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• ShakeMap- A Tool for Earthquake Response

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  "Immediately following an earthquake, emergency managers must make quick response decisions using limited information. Automatically and rapidly generated computer maps of the intensity of ground shaking (ShakeMaps) are now available for California within about 10 minutes of an earthquake. This quick, accurate, and important information can aid in making the most effective use of emergency-response resources."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  2003-09
• National Construction Safety Team Act, Requirements and Discussion

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  Historically in the U.S., building failures that have "resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential for substantial loss of life" have occurred less than once per year. This is likely to continue except for terrorist acts. The number of fatalities considered to be "substantial" will depend on the nature of the event, its impact, its unusual character, historical norms, and other pertinent factors. This document outlines the requirements of the National Construction Safety Team Act, as well as conditions for establishing a team. These conditions are outlined as follows: 1. The event was: a major failure due to an extreme natural event (earthquake, hurricane, tornado, flood, etc.); a fire resulting in major damage/destruction and/or spread beyond the building of origin; a major building failure at significantly less than its design basis; an act of terrorism or other event with a Presidential declaration of disaster and activation of the Federal Response Plan; and 2. An investigation will likely result in knowledge needed to reduce public risk and economic losses from future building failures.

  National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)

  Hill, James Edward

  2003-08-26
• Disaster Response and Evacuation User Service: An Addendum to the ITS Program Plan

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  "The surface transportation system plays a crucial role in responding to natural disasters, terrorist acts, and other catastrophic events. The Disaster Response and Evacuation (DRE) User Service uses intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to enhance the ability of the surface transportation system to respond to and recover from such disasters. The user service provides enhanced access to the scene for response personnel and resources, provides better information about the transportation system in the vicinity of the disaster, and provides more efficient, safer evacuation for the general public if needed. In addition, the transportation system includes a wealth of trained professionals and resources that constitute a portion of the disaster response. Use of ITS to prioritize, allocate, and track these personnel and resources also provides a more effective response to disasters. All types of disasters are considered in this user service including natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, winter storms, tsunamis, etc.) and technological and man-made disasters (hazardous materials incidents, nuclear power plant accidents, and national security emergencies such as terrorism, nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological weapons attacks terrorist acts.). The basic ITS capabilities for disaster response and evacuation are essentially the same in all of these scenarios, although specific disasters do have unique characteristics (e.g., the amount of warning available, responder risks, local site management (is it a crime scene?), chances for secondary events, recovery operations required, scope and scale of the damage). Broad inter-agency coordination is critical in disaster scenarios, with transportation professionals performing well-defined roles in the larger context of the multi-agency response to the disaster."

  United States. Department of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  2003-07-15
• Making Ports and Harbors More Resilient to Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards

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  "Over the past decade, the threat of very large earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest has been well documented by the scientific community. Such events pose significant threats to coastal communities, including a potential for significant loss of life and damage to public and private infrastructure and property. Damage could result from numerous earthquake-related hazards, such as severe ground shaking, soil liquefaction, landslides, and tsunami inundation. Because of their geographic location, ports and harbors are highly vulnerable to these hazards. This is problematic because ports are centers for much of the economic and social activity of coastal communities, and are also expected to be vital as post-event, response and recovery transportation links. Increasing the resiliency of port and harbor communities to earthquake and tsunami hazards is thus a high priority. To address this issue, a collaborative, multi-year research, planning, and outreach initiative involving Oregon Sea Grant, Washington Sea Grant, the NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] Coastal Services Center, and the USGS [United States Geological Survey] Center for Science Policy was begun in early 2000 to increase the resiliency of Pacific Northwest ports and harbors to earthquake and tsunami hazards. Two pilot demonstration projects, one in Yaquina Bay, Oregon and the other in Sinclair Inlet, Washington are almost concluded at this date. Specific products of this project include a regional stakeholder issues and needs assessment, a community-based mitigation planning process aimed at port and harbor resources, a GIS -based [geographic information system] vulnerability assessment methodology, a regional data archive, and an educational web-site."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Coastal Services Center (U.S.)

  Goodwin, Robert F.

