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• Civil Support: Actions Are Needed to Improve DOD's Planning for a Complex Catastrophe, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  "The United States continues to face an uncertain and complicated security environment, as major disasters and emergencies, such as the Boston Marathon bombings and Hurricane Sandy illustrate. DOD supports civil authorities' response to domestic incidents through an array of activities collectively termed civil support. In July 2012, DOD began to plan for federal military support during a complex catastrophe--such as a large earthquake that causes extraordinary levels of casualties or damage, and cascading failures of critical infrastructure. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to assess DOD's planning and capabilities for a complex catastrophe. This report assesses the extent to which DOD has (1) planned for and identified capabilities to respond to complex catastrophes, and (2) established a command and control construct for complex catastrophes and other multistate incidents. To do so, GAO analyzed civil support plans, guidance, and other documents, and interviewed DOD and FEMA officials. GAO recommends that combatant commands (1) work through the defense coordinating officers to develop an interim set of specific DOD capabilities that could be provided to prepare for and respond to complex catastrophes, as FEMA completes its five-year regional planning cycle; and (2) develop, clearly define, communicate, and implement a construct for the command and control of federal military forces during multistate civil support incidents such as complex catastrophes. DOD concurred with both recommendations."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2013-09
• Latin America and the Caribbean: Key Issues for the 113th Congress [August 9, 2013]

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  "U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere are diverse, and include economic, political, security, and humanitarian concerns. Geographic proximity has ensured strong economic linkages between the United States and the region, with the United States being the major trading partner and largest source of foreign investment for many countries. Free trade agreements (FTAs) have augmented U.S. economic relations with 11 countries in the region. Latin American nations, primarily Mexico and Venezuela, supply the United States with almost one-third of its imported crude oil. The Western Hemisphere is also the largest source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal, with geographic proximity and economic conditions being major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America and the Caribbean has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region and a major interest of Congress for some three decades, and in recent years has included close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking and related violence. With the exception of Cuba, the region has made enormous strides in terms of democratic political development over the past three decades, but the rise of undemocratic practices in several countries, especially Venezuela, has been a U.S. concern. The United States has often taken the lead in responding to natural disasters in the region, as was demonstrated once again in the aftermath of Haiti's catastrophic 2010 earthquake."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.

  2013-08-09
• Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [August 2, 2013]

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  "Japan is a significant partner for the United States in a number of foreign policy areas, particularly in terms of security priorities, from hedging against Chinese military modernization to countering threats from North Korea. The post-World War II alliance has long been an anchor of the U.S. security role in Asia. The alliance facilitates the forward deployment of about 49,000 U.S. troops and other U.S. military assets based in Japan in the Asia-Pacific. Until the recent parliamentary elections, Japan struggled to find political stability. Since 2007, six men have been prime minister, including the current premier Shinzo Abe, who also held the post in 2006-2007. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) returned to power in a landslide election in December 2012, and cemented their power in parliamentary elections in July 2013. Japan's leaders face daunting tasks: an increasingly assertive China, a weak economy, and rebuilding from the devastating March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. In recent years, opposition control of one chamber of parliament has paralyzed policymaking in Tokyo and made U.S.-Japan relations difficult to manage despite overall shared national interests. Abe is now more free to pursue controversial initiatives that the United States has encouraged such as joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact and increasing its military's capabilities and flexibility."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Cooper, William H., 1949- . . .

  2013-08-02
• Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [July 18, 2013]

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  "Close to 75 million people in 39 states face some risk from earthquakes. Earthquake hazards are greatest in the western United States, particularly in California, but also in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Earthquake hazards are also prominent in the Rocky Mountain region and the New Madrid Seismic Zone (a portion of the central United States), as well as in portions of the eastern seaboard, particularly South Carolina. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), the federal government supports efforts to assess and monitor earthquake hazards and risk in the United States. Given the potentially huge costs associated with a large, damaging earthquake in the United States, an ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported earthquake programs are appropriate for the earthquake risk. This report discusses: [1] earthquake hazards and risk in the United States, [2] federal programs that support earthquake monitoring, [3] the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings, and [4] federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)

