues that should be considered in order to improve response and restoration efforts following an event of this magnitude."

  United States. Department of Energy

  2010-08-25
• HAZ Haiti: Implementing the HAZUS Earthquake Model for Haiti

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  This presentation, from the 4th Annual HAZUS Conference on August 23-25, 2010, provides information on implementing the HAZUS earthquake model for Haiti.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Bausch, Doug

  2010-08-25
• Privacy Compliance Review of the 2010 Winter Olympics Social Media Event Monitoring Initiative and Haiti Social Media Disaster Monitoring Initiative

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  "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Operations Coordination and Planning (OPS), including the National Operations Center (NOC), launched the Social Networking/Media Capability (SNMC) to assist DHS and its components involved in the response, recovery, and rebuilding effort resulting from the earthquake and after-effects in Haiti as well as the security, safety, and border control associated with the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC). In compliance with its statutory obligation, OPS, through SNMC Analysts in the NOC, monitored publicly available online forums, blogs, public websites, and message boards to collect information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture. The DHS Privacy Office (PRIV) conducted a Privacy Compliance Review (PCR) of SNMC Analyst activities, as outlined in both the Haiti Social Media Disaster Monitoring Initiative PIA (January 21, 2010) and 2010 Winter Olympics Social Media Event Monitoring Initiative PIA (February 10, 2010). At the time of the PCR, PRIV found that SNMC activities substantially complied with the stated privacy parameters set forth in the underlying PIAs. However, OPS/NOC had not yet finalized a records retention schedule for SNMC Analyst-generated data including, but not limited to, New Media Monitoring Capability Reports. Since there may be personally identifiable information (PII) in SNMC Analyst-generated data and reports, clearly defining how long that data will be retained is key to minimizing privacy impact. Subsequent to the PCR, OPS/NOC has finalized a records retention schedule. PRIV will re-evaluate the records retention schedule as well as conduct a more in-depth review of websites and the applicable social media Internet-based platforms and information technology infrastructure that have been monitored during the scheduled November 2010 follow-up PCR."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2010-08-23
• NLE 11 Scenario Working Group [presentation]

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  This presentation is for the National Level Exercise 11 Working Group held in August, 2010 in preparation for the May 2011 exercise scenario portraying earthquakes at the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Eddy, Rob

  2010-08-19
• Earthquake Infrastructure and Facility Windshield Rapid Assessment for the Brea Fire Department

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  "The problem is that the Brea, California Fire Department does not currently have plan for a rapid damage windshield assessment following devastating emergencies such as an earthquake. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate and prepare the Brea Fire Department with a plan that will provide essential immediate information that will ensure proper resources are requested and deployed within the City of Brea. The purpose of this a research, utilizing action research methodology, was to develop a standardized rapid damage assessment procedure for the Brea Fire Department to be utilized immediately following an earthquake. Four basic questions defined the parameters of this research: What data does the Operational Area (Orange County Emergency Management Bureau) require in regards to immediate damage assessment? What data does the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) require in regards to timely damage assessment? What windshield survey requirements and best practices are utilized by other fire departments within California? What windshield survey requirements and best practices should the Brea Fire Department incorporate into a damage assessment standard operating guideline? Research was conducted utilizing literature review and a questionnaire (Appendix B) sent to twenty selected California fire departments with extensive experience in earthquake rapid damage assessment. The results and recommendations are the Brea Fire Department must develop a windshield rapid assessment plan so important information such as geographical boundaries, approximate number of casualties, special resource needs, target hazards with significant damage, major thoroughfare blockages, utility outages, fires, hazardous material releases and structural collapses will be relayed to the dispatch center or field commander."

  National Fire Academy

  Wood, Steve

  2010-08-12
• FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs [August 6, 2010]

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  "The administration requested $64.3 billion in FY2010 supplemental appropriations: 1) $5.1 billion to replenish the U.S. Disaster Relief Fund by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 2) $33 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) primarily for deploying 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan; $4.5 billion in war-related foreign aid; and $2.8 billion for Haiti earthquake-related relief and reconstruction aid. […] On July 29, 2010, the President signed the final version of H.R. 4899, P.L. 111-212, which was passed by the House on July 27 and by the Senate on May 27, 2010. The enacted version of the bill includes $59.2 billion in spending for war costs, U.S. disaster assistance, Haiti relief and reconstruction, and new benefits for Vietnam veterans."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lindsay, Bruce R.; Else, Daniel H.; Belasco, Amy

