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America's Natural Disaster Preparedness: Are Federal Investments Paying Off? Hearing Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, May 3, 2011
From the opening statement of John D. Rockefeller IV: "We are here today to examine our Nation's ability to prepare and respond to natural disasters. The weather-provoked tragedies and terrible loss of life just days ago make it clear that this hearing could not come at a more important time. Two months ago, the world watched as a series of earthquakes and a massive tsunami roiled Japan: toppling cities, overturning buildings and killing thousands of people. It was a tragedy of epic proportions. And now, an ocean away, America is experiencing its own destruction and devastation because of natural disasters. Tornadoes and severe storms have rocked the American South and Midwest. In Alabama, the death toll has jumped to more than 200, and continues to climb, as families and first responders search rubble and razed towns for missing loved ones. At least 15 people have been killed in Georgia and 34 in Mississippi. It has been the deadliest outbreak of tornadoes in nearly 40 years. We've seen whole neighborhoods ruined, homes flattened, cars flipped onto their sides, tractor-trailers twisting in the air like rag dolls. The destruction is devastating, and the death toll, rising." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John D. Rockefeller IV, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Amy Klobuchar, Barbara Boxer, Bill Nelson, William H. Hooke, Robert Ryan, Anne S. Kiremidjian, Clint Dawson, Tom Udall, and Mark Warner.
United States. Government Printing Office
2011
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Earthquake Preparedness: What the United States Can Learn from the 2010 Chilean and Haitian Earthquakes, Hearing Before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, September 30, 2010
This is from the September 30, 2010 hearing, "Earthquake Preparedness: What the United States can Learn from the 2010 Chilean and Haitian Earthquakes," before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration. From the opening statement of Mark L. Pryor: "We have called this diverse group of witnesses because they have taken part in the response to one of two of the most powerful and catastrophic earthquakes in recent memory: the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, and the February 27th earthquake in Chile. [...].Over the past ten years, the United States has seen its share of catastrophes. We watched with horror as the Country was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, we were collectively outraged as we saw the Federal Government fail to provide for its citizens in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and millions of Americans face the impact of floods, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters each year. Each one of these tragedies contains valuable lessons. What is not acceptable-what will never be acceptable-is the failure to learn these lessons and to improve each time we are called upon to provide for Americans during their greatest hour of need. I hope this hearing will lead to a more effective response to a major earthquake if and when the time comes." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark L. Pryor, William L. Carwile, Dirk W. Dijkerman, Cristobal Lira, James M. Wilkinson, Ellis M. Stanley, and Reginald DesRoches.
United States. Government Accountability Office
2011
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Drought: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, Second Session, April 27, 2006
From the opening statement of Jim DeMint: "So, this morning we're going to be discussing severe drought. And I look forward to your testimony. It's an issue we occasionally have in South Carolina, but not nearly as often as we do in the Midwest. So, I, again, appreciate your being here, and the whole point is to develop some constructive recommendations on how this committee and this Congress can be more effective in supporting states and communities in dealing with drought. So, this hearing dovetails with a lot of other hearings that we've had this year. We've had one in Myrtle Beach, on hurricanes. I just got back last week from San Francisco, a hearing on earthquakes. Senator Boxer participated with me. And many times as we think about disasters we don't think about droughts, but those of you in the Midwest who have gone through it know how severe the impact is. Estimates are that the cost of droughts have been $6 to $8 billion to the whole U.S. economy in a year. We know there are numerous fires that have resulted from droughts. In the year 2000, with that wildfire season, it was particularly destructive, with $2 billion in losses. And probably most importantly, droughts can threaten lives. In 1988, from the drought and the hot weather, we had over 5,000 Americans whose deaths were attributed either to the dry weather or the hot weather. So, this is an important problem to the country." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: E. Benjamin Nelson, Jim Geringer, Chester J. Koblinsky, and Donald A. Wilhite.
