As the holidays approach, many across the country are beginning to plan for holiday celebrations and small gatherings. To help minimize risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19, CDC has released considerations for Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings. The considerations were updated to reflect small and informal gatherings of family and friends from across multiple households that often occur during the holiday season. The Thanksgiving tip sheet is a resource to help people take steps to make their Thanksgivings safer.

Training & Events

Disaster Resilience Framework — The seminar is now posted to GAOTV (GAO) The Disaster Resilience Framework seminar provides an overview of the framework as well as the tools for using it in GAO’s engagements. In October 2019, GAO issued the Disaster Resilience Framework (GAO-20-100SP) to serve as a guide for analyzing federal actions to facilitate and promote resilience to natural disasters. The framework is intended to help managers across government explore opportunities to promote disaster resilience and reduce the mounting costs associated with the federal response to climate and weather disasters.

Webinar: Large Area Flood, Steep Creek, and Landslide-Dam Flood Risk Prioritization — Association of GeoHazard Professionals (Canada) – Mountainous regions are frequently subject to geohazards that cause property damage, loss of life, and the interruption of transportation arteries. Of the many thousands of hazard areas, only a tiny fraction receive a full risk management cycle from hazard identification to risk control. Since development exists within these geohazard susceptible expanses, communities require support to make risk-informed decisions about regulation, mitigation, and emergency management.  This webinar will present approaches to prioritize geohazard risk across large and typically data-scarce regions like British Columbia and discuss how their results support development planning, regulation, and emergency management.

• Tuesday, November 24, 2020 | 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Considerations for a Post COVID World: An Interview with Brock Long (DRJ) Brock Long, the former Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will provide his insights, recommendations, and predictions about what 2021 and beyond will look like, along with his advice on how your company can properly prepare.

• Thursday, December 3, 2020 @ 12:00 PM ET

COVID-19 Scientific Quarterly: Contact Tracing (GAO) The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of contact tracing. As a disease control strategy, contact tracing is most useful when there are sufficient tests, resources, and a low number of individuals with the disease. Additionally, effective listening and interviewing skills are key to successful contact tracing. This presentation is intended to enhance the understanding of contact tracing for GAO staff members

• Thursday, December 3, 1:30 – 3:00 pm (ET)

Hurricane Season 2020 and Adaptation Lessons Learned (Bipartisan Policy Center) This hurricane season has been extraordinarily active with 30 named storms, including 13 hurricanes, ensuring that 2020 is just the latest in a handful of recent, record-setting seasons. Climate change has been increasing Atlantic hurricane activity for years, producing storms that are collectively stronger, wetter, and slower-moving over populated coastlines. To bring down costs, speed up recovery efforts, and ultimately improve the lives of those impacted by natural disasters, we must be smarter about how communities plan and rebuild. Join BPC as we look back at the 2020 hurricane season and assess lessons learned to make us more prepared for a stormy future.

• Thursday, December 3, 2020 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Working with Indigenous Communities After a Disaster: Focus on South Dakota (CDI) In this webinar, three Indigenous leaders – all grantees of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s Midwest Early Recovery Fund Tribal Communities Disaster Recovery Program – will share their experiences in disaster recovery, explain how needs differ in their communities and share best practices for working together respectfully in ways that honor culture and land.

• Thursday, December 3 at 2 p.m. ET

GAO Cyber COP Newsletter – November 2020 (GAO) WELCOME to the first edition of the Cyber COP Newsletter! This newsletter will help you stay top of COP events and learning, as well as external training opportunities in the following sections: COP Events and News, Cyber Information Sharing Group meetings, and Training Opportunities. Newsletters are sent out to the Outlook group #CyberCOP_Members@gao.gov

Also see the Cybersecurity COP wiki for an often-updated (and sortable) list of GAO’s cybersecurity-related reports since 2016, as well as the ITC team’s current list of cybersecurity-related engagements.

Reminder:  FEMA Releases National Risk Index (FEMA) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) releases an online mapping application to analyze risk factors from 18 natural hazards in addition to expected annual losses, social vulnerability and community resilience. The tool is free and easy to use, and data from the site is available for download. FEMA is developing a comprehensive National Risk Index application to release later in 2021. Visit FEMA’s National Risk Index webpage to learn more about the data and the natural hazards that can affect your community.

Updated COVID-19 Medical Staffing Requests Advisory: FEMA has updated its medical staffing requests advisory with 12 actions items for State, local, and territorial governments to address. As a reminder, all requests to the Federal government must be formally communicated by your state emergency manager to your FEMA Regional Administrator. This is the same process as natural disasters (e.g., hurricane recovery, flood recovery, tornado recovery, etc.). If you have specific needs, please reach out to your State or local emergency manager.

Disasters and Religion App Helps Emergency Managers (NDIN) The Disasters & Religion App helps disaster responders better serve America’s diverse religious communities and build partnerships with religious leaders, with easily accessible religious literacy and competency information on 27 unique religions. It also offers Tip Sheets on Mass Care considerations for different faith communities; 16 Tip Sheets on partnering with faith communities in disasters; and 26 Tip Sheets on equipping religious leaders about disaster preparedness through the Be a Ready Congregation program It was created by the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), and the University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC).

Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study (FEMA)  Using big data, FEMA’s modeling of the 18.1M buildings constructed in the United States since 2000 has found that the nation has benefited to the tune of $1.6 billion in savings each year. These savings represent the cumulative losses avoided from property damage associated with using the International Codes or similar building codes during floods, hurricane, and earthquakes. FEMA projects that, by the year 2040, the nation will save around $3.2 billion in savings per year. This adds up to almost $133 billion in total losses avoided from 2000 to 2040.

