Author Archive | Wesley Shaw

Ideas on How to Engage Your Businesses in Emergency Preparedness

John Solomon, author of “In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog” has written an interesting and compelling editorial arguing that governments at all levels need to work harder to engage the business community in disaster preparedness. He says: Government citizen preparedness campaigns over the past few years have raised awareness but not significantly enough to change […]

New Funding & Technical Assistance Opportunity for Local Planning

The Model Forest Policy Program is offering an interesting-sounding new funding and technical assistance opportunity for rural communities looking for help with their land-use planning. Here’s how they’re describing the program on their website: The Model Forest Policy Program (MFPP) is now accepting applications for 2011 Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies (CSU). This […]

Are You Using Social Media for Emergency Management? Your Citizens Are!

The Red Cross has released the results of a survey of just over 1,000 respondents on how people use and expect to use social media during a disaster. The results are pretty striking. A couple of highlights: Nearly 3-in-4 respondents use at least one online community or social network. Facebook was by far the most […]

Webinar: Climate Resilient Coastal Communities (Wednesday July 28)

Webinar announcement for tomorrow, courtesy of EMForum.org: Building the Foundation for Hazard and Climate Resilient Coastal Communities July 28, 2010, 12:00 Noon EasternEMForum.org is pleased to host a one hour presentation and interactive discussion Wednesday, July 28, 2010, beginning at 12:00 Noon Eastern time (please convert to your local time). Our topic will be the […]

Funding for "Climate Change Mitigation" Available

New funding opportunity. From their press release: EDA Offers Grants through Climate Change Mitigation Fund The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) advances economic growth by assisting communities experiencing chronic high unemployment and low per capita income to create an environment that fosters innovation, promotes entrepreneurship, and attracts increased private capital investment. EDA […]

White House Opposes Multiple Peril Insurance Bill [UPDATED]

The White House released a statement today saying that it would not support the expansion of the National Flood Insurance Program to cover wind damage. Such a move would likely do no good, the statement explains, because the government’s rates would be comparable to current market prices. The whole statement: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT […]

FEMA Releases Guidance for 2011 Mitigation Grant Programs

Via the always useful CZMA Climate Change and Coastal Hazards E-News Update newsletter: The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) “Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program Guidance” (176 pp.) represents the unification of all five of the agency’s hazard mitigation grant programs into one guidance document. These programs, which provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce […]

3ft of Freeboard? I'll Take 12ft!

After Hurricane Ike bashed a hole in their roof and left their first floor uninhabitable, FEMA experts recommended that Galveston (TX) residents Matt and Lauren Johnson elevate their home 3′ above the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. The Johnsons went for 12′ instead. “Even if it costs us more now, whatever costs […]

Free Online Hurricane Response Training

Thankfully, hurricanes in Massachusetts are pretty rare, but when they hit, they’re devastating. Want training on how to help safely guide your community through a hurricane, but lack the resources and time to head off to a specialized class somewhere? Have a look at the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET) hurricane […]