United States. Government Printing Office
2011
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Haiti: From Rescue and Relief to Reconstruction
This fact sheet provides information on U.S. relief and recovery assistance to Haiti following the January 12, 2010 earthquake. The document has three sections: Relief and Recovery Assistance, Towards Long-Term Development, and Long-Term Development and Post-Earthquake Strategy.
United States. Department of State
2011-01
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Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage: A Practical Guide, Fourth Edition
"Nonstructural failures have accounted for the majority of earthquake damage in several recent U.S. earthquakes. Thus, it is critical to raise awareness of potential nonstructural risks, the costly consequences of nonstructural failures, and the opportunities that exist to limit future losses. Nonstructural components of a building include all of those components that are not part of the structural system; that is, all of the architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as furniture, fixtures, equipment, and contents. Windows, partitions, granite veneer, piping, ceilings, air conditioning ducts and equipment, elevators, computer and hospital equipment, file cabinets, and retail merchandise are all examples of nonstructural components that are vulnerable to earthquake damage. The primary purpose of this guide is to explain the sources of nonstructural earthquake damage and to describe methods for reducing the potential risks in simple terms."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2011-01
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Policy Memorandum: Implementation of the Help HAITI Act of 2010
"This memorandum provides guidance to USCIS Field Operations Directorate (FOD) personnel on the vital aspects of processing applications for adjustment of status filed under the Help Haitian Adoptees Immediately to Integrate Act of 2010, also known as the Help HAITI Act of 2010. On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, causing widespread loss of life, injuries, devastating damage to infrastructure (including orphanages and government buildings), and the temporary collapse of the Haitian government. On January 18, 2010, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security announced a special humanitarian parole policy for certain Haitian orphans who were adopted or in the process of being adopted by US citizens. Requests for humanitarian parole under this program were accepted through April 14, 2010. This special program and the steps taken to allow these orphans to obtain Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status and citizenship are collectively referred to as the Haitian Orphan Parole Program (HOPP)."
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
2010-12-21
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Seismic Waves: NEHRP Sets Discovery in Motion
Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The topic in this edition of Seismic Waves is National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program efforts to access the earthquakes in Haiti and Chili. "The magnitude 7.0 temblor that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, was among the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history, while the magnitude 8.8 event that occurred in Chile on February 27, 2010, was among the most powerful. The lessons of these extreme events can be discovered through targeted, coordinated research in the physical sciences, social sciences, and engineering. The agencies participating in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) have begun this process of discovery."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2010-12
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Disaster Response Staff Officer's Handbook: Observations, Insights, and Lessons
"Natural and man-made disasters in the United States cause pain and heartbreak to our fellow citizens. Picking up the pieces of shattered lives and homes is devastating, even to the stoutest among us. While the military cannot repair the emotional damage, it can mitigate the effects of tornados, earthquakes, floods, wildland fires, oil spills, and terrorist attacks. U.S. military response in the homeland provides overwhelmed first responders with the help they need after a major incident. Our ability to act quickly and effectively in response to fastmoving, deadly situations offers tremendous support to our fellow citizens. Civilian officials also know this assistance is short term; local and state leaders bear the responsibility of restoring their communities and cannot become dependent on the resources of the military. The support offered by the National Guard, followed by active duty units, provides a cushion for civilian leaders. You, the staff officer, will bear the responsibility of mobilizing a unit--on very short notice-- into an area struck by disaster. You will have to work through the reception, staging, onward movement, and integration of your unit into a larger command structure; link into an incident command system with marginal communications in an austere environment; and synchronize your operations with a plethora of nongovernmental and governmental organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. Then you will execute your missions according to the laws of our country while maintaining personnel and equipment accountability. Defense support to civil authorities is complex and impacted by myriad statutes, regulations, and presidential orders."