Articles

All-Hazards:

After Camp Fire, Paradise, CA, Works on Long-Term Recovery (EM /Gov Tech)

Rule of Law During Pandemics (Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute)

Building a Data-Driven Culture in Emergency Management (Dom Prep)

A Provocative Idea for Naming Atlantic Hurricanes That Just Might Work (Forbes)

The Alaska Tsunami That Can’t Be Stopped (The Atlantic)

Flood Sensors Drive Predictive City Management in North Carolina (GCN)

Report: The Disaster Relief Fund: Overview and Issues (CRS)

Resilience:

Systems Thinking Helps Build Resilience in Post-COVID Food Supply Chains(FoodSafety)

How the ABC Produced the Mt Resilience Augmented Reality Experience to Explore a World of Living with Big Weather and Climate Change (ABC)

Equitable Retreat: The Need for Fairness in Relocating Coastal Communities (Yale Environment)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

States That Imposed Few Restrictions Now Have the Worst Outbreaks (NY Times)

State of the Nation: A 50-State COVID-19 Survey Report #23: Depression Among Young Adults (HSDL)

Questions Persist over Face Mask Efficacy (HS Newswire)

‘They’ve Been Following the Science’: How the Covid-19 Pandemic Has Been Curtailed in Cherokee Nation (STAT)

Some Places Were Short on Nurses Before the Virus. The Pandemic is Making it Much Worse. (Washington Post)

Mauritania Rift Valley Fever Outbreak Update and Chapare Virus in Bolivia 2019: New Evidence Shows Human-to-human Transmission  (Outbreak News Today)

Risk Perception Studies Could Improve Pandemic Response (Governing)

Frequent, Rapid Testing Could Turn National COVID-19 Tide within Weeks (Harvard)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

‘Catastrophic Problem’ Looms In 110-Year-Old Hudson River Rail Tunnel If Fixes Aren’t Made (NBC NY)

ACI World Calls for Airport Recovery Plans to Include Climate Change Efforts (International Airport Review)

Innovations & Interconnections:

The Growth Equation of Cities (Nature)

National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide Final Report (IACP) and Disasters Leave a Rise in Suicides in Their Wake: Study (US News)  and The Human Costs Of The Pandemic: Is It Time To Prioritize Well-Being? (Brookings)

Have a Safe and Healthy Holidays!! 

As the holidays approach, many across the country are beginning to plan for holiday celebrations and small gatherings. To help minimize risk and prevent the spread of COVID-19, CDC has released considerations for Holiday Celebrations and Small Gatherings. The considerations were updated to reflect small and informal gatherings of family and friends from across multiple households that often occur during the holiday season. The Thanksgiving tip sheet is a resource to help people take steps to make their Thanksgivings safer. These considerations complement other resources to help minimize risk and keep family, friends, and communities safer. 

• CDC Tips For Hosting Gatherings Or Cookouts
• Considerations For Traveling During The Holidays

CDC and the CDC Foundation have also provided resources to address stress and coping, and for parents and caregivers to help protect children and young people’s social, emotional, and mental health.

• COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit
• How Right Now: Finding What Helps

Finally, if you or loved ones are traveling, please check the state you are going to for any updates to that state’s COVID restrictions. 

Training & Events

“Mitigation Misery – Practical Tools for Floodplain Managers” (NHMA) The Natural Hazard Mitigation Association and FEMA Region 6 is holding a brownbag to discuss flood mitigation with Edward Thomas Esq.–Fellow of the American Bar Association (ABA) Foundation, member of the ABA Disaster Response and Preparedness Committee and Vice-Chair of the ABA State and Local Government Law Section’s Resilience Task Force. During his career in HUD and FEMA, Ed worked closely with individuals, companies, non-profit organizations local communities developing safe and affordable housing, and results oriented Floodplain Management and Hazard Mitigation. He worked closely with disaster survivors on about two hundred disasters and emergencies, serving as the President’s representative, the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO), dozens of times.

• Tuesday, November 17, 2020,  1 – 2pm ET

COVID-19 Vaccine Update: Development, Approval, Allocation and Distribution in the U.S.—(National Academy of Medicine) The fifteenth COVID-19 Conversations webinar, scheduled for November 18, 2020 at 5pm ET, will discuss the path to a COVID-19 vaccine, including steps forward in development, approval, allocation and distribution in the U.S. The webinar will begin with an introduction from the session’s moderator, Margaret (Peggy) Hamburg, former FDA commissioner, and then feature a conversation with a panel of experts, including: Larry Corey, President and Director Emeritus, Fred Hutch; James Hildreth, President & CEO, Meharry Medical College; Marion Gruber, Director, Office of Vaccines Research & Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the webinar audience.

• Wednesday, November 18, 2020 5-6:30pm ET (requires pre-registration)

A Nation Unprepared: Incomplete Implementation of the National Blueprint for Biodefense— Virtual Meeting of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense — The Commission will assess the national response to COVID-19 as those activities relate to the recommendations of their 2015 Blueprint, and better understand federal efforts to enhance national biodefense.

• Monday, November 30, 2020 10:00am – 3:30pm ET

FEMA releases draft ‘Building Private-Public Partnerships Guide’ for public comment (IAEM)FEMA is seeking content input from community partners on the “Building Private-Public Partnerships Guide” draft document. The agency will host a series of 60-minute engagement webinars to discuss the Guide and answer stakeholders’ questions. The purpose of the review is to provide an opportunity for the public to provide substantive content recommendations and refinement of the draft. The webinars will be open to the whole community and advance registration is required. To register, click on the preferred webinar session below.

• Webinar 1: 2:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 1.
• Webinar 2: 3:00 p.m. EST on Dec. 3.

Webinar: Urban Flood Hazards: Challenges and Opportunities (NHMA) The Georgia Association of Floodplain Management (GAFM) No Adverse Impact (NAI) Committee, in conjunction with the ASFPM NAI Committee, and hosted by Michael Baker, International Inc.

• Wednesday, December 2, 2020 @ 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT

Webinar: Federal Alliance for Safe Homes 2020 Review – 2021 Outlook (FLASH) Hear from FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman-Henderson and Executive Vice President Eric Vaughn about recent events and milestones in the disaster safety and resilience movement and how current and future partners can drive meaningful change through new collaboration opportunities.  FLASH had planned to offer the 2020 National Disaster Resilience Conference (NDRC) in a traditional, in-person format. However, we have postponed it until December 2021 due to current conditions.

