“The best disaster response and recovery policy is advance planning, land use, and building codes to prevent a disaster from happening in the first place. Society has the experience and tools at its disposal to prevent many of the devastating impacts disasters have on humans.” In this month’s Natural Hazards Observer (PDF), Edward A. Thomas […]
Tag Archives | publications
Improved Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance Released
Posted on September 29, 2009
FEMA has released a re-formatted version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Guidance with internal links throughout the document. It is now possible to jump between sections in the document based on the internal links. The substance of the guidance remains the same, only the format has been changed. Kudos to […]
Smart Growth Guide for Coastal and Waterfront Communities Released
Posted on September 9, 2009
Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the International City/County Management Association, and Rhode Island Sea Grant released Smart Growth for Coastal and Waterfront Communities. Developed in consultation with the national Smart Growth Network, the interagency guide builds on the network’s ten smart growth principles to create coastal and waterfront-specific strategies […]
North Carolina Amends Innovative Beach Plan
Posted on September 3, 2009
The latest newsletter from the Institute for Business and Home Safety reports on some of the more forward-thinking innovations in the recently passed amendments North Carolina Beach Plan, including some interesting building code and insurance revisions: Legislation that amends North Carolina’s state-funded coastal insurance plan, known as the Beach Plan, was recently signed by Gov. […]
Updated Extreme Weather Information Sheets Available
Posted on August 21, 2009
The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management has released an updated version of their popular and extremely handy Extreme Weather Information Sheet series for (all PDFs) Texas, Louisiana Southwest, Louisiana Southeast, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Northwest, Florida North Central, Florida Northeast, Florida West Central, Florida East Central, Florida Southwest, Florida Miami Dade, and Florida […]
Television Programs Promote Storm Resilience
Posted on August 6, 2009
Gambling against Mother Nature is a three-part television series produced in partnership by NOAA’s Coastal Storms Program, the Mississippi/Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, WKRG-TV, the City of Orange Beach, Alabama, and grassroots, inc. to encourage wiser development along the Gulf Coast. Wind and Water: Beaches, Barrier Islands, and Storm Surge, the first of the three 30-minute […]
New Report Shows How Urban Governments are Adapting to Climate Change
Posted on July 27, 2009
The Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) released a report highlighting the innovative measures local governments are beginning to implement to adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change. Developed by CCAP’s Urban Leaders Adaption Initiative, the report, Ask the Climate Question: Adapting to Climate Change Impacts in Urban Regions, (PDF, 1.8MB) offers best practices […]
Study Finds Florida Home Retrofitting Program Cost Effective
Posted on June 23, 2009
A new assessment of the “My Safe Flordia Home” program found that while there was room for improvement, the program saved more than it cost. More precisely, it found that each dollar spent in the program reduced risk by $1.50. Perhaps most relevant for those working in coastal communities in a time of limited resources, […]
FEMA Releases 2010 Hazard Mitigation Unified Guidance
Posted on June 23, 2009
Need to know how to apply to the Hazard Mitigation Grants Program (HGMP)? Or for Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC), or Severe Repetitive Loss Pilot (SRL) grants? If so, you’re in luck: FEMA’s just released the extensive (188-page) Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance handbook applicable to HMGP funds available […]
Poll Reveals Coastal Residents Grossly Unprepared for 2009 Hurricane Season
Posted on June 18, 2009
A new poll suggests that even after an active 2008 hurricane season, residents from Texas to Maine have taken no steps to prepare for major storms. The Mason-Dixon poll was conducted as part of the 2009 National Hurricane Survival Initiative, which was launched at a news conference at the International Hurricane Research Center in Miami […]