Situation Report

FEMA to Ask States to Account for Climate Change in Disaster Plans

FEMA to Ask States to Account for Climate Change in Disaster Plans

Switchboard, the Natural Resources Defense Council staff blog, has published a report on the recently announced changes to FEMA’s Blue Book.

According to Switchboard, FEMA plans to edit its guidelines to require state governments to consider climate change when making their hazard mitigation plans. The article says a revised draft from FEMA is expected to be available to the public as early as summer this year.

The Blue Book, as it is commonly known, is FEMA’s State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance document. It was created to help states understand the mitigation planning regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Switchboard article explains that until now, FEMA has not required state governments to consider climate change and its potential impacts when preparing their hazard mitigation plans. These plans are made by governments “in order to assess their risk of natural disasters and to identify and implement actions they can take to reduce those risks”.

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De Blasio: Fracking Poses 'Too Much Danger To Water Supply' In New York

Bill de Blasio. Charles Norfleet via Getty Images

Image: Bill de Blasio. Charles Norfleet via Getty Images

huffingtonpost.com - January 24th, 2014

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio voiced his "firm" opposition to hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking, in New York state.

"I don’t see any place for fracking," de Blasio said following a speech at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "The science simply isn’t reliable enough. The technology isn’t reliable enough. And, there’s too much danger to our water supply, to our environment in general."

(VIEW COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Bulletin - New York Recovery Network

January 23, 2014 - Issue No. 20

The New York Recovery Network is a platform providing access to information and connection to other professionals involved in New York’s recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

CLICK HERE - New York Recovery Network - MAX.gov

CLICK HERE - E-Bulletin - Stormwater Management
May 28, 2014 (11 page .PDF file)

CLICK HERE - NYRN - Infographic

CLICK ON THE ATTACHMENT - BULLETIN NO. 20
(1 page .PDF file)

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Community Resilience Techniques

stormrecovery.ny.gov

CLICK HERE - Community Resilience Techniques
A compilation of approaches used to increase resilience
(124 page .PDF report)

Context

WHAT THIS document IS . . .

• A collection of approaches that have been used
by communities and countries around the
world to increase their resilience
  1. Specifically to address the following hazards:
flooding, storm surge, intense rainfall,
strong winds and debris
  2. Generally to increase non-hazard specific
resilience through – redundancy, learning,
community preparedness and emergency
response capacity

• Approaches are categorized according to seven
management measures and a systemic-resilience
category: (i) conserve, enhance, and restore; (ii) resilient construction; (iii) structural defenses; (iv) land-use planning and regulation; (v) market-based methods; (vi) social elements; and (vii) systemic resilience

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NYDIS: OEM Update - Weather - Bitter Cold - Low Temperatures and Wind Chills (Citywide)

From: NYC OEM <***@***.***>
Date: January 22, 2014 at 2:09:24 PM CST
Subject: Update - Weather - Bitter Cold - Low Temperatures and Wind Chills (Citywide)

Wed Jan 22 14:57:45 2014 
STATUS: Open - Active 
PROGNOSIS: Monitoring 
Weather-Cold/Snow 
Citywide  1/21- 1/24

(OEM Weather Distribution List)

SYNOPSIS

Intensifying low pressure well south of long island will move farther out to sea through tonight as weak high pressure builds from the west.  A weakening Alberta Clipper will move through on Thursday . . . followed by a high pressure ridge building in through the end of the week.  Another Alberta Clipper low will pass late Saturday . . . reinforcing the cold air across the area.  Unsettled weather is possible during the beginning of next week. 

TEMPERATURES

Today: cold; high around 15°F with wind chill values as low as 13 below (-13°F); lows around 6°F with wind chill values as low as 5 to 10 below (-5°F to -10°F). 

Thursday: cold; highs in the lower 20s with wind chill values as low as 8 below (-8°F) in the morning; lows around 9°F with wind chill values as low as 8 below (-8°F) after midnight. 

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Stanford Professor on Letterman: Powering Entire World on Renewable Energy No Problem

ecowatch.com - by Brandon Baker - December 31, 2013

It wasn’t what Professor Mark Jacobson was saying—if you’re an advocate of renewable energy, you hear this kind of talk on a daily basis—as much as it was the platform. Solar and wind energy simply don’t get the late-night limelight.

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Governor Cuomo Announces Broad Series of Innovative Protections

Projects Statewide to Strengthen New York’s Communities Against Extreme Weather

governor.ny.gov - Andrew M. Cuomo - Governor - January 7, 2014

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Key Senate Vote on Flood Insurance Rate Delay Pushed to Next Week

insurancejournal.com - by Andrew G. Simpson - January 7, 2014

The U.S. Senate is expected to take a key vote soon on a bill that would delay some of the flood insurance rate hikes triggered by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. . .

. . . The procedural vote on S.1846 was originally planned for Wednesday, but the Senate is still dealing with an extension of federal unemployment benefits, delaying consideration of the flood bill. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), a major advocate for the bill, told USA Today that  “next week is more realistic” for any vote on the flood bill.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Senate Passes Comprehensive Hurricane Sandy Legislation

By Dean G. Skelos 
 
Posted by Dean G. Skelos [1] on Monday, June 17th, 2013
 
 

The New York State Senate today passed a comprehensive legislative package that provides relief to people and communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, aids rebuilding efforts, and increases disaster preparedness. The 22 bills will be integral to providing needed financial assistance to homeowners, businesses, local governments, school districts, and others still recovering from the storm, and give those responsible for disaster response the tools they need to be more effective and efficient.

Senate Majority Coalition Co-Leader and Republican Conference Leader Dean G. Skelos said, “It has been over seven months since Hurricane Sandy left its mark, and as people and governments continue to rebuild, the Senate is implementing measures that will help make that process easier both now and in the future. Many members of the Senate have worked together to develop legislation that will provide effective relief to those who are impacted by Sandy and will help mitigate the effects of storms that have yet to come.”

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OEM OFFERS COLD WEATHER SAFETY TIPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OEM OFFERS COLD WEATHER SAFETY TIPS

Frigid Weather Expected Thursday through Saturday, with Friday Being the Coldest Day

Seniors, infants, the homeless, and those with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk of health problems from the cold

January 2, 2014 — With a significant snow storm and temperatures expected to be dangerously cold beginning today through Saturday, the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene remind New Yorkers to protect themselves and help others who may be at increased risk of health problems. Homeless individuals not in shelters, people working outdoors, and those in homes or apartments with inadequate heat are most likely to be exposed to dangerous cold. Seniors, infants, people with chronic cardiovascular or lung conditions, people using alcohol or drugs and people with cognitive impairments such as from dementia, serious mental illness or developmental disability are at increased risk.

New Yorkers should take the following precautions: 

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