Disasters

Cyber mishap causes nuclear power plant shutdown
Worries about critical infrastructure vulnerabilities: The move to SCADA systems boosts efficiency at utilities because it allows workers to operate equipment remotely, but experts say it also exposes these once-closed systems to cyber attacks
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Flood protection call for utilities
Twelve months after the devastating U.K. floods a government agency says much more must be done to tackle the vulnerability of buildings such as power stations and hospitals to flooding
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WiMAX patent alliance formed to promote the standard
WiMAX has so far failed to deliver on the promise inerent in it; six WiMAX big hitters create a patent alliance which will allow for quicker and smoother adoption of the technology
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DHS: 2012 deadline for U.S.-bound cargo screening unrealistic
DHS says that Congressionally mandated deadline for 100 percent inspection of U.S.-bound cargo containers is unrealistic; what is more, it is unnecessary
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Master of Science in Business Continuity Management
With more emphasis placed by organizations on business continuity, there is a growing need for business continuity management. Norwich University offers that first-in-the-United States MS in business continuity management
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London Olympic organizers look for business continuity manager
Business continuity is now emphaszies everywhere; in evidence: Teh organizers of the 2012 London Olympic Games are looking for a business continuity manager toput together a busness continuity team and procedures
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Manchester wins award for business continuity planning
The city of Manchester is recognized for having a sophisticated business continuity plan which can “deliver essential services whatever the disruption”
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IoSafe fires up -- literally -- disaster protection
Startup touts drive-level disaster protection — and in a New York demonstration tries to torch new device
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Tyson destroys 15,000 chicken infected with H7N3
Arkansas poultry giant destroys 15,000 hens after routine tests discover antibodies to H7N3, a mild strain of avian flu; company says there is no threat to humans
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FEMA will be aggregator/gateway for CMAS
FEMA said it will be the aggregator and gateway for the Commercial Mobile Alert System, a voluntary nationwide emergency alert system
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FEMA announces fiscal year 2008 CEDAP application period
FEMA is open to applications from state and local emergency services for funding the purchase of emergency equipment; $16 million in funding will be awarded, and the application period ends at the end of the month
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The larger the organization, the more prepared it is
Business continuity planning was seen as a priority by 71 percent of U.S. companies, 80 percent of companies had a business continuity plan; as company size increases, so does the likelihood that companies have a continuity plan
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Stretchy spider silks can be springs or rubber
Spider silk is stronger than steel and nylon, and more extensible than Kevlar; it would be ideal for personal protective gear for soldiers and law enforcement, and medical applications; “would be ideal” — because we do not yet know how to spin artificial silk; Canadian scientists have interesting ideas
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EU funds disaster modeling project
Do people from different countries and cultures behave differently during disasters — for example, when evacuating a burning building? EU-funded research aims to find out whether different disaster-behavior patterns should influence the design of buildings and the fashioning of emergency policies
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Florida stocks cyanide antidote
Minute quantities of cyanide in smoke contribute to the death from smoke inhalation of 10,000 civilian and firefighter in the United States each year; Florida emergency services decide that emergency units will now be equipped with cyanide antidote
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