Author Archives: recoverydiva

What Will Happen in States Where Governors are Climate Change Deniers?

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See this article from the conservative newspaper, Washington Times: FEMA targets climate change skeptic governors, could withhold funding; New rules put Rick Scott [FL], Bobby Jindal [LA], Chris Christie [NJ], Pat McCrory [NC] Greg Abbott[TX] in bind. [The Diva filled in the states for the benefit of readers in other countries. All are coastal states with a history of  frequent flooding.]

Excerpts from the article:

The Obama administration has issued new guidelines that could make it harder for governors who deny climate change to obtain federal disaster-preparedness funds.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s new rules could put some Republican governors in a bind. The rules say that states’ risk assessments must include “consideration of changing environmental or climate conditions that may affect and influence the long-term vulnerability from hazards in the state.”

The policy, which goes into effect in March 2016, doesn’t affect federal money for relief after a hurricane, flood, or other natural disaster. But states seeking disaster preparedness money from Washington will be required to assess how climate change threatens their communities, a requirement that wasn’t included in FEMA’s 2008 guidelines.

Costs of Disasters Globally Expected to Escalate

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Natural Disasters Could Cost $750 Billion Annually in 15 Years: AIR Study. Some excerpts:

Economic losses from global natural catastrophes likely will triple over the next 15 years, unless steps are taken to reduce bad development choices, according to preliminary results of a catastrophe modeling study presented at the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan.

The study, which was conducted by the Boston-based modeling firm AIR Worldwide, examines the trend of growing economic losses from global natural catastrophes by looking at nearly 20 years of historical events.

Here is the direct link to AIR Worldwide and here is a link to their Infographic.

 

New Recovery Agency in Queensland, Australia

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Queensland to create permanent disaster recovery agency. New body to get $30m annual funding to deal with aftermath of increased number of severe natural disasters caused by climate change.

The Queensland government is to establish Australia’s first permanent disaster recovery agency to deal with a future of more extreme cyclones and floods brought on by climate change.

Deputy premier Jackie Trad said it was inevitable that Queensland, which already “bears the brunt of most of the natural disasters that beset Australia”, would face more catastrophes, more often.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority – originally set up to deal with the 2011 floods, rated by the World Bank as Australia’s largest natural disaster of recent years – was due to wind up in June.
The argument for divesting from fossil fuels is becoming overwhelming
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But Trad said new laws before parliament this week would make the agency – currently dealing with the aftermath of 14 natural disasters between 2013 and 2014 alone – a permanent arm of government costing about $30m a year.

Note from the Diva: Queensland is one of six states in Australia. (I had to look it up.)  I am not aware of any state in the U.S. that has created an agency to deal with recovery.

New Disaster Reform Legislation Pending & Recovery Report re H. Sandy

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For those who are interested in the ongoing recovery from H. Sandy, here are three new reports worth reviewing. Once again the Diva would like readers to dig into the two reports mentioned here and do an analysis or review, because she does not have the time presently to read and critique them.

Of special interest to me is the fact that these documents come from a Congressional Committee. It is the first analysis of post-Sandy recovery that I have seen from a congressional office. Also, it is the first time I have seen mention of  FEMA’s National Advisory Council  See: Pending Disaster Reform Legislation and a Recovery Report re H. Sandy

In the second report, there is mention of a major (140 pp.) report from the Army Corps of Engineers in Jan. of this year. A website that provides a full text copy, as well as graphics and an executive summary, go this this cite: North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study. 

Update on Flood Ins. Reforms

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FEMA Official: ‘We Are Undertaking Sweeping Reforms’ at NFIP

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it is working to give every Hurricane Sandy survivor who thinks they may have been defrauded or received less than they were entitled to under their National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy, the opportunity to have their claim readjusted. The federal agency is also undertaking sweeping reforms that will change the way the NFIP is delivered, a top FEMA official said.

Protection of Cultural Property

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Not sure how many of my readers are concerned with this topic, but the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC is hosting this event:

National Conference on Cultural Property Protection, March 26-27, at the Warner Bros. Theater, NMAH  (Archived agenda.)

Please join the Office of Protection Services (OPS) and the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary for Collections and Interdisciplinary Support (DUSCIS) for the National Conference on Cultural Property Protection, March 26-27, 2015, at the Warner Bros. Theater, National Museum of American History.

The National Conference on Cultural Property Protection offers insight and proven solutions for new and seasoned professionals in the field of cultural property protection. Rooted in security, programming embraces an interdisciplinary focus on cultural heritage protection and preservation.

This year’s exciting agenda includes several Smithsonian presenters and topics such as: disaster resilience thinking, integrated emergency planning, lessons learned during real-life active shooter scenarios, and more.

Registration is just $275, and includes meals and evening networking opportunities.

Please see our website for the complete agenda and to register: www.natconf.si.edu

Questions? Please contact Donna Taylor in Office of Protection Services, (202) 633-5647 (3-5647) or TaylorD@si.edu.

Be sure to read the comments from readers below for additional resources.

 

More Rehousing Options from Readers

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The Diva got lots of useful examples and citations from readers, such as:

  • Ikea brings flatpack innovation to emergency refugee shelters
    Swedish furniture giant has teamed up with the UN Refugee Agency to develop a longer-lasting flatpack shelter. [Thanks to Mary Tyszkiewicz for the link.]
  • Probably worth noting that these are used in Alaska for all sorts of housing. For example, the motels seen in “Ice Road Truckers” are made from shipping containers. [Thanks to John Plodinec.]
  • The link is to a short video on how Christchurch, NZ used shipping containers to reestablish retail quickly after their earthquake. [ Thanks to Thom Rounds.]

Are Shipping Containers a Useful Source of Post-Disaster Housing?

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After reading an article about the proposed use of shipping containers for affordable housing in Washington, DC, I asked one of my readers who is an architect for his view about the feasibility of using them for post-disaster housing. The original article, with some mention of the use of container housing in NY, is here.

In reply to my question, architect Don Watson offered the following:

“Cargo architecture” has made afoot hold. Using the units does not necessarily reduce costs. The Wash. Post article describes such accurately. New York City Emergency Planners have used the approach for disaster temporary housing….”temporary housing” is a misnomer….the units cost as much as convene final construction. But an advantage is that they can conceivably be built more rapidly as factory modules. It is the factory module technology that makes them quick to assemble on site. Thus part of solution. A few samples:

• New modular disaster relief housing prototype developed...[Jul 07, 2014 • As of January this year 1,300 families were still living in temporary housing … shipping containers versus modular housing.]
• Designing for Disaster: Which is better, modular or ship [May 21, 2013 • Another look at the question of what is the best way to build good housing].