  2010-08-06
• MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 6, 2010

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  The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "Launching a National Surveillance System After an Earthquake -- Haiti, 2010"; "Rapid Establishment of an Internally Displaced Persons Disease Surveillance System After an Earthquake -- Haiti, 2010"; "Any Tobacco Use in 13 States -- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2008"; "Vital Signs: State-Specific Obesity Prevalence Among Adults -- United States, 2009"; "Errata: Vol. 58, No. SS-10"; and "QuickStats: Death Rates for the Three Leading Causes of Injury Death -- United States, 1979-2007". Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables from this issue can be accessed at the following link [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index2010.html]

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

  2006-01-20
• Remarks of James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.) Chief, Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, APCO's 76th Annual Conference, 2010 Haiti Earthquake: Disaster Communications Restoration Lessons Learned, August 3, 2010

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  From the remarks of James Arden Barnett, Jr. att the APCO's [Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International] 76th Annual Conference 2010 Haiti Earthquake: Disaster Communications Restoration Lessons Learned: "When disaster strikes, we have to come together and work collaboratively or nothing will be accomplished as quickly or efficiently as it could be, and that could mean the difference between life and death. The US Government response to the earthquake in Haiti is a wonderful example of the collaboration and teamwork of which I speak, and I'm proud the FCC [Federal Communications Commission] was able to be a part of that effort. With that said, I'm honored to be here and to be sharing the platform with such an august [sic] panel as we discuss the response to the tragic earthquake that took place in Haiti on January 12 of this year. The teamwork and cooperation displayed by the agencies represented on this panel, and many others not directly represented here, were extraordinary. They definitely know 'how to pass the ball' and how to share the mission so that response is quick and effective and that equals a win for everyone involved."

  United States. Federal Communications Commission

  Barnett, James Arden, Jr.

  2010-08-03
• Shaken 10-01 Table Top Exercise After Action Report, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), OK, July 29, 2010

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  This AAR [After Action Report] documents and emergency/COOP [Continuity of Operations] tabletop exercise, simulating a large 6.5 magnitude earthquake affecting the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center.

  United States. Federal Aviation Administration; United States. Department of Transportation

  2010-07-29
• Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [July 12, 2010]

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  "In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Boyd, Eugene

  2010-07-12
• Dam Failure Response Plan

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  "The problem was, the Denton Fire Department did not have a dam failure response plan. The purpose of this project was to establish the risk and identify the components of an effective dam failure response plan and provide recommendations to develop such a plan. Research sought to answer the following questions: 1) Was there a significant risk of dam failure at Lake Ray Roberts? 2) What was the industry standard for an emergency response plan for a dam failure? 3) What were the dam failure response recommendations from the Denton County Emergency Management Office? 4) What were the components used by other Denton County fire departments in their dam failure response plans? A descriptive research method was used to identify the risk and describe the type of plan needed. Literature review identified the risk and provided a model plan to follow. Personal interviews revealed the lack of an existing plan and identified sources for additional information, helpful in developing a plan. A telephone survey was used to identify what neighboring communities were doing to address the risk. Research revealed that there was a risk of a failure of the Lake Ray Roberts dam. Geology of the area suggested there was a risk of an earthquake that could result in dam failure. Sufficient information was found to begin the process of developing a response plan. Research culminated in the development of the following recommendations. First, contact the US Army Corps of Engineers and use their information to develop an emergency action plan. The plan should contain: early warning system, evacuation routes, a resource list, and notification flowchart. Second, private sector resources should be identified and contracts in place. Lastly, coordinate a tabletop exercise and possibly a full-scale disaster drill to test the plan."

  National Fire Academy

  Goodman, Charles G., Jr.

  2010-07
• Report to the National Guard Bureau Strategic Advisory Group (NGB SAG) Leadership Council: Defense Science Board Task Force on Interoperability: Task Force for Emergency Readiness (TFER) Pilot, Action Item 18

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  "The Task Force for Emergency Readiness (TFER) Pilot Program was introduced in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FY 2008/2009 Appropriations Act, Sec. 908: The Administrator, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish .… a Task Force for Emergency Readiness pilot program for fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012 ... in not fewer than 5 States. The purpose of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) --led TFER Pilot Program was '.… to determine the value that a dedicated team of planners with extensive civil military planning expertise [could] bring to assessing, strengthening, and advancing State catastrophic preparedness planning efforts ....' and was a result of the DHS Nationwide Plan Review Phase 2 Report (2006) and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 annex 1 (HSPD). FEMA identified five TFER Pilot States, representing various geographies, state governance structures, and emergency planning capabilities --Washington State (FEMA Region X), Hawaii (FEMA Region IX), South Carolina (FEMA Region IV), Massachusetts (FEMA Region I), and West Virginia (FEMA Region III) --and collaborated with each TFER Pilot State to determine the most Appropriate National Planning Scenarios for each state to use. Washington State used Scenario 9: Natural Disaster --Major Earthquake, focusing on catastrophic planning, emergency logistics, distribution, evacuation, and recovery. Hawaii used Scenario 10: Natural Disaster --Major Hurricane, focusing on logistics and evacuation. South Carolina used Scenario 1: Nuclear Detonation --10 Kiloton Improvised Nuclear Device (IND); Scenario 12: Explosives Attack -- Bombing Using Improvised Explosive Device (IED); and Scenario 15: Cyber Attack. Massachusetts used Scenario 12: Explosives Attack --Bombing Using Improvised Explosive Device (IED). West Virginia used a chemical incident, a flood, and a mass evacuation."