• Thursday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m

Webinar: 5G is Here! How Will This Impact Emergency Communications? (CISA) The rapid rate of technology advancement continues to outpace the public safety community acquisition cycle. The arrival of 5G – the fifth-generation technology standard for cellular networks – is one example. It is envisioned that 5G will have the potential to enhance operations, support information-sharing, improve efficiency and response time, augment security, and increase capacity for more connected devices. This webinar will identify actions organizations can take to prepare for the implementation of new solutions like 5G. 

• Wednesday, December 8 at 1:00 p.m.

Resources

New Report Details Approach for Rapid Development of Innovative Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases  In a new special focus report released today, Diagnostics for Biodefense – Flying Blind with No Plan to Land, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense provides an approach that would ensure the United States can rapidly develop innovative point-of-care and point-of-need diagnostic tests for COVID-19 and other novel, emerging, and reemerging infectious diseases when they occur. The report contains recommendations for both the Executive and Legislative Branches of the government. In accordance with Recommendation 30 of the Commission’s baseline 2015 A National Blueprint for Biodefense, the report calls for the development of a national plan for testing, recommending that Congress amend the CARES Act of 2020 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to establish a new task force to develop innovative rapid diagnostic solutions and scale up testing dramatically across the Nation, eliminate supply chain disruptions, and pursue advances in diagnostic technology.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) released the following COVID-19-related reports:

• Homelessness and COVID-19 (CRS) People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of contracting and spreading Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have also been concerns that the number of people experiencing homelessness could increase. Unemployment rates grew as some industries, including restaurants, retail, and hospitality, essentially shut down for varying periods of time. The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been greater for low-income workers, renters, and minority households.
• Vaccine Safety in the United States: Overview and Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccines (CRS) In light of reported concerns from the public surrounding the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines developed on an expedited timeline, FDA officials have sought to clarify that any vaccine candidate “will be reviewed according to the established legal and regulatory standards for medical products.” If made available within the next several months, available safety and effectiveness data would be based on months of data collection rather than on years of data collection typically used in vaccine development. In addition, efforts are underway with regard to (1) clinical guidance and prioritization of individuals to receive the likely limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines; (2) strengthening safety monitoring systems to collect ongoing safety surveillance data on vaccines administered to the population; and (3) preparing for safety controls in vaccine distribution and patient administration, in addition to other activities.
• COVID-19: Potential Implications for International Security Environment—Overview of Issues and Further Reading for Congress (CRS) Observers who argue the COVID-19 pandemic could be world-changing for the international security environment and the US role in the world have focused on several areas of potential change, including the following, which are listed here separately but overlap in some cases and can interact with one another. Issues for Congress may include whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic could change the international security environment, whether the Trump Administration’s actions for responding to such change are appropriate and sufficient, and what implications such change could have for the role of Congress in setting and overseeing the execution of US foreign and defense policy.

Guiding Principles for Emergency Management on Cyber Security (NEMA) The cascading impacts of a cybersecurity incident during the COVID-19 response have reinforced the need to ensure state government enterprises are secure and resilient in the face of cyber threats. To that end NEMA, the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA), and Auburn University’s McCrary Institute partnered to develop a document that outlines guiding principles for emergency management executives around cybersecurity. The Guiding Principles for Emergency Management on Cyber Security addresses the three essential elements to an effective cybersecurity posture:  leadership, culture, and strategy. 

“Attacks Tracker” of Jihadist Motivated Terrorist Attacks (GWU) The George Washington University Program on Extremism (PoE) released a tracker monitoring jihadist motivated terrorist attacks in Europe and North America. The tracker is based on a database maintained by the PoE and includes data since 2014. Initial findings include that 75 percent of attacks were perpetrated in Europe, and 71 percent of attackers were known to authorities prior to the attack taking place. The year with the most terrorist attacks recorded was 2017, but 2020 has had more than double the number of incidents as 2019.

Articles

All-Hazards:

First Responders: Cloud-Based Framework Improves Efficiency in Disaster-Area Management (HS Newswire)

Climate Change Intensifies Tsunami Threat in Alaska (Hi Country News)

USFA Logs Lowest Annual Count in 2019 Firefighter Fatalities Report (FEMA / USFA)

Study Projects More Rainfall in Florida During Flooding Season (Phys.org)

Obstacles to Timely Emergency Messaging For Acute Incidents (Journal of EM)

As the Oceans Warm, Hurricanes Stay Stronger Longer (Sci. American)

This Relentless Atlantic Hurricane Season Has Put Nearly Every Mile of Coastline from Texas to Maine On Alert (CNN)

Resilience:

Climate Change Will Make Parts of the U.S. Uninhabitable. Americans Are Still Moving There (ProPublica)

The Next COVID Dilemma: How to Make Buildings Breathe Better (WIRED)

Preserving Cultural and Historic Treasures in Changing Climate May Mean Transforming Them (The Conversation)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

NIH to Study How Much (More) Americans Are Drinking Alcohol During Pandemic (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

Epidemics: Odds and Evens: A Strategy for Safely Exiting Lockdown 2 (HS Newswire)

Coronavirus FAQ: Could COVID-19 Ever Be Considered A Preexisting Condition? (NPR)

Nurses in Every New Haven School as Frontline Against COVID (EM / Gov Tech)

Epidemic: Shielding the Vulnerable Using a Risk Calculator – Here’s Why It Won’t Be Enough (HS Newswire)

Invasive Weed Found in Michigan Grows Six Inches a Day (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

Upcoming S&T Guidance on Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Will Improve Critical Infrastructure Resilience (DHS / S&T)

Food Security: Nuclear War Could Take a Big Bite Out of the World’s Seafood (HS Newsire)

National Guard to Help Vermont Health Network After Cyberattack (Infosecurity)

Innovations & Interconnections:

