For those working with the provisions of the Stafford Act who want the latest version, FEMA just posted this 85 page online document that you can download.  It has some interactive features for ease of use.

The Stafford Act is the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs. This document contains all of the changes to the Stafford Act since 2007, including the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA) of 2013.

What is unique about the format is that the document is optimized for portable tablet devices:

·       From the Table of Contents, you can click on the statute name or number and you’ll jump to the statutory text

·       From any page with the statutory text, you have two navigation options (in addition to simply scrolling as usual)Click on the words “Stafford Act” at the top, you’ll return to the Table of Contents page.

·       Click on the words “Stafford Act” at the top, you’ll return to the Table of Contents page.

·       Click on the Title # at the top, you’ll be returned to the start of that Title in the document (i.e., if you’re in Section 408, click “Title IV” and you’ll jump back to Section 401).

Note that this e-booklet replaces FEMA P-592 dated 2007, and FEMA will not be producing printed versions of this e-booklet.

The last posting complained about the pace of recovery. Regarding recovery from Superstorm Sandy, here is some good news: FEMA Has Most N.J. Flood Insurance Claims Settled; April 22, 2013

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has settled 96 percent of post-Sandy National Flood Insurance Program claims in New Jersey.The agency says that as of April 9, there had been 74,825 claims filed and 70,689 had been closed. That’s a major change from two months ago when N. J. Gov. Chris Christie was complaining that the agency was processing claims too slowly.

Once again we see the great state of TX and its attitude toward government in the news. If you do not believe in inspections or in regulation, often the results are tragic.

This is the recent blog post from the firm IEM. It summarizes the latest issue quite well, I think.

Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Raises Questions About Planning and Zoning

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 06:41 PM PDT

Author: David Willauer, Transportation Manager, IEM

The explosion at the West Fertilizer plant in West, Texas, this week serves as a sobering reminder of the role of planning and zoning for facilities near chemical plants. Why were a middle school and a nursing home located so close to a fertilizer plant that stores and uses dangerous chemicals, such as anhydrous ammonia?

Planning and zoning officials often do not have critical information such as downwind hazard zones or isolation protective action distances during the planning board process. As a result, schools, nursing homes, residential subdivisions, and child care facilities are often built too close to chemical facilities with downwind hazard zones or too close to highways and railroads transporting chemicals with known recommended isolation protective action distances.

[The authors notes that his firm is working with local officials and industries in several states to gather real data about hazardous materials storage and transport and to translate that into actionable intelligence that helps planning officials make more informed zoning and facility siting decisions. This process is also building stronger bonds between industry, communities, and local officials as they collaborate more closely to improve public protection.]

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For those interested in the important details, situation reports are being issued by the Texas Dept. of Emergency Management.

Updates

1. As of April 20th, West TX received a Presidential Emergency Declaration. The text of the declaration is here.
2. Also at issue is the role of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Plus, the role of the EPA is being questioned.
3. As of April 21, there is mention of a special federal investigation panel. That probably refers to the Chemical Safety Board.

As of April 18, it appears that Boston got a Presidential Emergency Declaration, so that federal assets could be used to deal with the tragedy that resulted from the explosions.  See this AP article for more details.

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Having grown up in the Boston area, the Diva is greatly saddened by the deaths and injuries from the bombs that exploded there yesterday.  My best wishes to those affected.

For an analysis of the role of social media, see the blog idisaster.

Updates:  April 19 article from Bloomberg re why Boston was well prepared for a disaster.