  2003-07
• ANSS-Reducing the Devastating Effects of Earthquakes

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  "In light of a dramatic national increase in monetary losses from earthquakes in the last two decades, the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) is being designed to integrate, modernize, standardize, and expand operations of seismic networks in the United States. The ANSS will improve ground and structural recordings of strong earthquake shaking in urban areas, providing the data necessary to improve structural safety and speed emergency response and recovery. This will improve the Nation's ability to respond effectively to damaging earthquakes, reduce monetary losses, and save lives."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  2003-05
• Remarks by Secretary Ridge to Los Angeles County First Responders [April 24, 2003]

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  This transcript includes the April 24, 2003 remarks of Secretary Ridge to Los Angeles County First Responders. "Los Angeles County has long known the importance of comprehensive emergency planning and management. You operate under an 'all-hazards' approach, based on lessons learned from mobilizing for natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires and floods. That's the right approach. Your cities get regular emergency management training and participate in countywide exercises. Let me also say a word about your Terrorism Early Warning Group. It is a model for other cities and states. I am really looking forward to seeing the operation up close later today. And you've involved the public through education and training campaigns for students as well as adults. LAPD Chief Bill Bratton often speaks about 'tipping point' leadership - meaning that once the minds and energies of a critical mass of people are engaged behind an idea, fundamental change will come swiftly. Our job is to engage this 'critical mass' of people in their own protection. It's still early. But based on the progress we've made together, I believe we're well on our way to finding that 'tipping' point where we start going on offense instead of only playing defense. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for helping us attain that level."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2003-04-24
• Flood Information Tool User Manual, Revision 7

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  "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), has developed a standardized, nationally-applicable natural hazards loss estimation methodology. This methodology is implemented through PC-based geographic information system (GIS) software called HAZUS MH. HAZUS MH applies a multi-hazard methodology, with models for estimating potential losses from earthquake, flood (riverine and coastal), and wind (hurricanes) hazards. The flood loss estimation methodology consists of two basic analytical processes: flood hazard analysis and flood loss estimation analysis. Flood hazards in the FIT are divided into riverine and coastal. In the riverine hazard module, characteristics such as frequency, discharge, and terrain elevation are used to model the spatial variation in flood elevation and flood depth. In the coastal hazard module, characteristics such as frequency, stillwater elevations, wave conditions, and terrain information are used to model the spatial variation in flood-induced erosion, flood elevation, and flood depth. The Flood Information Tool (FIT) is an ArcGIS extension designed to process user-supplied flood hazard data into the format required by the HAZUS MH Flood Model. The FIT, when given user-supplied inputs (e.g., ground elevations, flood elevations, and floodplain boundary information), computes the extent, depth and elevation of flooding for riverine and coastal hazards. An overall schematic of the FIT is provided in Figure 1-1 showing some of the types of data input that users may have and the FIT output (depth of flooding)."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2003-04-01
• Serial No. 108-13: H.R. 1280 - The Defense Production Act: Reauthorization of 2003: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology of the Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, March 19, 2003

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  In 2001, when my city of New York was attacked, the Nation responded as one with aid. Today, while individuals may have divergent rules about war, we are united in hope for the well being of our troops and the innocents in the Gulf. In the future, our Nation may again have to respond to an earthquake in California, Florida hurricane, or random terrorist strike. In all these cases, it is critical that the President is empowered to invoke the Defense Production Act. In recent years, the Act has been used by the Armed Forces in the first Gulf War, Bosnia, Kuwait and in the present conflict. During peacetime, it has been used to fortify U.S. Embassies. The use of the Act is not a political issue in the sense of whether or not the U.S. should use force. The primary sections of the bill are Title I, authorizing the President to require priority performance of contracts or commit materials to promote national defense. Title III provides the President tools to ensure the viability of U.S. industries essential to national security. This authority has been used to maintain domestic production in industries dominated by foreign companies where markets are too small to otherwise sustain an upstart company. This bill continues to gain attention in the House because the failure to reauthorize could have serious consequences given current world events, and hold implications for the direction of U.S. security policy for years to come.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2003-03-19
• Expanding and Using Knowledge to Reduce Earthquake Losses: The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, Strategic Plan 2001-2005

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  "This Strategic Plan [...] serves as an operational plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) agencies and guides Federal earthquake research, loss reduction, and mitigation efforts in the U.S. The plan articulates the mission and goals of the NEHRP, provides a framework for priority-setting and coordinating activities, and defines priority areas for the future."