  2013-07-18
• Trafficking in Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean [July 15, 2013]

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  "Trafficking in persons (TIP) is considered to be one of today's leading criminal enterprises and is believed to affect virtually all countries around the globe. Despite limited data on the nature and severity of the problem, the U.S. government has cited estimates that some 27 million men, women, and children may be victims of trafficking at any given time. In 2012, the International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that there were some 20.9 million victims of forced labor at any given point in the period 2002-2011, including trafficking victims. The accuracy of these and other estimates, however, is difficult to assess given the clandestine nature of the crime. Internal trafficking generally flows from rural to urban or tourist centers within a given country, while trafficking across international borders generally flows from developing to developed nations. Countries are generally described as source, transit, or destination countries for TIP victims. Many experts conclude that a country is more likely to become a source of human trafficking if it has recently experienced political upheaval, armed conflict, economic crisis, or natural disaster. For example, the hundreds of thousands of Haitian children who were orphaned or abandoned after a catastrophic earthquake hit that country in January 2010 proved vulnerable to trafficking. […] This report describes the nature and scope of the problem of trafficking in persons in Latin America and the Caribbean. It then describes U.S. efforts to deal with trafficking in persons in the region, as well as discusses the successes and failures of some recent country and regional anti-trafficking efforts. The report concludes by raising issues that may be helpful for the 113th Congress to consider as it continues to address human trafficking as part of its authorization, appropriations, and oversight activities."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2013-07-15
• National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [July 9, 2013]

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  "Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. Better coordination was a concern that led to changes to the program in legislation enacted in 2004 (P.L. [Public Law] 108-360). P.L. 108-360 authorized appropriations for NEHRP through FY2009. Total funding enacted from reauthorization through FY2009 was $613.2 million, approximately 68% of the total amount of $902.4 million authorized by P.L. 108-360. Although authorization for appropriations expired in 2009, Congress has continued to appropriate funds for NEHRP activities. NEHRP agencies spent $125.5 million for program activities in FY2012, slightly less than FY2011 spending of $126.6 million. Also, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA; P.L. 111-5) provided some additional funding for earthquake activities under NEHRP. What effect funding at the levels enacted through FY2013 under NEHRP has had on the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and minimize losses after an earthquake occurs is difficult to assess. The effectiveness of the NEHRP program is a perennial issue for Congress: it is inherently difficult to capture precisely, in terms of dollars saved or fatalities prevented, the effectiveness of mitigation measures taken before an earthquake occurs. A major earthquake in a populated urban area within the United States would cause damage, and in question is how much damage would be prevented by mitigation strategies underpinned by the NEHRP program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)

  2013-07-09
• 'LLIS.gov' Resource Compilation for the 20 May 2013 Oklahoma Tornado: Housing Issues and Solutions

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  "The 'LLIS.gov' [Lessons Learned Information Sharing] team has compiled various resources to help support efforts and initiatives focused on preparedness, response, and recovery following the May 20, 2013, Oklahoma Tornado. These resources are topic-specific and have been analyzed in order to provide support during the tornado response. More than 10,000 homes were damages or destroyed by the May 20, 2013, tornado, leaving many individuals and families in need of housing assistance. A variety of national and local organizations are in the process of providing temporary and transitional housing to Moore, OK, residents whose homes have been heavily damaged or destroyed. The 'LLIS.gov' team found that following many recent disasters, innovative housing techniques and solutions were formulated and implemented to serve displaced residents. These disasters include Hurricane Sandy and the Japan earthquake and tsunami."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2013-06-18
• Earthquake Risk and U.S. Highway Infrastructure: Frequently Asked Questions [June 5, 2013]