Epidemic: Putting Games to Work in the Battle Against COVID-19 (HS Newsire) and Storytelling—Plots of Resilience, Learning, and Discovery in Emergency Management (Journal of EM)

Disaster ‘Prepping’ Was Once An American Pastime. Today, It’s Mainstream Again. (Nat Geo)

More Economic Worries Lead to Less Caution about COVID-19 (HS Newsire)

This game challenges you to stop a pandemic, and it can break your spirit https://flip.it/sAf559

Training & Events

Webinar: Building Community Resilience through Innovation and Partnerships (Council of State Governments) Historic amounts of grant funding will flow into states in 2021 to use for pre-disaster mitigation and large infrastructure projects from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The new BRIC program allows states and local communities to shift from reactive disaster spending and instead take forward-leaning and innovative approaches to building resilience, including public-private partnerships and nature-based solutions. Learn how this unprecedented opportunity can be leveraged to build climate and disaster resilience, reinforce equity and encourage stronger economies.  Note: No cost for CSG-associate members; $250 for non-members. If you have questions about registration, please contact CSG at registration@csg.org.  

• Friday, Nov 13, 2020 02:00 PM

FEMA National Advisory Council virtual meetings (FEMA) — on emergency management issues, pursuant to Homeland Security Department; Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.R. Page 68355)., Agenda includes: present recommendations to and receive feedback from leadership; and discuss strategic priorities with FEMA leadership and topical experts.  Note: RSVP required by 5 p.m. November 13. Contact: Jasper Cooke at 202-646-2700 FEMA-NAC@fema.dhs.gov  to register and receive dial-in information.

• November 17-18, starting @ 12:30pm ET.

Maximizing FEMA COVID-19 Funding and Reimbursements — The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ webinar “Maximizing FEMA Funding and Reimbursements Eight Months In,” is now available at no cost on-demand. Eight months into the pandemic, many cities are preparing and submitting reimbursement requests to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This webinar provides useful information to assist cities in using available federal aid to respond to the impact of COVID-19 on cities and their residents

Resources

State and Local Mitigation Planning Policy Update: Summary of Feedback Report (FEMA) The National Mitigation Planning Program is updating the state and local mitigation planning policies. These policies guide the review and approval of state and local hazard mitigation plans. The policies are also known as the Mitigation Plan Review Guides, and are FEMA’s official interpretation of the hazard mitigation planning requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR Part 201).  This effort included a broad call for ideas and feedback. Representatives from state, local, and territorial communities and the public could participate in one of three listening sessions held in mid-July as well as submit comments by email. Over 550 federal, state, local, academic, and non-governmental partners shared nearly 440 comments The National Mitigation Planning Program has summarized these comments in a report available online.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Creates Mobile Flood Tool (HS Newswire) – The U.S. Geological Survey announced Friday the completion of a new mobile tool that provides real-time information on water levels, weather and flood forecasts all in one place on a computer, smartphone or other mobile device. The new access anywhere interactive map helps minimize loss of life and property. the USGS National Water Dashboard will help inform forecasting, response and recovery efforts for agencies such as the National Weather Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal, state and local agencies.

November is Infrastructure Security Month (DHS / CISA) Designed to focus on the vital role critical infrastructure – cyber and physical – plays in keeping the nation and our communities safe, secure and prosperous. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is promoting two sub-themes for Infrastructure Security Month 2020: In a Time of Transformation: Security and Response during a Global Pandemic and The Future of Securing Critical Infrastructure.

Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places (DHS / CISA) CISA’s collection of resources covering the many facets of this topic. Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Places offers planning and response guidance on active shooters, vehicle ramming, chemical attacks and fire as a weapon.

Special Report: Public Health in State and Local Government (Pew: Rt. Fifty) Covid-19 exposed gaps in data use for state governments but it also revealed innovative practices that can be applied in the future. This Special Report looks at the latest trends in public health as agencies combat coronavirus and other problems.

Federal Register Updates (NEMA) The Federal Register was active in recent days, with a selection of relevant updates below: 

• FEMA: Comment Request on Information Collection for National Disaster Preparedness Survey
• FEMA: Comment Request on Information Collection for Emergency Notification System (ENS)
• CDC: Statement of Organizations, Functions, and Delegations of Authority
• FCC: Correction to Date Regarding Wireless 911 Location Accuracy Requirements   

CISA Graphic Novel: Real Fake (CISA) Real Fake, the first graphic novel in CISA’s Resilience Series, communicates the dangers and risks associated with dis- and misinformation through fictional stories that are inspired by real-world events. Readers follow protagonists Rachel and Andre as they discover that a command center in Russia is using a network of troll farms to spread false narratives about elections to American voters. With the elections coming up, Rachel and Andre follow the trail of synthetic media and stop the cyber assailants from causing chaos, confusion, and division.

Articles

All-Hazards:

Alerts: Action-Led Alerts Effective in Natural Disasters (HS Newswire)

Wildfires Threaten West Coast’s Seismic Network (UN Prevention Web)

U.S. Department of Education Announces Rescission of and Replacement for the 2016 Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting (Dom Prep)

Volunteers Needed to Help With Hurricane Zeta Recovery (WLOX)

Can AI and Connected Tech Foster Better Disaster Decision-Making? (GCN)

What Creates Community Disaster Response Chaos (Nat. Interest)

Resilience:

How Better Building Codes Can Mitigate Wildfires’ Devastation (UN Prevention Web)

How New Modes of Storytelling Engage Australians in Disaster Preparedness and Long-Term Resilience (AUS)

Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate (ULI – Knowledge Finder)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

Moving Millions of County Dollars to Prepare for COVID (EM/GovTech)

Escaping the ‘Era of Pandemics’: Reducing Risks of Worse Crises to Come (HS Newswire)

Local Health Departments Find New Ways to Provide Flu Vaccines (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

Creating a National Network of Cybersecurity Institutes (HS Newswire)

New Cyber Technologies Protect Utility Energy Delivery Systems (HS Newswire)

Safeguarding the Nation’s Supercomputers (HS Newswire)

A Big 2020 Election Hack Never Came. Here’s Why. (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