  National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2003-03
• Rupture in South-Central Alaska- The Denali Fault Earthquake of 2002

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  "A powerful magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Alaska on November 3, 2002, rupturing the Earth's surface for 209 miles along the Susitna Glacier, Denali, and Totschunda Faults. Striking a sparsely populated region, it caused thousands of landslides but little structural damage and no deaths. Although the Denali Fault shifted about 14 feet beneath the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline, the pipeline did not break, averting a major economic and environmental disaster. This was largely the result of stringent design specifications based on geologic studies done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and others 30 years earlier. Studies of the Denali Fault and the 2002 earthquake will provide information vital to reducing losses in future earthquakes in Alaska, California, and elsewhere."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  2003-03
• Expanding and Using Knowledge to Reduce Earthquake Losses: The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, Strategic Plan, 2001-2005

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  "This Strategic Plan is submitted in response to PL 95-124 (as amended) and PL 101-614. It serves as an operational plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) agencies and guides Federal earthquake research, loss reduction, and mitigation efforts in the U.S. The plan articulates the mission and goals of the NEHRP, provides a framework for priority-setting and coordinating activities, and defines priority areas for the future. […]. The plan is also responsive to the desire of Congress that NEHRP emphasize coordination of research activities, speedy transfer of new knowledge, and implementation of the results and technologies by the user community. This plan addresses demands for greater productivity, efficiency, and accountability from the Federal government. [….]. This is a living document. Factors affecting earthquake risk reduction may change and evolve differently than expected, and therefore goals and objectives, priorities, strategies, and planning contexts may change over the life of this plan. Consequently, the plan will be reviewed biennially by the participating agencies to assess the status of implementation and refine or revise approaches based on experience. The biennial review will coincide with the requirement for a NEHRP report to Congress. A more formal and comprehensive review, to be performed every five years, will involve internal and external stakeholders and may result in more substantive changes."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2003-03
• Talking about Disaster--Providing Safety Information to the Public

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  This guide has been developed to assist anyone providing disaster safety information to the public. The information is based on historical data for the United States and is appropriate for use in the United States. Some information may not be applicable in other countries. Users of this guide may include emergency managers, meteorologists, teachers, disaster and fire educators, public affairs/public relations personnel, mitigation specialists, media personnel, and/or any other person in the severe-weather, earthquake, disaster, or communications communities.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2003-02
• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in NEHRP- Investing in a Safer Future

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  "In 1977, Congress authorized the creation of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) to improve the Nation's understanding of earthquake hazards and to mitigate their effects. Earthquakes are the most costly natural hazard faced by the United States. Twenty-five years of work by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in close cooperation with the three other NEHRP agencies, has yielded major advances in earthquake preparedness and monitoring, as well as a vastly improved understanding of earthquake hazards, processes, and effects. The USGS is poised to build on these accomplishments, helping through NEHRP to protect lives and property in the future earthquakes that are certain to strike the United States."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  2003
• Monitoring Earthquake Shaking in Buildings to Reduce Loss of Life and Property

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  "Most loss of life and property in earthquakes is the result of damage to or collapse of buildings or other structures from strong shaking. Key to reducing such losses are recordings of structural response to damaging levels of shaking. Using these recordings, engineers can better design new buildings and strengthen existing buildings to survive future quakes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and cooperators are engaged in a national effort to acquire these critically needed strong-motion measurements in earthquake-prone urban areas."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  2003
• Flotilla Hurricane and Disaster Contingency Plan

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  "This plan describes Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla preparedness, training and response operations for severe heavy weather, including hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, and the appropriate deployment of Coast Guard Auxiliary resources which may be executed in conjunction with other Coast Guard units or separately."