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  "The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Sendai, Japan, on March 11, 2011, renewed concerns about the seismic risk to America's infrastructure, including its highways. Concerns about the U.S. highway system's seismic risk stem from interest in protecting public safety, facilitating response and recovery efforts, and minimizing economic loss and social disruption. Seismic resilience of the U.S. highway system has improved in recent decades as investments have been made to build new, more resilient infrastructure and to retrofit existing structures. However, not all existing highway infrastructure has been retrofitted, and no infrastructure can be constructed in a cost-effective manner to be immune from the most intense earthquakes, so some seismic risk to the U.S. highway system remains. Although earthquake hazards in the United States generally are well documented, little national or federal data exist about the seismic risk to U.S. highway infrastructure. Instead, seismic highway risks typically are assessed and addressed by state and local entities which are generally responsible for building and maintaining that infrastructure. The federal government supports these nonfederal efforts by providing data on the seismic hazard for different locations, assisting in the development of construction standards and guidelines, and undertaking research, training, and the development of tools to assist in risk reduction. In limited circumstances, the federal government invests directly in improving resiliency of specific highway structures. This report addresses frequently asked questions about the risk from earthquakes to highway systems, including bridges, tunnels, pavements, and other highway components. Particular attention is given to highway bridges, which often are the most vulnerable highway structures. The report also discusses federal and nonfederal actions to reduce seismic risk to the U.S. highway system. Japan is generally regarded as the country with the most earthquake-resilient infrastructure. Research into the performance of Japan's highway structures and systems during and after the massive Sendai earthquake and resulting tsunami is ongoing. Japanese and U.S. earthquake science and engineering researchers have well-established collaborations aimed at gathering empirical data and drawing lessons from significant events. It is too soon to know how the events in Japan will affect understanding of the seismic risk of U.S. highway infrastructure, and whether changes in U.S. seismic highway design standards and guidance will result."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Carter, Nicole T.; Mallett, William

  2013-06-05
• Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education

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  "Our nation's postsecondary institutions are entrusted to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for students, faculty, and staff who live, work, and study on campus. Faced with emergencies ranging from 'active shooter situations' to fires, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and pandemic influenza, this is no easy task. Many of these emergencies occur with little to no warning; therefore, it is critical for institutions of higher education (IHEs) to plan ahead to help ensure the safety and general welfare of all members of the campus community. […] Lessons learned from emergencies at IHEs highlight the importance of preparing IHE officials and first responders to implement emergency operations plans. By having plans in place to keep students and staff safe, IHEs play a key role in taking preventative and protective measures to stop an emergency from occurring or reduce the impact of an incident. When an emergency occurs, IHE personnel must respond immediately, providing first aid, notifying response partners, and providing instruction before first responders arrive. IHE officials must work with partners across the institution as well as their community partners (governmental organizations that have a responsibility in the IHE emergency operations plan) including first responders (law enforcement officers, fire department officials, and emergency medical services [EMS] personnel), emergency managers, and public health and mental health practitioners to provide a cohesive, coordinated response. It is recommended that planning teams at IHEs responsible for developing and revising a higher ed EOP [higher education Emergency Operations Plan] use this document to guide their efforts. It is recommended that IHEs compare existing plans and processes against the content and process outlined in this guide. To gain the most from it, users should read through the entire document prior to initiating their planning efforts and then refer back to it throughout the planning process."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2013-06
• Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners [June 2013]

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  "Developing and strengthening partnerships for building safer communities underlies all of the initiatives and activities carried out by FEMA in support of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). This Directory of FEMA Earthquake Partners supports those partnerships by providing contact information for more than 300 organizations and individuals involved in earthquake mitigation at the federal and state levels and in the non-governmental sector. Section II, FEMA Earthquake Partners, provides contact information (organization, web page link, name and title of key staff, staff email, and staff telephone number, when provided) for the following groups: the NEHRP Agencies; the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR); FEMA Regional and Headquarters (HQ) Earthquake Program Managers; State and Territorial Earthquake Program Managers; Regional Earthquake Consortia; Seismic Safety Commissions, Committees, and Councils; Universities and Academic Research Centers; and Non-Governmental Partners. Not every organization listed under Non-Governmental Partners has a mission based on earthquake mitigation. Some of the organizations are included because their constituents, such as homeowners, school children, and property insurers, will benefit from or have a significant interest in earthquake mitigation."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2013-06
• Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship

