From HSToday: National Biodefense Strategy Hampered by Muddled Roles and Responsibilities, GAO Finds
U.S. Biodefense Needs Work
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Boston Harbor at Risk
Boston harbor brings ashore a new enemy: Rising seas: Facing climate change, Boston must gird itself for an era of rising water — or be inundated
Excerpts:
The sea that surrounds Boston crept up nine inches in the 20th century and is advancing ever faster toward the heart of the city.
And as climate change accelerates, the pace of sea-level rise in Boston is expected to triple, adding eight inches over 2000 levels by 2030, according to a report commissioned by the city. The ocean might climb as much as three feet above 2013 levels by 2070, the report said.
Money Alone Is Not the Solution to Climate Change
From Bloomberg news, this analysis of the major money promise made by Jeff Bezo re Climate Adaptation: What Bezos’s $10 Billion Can Do for the Climate Fight
Update on Feb. 19: Four Questions re Bezo’s Pledge,
Update on Feb.21: 10B. Is Not going to Solve Climate Change
2020 World Climate Report
The Center for Climate and Security has released the “World Climate and Security Report 2020,” which details the global security risks caused by climate change.
While the impacts and specific challenges each nation faces varies, the availability of resources, such as food and water, are common issues across all regions. In addition to this, countries that are already unstable will likely see an increase in internal conflict, as well as migration of their citizens to more stable areas. Even relatively stable regions, such as Europe and North America, will have to contend with the social, economic, and safety concerns posed by climate change issues such as “heat impacts, flood risks and forest fires.”
According to the report, “100% of the climate security risks assessed will increase in the next twenty years (2020-2040).” In order to mitigate these effects, countries are assessing the risks posed by climate change and developing resiliency plans from both a national security and a foreign policy perspective.
Social Media EM Guidance Tool
From DHS, this Snapshot: S&T and FEMA Social Media Planning Tool Supports Enhanced Emergency Management Operations and Communications Nationwide. Apparently, it is still being developed.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Reviewed
The Importance of Satellites
“Ready or Not: Public Health and Emergency Preparedness.”
From HSDL” Ready or Not: Public Health and Emergency Preparedness.
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has released its latest report in a series on public health emergency preparedness in America: Ready or Not 2020: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism.
Report Recommends Modifying Hurricane Relief Strategies
As cited in HSNews this report from GA Tech: Modify Hurricane Relief Strategies, National Academies Report Recommends.
Alleviating suffering more effectively in the wake of hurricanes may require a shift in relief strategies. In the immediate aftermath, relief agencies rush in survival supplies like water, food, medicine, and blankets. But instead of prioritizing and maintaining the relief supply chains, a transition to restoring a place’s normal supply infrastructure could help more people more quickly.
PR Earthquakes Will Continue for Years
From HSToday: Puerto Rico Earthquake Aftershocks Could Last for Decades, Says USGS. The article provides links to USGS reports in English and in Spanish.
Recovery Diva 