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Survey finds replication at top of business continuity wish lists
A $2 billion industry looks to the future as demand grows for real-time data imaging; BakBone leads the way with a replication service that works across platforms and operating systems to achieve large-scale security at a low-scale cost
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Ireland leads neighbors in business continuity planning
Much remains to be done, but the Emerald Isle is far ahead of France, Germany, and Italy; half of Irish firms have no plans in place, compared to 75 percent elsewhere
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Continuity planning requires ongoing vigilence, experts say
Smart procedures are not enough; companies must constantly reevaluate and upgrade their systems; dedicated middle management and emergency drills are good approaches; many companies create emergency response teams to handle the load
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Highway association finds major problems with city evacuation plans
Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta fail the grade; Kansas City shines; opportunities abound for the traffic management industry
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Alabama guardsman makes good with homeland security masters degree
Lt. Col. Butters takes advantage of distance learning, DHS funding, to add value to the Guard’s emergency recovery efforts; Naval Postgraduate School provides great education at a good value in a stunning locale
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RAE Systems strikes a deal with the National Guard
Company will supply portable gas and radiation detectors to fifty-five Guard Civil Support Teams; agile Rapid Deployment Kits consist of four specialized monitors and sensors
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OASIS and ITU to demonstrate CAP communications system in Geneva
Common Alerting Protocol is gaining ground as international interoperability standard; National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey have already adopted the text-based system for daily use; conference in Geneva will include demonstrations and discussion with national and international communications authorities
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Emergency communication choices: Part two
We review the utility of text messaaging, pagers, and fax machines; next week we consider Internet-based services, satellite communications, and conference services
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DHS withdraws $5 million from Disaster Management office
Division, intended to set standards for interoperability software, is seen as duplicative of other agencies’ efforts; contract-holder Battelle loses out as DHS plans to redistribute funds around the agency
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Virginia asks emergency responders to use common language
Approach takes HSPD-5 and NIMS requirements seriously by asking agencies to abandon 10-codes; confusion often resulted during inter-agency responses due to different associated meanings
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Emergency communication choices: Part one
We review the utility of landlines, mobile phones, and IT telephony in an emergency; next week we consider conference calling, faxing, paging, and text
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Illinois announces new firefighting grants
Local firehouses may apply for up to $26,000 in funding for equipment; those looking for new trucks, however, should look elsewhere, perhaps to the state’s no-interest revolving loan program
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On business continuity software...
Systems can be effective, but experts warn they require a lot of upfront work; organizing data across divisions takes time and executives must be aware of ongoing upkeep responsibilities
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NIST finds firefighter radios vulnerable to fire
Institute tested three radios under varied temperature conditions; not one survived Thermal Class 2 heat, and all suffered when exposed to Class 1; hope lies in protecting radios inside firefighter gear and reengineering senstive components such as antennas and speakers
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GAO report finds terrorism insurance market deteriorating
Property and casualty insurers find the risks unmangeable; health and workers compensation coverage remains steady; lobbyists on the Hill seek government solution to a market problem; Treasury report expected tomorrow
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The long view
Machine Learning Could Predict Rare Disastrous Events Like Earthquakes or Pandemics
Researchers suggest how scientists can circumvent the need for massive data sets to forecast extreme events with the combination of an advanced machine learning system and sequential sampling techniques.
Americans Are Flocking to Wildfire
People are trading hurricane zones for wildfire areas, says national study of migration, natural disasters, and climate change.
Insurance for a Changing Climate
Among the many facets of the economy being challenged and changed by warming global temperatures is the insurance industry. Damaging extreme events such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods are happening with greater frequency and intensity, which leaves insurance companies facing larger financial risks and paying out more in claims — and it also leaves policy holders paying higher prices to insure their homes and businesses.