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  "Many people think of a house of worship as a safe area where violence and emergencies cannot affect them. However, violence in houses of worship is not a new phenomenon. In addition to violent acts, fires, tornados [sic], floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and arson also affect houses of worship. With many incidents occurring with little to no warning, many houses of worship are developing and updating plans and procedures to ensure the safety and security of their congregations, staff, and facilities. In collaboration with other houses of worship and community partners (i.e., governmental entities that have a responsibility in the plan, including first responders, public health officials, and mental health officials), houses of worship can take steps to plan for these potential emergencies through the creation of an emergency operations plan (EOP). Additionally, community organizations and private sector entities may have a role in the plan. Houses of worship are distinctive settings in that congregants share a common bond and have a predisposition to volunteer. The demographics of a congregation often mean that children and the elderly are present and may need assistance. This guide provides houses of worship with information regarding emergency operations planning for the spectrum of threats and hazards they may face. It discusses actions that may be taken before, during, and after an incident in order to reduce the impact on property and any loss of life and it encourages every house of worship to develop an EOP."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2013-06
• Seismic Waves: Bridging Boundaries to Reduce Risk

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  Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program [NEHRP]. "Earthquake risk reduction efforts are, metaphorically, all about bridge building and boundary breaking. NEHRP operates not only across multiple agencies, but also across multiple environments (natural, built, social), disciplines (earth sciences, engineering, social sciences), and interests (e.g., research, policy making, hazard mitigation, disaster response). The bridge that is the most fundamental to NEHRP is that between research and practice, mediated by public- and private-sector policy making. The Natural Hazards Center (NHC), located at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has for many years played a unique and critically important role in strengthening and sustaining this bridge for NEHRP."

  National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2013-06
• Managing Airborne Relief During International Disasters

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  From the thesis abstract: "Major rapid onset disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and terrorist acts have the ability to overwhelm even the most prepared and robust of countries. In such cases, the value of agile airborne relief from global donors cannot be overstated. Despite its usefulness however, airborne relief can create other logistical issues such as surpassing airport capacity to park and offload aircraft. Airflow management, or the ability to coordinate aircraft arrival slot times to optimize use of airport ramp space and offload capacity, is an invaluable remedy to this malady. Though local civil aviation authorities in an affected country retain responsibility for airspace/airflow management, no self-exporting civilian entity currently exists with the ability to coordinate airflow if host nation entities are unable to do so and request assistance. This paper highlights this airflow management capability gap and sets forth several alternatives for resolving this gap based on criteria obtained through the use of a case study methodology. Without an entity to assist an affected nation with airflow management (if needed and requested), smooth logistical flow of relief goods to those in need can be catastrophically impeded."

  Air Force Institute of Technology (U.S.). Graduate School of Engineering and Management

  Morales, Michael

  2013-06
• Haiti Reconstruction: USAID Infrastructure Projects Have Had Mixed Results and Face Sustainability Challenges, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  "On January 12, 2010, an earthquake in Haiti caused about 230,000 deaths, resulted in 300,000 injuries, and displaced about 2 million persons. Following immediate relief efforts, Congress provided $1.14 billion for reconstruction in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010. USAID [United States Agency for International Development] is responsible for implementing $651 million of this amount, and it has allocated about $268 million of this and other funding to construct a power plant and port to support the CIP [Caracol Industrial Park] in northern Haiti and permanent housing in several locations. The Act required State to report periodically to Congress on funding obligated and disbursed and program outputs and outcomes. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review USAID's efforts in Haiti. This report examines USAID's (1) funding obligations and disbursements and State's reports to Congress on funding and progress; (2) USAID's progress in two CIP-related activities--a power plant and port; and (3) USAID's progress in constructing permanent housing. GAO reviewed documents and interviewed U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and Haiti, and visited planned and active sites. […] Congress should consider requiring State to provide it with periodic reports on reconstruction progress, funding, and schedules until most funding for each program sector has been disbursed. Also, GAO is recommending USAID (1) hire a port engineer to oversee port planning and construction and (2) provide timely community support mechanisms for each new settlement to help ensure sustainability of its permanent housing program. USAID agreed with GAO's recommendations."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2013-06
• National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program 2013-2017 Strategic Plan

