From Forbes magazine: How Technology Is Advancing Emergency Response And Survival During Natural Disasters
Use of Technology
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Schooling Lost After Disasters
From NPR, a discussion of an aspect of disaster recovery that is not usually considered. See: Natural Disasters And The Implications Of Missing So Much School.
Amidst the trauma and destruction, school districts across the U.S. have shouldered a heavy burden: trying to help their students catch up after missing days, weeks and even months of class time.
Across nine states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, at least 9 million students missed some amount of school this fall due to a natural disaster, according to an NPR Ed analysis. The analysis compiled missed days from individual public school districts affected by natural disasters as well as estimates given by state education departments.
More on Recovery in Puerto Rico
From the Wash Post, Dec. 14: This is What Puerto Rico Needs from the Government Right Now.
From the Wash Post, Dec. 15. Life Without Power.
From Bloomberg News, Dec. 14: How to Rebuild Puerto Rico.
Climate Change and City Credit Ratings
When Climate Change Becomes a Credit Problem.
Coming in the aftermath of hurricanes that severely damaged parts of Houston and much of the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico this year, the message from Moody’s was clear. Governments must prepare for heat waves, droughts, flooding and coastal storm surges or face credit downgrades that will make it more expensive for them to borrow money for public services and for improvements in roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Lack of Regulation Has Costly Outcomes
From Reuters, yet another take on the costly and sometimes tragic outcomes from lack of regulation and the problems of the National Flood Ins. Program. See: Unfettered building, scant oversight add to cost of hurricanes in U.S.
In the wake of a ferocious storm season, Reuters finds that homes built in violation of flood-mitigation rules add to the billions of dollars in claims on the already-broke federal flood insurance program
Rethinking Electric Power Systems – updated
From the NYTimes: Rethinking Electric Power, Prompted by Politics and Disaster. An excerpt from the article:
Researchers’ heads have danced with visions of self-sufficient microgrids and solar-harnessed battery systems as they dream of giving Puerto Rico a new power system that is cleaner and less carbon-intensive than the fossil-fuel-dependent one the storm wrecked. The island is becoming an important proving ground for ideas about how low-carbon energy can be practical, both technically and financially.
Update: On a related topic, here is a 63 page document from the European Union. Power grid recovery after natural hazard impact
Future Fire Risk in CA
From the NYTimes: In a Warming California, a Future of More Fire. The recent cycle of drought and deluge in California led to major fire risk. Climate change makes that cycle worse.
Some Personal Preparedness Advice: Fleeing the California Wildfires: What to Take and When to Evacuate
Fire Protection Measures at Getty Museum
From CNN, this account of the fire protection measures in place at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles: Getty Museum says it’s ‘safest place’ for art if fires threaten
2017 National Preparedness Report
From the HSDL site, a short summary and direct link to the new report: The 2017 National Preparedness Report.
Development and the NFIP
Developers Said Their Homes Were Out of a Flood Zone. Then Harvey Came.
Update: A related paper (24 pp) from an academic at the Maxwell School at Syracuse:
Drawing Lines: FEMA and the Politics of Mapping Flood Zones
Thanks to Chris Jones for this citation.
Recovery Diva 