Apple Will Require Apps to Add Privacy “Nutrition Labels” Staring December 8^th(The Verge)

Innovations & Interconnections:

The World’s Courtrooms Could Unleash the Next Wave of Green Investing (Bloomberg Green)

Poor U.S. Pandemic Response Will Reverberate in Health Care Politics for Years, Health Scholars Warn (HS Newswire)

ESG Data Explosion, Investors Demand Diversity, Policymakers Fight Climate Change (Financial Times)

The Denialist Playbook: On Vaccines, Evolution and More, Rejection of Science Has Followed a Familiar Pattern (Sci American)

Training & Events

• Thursday, November 05, 2 pm ET

Webinar: Ohio’s Secretary of State & More Discuss Cybersecurity Infrastructure (Pew Rt. Fifty / Nextgov) What can agencies do during this uniquely trying time to shore up cyber vulnerabilities and prevent threats? This webcast will explore what it would take to put the ransomware protections and cybersecurity infrastructure in place in order to have a secure, remote workforce. We’ll dive into newly released ransomware guidance across federal agencies and discuss what the guidance may hold for the future.

• Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

Resources

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, House of Representatives, Interim Staff Report on key findings during its first six months of the federal response to COVID-19. As a reminder, EM CoP shares these resources to share important perspectives, in this case, from our client. The EM CoP does not endorse any of the findings or messages, but shares this information for those whom it may be useful. See EM CoP Resources folder / COVID19 FY21_ALL_STAFF-#139890

Master Question List for COVID-19 [caused by SARS-CoV-2] (DHS S&T) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) developed the following “master question list” that quickly summarizes what is known, what additional information is needed, and who may be working to address such fundamental questions as, “What is the infectious dose?” and “How long does the virus persist in the environment?” The Master Question List (MQL) is intended to quickly present the current state of available information to government decision makers in the operational response to COVID-19 and allow structured and scientifically guided discussions across the federal government without burdening them with the need to review scientific reports, and to prevent duplication of efforts by highlighting and coordinating research.

Critical Drug Shortages Further Complicate Pandemic Response (CIDRAP) The report from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at found that 29 out of 40, or approximately 73 percent, of drug treatments for COVID-19 are experiencing shortages. On top of spikes in treatment in hotspots, multiple factors contribute to shortages such as manufacturing halts, supply chain disruptions and international export restrictions. CIDRAP discusses the overarching consequences of drug shortages, the need for better transparency, and reliance on foreign sources and how a series of events (intentional or natural) could put us at even higher risk. This is part six in a series on COVID-19. See the CIDRAP website for the other reports in the series.

2020 Wildfire Risk Report — CoreLogic released the 2020 Wildfire Risk report, which takes a look at some of the new wildfire challenges faced, new ways to examine risk, losses from the year to date and methods of reducing those losses.  According to the report, up to the end of September this year over 7 million acres have burned in the United States. Responding to wildfires in 2020 has been extremely challenging not only due to new challenges from COVID-19 but also because of the number and size of fire. Recovering from them may also be more challenging. The report also shares the 10 cities Core Logic found as having the highest rate of potential risk of loss from wildfire, including Denver; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Los Angeles, San Diego, Thousand Oaks, Truckee, Riverside, and Sacramento, Calif.

State Public Health Authorities and COVID-19 Legal Challenges (ASTHO blog) The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) drafted an explainer of several legal challenges currently faced in states around the emergency powers invoked by governors and health officials to order physical distancing measures. Common issues faced include: challenges to the underlying legal authority of state executives to respond to public health crises; claims that “public health” falls outside state emergency powers; COVID-19 not qualifying as an emergency per state law; and judicial deference to landmark legal cases including Jacobson v. Massachusetts.

EESI Policy Recommendations for Coastal Community Resilience— The Environmental and Energy Study Institute published a report detailing policy recommendations for improving coastal community resilience in the face of natural hazards and climate change. The report is divided into six sections: community at the forefront; land use and development; cultural heritage; climate adaptation and resilience data; disaster preparedness; and financing adaptation and resilience. Including 30 specific coastal resilience policy recommendations, this document may be useful when developing BRIC applications.  View their coastal resilience briefing series and the full report here.

Confronting Urgent Threats to Human Health & Society: COVID-19 and Climate Change (NAM Annual Meeting) The recordings of the entire 2020 National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Annual Meeting are available above.

Articles

All-Hazards:

Shift Needed to Impact-Based Weather Forecasting (HS Today) and NOAA Partners with Google to Boost Weather Forecasts with AI (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

Resilience:

How Does the Environment Impact COVID-19? (DHS S&T)

Land Managers Can’t Burn the West Fast Enough (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

How the U.S. Could Be Smarter About Insuring Against Extreme Weather-Related Disasters (MarketWatch)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

State Department: Reducing Revisionist State Biological and Chemical Weapons Threats (Global Biodefense)

Who Will Get the COVID Vaccine First? A New Tool Aims to Help States Decide (Pew: Rt. Fifty)

Increased and Imminent Cyber Threat to Healthcare and Public Health (DHS/CISA)

A Flu Shot Might Reduce Coronavirus Infections, Early Research Suggests (Sci. American)

‘Storm Tracker’ Maps Shows How Hurricanes Spread Invasive Species (Smithsonian)

How Indigenous Communities in Canada Organized an Exemplary COVID Public Health Response (Sci. American)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure: NIST Releases Draft Cybersecurity Guidance, Develops GPS-Free Backup for Timing Systems (NIST)

Federal agencies warn hackers targeting U.S. hospitals with ransomware attacks (The Hill) CISA, FBI, and HHS have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers,” the agencies wrote in a joint alert. These cyber-attacks have targeted healthcare networks in Vermont and New York, among other states.