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  "The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) is a partnership between Federal and State agencies, and is designed 'to improve tsunami preparedness of at-risk areas in the United States and its territories' (Title 33 U.S.C. Ch. 45). Led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS), the NTHMP includes all 28 U.S. coastal states, territories and commonwealths, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and NOAA. This strong and active partnership enables all levels of government to work together toward the common goal of reducing tsunami losses. The NTHMP was established in 1995 by Congressional action which directed NOAA to form and lead a Federal/State working group aimed at identifying potential hazards and mitigating their risks. This action was based on increased recognition of the Cascadia tsunami threat, the April 1992 earthquake and tsunami on the Cascadia Subduction Zone in northern California, and the loss of life and property in Japan due to the 199 3 Hokkaido Nansei-Oki tsunami that devastated the island of Okushiri. These events, together with the historic Alaska tsunamis of 1946 and 1964, brought to light the general lack of tsunami preparedness and hazard assessment for the U.S. coasts and the need for significant improvement in tsunami detection and forecasting. The 2006 Tsunami Warning and Education Act (PL 109-424-TWEA) refined the NTHMP mission by focusing efforts on mitigation and preparedness activities versus detection and forecasting. This Strategic Plan describes how, over the next five years (2013-2017), the NTHMP will help U.S. coastal communities threatened by tsunami s enhance their preparedness and mitigation efforts. The plan is based on language contained within TWEA; however, modifications to the Strategic Plan may be necessary pending the outcome of TWEA reauthorization."

  National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (U.S.)

  2013-05-21
• Haiti Under President Martelly: Current Conditions and Congressional Concerns [May 10, 2013]

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  "Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Since the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, Haiti has struggled to overcome its centuries-long legacy of authoritarianism, extreme poverty, and underdevelopment. During that time, economic and social stability improved considerably, and many analysts believed Haiti was turning a corner toward sustainable development. Unfortunately, Haiti's development was set back by a massive earthquake in January 2010 that devastated much of the capital of Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country. Poverty remains massive and deep, and economic disparity is wide: Haiti remains the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Haiti is the Obama Administration's top foreign assistance priority for Latin American and Caribbean countries. Haiti's developmental needs and priorities are many. The Haitian government and the international donor community are implementing a 10-year recovery plan focusing on territorial, economic, social, and institutional rebuilding. An outbreak of cholera that began in late 2010 has swept across most of the country and further complicated assistance efforts. While some progress has been made in developing democratic institutions, they remain weak. In May 2011, following yet another controversial election, President René Préval was succeeded by Michel Martelly, a popular musician without any previous political experience. President Martelly's difficulty in forming a government and political gridlock, especially the lengthy and contentious delays in beginning a long overdue elections process, are hampering reconstruction efforts and frustrating international donors. Some steps toward elections have been made, including naming an electoral council and passing a political parties law."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Taft-Morales, Maureen

  2013-05-10
• Seismic Waves: Keeping the Containers Moving Through U.S. Ports

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  Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program [NEHRP]. "In the United States, container ports have become an important segment of the commercial infrastructure, a critical element of the economy, and a key gateway for exports and imports. However, the growing value of these facilities has generally not been accompanied by commensurate advances in their seismic risk management practices. This observation led to a major research effort initiated in 2005 by the Georgia Institute of Technology and partnering institutions. This work, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF, a NEHRP agency), significantly advanced seismic risk-assessment and risk-mitigation knowledge applicable to container ports, an effort since furthered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through its work as NEHRP's lead agency."