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
2010-12
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Earthquake-Resistant Design Concepts: An Introduction to the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures
"Of the 500,000 or so detectable earthquakes that occur on Planet Earth each year, people will 'feel' about 100,000 of them and about 100 will cause damage. Although most earthquakes are moderate in size and destructive potential, a severe earthquake occasionally strikes a community that is not adequately prepared and thousands of lives and billions of dollars in economic investment are lost. For example, a great earthquake and the fires it initiated destroyed much of San Francisco in 1906 and a significant portion of Anchorage, Alaska, was destroyed by a large earthquake in 1964. Within the past 200 years, major destructive earthquakes also occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, and Memphis, Tennessee. Within the past 50 years, smaller but damaging earthquakes occurred several times in both Los Angeles and Seattle. Overall, more than 20 states have a moderate or high risk of experiencing damaging earthquakes. Earthquakes are truly a national problem. One of the key ways a community protects itself from potential earthquake disasters is by adopting and enforcing a building code with appropriate seismic design and construction standards. The seismic requirements in U.S. model building codes and standards are updated through the volunteer efforts of design professionals and construction industry representatives under a process sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC). At regular intervals, the BSSC develops and FEMA publishes the NEHRP (National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program) Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures (referred to in this publication as the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions or simply the Provisions)."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-12
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Defense: FY2011 Authorization and Appropriations [November 23, 2010]
"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. The budget includes no funding to continue production of the C-17 cargo plane or to continue development of the F-136 alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, two programs Congress has funded in recent years over the objections of the Bush and Obama Administrations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Towell, Pat
2010-11-23
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Dominican Republic: Background and U.S. Relations [November 1, 2010]
From the Summary: "The Dominican Republic, a country of roughly 9.7 million people that shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti, is a key U.S. trade partner and political ally in the region. The United States is the Dominican Republic's main trading partner, with two-way trade totaling more than $10.6 billion in 2008 before falling to $8.6 billion in 2009. In addition to trade, U.S. interest in the Dominican Republic has focused on anti-drug cooperation and governance/human rights issues, as well as the country's role in helping resolve regional conflicts. After a July 12, 2010, official meeting, President Barack Obama praised Dominican President Leonel Fernández's regional leadership, particularly the role he and his government have played in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti and in helping to resolve the political crisis in Honduras. [...] In recent years, U.S. interest in the Dominican Republic has focused on trade, security, and human rights issues. Trade and investment flows have expanded since the Dominican RepublicCentral America-United States free trade agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force for the Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007. U.S. trade capacity building assistance has also reportedly helped boost Dominican competitiveness in some sectors. The United States is the largest bilateral donor to the Dominican Republic, with U.S. assistance totaling an estimated $49 million in FY2010. [...] This report provides background information on current political and economic conditions in the Dominican Republic, as well as an overview of some of the key issues in U.S.-Dominican relations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seelke, Clare Ribando
2010-11-01
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Seismic Waves: Seismic Safety Secures a Share of Stimulus Spending
Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The topic in this edition of Seismic Waves is how seismic safety secures a share of stimulus spending. "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was enacted, in part, to spur technological advances and infrastructure improvements that will provide long-term economic benefits for the Nation. Several agencies participating in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) received ARRA funding to achieve those goals through earthquake-related research and infrastructure. Three NEHRP agencies--the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)--have enabled and targeted ARRA support for earthquake risk reduction, each in its own way. While USGS funding was specifically directed toward infrastructure improvements, NIST and NSF have also expanded funding opportunities for basic and applied research."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2010-11
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Evaluation of the FEMA P-695 Methodology for Quantification of Building Seismic Performance Factors