Innovations & Interconnections:

Connecting People and Places: Exploring New Measures of Travel Behavior (Brookings)

What Should Crisis Leadership Look Like? (New Yorker)

Webinar: Visualizations and Datasets for Flood Loss Reduction (APA) The availability and visualization of datasets has evolved significantly. Whether looking at historical data or looking towards the future, datasets and visualizations can not only help inform practitioners’ plans, programs, and policies, but they can also be helpful in convincing elected officials and citizens to take action. This PIE webinar will focus on the Union of Concerned Scientists Underwater report and mapping tool, and NRDC’s Losing Ground flood visualization tool, and their applicability to community and hazard mitigation planning and floodplain management.

·         Tuesday, October 27, 2020 2 p.m. to 3:30pm ET

FEMA Tool Provides Comprehensive View of Hazard Risk (FEMA) The Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT) was released earlier this year to help identify areas for building resilience, response, and recovery capabilities. Developed by FEMA and Argonne National Laboratory, RAPT is a geographic information system (GIS) webmap tool with clickable layers of community resilience indicators, infrastructure locations, and hazard data, and widgets to help with analysis. RAPT includes GIS layers of historic hazard data for tornados, tropical storms, and wildfire; risk assessments for seismic and flooding events; and real-time watch and warning notifications from the National Weather Service. Jurisdictions can click on multiple hazard layers at a time to see a more comprehensive view of hazard risk.

Severe Repetitive Flooding, Flood Data Visualization Tool (Natural Resources Defense Council) The federal government’s efforts to reduce repeated flooding are not keeping pace with current risk—let alone the increasing risk posed by sea level rise, increased severe weather, and other climate change impacts. This data dashboard illustrates the number of Severe Repetitive Loss Properties in each state and county, along with National Flood Insurance Program claims. Use the drop-down menus at the top of the map to filter by location, and check the graphs to view trends in repeatedly flooded properties.

FEMA Adjusts Consumer Price Index for 2021 (FEMA) FEMA has provided financial guidance for all disasters declared on or after Oct. 1, 2020. This guidance reflects the 2021 Consumer Price Index adjustment of certain indicators for the Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs. The index adjusted annually for inflation by the U.S. Department of Labor—has increased 1.3% for Fiscal Year 2021. Therefore, the following FEMA program amounts have been changed and will remain in effect for the next 12 months.

New ‘Mitigate Your Risk’ feature on FEMA app (FEMA) New content is available on the FEMA app, which lists the types of disasters common for an area and provides do-it-yourself mitigation tips. The tips are low-cost or no-cost and help prevent future losses after a disaster. Users can enter a zip code or city name to view a list of common disasters in the area and get tips on how to prepare. The app also allows the user to sign up to receive severe weather, environmental and other public hazard alerts for up to five locations of interest. The FEMA app has been downloaded more than one million times on Google Play and is ranked 14 in the Weather category of the App Store. Using a mobile device, download the FEMA app for free from the App Store and Google Play

CMAT Program Offers Community Wildfire Mitigation Assistance (U.S. Forest Service) The nation is in the midst of another horrendous wildfire season. Communities are under siege. It’s too late to offer mitigation assistance for some communities but for many this is a chance to establish or strengthen local mitigation programs. The National Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT), supported by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, may be able to help.CMATs help support and position communities to do wildfire mitigation work themselves through effective, sustainable partnerships using the right methods and tools.

Articles

All-Hazards:

FEMA to Fly 642 Shelter Pets to Safety on Historic Rescue Flight (GreaterGood)

Search & Rescue: Rapid Rescue of Buried People (HS Newswire)

New Simulation Technology Helps Get the Jump on Wildfires (EM / Gov Tech)

Beyond 9/11: U.S. Security Needs in the 21st Century (HS Newswire) and Homeland Threat Assessment, October 2020 (HS Digital Library)

5 of California’s 6 Largest Fires on Record Are Burning Now: The Astonishing 2020 Wildfire Season in Context (Union of Concerned Scientists)

U.S. Hit By 16 Billion-Dollar Disasters This Year, So Far (NOAA)

Resilience:

Florida Braces for a Storm of Homeowners Insurance Rate Hikes (Bloomberg)

Hospital Resilience-Operational Perspectives from COVID-19 (Dom. Prep)

The unlikely birthplace of the most destructive hurricanes(BBC)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

When Disasters Strike, Nursing Homes Residents Face Considerable Risk (Medical Xpress)

State of the Nation: A 50-State COVID-19 Survey: Report #14: Misinformation and Vaccine Acceptance (HS Digital Library)

Bringing Calm to Chaos: The Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) & the Coronavirus Pandemic (Dom. Prep)

U.S. COVID Deaths May Be Underestimated by 36 Percent (HS Newswire)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

Strengthening the Cyber Resilience of North American Energy Systems (HS Digital Library)

Alabama’s Power Grid Reimage After Hurricane Sally Includes Solar (EM / Gov Tech)

Geolocation Data Could Help Planners Design Communities that Require Less Driving (Route Fifty)

Innovations & Interconnections:

Essential Role of Satellites in Disaster and Pandemic Management (ROOM)

How Coronavirus Is Changing Claims, Risks, Work, Habits, Supply Chains and More (Ins Journal) and COVID-19 Business Adjustments Are Changing Fire Safety (EDM Digest)

Can You Pay Your Deductible? Survey Says 78% Can’t Afford to File an Insurance Claim (Bankrate)

Insider a Tech-Driven Rebuilding Shop for Wildfire Victims (LA Times)

Resources

See GAO: Disaster Recovery: COVID-19 Pandemic Intensifies Disaster Recovery Challenges for K-12 Schools GAO-21-62R   Since 2017, more than 260 major disasters were declared—many of which disrupted K-12 schools and students’ lives. Now, these challenges are compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Local education officials in disaster-affected areas said the pandemic exacerbated mental health issues, delayed recovery projects, and more. Officials said student mental health was a top priority but services needed to treat disaster-related issues were not readily available.  The U.S. Department of Education awarded nearly $1.4 billion to help schools recover from these disasters. Some local officials said the pandemic made it difficult to use these funds

Resources to Help You Protect Communities from Wildfire (US Fire Admin) The United States is seeing a very active wildfire season and it shows no signs of slacking off. Responders need all the tools they can to plan response and track incidents in their areas.

