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ESi signs OEM deal with MIR3 for disaster notification technology
New product will be called ESi WebEOCAlert powered by MIR3; deal gives ESi improved notification capabilities, including communication by email and PDA and post-disaster auditing capabilities
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Northrop Grumman signs emergency communications deal with NYC
Agreement will provide radio interoperability alongside data transmission capabilities; emergency responders will have access to anti-terrorism databases, fingerprints, mug shots, city maps, and streaming video; subways and urban canyons presented major technical challeges
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CA state audit finds $239 million in unspent DHS grants at risk
Slow reimbursements to municipalities prevent many from participating; twelve out of thirteen grants examined marred by fraud and irregularities; governor’s report to legislature now seven months late
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Three cities show off government continuity procedures
Arlington, St. Louis, and New York lead the way by emphasizing data recovery and commmunications interoperability; trend shows cities outdoing state and federal continuity planners
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Lobbyists resist homeland security measures recommended by 9/11 Commission
Farmers fight off ammonium nitrate controls; television station opposes handing over frequency for emergency services; retailers stick to their guns on radiological screening of containers
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CoCo Communications unveils new radio interoperability system at Dallas airport
Revolutionary product brings old and new technologies together; deal with Southwest Airlines first system to incorporate private industry; PDAs coordinate with radio networks to manage communications, watch surveillance video in real time; low price and easy roll-out makes system ideal for cash-strapped and wealthy municipalities alike
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Sarasota County, Florida sets the standard for municipal networking collaboration
Nearly each of America’s 10,000 cities and counties buys its own networking systems, leading to gross waste and inefficiency; in Sarasota County, planners work within and without to share broadband and IT staff; big benefit seen for underfunded public schools, data storage facilities
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DHS release report on Operation Cyber Storm
DHS’s report on a large-scale simulated attack on U.S. government and critical infrastructure assets offers mixed results; no grades were assigned to specific performances, but the over-all impression is that the government’s — and industry’s — response to such an attcak could be much improved
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New book suggests IT security managers look within for threats
“Enemy at the Water Cooler” looks at consultants, vendors, and former employees as threats; greed and disgruntledness common motives for treachery
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Juniper Network hosts business continuity Webcast tomorrow
Speakers include officials from DHS, state of California, and ICG Government
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Sysix Solutions announces comprehensive mid-market continuity services
Company software creates comprehensive continuity assessment; Strategic Business Solutions Center offers hosting of continuity-related systems
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AT&T survey finds D.C. area businesses unprepared for disasters
While two-thirds have continuity plans, less than half update them; one-third say continuity not a priority
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Senate committee scolds SBA for poor oversight of 9/11 business loans
Small Business Administration told bankers it would not second guess STAR loans; many uneffected by 9/11 received assistance; waste recalls Hurricane Katrina efforts
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Keefe, Bruyette & Woods rebuilds by taking care of employees first
Financial services company assisted victims’ families with funeral arrangements and 9/11 compensation fund; money raised to pay insurance and tuition bills; since 9/11, company has doubled in size, more willing to take risks
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Economists examine market's response to terrorism
Experts see a 5 percent “tether” on stocks; rebound much quicker after 9/11 than after outbreak of the Second World War; faster communication systems and broader market participation keys to modern recovery
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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.