"The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) report, FEMA P-695 Quantification of Building Seismic Performance Factors (FEMA 2009), outlines a procedural methodology for establishing global seismic performance factors (SPFs), including the response modification coefficient (R factor), the system overstrength factor […], and deflection amplification factor (Cd). These factors are fundamentally critical in the specification of seismic design loading. The ability to accurately and reliably quantify these factors is important for new seismic force-resisting systems being proposed for adoption, as well as for established systems currently allowed in national model building codes and standards. In 2007, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated a project to investigate the FEMA P-695 Methodology in its final stages of development. Performed by the NEHRP Consultants Joint Venture, a partnership of the Applied Technology Council (ATC) and the Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE), this work was an extension of work conducted under the FEMA-funded ATC-63 Project. Although the ATC-63 Project included testing of the Methodology on selected systems, the purpose of this NIST project was to expand the testing of the Methodology to additional seismic forceresisting systems. This report presents the results of expanded testing of the FEMA P-695 Methodology, summarizes findings and conclusions for the systems studied, and provides recommendations for possible improvement of the Methodology and further study related to the specification and use of seismic performance factors in seismic design codes and standards."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.); National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)
2010-11
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Emergency Medical Services Agency Draft: Pediatric/Neonatal Disaster and Medical Surge Plan and Preparedness Toolkit
"The events of the Katrina Hurricane (2008), H1N1 Pandemic Flu (2009), and Haiti Earthquake (2010) demonstrate the need for a strong collaborative approach integrating newborns, infants and children into disaster planning. The resources required for the care of neonates and children are limited and regionally distributed. Successful neonatal and pediatric all-hazard preparedness relies on a strong network of committed public health agencies, emergency medical services, hospitals and communities. First steps to effective response include preserving bed capacity, competency and equipment to support a system of emergency care for infants and children within the county under normal conditions."
Contra Costa County (Calif.). Health Services Department
2010-11
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Draft Environmental Assessment: DeKalb South Wireless Communications Tower: DeKalb, Kemper County, Mississippi
"This Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the President's Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508), and FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency] regulations implementing NEPA (44 CFR Part 10). FEMA is required to consider potential environmental impacts before funding or approving actions and projects. The purpose of this EA is to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed construction of a communications tower facility. FEMA will use the findings in this EA to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The purpose of the MSWIN [Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network] is to establish a better communications network for State system users, varying from public safety to governmental executive and administrative personnel to road maintenance crews. The MSWIN network would also be used extensively during life threatening conditions and emergency situations. Flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural or man-made catastrophes often require effective wide-area, interoperable communications. Following Hurricane Katrina, there was a significant lack of communication or communication delays between government agencies due to inadequate coverage or inadequate capacity-handling capabilities. A high degree of redundancy and fail-safe design is essential to the success of this project since communications within the State of Mississippi are most critical when they are most susceptible to failure."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-11
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Draft Environmental Assessment: Ackerman Wireless Communications Tower: Ackerman, Choctaw County, Mississippi
"This Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the President's Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508), and FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency] regulations implementing NEPA (44 CFR Part 10). FEMA is required to consider potential environmental impacts before funding or approving actions and projects. The purpose of this EA is to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed construction of a communications tower facility. FEMA will use the findings in this EA to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The purpose of the MSWIN [Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network] is to establish a better communications network for State system users, varying from public safety to governmental executive and administrative personnel to road maintenance crews. The MSWIN network would also be used extensively during life threatening conditions and emergency situations. Flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural or man-made catastrophes often require effective wide-area, interoperable communications. Following Hurricane Katrina, there was a significant lack of communication or communication delays between government agencies due to inadequate coverage or inadequate capacity-handling capabilities. A high degree of redundancy and fail-safe design is essential to the success of this project since communications within the State of Mississippi are most critical when they are most susceptible to failure."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-11
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Foreign Disaster Response: Joint Task Force-Haiti Observations
"The devastation in Haiti caused by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on 12 January 2010 prompted the longest and largest U.S. military effort in a foreign disaster relief operation. The earthquake destroyed vast areas of Port-au-Prince, the nation's capital, as well as a number of communities to the west of the capital, killing an estimated 230,000 persons and leaving thousands trapped in the wreckage and over two million without shelter. At the peak of Operation Unified Response, 1 February 2010, Joint Task Force-Haiti (JTF-H) consisted of over 22,000 service members, 58 aircraft, and 23 ships. With the stand-down of JTF-H on 1 June, Operation Unified Response lasted nearly five months. This article contains our initial observations and recommendations to after action reviews and lessons that our military and interagency community should learn from as we prepare for the next foreign disaster."