• InciWeb is a great interactive mapping resource available from the U.S. Forest Service to show where wildfires are burning in areas close to your location, allowing you to better prepare your community for wildfire safety. It serves as both a trusted reporting tool for public affairs specialists and as a single source of incident-related information for the public. Official announcements include evacuations, road closures, news releases, maps, photographs, and basic information and current situation about the incident. 
• Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) webpage offers a collection of resources for you to learn more about wildfire response and management, whole-community involvement and training. This includes information on how to do all these things safely during the pandemic as well as links to other community risk reduction resource

Podcasts: Engineering With Nature (US Army Corps of Engineers) To mark the 10^th anniversary of Engineering with Nature, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created a 10-episode podcast series to share stories of how communities are harnessing the power of nature to innovate, solve problems, and create sustainable solutions. A new episode is posted each Wednesday through Oct. 28, 2020.

Training: IAEM Certification Cohort Class (IAEM) IAEM is offering U.S. local, state/territory or tribal emergency managers the opportunity to apply to have their IAEM CEM^® fees waived. Eligible candidates will be selected through a random lottery. Follow the hyperlink to check your eligibility and apply.

Maintaining Healthcare Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic (HHS/ASPR) The Technical Resource, Assistance Center, Information Exchange (TRACIE) produced a series of videos to create the collection “Maintaining Healthcare Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” now available through its Speaker Series. Speakers share how their organizations are focusing on healthcare safety during the pandemic and the solutions to system-based issues and concerns. The presentations are for healthcare workers in all settings but focus on hospital-based providers. TRACIE is part of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). ASPR TRACIE maintains a large collection of information related to COVID-19 response, much of which are applicable to pre-hospital response.

Articles

voAll-Hazards:

Hope to Action: Special Children’s Needs Post-Disaster (Dom Prep)

Natural Disasters May Push Global Finances to the Brink (Scientific Am)

Hurricane Irma Caused 400 Senior Deaths in Florida (US News)

Shift Needed From ‘What the Weather Will Be’ To ‘What the Weather Will Do’ (UN News)

Slow Relief, Deep Divide in Hurricane Housing Recovery (Next City)

UN: “Staggering” Rise in Climate Emergencies in last 20 Years (HS Newswire)

Unveiling the Accuracy of Tsunami Predictions (Phys.org)

Bmore Responsive: Home-Grown Emergency Response Coordination (CGN)

Iowa Derecho This August Was Most Costly Thunderstorm Event In Modern U.S. History (NPR)

Resilience:

Is The Risk Of Sea Level Rise Affecting Florida Home Prices? A New Study Says Yes (NPR)

Insuring Public Buildings, Contents, Vehicles, and Equipment Against Disasters (RAND)

Detroit Aims To End Basement Flooding and Cut Water Pollution with Sponge-Like Medians (Det Free Press)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, 2020-2025 (HHS)

HHS Selects Third Pilot Site to Demonstrate Better Approach to Disaster Medical Care (Dom Prep)

Feds Have Cut Anti-COVID Workforce by More Than 60% (Defense One)

FDA Approves Immazeb as First Treatment for Ebola Virus (Homeland Prep News)

FDA Commissioner Maps Out Route to Request COVID-19 Vaccine Approval (Homeland Prep News)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

Boiling Point: Climate Change Is Wreaking Havoc on the Power Grid in Ways You Never Knew (LA Times)

Hydrology Data Tool Helps Manage Water Resources, Protect Infrastructure (HS Newswire)

Sharing with a tip of the hat to both NEMA and Jim Mullen:

Guest Contributor Jim Mullen with a Word to Emergency Managers About 2020

Dear Colleagues:   It might be time to reflect on your emotional or mental health in the wake of COVID-19, wildfires, storms floods and civil unrest.   2020 is different. Those currently in emergency management roles would do well to take stock of how they internally are handling the cascading series of events that are pressing our profession. 2020’s disaster issues will not go away naturally, if at all. Emergency managers can react, but alone cannot bring these 2020 crises to conclusion. Here is why:    The civil unrest seems unrelenting, and intellectually we should know it will not abate until the conditions that provoked the protests are properly dealt with. This means legal consequences for violent behavior by police. The underlying reasons such conduct occurs will take much longer to resolve. Emergency managers cannot resolve those problems.  Wildfires have many causes, but the frequency and severity in recent years is the product of decades of ignoring warnings about the effect of human behavior on the global climate. The slowness of recognizing this as a threat to humanity will exacerbate conditions even once prudent steps are taken, nationally and worldwide. Emergency managers are at best bit players in the resolution of climate change. COVID -19 poses a more subtle threat, because its consequences have not abated with time. No national leadership of a response is certain to occur until (possibly) January 20th, 2021. Emergency personnel can react to logistical requirements, anticipate shortfalls, and minimize problems that are identified, but they cannot prevent the progression of the disease nor meaningfully ease the suffering or anxiety of the public. But still they serve under what must be excruciating pressure.  Of course, the upcoming national election results, if disputed, will be one more log on the fires emergency managers will have to contend with (see bullet on civil unrest).    The COVID crisis may seem to resemble playing a game in which the best result each day is a tie score (or a “plateau”), only to start the next day behind again. You are good enough to be in the game, and conditions would be far worse without you – but you can neither set the rules nor control the outcome. It is not even clear how to determine when it will be over. The issues noted above do not lend themselves to an orderly, or even a satisfactory resolution. To emergency managers, accustomed to problem solving and dedicated to providing a foundation for restoration of normalcy, that reality can impose a heavy psychological burden that may be difficult to discern.       Emergency management colleagues: talk to somebody. Directors of emergency management personnel: do not fail to take care of yourselves while you are tending to the psyches and morale of your staff. The River of Denial has a swift current – do not get swept away.   Jim Mullen NEMA 2011-2012 President Former Director, Washington State’s Division of Emergency Management   “We Cannot Direct the Wind, But We Can Adjust the Sails” – Dolly Parton

Training & Events

Disaster Resilience Framework: Using It in GAO Engagements (GAO Notices) The Climate Change and Emergency Management Communities of Practice invite you to a seminar on the Disaster Resilience Framework.  The seminar will provide an overview of the framework as well as the tools for using it in GAO’s engagements. The framework is organized around three approaches or principles that managers and others who oversee disaster response efforts may find useful in strengthening national disaster resilience.

