From the Homeland Security News Wire and the Texas Tribune: More Than 100 Texas Counties Lack Plans to Curb Damage from Natural Disasters.

“These plans typically provide an assessment of risks from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires. A plan can include, for example, an estimate of how many buildings are prone to flooding and how much it would take to clean up a flood. The plan also lays out goals for local governments to save lives and property. One such objective could be to create cooling centers during times of extreme heat. Another might be updating zoning policies to ensure buildings can withstand a stronger earthquake.

Ultimately, the plan can help communities prepare for and recover faster from any type of disaster.

When done correctly, a hazard mitigation plan can help the community get behind projects and prioritize them, as well as help the community reflect on the risks they have and try to do something about them,” said Kristin Smith, a lead researcher for Headwaters Economics, a Montana-based nonprofit that helps communities with land management.”

From CNN: Opinion: Our disaster responders are exhausted. This puts Americans at risk.
This is a candid account of the current problems and some suggestions for improvements in the national emergency management system. The author, Peter Gaynor, is a former FEMA Administrator.

From the WashPost – The Drowning South: A rising fortress in sinking land. Rising seas and steel walls test the strength of a Louisiana coastal gas development, raising questions about flooding, climate change and community impacts.

From USAToday: Some Caribbean islands see almost ‘total destruction’ after Hurricane Beryl

Review of Pandemic Recovery?  Reframing and Rescaling Societal Challenges, Edited by Lauren Andres, John R. Bryson, Aksel Ersoy, and Louise Reardon.  Published by Edward Elgar, 2024.

Reviewer:  Donald A. Donahue, DHEd, MBA, MSJ, President, World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

Much has been written about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; dissecting timelines, the actions of governments and commerce, and recovery.  Virtually all analyses focus on progress toward returning to pre-event realities – what could be termed the BC era:  before COVID.

For Pandemic Recovery?, the editors assembled a series of 24 discrete essays, prefaced by a framing introduction and summarized with a conclusion, that delve into the less obvious societal implications of the pandemic, changes that can have significant impact on everyday life but are all but unseen as catalysts of change.  These analyses are grouped into five broad categories:  People, Organisations, Place, Climate Change and Sustainability, and The Policy and Practice of Recovery.

The breadth and extent of the 26 chapters are sufficiently large to be beyond the scope of this review.  Yet, combined, the essays paint a detailed picture of the second and third order effects that will influence work, the built and natural environments, feeding humanity, education, healthcare, commerce, and innovation far into the future.  Assessments are conducted through the lens of social sciences.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of strong, central national governance versus local autonomy?  Modification of the social fabric impacts where and when people work.  The ripple effect influences central business zones, agriculture and production, energy use and policy, and supply chains.

These shifts point to reexamining the structure and nature of government, the ability to promote and sustain innovation, and devising new approaches to measuring and guiding societal changes.  The authors carry this forward in discussing the imperative for leadership in healthcare, higher education, and civil society to rapidly adapt to the changing environment and societal needs and expectations.  So, too, are discussed the roles of public space and tourism; civil interactions that promote a robust and resilient society.

Throughout, these observations are supported by detailed analysis, relevant statistics, and an eye for critical analysis.  Not “beach reading” by any measure, but a serious examination of the intricate factors that will continue to drive what is certain to be a fragmented recovery from the COVID pandemic and similarly disjointed preparation for the next global crisis.

From Inside Climate News: Midwest Floods, Widespread Heat Waves Are Undermining U.S. Transportation Systems, Weather-related disruptions can have catastrophic consequences for commuters and the supply chain.

From CNN: NTSB slams Norfolk Southern for controlled burn of toxic chemicals after Ohio derailment.

It is not often that one hears about a conflict with the NTSB about recovery matters. Apparently, this is quite serious.

From the WashPost: More dangerous heat waves are on the way: See the impact by Zip code.

By mid-century, nearly two-thirds of Americans will experience perilous heat waves, with some regions in the South expected to endure more than 70 consecutive days over 100 degrees

From CNN, this opinion piece: Are we truly ready for disaster on top of disaster?

“To launch this series, CNN Opinion spoke with former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator Richard Serino about preparedness challenges and opportunities. Serino promotes crafting a national strategy to better prepare for a greater number of billion-dollar disasters that could have more devastating impacts. He looks back on some of his experiences responding to crises and what that imparted about the needs of survivors and cities hit by disasters — and what we could face around the corner.”

New Congressional Research Report on Stafford Act Declarations for Extreme Heat.