From CNN: In a record year of catastrophes,

From CNN: In a record year of catastrophes, FEMA’s disaster fund is slipping into the red before hurricane season even peaks.

My old friend Eric Holdeman, who hosts the website www.disaster-zone.com, does a weekly interview via Podcast . This week he interviewed me about my past work and current volunteer activities, most notably hosting this site. The title of the podcast is Retired from a Paycheck.

You can tune into the podcast at the website noted above. Both giving the interview and listening to a podcast were a first for me.

New Report from Brookings: The U.S. Needs a New System for Declaring Natural Disasters and Distributing Federal Aid. (July 2023). Report is 20 pages.
{Note this report was issued in July, well before the Maui disaster.}

Comments are invited.

From Grist: Wildfires just Destroyed a Maui town; Next Year Could Be Worse.

From The Conversation: Maui wildfires: Extra logistical challenges
hinder government’s initial response when disasters strike islands

From the WashPost: Maui fires not just due to climate change but a ‘compound disaster’ The fires were a textbook case of many different agents acting together

From the WashPost: Maui fires not just due to climate change but a ‘compound disaster’ The fires were a textbook case of many different agents acting together

From the WashPost: How the Maui wildfires devastated Lahaina, hour by hour
In a visual timeline, survivors recount how they were overwhelmed by the fire’s speed, smothering smoke and lack of escape routes

From The Conversation: After Maui fires, human health risks linger in the air, water and even surviving buildings.
August 14, 2023

From CNBC: ‘Nothing can prepare you’ for devastation of Hawaii wildfire, FEMA administrator says. August 15,2023.

From The Guardian: Charred debris, toxic water, remote towns: Lahaina’s recovery will be a ‘slow process’
August 16. 2023

From the Guardian: Maui wildfires expose rift over island’s tourism: ‘We’re more vulnerable than anyone admits’ August 17, 2023

From the Wash Post: The toxic aftermath of the Maui fires could last for years
Lahaina is plagued by hazardous debris, chemicals and undrinkable water. A big storm could worsen and spread the wildfire contamination. August 17, 2023

From the Wash Post: Sleeping in cars and tents, Maui fire survivors are unsure what to do next. Many who lost homes and businesses in the blazes are camping on the beach. They are living, hour by hour, unsure of what the future holds. August 18, 2023

From Grist: Locals have been sounding the alarm for years about Lahaina wildfire risk
August 19, 2023

From the Wash Post: A terrifying fire struck Maui in 2018. Officials were warned of a repeat. Maui officials promised to improve fire safety following the near-deadly blaze, but didn’t broadly act, according to an investigation by The Post. Sept. 22, 2023

From the NYTimes: Maui Knew Dangerous Wildfires Had Become Inevitable. It Still Wasn’t Ready. As President Biden arrives to survey the damage with state and local officials, shock and grief are giving way to anger and questions about the government’s preparation. August 22, 2023. VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE!

Book Review: Disaster Management and Information Technology: Professional Response and Recovery Management in the Age of Disasters. Editors: Hans Jochen Scholl, Eric E. Holdeman, F. Kees Boersma. Published by Springer Publishers; ISBN-10 3031209389; Price is $100.

Content: A comprehensive guide to the multifaceted world of disaster management, seamlessly integrated with modern technology.

Reviewer: David Hammel, Command and Control Specialist, Founder and CEO of Balcony.io, a Silicon Valley tech company offering a Messaging and Management platform for Orchestrating Disaster Response.

Overview:
“Disaster Management and Information Technology” is an enlightening read that not only addresses the current technological applications in disaster response but also provides a robust mapping of challenges and solutions, both current and future. It paints a vivid picture of the incredible complexity of disaster management and emphasizes the human role in it, regardless of the technology used.

Highlights:

1. Pointing at the multiple Dimensions of the Disaster Management Matrix: The chapters systematically address those various dimensions:
   • Where: Addressing diverse environments, from urban and rural to building-specific challenges.
   • Who: The wide scope of people and roles involved, from field responders, through UAV operators and Incident Managers, all the way to the decision-makers who select the technologies to embrace.
   • What: From high-level solution overviews to intricate algorithms, offering a breadth of technological and operational examination.
2. Funding and Contributions: Includes insights into various sources and players promoting innovative IT solutions like the European-funded project FASTER, or the wisdom from authorities like Peter T. Gaynor (Acting Secretary DHS). The book confidently references military and public health best practices, enhancing the inherent cross-silo nature of Crisis Information Management Systems.
3. The Complexity and the Human Role: The heterogeneous chapters illuminate the multifaceted nature of Decision Making in disaster management, highlighting the delicate balance between technological innovation and the integral role of humans in addressing disaster response.

Final Thoughts:
“Disaster Management and Information Technology” is an indispensable resource for professionals in emergency response and information technology. Its real-world focus and accessible language make it a standout guide, particularly for those seeking operational insights rather than purely academic ones. For example, reading this book before devising an IT action plan will provide a broad understanding and appreciation of the subject matter, and a very good base on which to take confident first steps.

From funding considerations to detailed algorithms, from military references to public health systems, and from current practices to future innovations, this book bridges the gap between the trivial and the innovative.

I eagerly anticipate the future explorations in this field, and it would be a commendable endeavor if the editors decide to extend this work. A sequel could address the next chapter of Disaster Management as it embraces the next wave of disruptive Information Technologies: Insights generated by Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence; information carried by broadband Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications (such as Starlink), cutting-edge 5G networks, or the recently introduced Sat-enabled smartphones; all served via Mass-Orchestration multimedia messaging and Augmented Reality user experience; while being hosted on the cloud and offered under a Software as a Service (SaaS) business model.

The intersection of these technological advancements paints a promising and thrilling picture for the evolution of disaster management. Personally, I may not know if, in 50 years from now, we’ll still be driving cars, piloting airplanes, or even cooking food the way we do today. Yet, I remain confident, albeit regretfully, that the need to manage ever more complex disasters will persist. With this in mind, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all practitioners and enthusiasts. It left me excited for what lies ahead in this vital and ever-evolving field.

From the WashPost: Louisiana’s sea level rises, taking swamps and hurricane protection with it

The Diva recently ran across this FEMA website: Recovery and Resilience Resource Library.

“FEMA developed the Recovery and Resilience Resource Library in collaboration with our federal interagency partners to navigate the numerous programs available to the United States and its territories to help recover from a disaster.

The resources are intended for state, local, territorial and tribal (SLTT) governments, as well as nonprofits, businesses, healthcare institutions, schools, individuals and households. The tool helps users to find and research federal disaster recovery resources that would be beneficial in pre-disaster recovery planning or in the wake of a disaster.”

I cannot say that I consider it an exciting source, but it does provide some basic documents. Personally, I think the archives of this site offers more interesting and useful documents and sources.

The Diva invites your comments!

New GAO Report: Flood Insurance: FEMA’s New Rate-Setting Methodology Improves Actuarial Soundness but Highlights Need for Broader Program Reform

From HSNW: Moving Communities Away from Flooding Risks with Minimal Harm.

As sea levels rise and flooding becomes more frequent, many countries are considering a controversial strategy: relocation of communities. A Stanford analysis of planned relocations around the world reveals a blueprint for positive outcomes.

From HSToday: Coast Guard Could Improve Unit Disaster Preparedness, GAO Says.

Officials from three of nine districts and eight of the nine sectors surveyed stated that their unit or their subunits did not have enough or consistent unit funds to purchase emergency food or water.