  National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2013-05
• Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [May 1, 2013]

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  "Japan is a significant partner for the United States in a number of foreign policy areas, particularly in terms of security priorities, from hedging against Chinese military modernization to countering threats from North Korea. The post-World War II U.S.-Japan alliance has long been an anchor of the U.S. security role in East Asia. The alliance facilitates the forward deployment of about 49,000 U.S. troops and other U.S. military assets based in Japan in the Asia-Pacific. Japan has struggled to find political stability in the past seven years. Since 2007, six men have been prime minister, including the current premier Shinzo Abe, who also held the post in 2006- 2007. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) returned to power in a landslide election in December 2012. Japan's leaders face daunting tasks: an increasingly assertive China, a weak economy, and rebuilding from the devastating March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. In recent years, opposition control of one chamber of parliament has paralyzed policymaking in Tokyo and made U.S.-Japan relations difficult to manage despite overall shared national interests. Abe is unlikely to pursue controversial initiatives before the next national elections, for the Upper House of parliament (called the Diet) in July 2013. Perhaps most significantly, the United States could become directly involved in a military conflict between Japan and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islets in the East China Sea."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Cooper, William H., 1949- . . .

  2013-05-01
• Haiti Under President Martelly: Current Conditions and Congressional Concerns [April 8, 2013]

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  "Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. Since the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship in 1986, Haiti has struggled to overcome its centuries-long legacy of authoritarianism, extreme poverty, and underdevelopment. During that time, economic and social stability improved considerably, and many analysts believed Haiti was turning a corner toward sustainable development. Unfortunately, Haiti's development was set back by a massive earthquake in January 2010 that devastated much of the capital of Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country. Poverty remains massive and deep, and economic disparity is wide: Haiti remains the poorest country in the western hemisphere. […] The main priorities for U.S. policy regarding Haiti are to strengthen fragile democratic processes, continue to improve security, and promote economic development. Other concerns include the cost and effectiveness of U.S. aid; protecting human rights; combating narcotics, arms, and human trafficking; and alleviating poverty. The Obama Administration granted Temporary Protected Status to Haitians living in the United States at the time of the earthquake. Congressional concerns include the pace and effectiveness of reconstruction, respect for human rights, security issues, counternarcotics efforts and trade issues. Congress is also concerned that overdue Senate and local elections be scheduled quickly and be free, fair, and peaceful."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Taft-Morales, Maureen

  2013-04-08
• FEMA National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2012

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  "This report describes selected FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] NEHRP [National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program] accomplishments (HQ and Regional), followed by highlights from the States and U.S. territories and organizations which received FEMA support for NEHRP activities in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. Each year, FEMA provides cooperative agreement funds to eligible States and U.S. territories with moderate to high seismic risk to mitigate those risks and reduce future losses from earthquakes. In FY 2012, FEMA awarded more than $1.7 million to 25 States and territories to support the effective implementation of earthquake risk reduction activities: earthquake training and awareness, seismic mitigation plans, property inventory, seismic safety inspections, building codes adoption, and the development of multistate groups. Organizations receiving FEMA support included the four regional earthquake consortia - Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW), Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC); Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC); and the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC); the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI); and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (FLASH). The accomplishments showcase how FEMA and its partners, working in collaboration, are continuing to make progress toward earthquake loss-reduction nationwide. Work completed in FY 2012 will help in the near term to reduce earthquake risk, and also will help to create the foundation for realizing effective outcomes in future years."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2013-04
• Exercise PACIFEX 13: Participant Handbook: A Pacific Tsunami Warning Exercise: March 27, 2013

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  From the Background: "This tsunami exercise is being conducted to assist tsunami preparedness efforts along the U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts. Historical tsunami records from sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) show that approximately 85% of the world's oceanic tsunamis occur in the Pacific Basin and surrounding seas. Tsunamis have impacted U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts several times in the past century with devastating results. Preparing and exercising emergency response plans throughout this region is an important part of tsunami preparedness. The PACIFEX13 [Pacific Exercise 13] exercise simulates a tsunami generated by a major earthquake located in the Mariana Trench subduction zone near the island of Guam in the Western Pacific." From the Purpose: "The purpose of this exercise is to improve the effectiveness of the tsunami warning system along the U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts. The exercise provides an opportunity for emergency management organizations along these coasts to exercise their operational lines of communications, review their tsunami response procedures, and promote tsunami preparedness. Regular exercising of response plans is critical to maintain readiness for an emergency. This is particularly true for tsunamis which are infrequent, but high impact events. Every coastal U.S. and Canadian Pacific emergency management organization (EMO) is encouraged to participate."