  United States. Coast Guard

  2003
• Multi-hazard Loss Estimation Methodology, Earthquake Model: HAZUS-MH MR1, Advanced Engineering Building Module: Technical and User's Manual

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  "This manual describes procedures for developing building-specific damage and loss functions with the Advanced Engineering Building Module (AEBM). The AEBM procedures are an extension of the more general methods of the FEMA/NIBS earthquake loss estimation methodology (HAZUS) and provide damage and loss functions compatible with current HAZUSMH Software. Kircher & Associates working for the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has developed these procedures under agreements between NIBS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The procedures have been pilot tested and reviewed by NIBS' Earthquake Committee and Building Damage Subcommittee. HAZUS damage and loss functions for generic model building types are considered to be reliable predictors of earthquake effects for large groups of buildings that include both above median and below median cases. They may not, however, be very good predictors for a specific building or a particular type of building that is known to have an inherent weakness or earthquake vulnerability (e.g., W1 buildings with weak cripple walls would be expected to perform much worse than typical wood- frame buildings). For mitigation purposes, it is desirable that users be able to create building-specific damage and loss functions that could be used to assess losses for an individual building (or group of similar buildings) both in their existing condition and after some amount of seismic rehabilitation. The term 'building-specific' distinguishes the development of damage and loss functions, as described in this manual, from the 'generic' building functions of HAZUS. Building-specific damage and loss functions are based on the properties of a particular building. The particular building of interest could be either an individual building or a typical building representing a group of buildings of an archetype."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2003-01
• Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: Cross Cutting Study

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  This report documents the actions taken by transportation agencies in response to catastrophic events as an overall effort to examine the impacts of different types of events on transportation system facilities and services. The findings and conclusions documented in this report are a result of the creation of a detailed chronology of events, a literature search, and interviews of key personnel involved in transportation operations decisionmaking for four events: ·New York City, September 11, 2001 - terrorist attack ·Washington, D.C., September 11, 2001 - terrorist attack ·Baltimore, Maryland, July 18, 2001 - rail tunnel fire ·Northridge, California, January 17, 1994 - earthquake The event summaries and findings for New York City and Northridge, Calif., are adapted from the case studies prepared by the Volpe Center study team consisting of Allan J. DeBlasio, the project manager; Robert Brodesky, Amanda Zamora, and Fred Mottley from EG&G Technical Services; Margaret E. Zirker and Michelle Crowder from Cambridge Systematics Inc.; and Terrance J. Regan, Kathleen Bagdonas, and Dan Morin from Planners Collaborative. The summaries and findings of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are adapted from case studies done by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). The SAIC study team consisted of Mark Carter, the project manager; Mark P. Howard; Nicholas Owens; David Register; Jason Kennedy; Aaron Newton; and Kelley Pecheux. Vince Pearce is the U.S. DOT task manager of both the cross-cutting study and the case studies review.

  United States. Department of Transportation. Research and Special Programs Administration

  2003-01
• CDC Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response: Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)

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  "CDC's Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. Once Federal and local authorities agree that the SNS is needed, medicines will be delivered to any state in the U.S. in time for them to be effective. Each state has plans to receive and distribute SNS medicine and medical supplies to local communities as quickly as possible."

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

  2002-12-08
• Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation of School Buildings (K-12)

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  "This manual provides school administrators with the information necessary to assess the seismic vulnerability of their buildings, and to implement a program of incremental seismic rehabilitation for those buildings. The manual consists of three parts: Part A, Critical Decisions for Earthquake Safety in Schools, is for superintendents, board members, business managers, principals, and other policy makers who will decide on allocating resources for earthquake mitigation. Part B, Managing the Process for Earthquake Risk Reduction in Existing School Buildings, is for school district facility managers, risk managers, and financial managers who will initiate and manage seismic mitigation measures. Part C, Tools for Implementing Incremental Seismic Rehabilitation in School Buildings, is for school district facility managers, or those otherwise responsible for facility management, who will implement incremental seismic rehabilitation programs."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2002-12
• Personnel Recall Procedures

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  "The problem was that Pike Township Fire Department had no procedures for the recall of off-duty personnel. The purpose of this research paper was to develop a Standard Operating Guideline for the recall of off-duty personnel. The research questions were: 1. Under what circumstances might the recall of off-duty personnel be necessary? 2. How should the implementation of an off-duty personnel recall be accomplished? 3. What components would be included in a Standard Operating Guideline for the recall of off-duty personnel? Research verified that Pike Township could suffer the effects of tornados, earthquakes, floods, civil disturbances, terrorism, and large-scale long-term incidents. Depending on the incident, the need for resources increase with incident severity. At some point, available on-duty resources may become exhausted, thus requiring replenishment by the recall of off-duty personnel. Review of references identified that varying levels of recall be established. The most common levels addressed were limited recall, single-shift recall, and total personnel recall. Once the recall level was determined, through the use of an up-to-date recall list notification of personnel could proceed. Methods of notification included telephone, personal pagers, and the use of both radio and television media. A comparison chart of Standard Operating Procedures was used to assist in determining what components should be included in a Standard Operating Guideline specific to Pike Township Fire Department."