This has been approved for 2 CPEs for those analysts/auditors whose audit/engagement work will be enhanced by their participation. 

• Wednesday, October 7,  1:00 – 3:00 pm (ET)
• Location: Adobe Acrobat (link is coming soon) | Audiobridge: 866-575-6535; Participant Passcode: 542528.

Webinar: Becoming wildfire ready with Firewise USA®: Tips, Tools and Techniques(NFPA)More and more people are living where wildfires are a real risk, but that risk doesn’t have to go unchecked.  There are proactive steps that individuals and neighbors can take to help protect their homes and communities and improve their safety when faced with a wildfire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will walk step by step through the process of organizing a Firewise USA site, using our online portal and web resources to help you learn about wildfire and take action to make homes more ignition-resistant.

• Wednesday, Oct 7, 2020 04:00 PM ET

Examining Housing and Shelter Systems in Disasters During COVID-19 (Center for Homeland Defense and Security – CHDS) Sheltering during disasters took a turn this year as jurisdictions need to manage a pandemic on top of whatever may be going on. This requires a reexamination of current disaster housing plans and capacities. This webinar series, held in partnership with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, CHDS Alumni Association, International Association of Emergency Managers and National Emergency Management Association

• Friday, October 9, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET

COVID-19 Road to Recovery (R2R) Autumn 2020 (Disaster Recovery Journal) The 2-day global event will focus on how to resume operations and successfully navigate the new landscape for a safe return to work in the new normal of the pandemic.  Additional topics will include leadership lessons and the global challenges we’re facing in the 21st century.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2020 | 11 AM to 3:30 PM ET
• Thursday, October 15TH 2020 | 9 AM to 1 PM ET

Webinar (Part 1:) Climate Displacement & Anti-Displacement Strategies (Nat. Adaptation Forum) Climate Displacement Forum is a 5-part webinar series that will take an interconnected look at climate displacement pressures along with approaches to prevent displacement or adapt by exploring migration, current managed retreat and relocation strategies, equity implications, and policy considerations. Register for the series and attend any or all of the sessions: In order to ensure open access to this information, the series is offered for free. However, we recommend a donation of $20 per webinar or $100 for the series so that the Forum team can offer future webinars and events for the adaptation field.

• Thursday, October 15  2 pm ET

Resources

DISASTER ASSISTANCE: Additional Actions Needed to Strengthen FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (GAO-20-503), and two supplemental materials presenting our analysis of FEMA’s IHP applicant data for calendar years 2016 through 2018 and select disasters (GAO-20-674SP and GAO-20-675SP). From 2016 through 2018, 5.6 million people applied for disaster assistance from FEMA, and 4.4 million were referred to the IHP for assistance. We found that FEMA provided roughly $6 billion in IHP financial assistance and about 13,000 temporary housing units to almost 2 million disaster survivors.  On average, FEMA awarded about $4,200 to homeowners and $1,700 to renters during 2016 through 2018.  We found that the amount of assistance provided to applicants and other program outcomes—such as approval rates, most common reasons for denial, and time between key events in the process—varied across different survivor groups.

2020 National Household Survey (FEMA) Since 2007, FEMA has conducted the National Household Survey (NHS) to assess the development of a culture of personal disaster preparedness and resilience in the American public. Specifically, the NHS measures individual preparedness attitudes and behaviors and investigates what factors influence individuals to begin preparing for a future hazard.  To learn more about research at FEMA, please visit: https://www.ready.gov/preparedness-research .

Articles

All-Hazards:

FEMA: Americans Are Becoming Better Prepared (HS Today)

Homes in Flood-Prone Areas Have Billions In Uninsured Damage Exposure (Core Logic)

How Google Forecasts Where and When Flooding May Happen (The Hindu)

Guiding Communities through Alerts and Warnings for COVID-19, Other Emergencies (DHS S&T)

Tackling Flood and Landslide Hazards (HS Newswire) and What You Need to Know About Landslides and Sinkholes (HS Today)

Preparing (Nat. Capital Region) Responders for High-Threat Incidents with One-Stop Information Sharing (HS Today)

Resilience:

Rising Waters Threaten Great Lakes Communities (Pew / Rt. Fifty) and As Atmospheric Carbon Rises, So Do Rivers, Exacerbating Flooding (HS Newswire)

Group Kicks Off Program Bringing Clean Energy to Communities Affected By Natural Disasters (Business Insider)

MR-GO Closure Improving Environment, But More Wetlands, Swamp Restoration Needed: Report (NOLA.com)

How Natural Disasters Impact Impoverished Communities (Borgen Magazine)

Public Health / Biosurveillance:

The Biothreat After COVID-19: Engineered Pathogens, More Zoonotic Outbreaks (HS Today)

Building Pandemic Preparedness and Resilience to Confront Future Pandemics (HS Newswire)

NTI Releases Report with Recommendations on Responding To Biological Events (Homeland Prep News)

The U.S. Needs a National Covid-19 Testing Strategy, Not a State-by-state Patchwork (STAT News)

This Overlooked Variable Is the Key to the Pandemic (The Atlantic)

Critical Infrastructure & Cyber:

Energy security The Promise of California Offshore Wind Energy (HS Newswire)

Curbing Earthquakes-Induced Economic Losses to Power Plants (HS Newswire)

Innovations & Interconnections:

Symptoms of a Broken System: the Gender Gaps in COVID-19 Decision-making (BMJ Global Health)

How Should the FDA Regulate Adaptive AI, Software That Designs Itself? (STAT News)

Tracking a Pandemic—Through Words (HS Newswire)