Training & Events
The National Press Club Panel Discussion –The National Press Club holds a virtual discussion on “the state of the world during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing threats caused by climate change.” Information on the webcast is available at https://www.press.org/events/headliners/npc-virtual-newsmaker-dr-jane-goodall Contact: Lindsay Underwood at 202-662-7561 lunderwood@press.org
| Friday, Sept. 25, 2 p.m. |
Congressional Hearing: Climate Change, Part IV: Moving Toward a Sustainable Future — House Oversight and Reform / Subcommittee on Environment, “Climate Change, Part 4” Environment Subcommittee (Chairman Harley Rouda, D-Calif.) 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
- Thursday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m.
Webinar: Ready, Set… Activate! Advanced Risk Analytics for Wildfire & Flood in the U.S. (Carrier Mgt.) The past several years have seen increasingly severe flooding and wildfires in the US – and it’s forced the industry to rethink their approach to managing these disasters. RMS– a leading risk modeler for the insurance industry — will explore how new data and advanced risk analytics can help you to understand how to actively manage your exposure to this new (ab)normal. Whether you’re looking for profitable (re)insurance opportunities or you’re interested in understanding just how interconnected these risks are to the rest of your portfolio, join this webinar to understand how you can actively prepare for the seasons ahead.
- Wed. Sept. 30, at 10 am PDT, 1pm EDT
| Webinar: Hospital Resilience, Operational Perspectives from COVID-19 (Dom Prep) Notwithstanding 20 years of epidemiological predictions, the worldwide response to COVID-19 appeared to be panic. Not so, say four experts that share their perspectives on the response to COVID-19. Topics include ▪ Complexity of the supply chain ▪ Caring for the caregivers ▪ High-impact threats to critical infrastructure ▪ A path forward — adopting a sustainable doctrineWed, September 30, 2020 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT |
Resources
Case Study – Hurricane Dorian (Mutualink) Hurricane Dorian was the fourth named storm of the 2019 hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. As Dorian threatened Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Bahamas on its trajectory toward Florida, emergency managers swung into action. For many, a focus on communications and technology readiness was top of mind.
Countering False Information On Social Media In Disasters (DHS) The internet is often a hotbed of false and inaccurate information. Agencies and organizations responsible for keeping the public safe have their work cut out for them when battling false information and, unfortunately, the problem has gotten more complex as new technologies, social media platforms and agendas emerge. The Department of Homeland Security’s Social Media Working Group for Emergency Services and Disaster Management white paper “Countering False Information on Social Media in Disasters and Emergencies” can help agencies with this issue. The white paper examines what motivates people to share bad or false information and discusses underlying issues causing false information. It looks at several real-world case studies to provide agencies several best practices to counter misinformation, rumors and false information.
| COVID-19: Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions (GAO-20-701) GAO has identified lessons learned and issues in need of continued attention by the Congress and the administration, including the need to collect reliable data that can drive decision-making; to establish mechanisms for accountability and transparency; and to protect against ongoing cyber threats to patient information, intellectual property, public health data, and intelligence. Attention to these issues can help to make federal efforts as effective as possible. GAO has also identified a number of opportunities to help the federal government prepare for the months ahead while improving the ongoing federal response. |
| The PREP Act and COVID-19: Limiting Liability for Medical Countermeasures (CRS) To encourage the expeditious development and deployment of medical countermeasures during a public health emergency, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to limit legal liability for losses relating to the administration of medical countermeasures such as diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. In a declaration effective February 4, 2020, the Secretary of HHS invoked the PREP Act and declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 to be a public health emergency warranting liability protections for covered countermeasures. Under the HHS Declaration, covered persons are generally immune from legal liability for losses relating to the administration or use of covered countermeasures against COVID-19. (CRS, LSB10443) |
Articles
All-Hazards:
Hurricane Sally’s Major Flooding Exposes Flaws in FEMA Maps (Sci. American)
IPAWS Program Planning Toolkit New Resources (Mutualink Em Mgt News)
California May Need More Fire to Fix its Wildfire Problem (Pew: Stateline)
New Guidebooks Help Urban Communities Install Low-Cost Sensors to Reduce Flood Risks (DHS S&T)
Insurance Markets Face Challenges in Higher Fire-Risk Areas (HS Newswire)
How States Can Manage the Challenges of Paying for Natural Disasters (Pew)
Resilience:
Does Experiencing Wildfires Create Political Consensus on Resilience Measures? (HS Newswire)
Public Health / Biosurveillance:
Evaluating Your Department’s COVID-19 Response (OH&S)
Federal Public Health Leaders Relay Timeline For U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan (Homeland Prep News)
Michigan Residents Urged to Stay Indoors to Avoid Deadly Mosquito-Borne Illness (Pew: Rt. Fifty)
Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:
What the Wildfires Tell Us about the Shortcomings of California’s Electric Grid (HS Newswire)
Innovations & Interconnections:
Close Encounters: How Near Misses Influence Disaster Decision Making (Nat. Hazards Ctr)
What Is a Tipping Point, and Why Should I Care? (HS Newswire)
From Brassville to... (working title) 