Emergency Management writes the following about the importance of repairing America’s crumbling infrastructure:

They call it “critical” infrastructure for a reason. Roads and bridges, energy, water, even the food supply: The loss of any one of these can bring a region to its knees. It’s not just the collapse of a critical resource that can wreak havoc. [...]

One forward-thinking prefecture in Japan is now running disaster preparedness software in a virtual ‘cloud’ (a group of servers running in a secure location, insulated from disasters). “It would have cost a lot more to run our own servers and network, and if a disaster happened managing something like that would be very difficult, especially if [...]

My friend and business associate, Jim Kinmartin,  shared his expertise for this Inc. article.  What type of insurance is important for your business?  Read on to find out.

Can Your Business Survive a Flood? | Inc.com.

Today COPE put on a very successful Map Your Neighborhood event, with over 50 participants.  Pictures will be up soon, check out our site gallery.   An interesting point was raised during the event about what technology we may be able to count on during a disaster.  The below article from Pittsburgh Review  highlights research from FEMA on [...]

“Concerned citizens and visitors, as well as the friends and families of Virginia Beach residents, were turning to the city’s Facebook page to find out the latest information on what the city was doing to prepare for Hurricane Irene and to get information on how to prepare their homes and families for the impending storm.” via The [...]

Harbor City / Harbor Gateway Chamber of Commerce presents TRIBUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS LUNCHEON Honoring the Los Angeles City and County Firefighters, Los Angeles Police Department K-9 Platoon, Emergency Medical Services, Harbor-UCLA Trauma Center, USC Medical Trauma Center, Crisis Response Team, and our Community Heroes. We will also be honoring our Men and Women of the Military in [...]

Quantitative Risk Analysis for Amerigas Butane Storage Facility Prepared in Consideration of: Amerigas Propane L. P. 2110 North Gaffey Street San Pedro, CA 90731 Prepared By: 1650 Ximeno Avenue, Suite 210 Long Beach, CA 90804 Tel: (562) 494-9465 Fax: (562) 494-5296 September 2010 NOTICE This report is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard [...]

Much has been written about the culture of disaster preparedness in Japan.  Very strict building codes, well enforced construction inspections, tsunami sea walls, etc.  Given that and the damages and deaths we have seen so far–what about the United States? See Are U.S. States and Cities Prepared for a Disaster? which is a quick recounting of some [...]

(Media-Newswire.com) – OAKLAND, Calif. — With many communities throughout the nation facing threats of spring flooding the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) are once again joining forces to commemorate Flood Safety Awareness Week March 14 – 18. FEMA and NOAA’s National Weather Service are [...]

What is radiation and how do you get exposed to it? Radiation is a form of energy that’s around us at all times. We’re exposed to small amounts of radiation every day, from naturally occurring sources (like elements in soil) and man-made sources (like medical x-rays). Radiation can also come from nuclear accidents, like the one [...]

Certification-General CEM certification Info.   General CEM®/AEM Information IAEM created the Certified Emergency Manager® and Associate Emergency Manager Programs to raise and maintain professional standards. It is an internationally recognized program that certifies achievements within the emergency management profession. CEM® and AEM certification is a peer review process administered through the International Association of Emergency Managers. Candidates do not have to be [...]

Will Angelenos learn from the Japan quake?

As many of us watched the coverage of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Friday, we were staggered and horrified by the images of death and destruction. The [...]

As many of us watched the coverage of the Sendai earthquake and tsunami in Japan on Friday, we were staggered and horrified by the images of death and destruction. The magnitude 8.9 quake is the largest to hit Japan in more than 150 years and the seventh largest in recorded history. The tsunami produced even greater damage [...]

The American Red Cross is prepared for the possibility of severe local flooding in the Quad Cities area. Trained Red Cross workers have been in constant communication with local emergency management officials to prepare for a response if flooding occurs. The Red Cross has shelter plans and locations in place and has been distributing flood [...]

by SUSAN WYATT / The Pet Dish KING5.com Posted on March 23, 2011 at 10:15 AM The earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the earthquake in New Zealand have many people thinking about disaster preparedness – and that includes our pets. The Humane Society of the United States offers some great information about what to do to be sure you [...]

As emergency crews respond to the tsunami crisis in Japan and flooding in California, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is reminding pet and livestock owners in a video to create emergency plans. Heather Case, DVM, the AVMA’s disaster response expert, says many people are completely unprepared to protect their animals in the event of a disaster [...]

AP Exclusive: Japan nuclear crisis provokes anger, shows lack of preparedness – The Washington Post.

American Nuclear Society Backgrounder: Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami; Problems with Nuclear Reactors 3/12/2011 5:22 PM EST To begin, a sense of perspective is neededc right now, the Japanese earthquake/tsunami is clearly acatastrophe; the situation at impacted nuclear reactors is, in the words of IAEA, an “Accident with Local Consequences.” The Japanese earthquake and tsunami are natural catastrophes of [...]

March 11, 2011 No: HQ-11-24 Cont act: FEMA News Desk 202-646-3272 News Release FEMA AND FEDERAL PARTNERS SUPPORT STATES, TERRITORIES IN TSUNAMI RESPONSE WASHINGTON -The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners are closely monitoring the effects of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan early this morning and stand ready to support state and local response [...]