  National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (U.S.); United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2013-03-27
• Seismic Waves: Getting in GEER for New Zealand

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  Seismic Waves is a newsletter published by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program [NEHRP]. "Soon after the deadly February 22, 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, a team of engineers from that country and the United States surveyed the geotechnical effects of this event. Their focus was on the characteristics of affected soils, how the soils responded to earthquake shaking, and how these responses affected buildings and lifelines. Due to a confluence of factors, the geotechnical effects produced by this magnitude 6.2 earthquake were of immense significance. U.S. participation in this joint reconnaissance was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF, a NEHRP member agency), and coordinated by the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association, an NSF-supported association of geotechnical and geological experts from academia, industry, and government (www.geerassociation.org). As in other disasters, GEER's approach in New Zealand was to offer supplemental assistance to the local experts involved. By sharing the load, GEER helps to ensure that the geotechnical engineering community worldwide is able to learn as much as possible from disasters to improve practice and mitigate the impacts of future events."

  National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (U.S.)

  2013-03
• Department of Defense Support to a Catastrophic Event

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  This report discusses coordinating national response efforts in the occurrence of a catastrophic natural disaster. Depending on the magnitude of the disaster civil responders may not be sufficient, and the President would have to deploy military units. The report highlights the creation of "Joint Task Force Complex Catastrophe" to coordinate response efforts between civil authorities and deployed military forces should the scenario occur. From the Document: "The worst case scenario is an earthquake registering 8.5 or higher on the Richter scale. An earthquake of that magnitude would ravage most of the western coastline and inland states and will be recorded as the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States (U.S.). […] Emergency responders will encounter significant challenges with the lack of access to specific areas because of ruptured gas and pipelines, devastating fires, inoperable medical facilities, impassable bridges, highways and railroads and substantial damage to port facilities and airport runways. First line responders could be slow to respond and have limited or no access to communities that depend on highways for access. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that the initial responders would encounter an estimated 570 burning fires, 1.8 million homes without potable water and electricity and over 600,000 people are believed to be left homeless. […]The Department of Defense recognizes a gap within DOD response to civil authorities for an unprecedented natural disaster and is addressing this problem by creating the new terminology and assessing DOD policies, capabilities and resources to assist in response to a complex catastrophe."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Smith, Spencer L.

  2013-03
• Formulating a Strategic Response Plan For a High-Risk Seismic Event In New York City

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  From the thesis abstract: "One of the lessons the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has learned from the attacks of September 11, 2001, is to be prepared for the inevitable. As one of the world's most renowned emergency response agencies, the FDNY can and should be the model of preparedness for any disaster that may affect New York City (NYC). Historical and scientific data confirms the very real threat of a low frequency, high risk earthquake affecting the NYC region. Potential for devastation is compounded due to the complexity of NYC's infrastructure and the vast population unfamiliar with this type of natural disaster. The formulation of an FDNY pre-plan for a high-risk earthquake scenario based on extensive information-gathering and the assembly of a dedicated focus group will lessen the impact of a powerful quake while minimizing losses to lives, property and emergency responders themselves. By being prepared for the seemingly inevitable, the FDNY can live up to its role as one of the world's most respected emergency response agencies."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Barvels, Michael B.

  2013-03
• U.S.-Japan Economic Relations: Significance, Prospects, and Policy Options [February 20, 2013]

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  "Japan and the United States are among the world's largest economic powers. Together they account for over 30% of world domestic product (2012 estimate). This economic clout makes the United States and Japan powerful forces that influence each other's economies and those of other countries. Economic conditions in the United States and Japan also have a significant impact on the rest of the world. Furthermore, the U.S.-Japan bilateral economic relationship itself can influence economic conditions in other countries. The two countries remain very important economic partners, accounting for significant shares of each other's foreign trade and investment, even though their relative significance has declined. The global financial crisis and economic downturn added another dimension to the relationship as the two countries have grappled with the severe impact of the crisis on their respective economies and simultaneously have worked with their partners in the G-20 to coordinate a multilateral response. The impact of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and subsequent tsunami and nuclear plant accidents in northern Japan added still another factor to the bilateral economic relationship. The U.S.-Japan economic relationship is important to U.S. national interests and to the U.S. Congress. It has been the subject of oversight hearings and trade legislation, and Congress plays a critical role in shaping U.S. economic policy toward Japan. To assist the 113th Congress in fulfilling its responsibilities, this report explores the significance and state of U.S.-Japan economic ties, major issues in the relationship, and the possible options for managing the relationship."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Cooper, William H., 1949-