  United States. National Guard Bureau

  Nicholson, Mike; Brazale, Dale; Krisak, Ronald

  2010-07
• Emergency Communications Forum - Volume 2, July 2010

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  This edition of the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency Communications' (OEC) Emergency Communications Forum contains the following articles: "From the Field: The 700MHz Broadband Public Safety Demonstration Network"; "Fairfax County COMLs [Communications Unit Leaders] Respond to Haiti Earthquake"; and "Expanding Office of Emergency Communications Technical Assistance Tools".

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Emergency Communications

  2010-07
• Defense Management: U.S. Southern Command Demonstrates Interagency Collaboration, but Its Haiti Disaster Response Revealed Challenges Conducting a Large Military Operation, Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives

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  " U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has been cited as having mature interagency processes and coordinating mechanisms. As evidenced by the earthquakes that shook Haiti in January 2010, the challenges that SOUTHCOM faces require coordinated efforts from U.S. government agencies, international partners, and nongovernmental and private organizations. This report (1) assesses the extent that SOUTHCOM exhibits key attributes that enhance and sustain collaboration with interagency and other stakeholders and (2) evaluates SOUTHCOM's approach for developing an organizational structure that facilitates interagency collaboration and positions the command to conduct a full range of missions. To conduct this review, GAO analyzed SOUTHCOM documents, conducted interviews with the command and a number of its partners, and visited three U.S. embassies in the Caribbean and Central and South America. GAO recommends that SOUTHCOM (1) revise its Organization and Functions Manual to align structure and manpower to meet approved missions; and (2) identify personnel augmentation requirements for a range of contingency operations, develop plans to obtain personnel, and exercise and assess these plans. DOD concurred with our recommendations and stated it is addressing these issues as quickly as possible."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2010-07
• Positive Perceptions to Sustain the US-Pakistan Relationship

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  "Pakistan and the United States continue to struggle to find a mutual strategy upon which to build a more positive and productive relationship. While both nations observed positive changes in attitudes during the strategic dialogue held in Washington, D.C. in March 2010, the history of mistrust does not support an enduring relationship. Pakistan's military and intelligence services remain suspicious of the motives and methods of their US counterparts, a wariness mirrored in American attitudes. American humanitarian assistance after the 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan temporarily improved public opinion of Americans, but Pakistanis still find it difficult to understand how long-term engagement with the United States benefits their nation. Overcoming suspicions and creating trust in an effort to sustain this relationship, however, is absolutely critical if we are to achieve Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) objectives and deny al Qaeda and other militants sanctuary in Pakistan. This article summarizes the causes of this mutual mistrust and provides interlocutors with recommended actions to build confidence and change mindsets for the purpose of creating positive perceptions and a sustainable relationship."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Koehlmoos, Randall L.

  2010-07
• United States Government's Haiti Earthquake Response [June 25, 2010]

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  This White House press release discusses the U.S. response to the Haiti earthquake. "President Obama pledged a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort in response to the earthquake in Haiti in January and called for sustained commitment to Haiti's reconstruction. In light of Haitian President Preval's attendance at the G8 today, the President reiterated the importance of this sustained commitment by the international community."

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2010-06-25
• Coffee Break Training: Building Construction: Shear Walls in Steel Construction

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  "These X-shaped cross braces are part of a structural reinforcement called a 'shear wall.' In those environments where high winds or earthquakes pose a risk to structural stability, shear walls are used to provide strength and stiffness to the building. When shear walls are strong enough, they will transfer these horizontal forces to the next element in the load path below them, such as other shear walls, floors, foundation walls, slabs, or footings. Shear walls also provide lateral stiffness to prevent the roof or floor above from excessive side-sway. When shear walls are stiff enough, they will prevent floor and roof framing members from moving off their supports. Buildings that are sufficiently stiff will usually suffer less nonstructural damage."

