Natural Hazard Observer Nov 2005

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Severe Weather, Floods, and Drought http: / /www. srh. noaa. gov /fwd /School_wrkbk. pdf This workbook, Preparing Schools for Severe Weather, was developed by the Fort Worth /Dallas, Texas, forecast office of the National Weather Service. 0 http://training.nfipstat.com/Portal2/d`efault.asp New online training courses are added each year to the training station on the National Flood Insurance Program Web site. Training is available for insurance agents, stakeholders, and private citizens. http://Www.unisdrafrica.org/droughtnet/ This test site developed by the United Nations Development Programme Drylands Development Center and the Interna- tional Strategy for Disaster Reduction Africa is designed as a resource for drought reduction in Africa and includes discus- sion, lessons, and resources for planners, journalists, students, and others interested in drought and drylands issues. Wildfire http://Www.irsolutions.net/ This Web site from consulting firm Integrated Resource Solutions provides information about its projects related to public and homeowner views and attitudes about wildfire, risk perceptions, and creating defensible space around homes as well as associated reports and publications. The Congressional Research Service Takes on Katrina The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has been quite prolific since Hurricane Katrina struck in late August. An arm of the Library of Congress, the CRS is known for its nonpartisanship and in -depth analysis, but it does not make its reports available to the public. However, it does not prevent other organizations from posting reports they find relevant. The U.S. Department of State and the Federation of American Scientists have made many Katrina and emergency management - related reports available on their Web sites at http : / /fpc.state.gov /" c%15783.htm and http: / /www.fas.org /sgp /crs /, respectively. Among the new and updated reports are the following: • Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Coastal Louisiana Ecosystem Restoration, 6 pp. • Hurricane Katrina: The Public Health and Medical Response, 27 pp. • Hurricane Katrina: DOD Disaster Response, 19 pp. • Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: Legal Requirements for Federal and State Roles in Declarations of an Emergency or a Major Disaster, 17 pp. • The Use of Federal Troops for Disaster Assistance: Legal Issues, 6 pp. • Hurricane Katrina: Insurance Losses and National Capacities for Financing Disaster Risk, 23 pp. • The Macroeconomic Effects of Hurricane Katrina, 6 pp. • Hurricane Katrina: Stafford Act Authorities and Actions by Governor Blanco and President Bush to Trigger Them, 25 pp. • Organization and Mission of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate: Issues and Options for the 109th Congress, 68 pp. • New Orleans Levees and Floodwalls: Hurricane Damage Protection, 6 pp. • Disaster Evacuation and Displacement Policy: Issues for Congress, 6 pp. • Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries, 13 pp. • Federal Stafford Act Disaster Assistance: Presidential Declarations, Eligible Activities, and Funding, 12 pp. • Emergency Communications: The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and All - Hazard Warnings, 19 pp. ICC Hurricane Preparedness Kit Distributed to Congress • At the beginning of this year's hurricane season, The International Code Council (ICC) distributed Hurricane Pre- paredness Kits to congressional representatives from hurricane -prone regions. Designed to aid members of Congress and their constituents in preparing for the impact of a hurricane and dealing with the aftermath, the kits feature a compilation of materials from the ICC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the American Red Cross, among others. Download a free copy of the kit at http: / /www.iccsafe. org / government /pdf /H`urricaneKit.pdf. Direct questions to Chrissy it Lebo, ICC Congressional Relations; (703) 931- 4533 x6243; e -mail: congress @iccsafe.org. Natural Hazards Observer November 2005 28