  2013-02-20
• Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress [February 15, 2013]

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  "[…] The post-World War II U.S.-Japan alliance has long been an anchor of the U.S. security role in East Asia. The alliance facilitates the forward deployment of about 49,000 U.S. troops and other U.S. military assets based in Japan in the Asia-Pacific. If Japan decides to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, it will become an even more critical element in the Obama Administration's rebalancing to Asia strategy. Japan has struggled to find political stability in the past seven years. Since 2007, six men have been Prime Minister, including the current premier Shinzo Abe, who also held the post in 2006- 2007. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) returned to power in a landslide election in December 2012. The current opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had ruled for three tumultuous years since their own watershed election victory in 2009. Japan's leaders face daunting tasks: an increasingly assertive China, a weak economy, and rebuilding from the devastating March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. In recent years, opposition control of one chamber of parliament has paralyzed policymaking in Tokyo and made U.S.-Japan relations difficult to manage despite overall shared national interests. Abe is unlikely to pursue controversial initiatives before the next national elections, for the Upper House of parliament (called the Diet) in July 2013. Perhaps most significantly, the United States could become directly involved in a military conflict between Japan and China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islets in the East China Sea."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Cooper, William H., 1949- . . .

  2013-02-15
• Other Business Tools

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  "The following document provides a list of tools to help businesses plan, prepare, and mitigate the effects of earthquakes. Each section includes a short description of the organization that created it as well as a link that will take you to the respective page of each resource. Some of the materials listed are not specifically for businesses, but could still be found useful by the private sector in that they promote earthquake preparedness and mitigation in homes and therefore increase a community's disaster resilience and ability to recover quickly after a disaster. The quicker the recovery period within a community, the faster businesses will be fully functional and operating. This list is not intended to be all inclusive, rather a collection of the tools created by FEMA and its partners."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2013-02
• Performance Measures and Comprehensive Funding Data Could Enhance Management of National Capital Region Preparedness Resources

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  "Given its political and historical significance as home to the most important institutions in the nation, protecting the National Capital Region (NCR) from both man-made incidents and natural disasters is of particular concern. Regional stakeholders at the local and state levels receive preparedness funding from a variety of federal grant programs, but the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program is the primary source of federal homeland security funding for the NCR. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allocated over $560 million through the UASI grant program to the NCR from fiscal years 2003 through 2012. However, the region's response to emergencies in 2011, including a significant snowstorm and an earthquake, as well as a severe storm in June 2012, raised questions regarding the effectiveness of regional preparedness capabilities."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2013-01-25
• Science and Emergency Management of Earthquakes [Presentation]

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  This document is a presentation about the science of earthquakes and the history of major earthquakes from 1964 to 2011. It includes the following topics: Earthquake measurement; seismic waves; earthquakes and plate tectonics; earthquakes and tsunamis; history of major earthquakes, 1964 - 2011; and "Japan's Killer Quake" (PBS 2011).

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Lane, George

  2013-01-24
• U.S. Government Investments in Haiti's Rebuilding and Renewal

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  "In early 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made Haiti a foreign policy priority and committed to working to change the way we partnered with Haiti. For more than three and a half years, the U.S. Government (USG) has worked closely to be a good partner to the government and people of Haiti. After the devastating earthquake of 2010, the U.S. worked to support the Government of Haiti (GOH) and meet the most immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs on the ground. For some time the U.S. pursued two tracks of engagement and has ensured that they complement one another: the first to address immediate humanitarian and emergency aid needs; and the second to continue to pursue a strategy to promote long-term sustainable development in Haiti."

  United States. Department of State

  2013-01-11