  United States Fire Administration

  2010-06-15
• 2010 Sector CIKR Protection Annual Report for the Healthcare and Public Health Sector

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  This document is a Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIRK) protection report on the Healthcare and Public Heath Sector for 2010. "In the past year [2010] the Healthcare and Public Health (HPH) Sector has been impacted by major events including the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak, the tsunami in American Samoa, and the earthquake in Haiti. The sector has responded to protect HPH infrastructure and the public's health while continuing to plan for future threats. The 2010 HPH Sector Annual Report summarizes the numerous activities that have taken place between May 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010, to improve the preparedness of the HPH Sector. This report was written through a collaborative process between the HPH Sector Coordinating Council (SCC) and Government Coordinating Council (GCC), with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which coordinated the process as the Sector-Specific Agency (SSA)."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States. Department of Health and Human Services

  2010-06
• Seismic Waves: Once Again Pushing the Envelope

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  Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The topic in this edition of Seismic Waves is how National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program has advanced earthquake safety. "Since it was first published in 1985, the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (the Provisions) has always sought to push the envelope of earthquake safety by advancing the effectiveness and acceptance of seismic design standards. Early on, the envelope was empty and easily pushed, because seismic design provisions were largely absent from industry standards and from the model building codes adopted by states and localities."

  National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2010-06
• Fiscal Year 2010: Tsunami Shelter Design Guidelines Case Studies: Guidance and Application Kit

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  "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to enter into a Cooperative Agreement for an estimated $50,000 with the State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) for the purpose of strengthening, enhancing, and maintaining the Oregon State earthquake hazard reduction programs. By supporting and improving State earthquake programs, FEMA goal is to reduce the loss of life and property from damaging earthquakes. Under Public Law 95-124, as amended, Congress established the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which was reauthorized on October 25, 2004, by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004, Public Law 108-360. Under this reauthorization FEMA is directed to operate a program of assistance to States to accomplish various eligible earthquake mitigation activities. This funding opportunity will support that responsibility by providing assistance to develop seismic mitigation plans. Funded activities shall be determined through individual negotiations between FEMA and the State of Oregon DOGAMI."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2010-06
• R-Tech Newsletter: The Newsletter of the First Responder Technologies Program [Volume 3 Issue 6, June 2010]

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  This issue of the First Responders Technologies Program newsletter has four articles. The first article, "Analyzing Ink Spots," discusses the digitization of ink samples in a "searchable database" allowing the Secret Service to "quickly identify the most likely matches." The next article, "Still Standing," highlights research on construction design safety using simulated earthquakes. The third article, "Blinded by the Light," explores how a new device, "the Personal Anonymity Device" or "PAD-1," can be used to disable surveillance cameras and protect law enforcement officers. The last article, "Responder Knowledge Base," highlights different grant types available to first responders.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2010-06
• Defense: FY2011 Authorization and Appropriations [May 25, 2010]

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  "The President's FY2011 budget request, released February 1, 2010, included $733.3 billion in new budget authority for national defense. In addition to $548.9 billion for the regular (non-war) operations of the Department of Defense (DOD), the request included $159.3 billion for ongoing military operations, primarily funding the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing the total DOD request for FY2011 to $708.3 billion. The balance of the request is $25.1 billion for defense-related activities by agencies other than DOD, the largest component of which was $17.8 billion for Energy Department programs related to either nuclear weapons or nuclear power plants for Navy ships. The President also requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010 totaling $33.6 billion. This included $33.0 billion for war costs and $655 million to pay DOD's share of the cost of humanitarian relief operations in Haiti, which was struck on January 12, 2010 by a devastating earthquake. The $548.9 billion requested for DOD's so-called 'base budget' -- that is, all activities other than those associated with ongoing combat operations -- is $18.2 billion higher than the amount appropriated for DOD non-war costs in FY2010. By DOD's estimate, this 3.4% increase would amount to a 'real' increase of 1.8% in 'purchasing power, after taking into account the cost of inflation. [...] The House Armed Services Committee began formal legislative action on the FY2011 defense budget request, approving on May 19, 2010 H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2011. As reported by the committee (H.Rept. 111-491), the bill would authorize $725.9 billion for DOD and other defense-related activities, a reduction of $2.7 million from the Administration's request for programs covered by that legislation. The bill would add to the budget $485 million to continue development of the alternate engine for the Joint Strike Fighter, despite warnings by Defense Secretary Robert H. Gates that he would recommend a veto of any bill that would continue that project. The committee bill included no funds for the procurement of additional C-17s."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Towell, Pat

  2010-05-25
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: S. 3249: Predisaster Hazard Mitigation Act of 2010

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  "S. 3249 would authorize appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for grants to states and localities for predisaster mitigation programs, such as constructing levies, relocating homes from flood-prone areas, and retrofitting buildings in earthquake zones. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $630 million over the 2011-2015 period and $340 million in later years, assuming appropriation of the specified amounts. Enacting S. 3249 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2010-05-11
• President Obama Signs California Disaster Declaration [May 7, 2010]

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  "The President today [May 7, 2010] declared a major disaster exists in the State of California and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by an earthquake beginning on April 4, 2010, and continuing. Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the earthquake in Imperial County."

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2010-05-07