  National Fire Academy

  Cave, Arthur K.

  2002-12
• President Orders Federal Aid for Alaska [November 12, 2002]

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  The President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Alaska and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by an earthquake on November 3, 2002, and continuing.

  United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary

  2002-11-12
• HAZUS-MH and Technological Hazards

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  These slides are from a presentation about Hazards U.S. Multi-Hazard, or HAZUS-MH. "HAZUS-MH is the cutting-edge software model at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for estimating losses that may occur if disasters (floods, earthquakes and hurricanes) happen." It allows officials to: "1: Assess level of readiness and preparedness to deal with a disaster in a given region within the U.S. (before the disaster hits); 2: Decide on how to allocate resources for most effective and efficient response and recovery when a disaster hits a certain region; [and] 3: Prioritize the mitigation measures that need to be implemented to reduce future losses." This presentation includes an overview of HASUS-MH, a walkthrough, and a section about related technological hazards.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Bouabid, Jawhar

  2002-11-04
• Fire Department Hazard Mitigation Planning

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  "Fire departments are impacted by the same disasters that affect their community. Floods, earthquakes, hazardous materials spills, terrorist attacks, and others can have a devastating effect on departments. The impacts are reduced or eliminated through a process called hazard mitigation planning. The problem was that the Federal Way Fire Department didn't have a hazard mitigation plan. Development and implementation of a hazard mitigation plan will reduce or eliminate potential damage to the department. Federal Way didn't know what risks it is facing, and hasn't done anything to reduce the impacts of those risks. The purpose of this research was to identify the benefits and components of a hazard mitigation plan. It was anticipated that the Federal Way Fire Department would develop a plan, improving the department's ability to survive the next major incident. Other fire departments may utilize this format to develop their own hazard mitigation plans. Action research methods were used to answer the following questions: 1. What is a hazard mitigation plan? 2. What are the benefits of having a hazard mitigation plan? 3. How are the appropriate hazards identified for inclusion into a plan? 4. What elements should be included in a hazard mitigation plan? Procedures used in this research included a literature review, fire department survey, and study of applicable standards, laws and other guidelines. The results of this research included confirmation that mitigation planning has many benefits to fire departments. Mitigation planning reduces the impacts from natural, and man made disasters, and ensures fire departments are eligible for federal reimbursement for response and recovery. It is recommended the Federal Way Fire Department develop a hazard mitigation plan for its facilities, properties and personnel. The department should follow the requirements outlined in Appendix A as it develops the hazard mitigation plan."

  National Fire Academy

  Thorson, Jerry E.

  2002-10
• Authority of FEMA to Provide Disaster Assistance to Seattle Hebrew Academy, Memorandum Opinion for the General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency [September 25, 2002]

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  "The Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 and its implementing regulations permit FEMA to provide federal disaster assistance for the reconstruction of Seattle Hebrew Academy, a private religious school that was damaged in an earthquake in 2001. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment does not pose a barrier to the Academy's receipt of such aid."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of Legal Counsel

  2002-09-25
• Patriot's Progress: September 11 and Freedom in America

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  Anything can happen. It was the lesson of September 11. Where were you on September 11? More to the point, where were you on September 10? The sudden movements of life, like those of the free mind, remain out of our control. Patriotism itself in the free country is out of control--anger, grief, sympathy, mutual appreciation, criticism, self-doubt, amusement, swerving to dreaminess, and individual independence. What can happen to a nation can happen to a state of mind, particularly in a country that is created out of a state of mind. If we were learning anything so far, it was that freedom was more difficult and complicated than we had ever dreamed. Where were we in our own country? Where were we in relation to the rest of the world? We do not like to think about the rest of the world very much. Big business likes to think of the world as customers. But for the rest of us, the great wide world has merely become the place where floods and earthquakes happen far away, especially since Russia has transmogrified from menace to (sort of) friend. If we had been more aware of the Muslim world, people told us, we could have anticipated September 11, if not prevented it. If we were more aware of our enemies in the world, we were told, we could raise them from poverty and from their ignorance about us--how wonderful we are, when you get to know us, how decent, fair-minded, how playful. In sum, our alertness to the conditions and attitudes of the wider world probably did nothing to draw us closer to it--except, in the most watery wishful thinking. America, we concluded, and rightly in my view, did nothing to deserve the murderous attacks on our people. If education would help in the future, by all means, let's all get educated. But that was a separable matter from the mad decisions of zealots. We are sure that we mean something worthwhile to ourselves and to others, that we have good reasons to survive and to triumph, and we will look for more.

