There are so many dimensions to this tragic event, I hardly know where to start. Readers have been helpful and have provided some citations. Here are just a few interesting aspects

•  Philippines prepared for Typhoon Haiyan, but evacuation sites couldn’t withstand storm surges  
• Why the Philippines Was not Ready for Typhoon Haiyan.
• Why Arab Presidents are Pledging Millions to Philippines.
• Emergency Access Initiative – free access to Medical  Reference Resources  from NIH
• Natural disasters threaten Philippine growth –
  Every year, 20 typhoons hit the Philippines, a country also threatened by earthquakes and volcanos. These natural disasters have grave economic consequences
• Philippines Prepares for Future Disasters; No. 13
• Low Rate of Insurance Coverage in the Philippines
• Photos of the enormous destruction.
• Typhoon not entirely an “Act of God”
• Philippines is a victim of geography, poverty, and poor infrastructure

In the recent floods in CO, several of the rivers changed their course.  This article provides an interesting analysis of the use and maintenance of rivers in urban areas. See: Colorado flood recovery process is a lesson in who owns the river

In a note from Sean Scott, author of the Red Guide on Recovery, he describes a new tool he created. And it available at no cost to likely users.

When a home is destroyed by a disaster, it can be extremely difficult for a homeowner to remember the details of the fixtures, finishes, and features that existed inside their home.  For insurance claim purposes, an adjuster needs to know specific details of how the home was constructed, the type and quality of materials used, and the replacement costs in order to create an accurate estimate of replacement values.  Without this information, a homeowner may not get compensated for the like-kind and quality of the elements that the home once had. 

In an effort to help homeowners expedite the insurance claim process and maximize their recovery, a tool is now available called the Dwelling Inventory of Features and Fixtures. 

Two new reports out that provides reviews and analysis of two key actors re Hurricane Sandy:

(1) From FEMA: One Year Later: Examining the Ongoing Recovery from Hurricane Sandy Written testimony of FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia hearing. ( 7 pages)

(2) At the same hearing, see also testimony of HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan plus other federal officials.

(3) From the Red Cross:  Report is titled Superstorm Sandy; one-year update- October 2013. 

• See also Jos Martin’s blog for the perspective of one long-time  Red Cross volunteer: He voices his strong concerns about Red Cross efforts in Sandy and the recent investigations of them. See both Part 1 and Part 2:

While one cannot help but be impressed by the significant efforts and expenditures made by all three of the organizations above, I would like to see some independent analyses and efforts made to document the problems, issues, and needed changes to response and recovery mechanisms and operations by all of these key organization actors.

This press release from RAND: Rising Cost of Flood Insurance Will Create Serious Challenges for New York City

The direct link to the new study is here. The 126 page Report is a free download.

This is the site for a listing of completed Quick Response studies, done with support from the Hazards Center at the Univ. of CO.  The one I read on the housing buyout program in NY was excellent.

Hurricane Sandy One Year Later: 10 Places That Are Still Suffering; In devastated communities from New Jersey to Queens, Long Island to the Caribbean, the recovery process is just beginning