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Elledge, Matthew G.; Keen, P.K. (Ken); Nolan, Charles W.
2010-11
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Draft Environmental Assessment: Ashcroft Wireless Communications Tower: Amory, Monroe County, Mississippi
"This Environmental Assessment has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the President's Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500-1508), and FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency] regulations implementing NEPA (44 CFR Part 10). FEMA is required to consider potential environmental impacts before funding or approving actions and projects. The purpose of this EA is to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed construction of a communications tower facility. FEMA will use the findings in this EA to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The purpose of the MSWIN [Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network] is to establish a better communications network for State system users, varying from public safety to governmental executive and administrative personnel to road maintenance crews. The MSWIN network would also be used extensively during life threatening conditions and emergency situations. Flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural or man-made catastrophes often require effective wide-area, interoperable communications. Following Hurricane Katrina, there was a significant lack of communication or communication delays between government agencies due to inadequate coverage or inadequate capacity-handling capabilities. A high degree of redundancy and fail-safe design is essential to the success of this project since communications within the State of Mississippi are most critical when they are most susceptible to failure."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2010-11
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Outbreak Notice: Cholera in Haiti
"An epidemic cholera strain has been confirmed in Haiti, causing the first cholera outbreak in Haiti in many years. Cholera is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. The disease is most often spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water. Water may be contaminated by the feces of an infected person or by untreated sewage. Food is often contaminated by water containing cholera bacteria or because it was handled by a person ill with cholera. The majority of cases have been reported in the Artibonite Departmente, approximately 50 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Affected hospitals are being strained by the large number of people who are ill. This outbreak is of particular concern given the current conditions in Haiti, including poor water and sanitation, a strained public health infrastructure, and large numbers of people displaced by the January earthquake and more recent flooding. The World Health Organization, along with a number of international agencies, is mobilizing to assist local and national response efforts."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2010-10-23
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American Samoa 2009 Earthquake and Tsunami: After Action Report
"This report addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's response to the 2009 earthquake and resultant tsunami in
American Samoa. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant
agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents. [...] In the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in American
Samoa, we deployed an Emergency Management Oversight Team
to American Samoa in November 2009. The team's objectives
were to: (1) promote accountability by instituting measures and
processes to evaluate the actions of federal emergency
management professionals; (2) serve as an independent entity for
oversight of response and recovery activities; and (3) review the
Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the disaster."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-10
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Annual Report of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program for Fiscal Year 2009
"Public Law 108--360 requires that NEHRP [National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program] annual reports include, for each agency participating in the program and for each program 'activity' defined in the legislation, a program budget for the current fiscal year and a proposed program budget for the next fiscal year. […] The remaining activity, concerning the development, operation, and maintenance of NEHRP facilities, was incorporated directly into the plan."
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)
2010-10
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American Samoa 2009 Earthquake and Tsunami: After-Action Report
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) report "addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the 2009 earthquake and resultant tsunami in American Samoa. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents. [...] In the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa, [the OIG] deployed an Emergency Management Oversight Team to American Samoa in November 2009. The team's objectives were to: (1) promote accountability by instituting measures and processes to evaluate the actions of federal emergency management professionals; (2) serve as an independent entity for oversight of response and recovery activities; and (3) review the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to the disaster."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2010-10
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Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations [September 22, 2010]
"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
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Supply and Demand: The Case for Community Medical Resiliency
"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
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Defense: FY2011 Authorization and Appropriations [September 17, 2010]
"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
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Temporary Protected Status: Current Immigration Policy and Issues [September 9, 2010]
"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
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Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [September 1, 2010]
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
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Natural Hazards and Sustainability for Residential Buildings
"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
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DOE New Madrid Seismic Zone Electric Utility Workshop Summary Report
"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
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HAZ Haiti: Implementing the HAZUS Earthquake Model for Haiti
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