  United States. Department of State

  Rosenblatt, Roger

  2002-09
• Mitigation Ideas: Possible Mitigation Measures by Hazard Type

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  "Hazard mitigation refers to any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazardous conditions. The following list of possible hazard mitigation measures for communities is compiled from experience and discussion within the states of FEMA Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The list of hazard types and ideas starts generally with coverage of natural hazards, such as flood or earthquake. These are followed by types of man-made and technological hazards. As extensive as this list is, it does not preclude other ideas for activities to save lives and prevent or reduce damages in the future. Many of the ideas are developed in other FEMA publications, including www.fema.gov, as well as in publications of other federal and state agencies."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2002-09
• CBO Study: Federal Reinsurance for Disasters

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  "The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, inflicted enormous personal and property losses on the United States. Insurance payments for economic losses on that day will surpass $30 billion and could top $50 billion. Among the many adverse economic effects that resulted from the attacks is a continuing shortage of insurance against losses of property from terrorism. Coverage is difficult to obtain, especially for buildings or sites that are landmarks; where coverage is available, prices are high and restrictions are numerous. Policymakers have developed two types of federal proposals to increase the supply of property and casualty insurance. Under one set of options, which was created following Hurricane Andrew in August 1992 and the Northridge earthquake in January 1994, the federal government would auction reinsurance contracts to primary insurance companies and state-sponsored insurers. Reinsurance is an established practice among private insurers. By buying reinsurance, primary insurers spread the risk of loss more widely and strengthen their ability to insure against catastrophes. The intent of those proposals is to offer federal reinsurance when coverage is in short supply, at market prices that are expected to cover the government's costs. By contrast, under proposals developed since September 11, the government would pay for most losses from a terrorist attack directly, without reimbursement or with only partial reimbursement. Even though one type of proposal was created in response to natural disasters and the other from an act of terrorism, both types could be considered viable alternatives, whatever the source of catastrophic loss."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2002-09
• Mount Mazama and Crater Lake: Growth and Destruction of a Cascade Volcano

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  "For more than 100 years, scientists have sought to unravel the remarkable story of Crater Lake's formation. Before Crater Lake came into existence, a cluster of volcanoes dominated the landscape. This cluster, called Mount Mazama (for the Portland, Oregon, climbing club the Mazamas),was destroyed during an enormous explosive eruption 7,700 years ago. So much molten rock was expelled that the summit area collapsed during the eruption to form a large volcanic depression, or caldera. Subsequent smaller eruptions occurred as water began to fill the caldera to eventually form the deepest lake in the United States. Decades of detailed scientific studies of Mount Mazama and new maps of the floor of Crater Lake reveal stunning details of the volcano's eruptive history and identify potential hazards from future eruptions and earthquakes."

  United States. Department of the Interior; Geological Survey (U.S.)

  Klimasauskas, Ed; Bacon, Charles; Alexander, Jim

  2002-08
• Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: Baltimore, MD-Howard Street Tunnel Fire-July 18, 2001

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  "This report documents the actions taken by transportation agencies in response to the earthquake in Northridge, California on January 17, 1994, and is part of a larger effort to examine the impacts of catastrophic events on transportation system facilities and services. The findings documented in this report are a result of a detailed literature search on Northridge lessons learned."

  United States. Department of Transportation

  2002-07
• Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations, Northridge Earthquake - January 17, 1994

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  "This report documents the actions taken by transportation agencies in response to the earthquake in Northridge, California on January 17, 1994 [...]. The findings documented in this report are a result of a detailed literature search on Northridge lessons learned."

  United States. Department of Transportation

  2002-04-22