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Europeans to develop pan-European risk management solution
A major oil spill off the shore of Spain four years ago proved that lack of coordination and cooperation among European nations in meeting disasters only worsened the disaster; 16 European companies are trying to do something about it
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U.S. updates national emergency broadcast system
In 1951 President Harry Truman launched a national emergency radio broadcasting system aiming to alert Americans in the event of a Soviet nuclear attack on the U.S.; that system, thankfully, was never used, but President Bush has now ordered its upgrading so it could be used to broadcast warnings about national emergencies to Americans’ PDAs, cellular phones, Web sites, e-mail boxes, TV, and radio
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Enabler of first responders information sharing receive $12.5 million
Few problems hobble first responders more than communication interoperability; a company developing an interoperability solution catches the eyes of investors, and rightly so
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KPMG survey reveals industry-specific business continuity plans needed in Australia
As Australia emerges as a leader in homeland security, KPMG suggests an issue the country may want work on: industry-specific business continuity plans
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CA acquires XOsoft
The acquisition of disaster recovery company XOsoft will expand Computer Associates’s data protection services
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U.S. State Department’s computers hacked
State Department computers were attacked, but it is only revealed that the problem was not a computer virus
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Disaster reduction competition accepts nominations
The UN is holding the 20th disaster reduction competition, and to encourage more applicants to submit their proposals, it has opened the submission process a year ahead of time
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Jefferson Parish schools receives backup from Dell
Redundancy: The new word the year — or at least during hurricane season — for Jefferson Parish’s public school system; Dell is helping the parish build a better system that will withstand any future disasters by sending important data to be stored in off-site locations
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China’s new law for the media during emergency response
Chinese media must now have permission from local governments before reporting on the developments and handling of anything deemed a disaster by the Chinese government
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Engineering partnership in $750 million FEMA housing inspection contract
FEMA has awarded a new $750 million contract to a joint engineering venture to provide housing inspection services — on short notice — to the U.S. government in areas affected by disasters
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Verizon to offer business continuity & disaster recovery solutions
Telecom giant partners with a consulting company as it makes its way into the business continuity field
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EMC acquires Kashya for $153 million
Pandemics are but one reason why more and more companies now pay attention to business continuity issues; a leading data management and storage company buys an innovative Israeli company specializing in network-based data replication and data protection
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TETRA and P25 standards to prevail in first responders radio
Interoperability of emergency radio equipment is a goal yet to be achieved, although it has been on top of the homeland security agenda since 9/11; a new market research report says a standard may begin to emerge
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With hurricane season around the corner, Iridium offers first-response communication system
Hurricane Katrina knocked off most of the communication system in the Gulf — but one technology came to the rescue: satellite communication; Iridium now offers satellite communication-based first response communication package
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NCX provides service for greater IT security
This Newport Beach business risk management company will now provide its services to small and medium sized companies through its new MyCSO product
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The long view
World Risk Report: Where Are Natural Disasters Most Common?
The 2024 World Risk Report is out, highlighting which countries are most at risk from natural disasters, and what can be done to prevent catastrophes and mitigate the effects.
Urban Street Networks and Building Density Shape Severity of Floods
Cities around the globe are experiencing increased flooding due to the compounding effects of stronger storms in a warming climate and urban growth. Researchers’ new analytical model can assess neighborhood-level hazards globally.
Tracking Down the Asteroid That Sealed the Fate of the Dinosaurs
Geoscientists have led an international study to determine the origin of the huge piece of rock that hit the Earth around 66 million years ago and permanently changed the climate. The asteroid probably came from the outer solar system.
Revising the Cost of Climate Change
Climate scientists have warned of calamitous consequences if global temperatures continue their rise. But macroeconomists have largely told a less alarming story, predicting modest reductions in productivity and spending as the world warms. Until now. New study of economic toll yields projections ‘six times larger than previous estimates’.
To Get Off Fossil fuels, America Is Going to Need a Lot More Electricians
To cut greenhouse gas emissions on pace with the best available science, the United States must prepare for a monumental increase in electricity use. Burning fossil fuels to heat homes and get around isn’t compatible with keeping the planet at a livable temperature. Appliances that can be powered by clean electricity already exist to meet all of these needs. The problem is, most houses aren’t wired to handle the load from electric heating, cooking, and clothes dryers, along with solar panels and vehicle chargers. And a shortage of skilled labor could derail efforts to “electrify everything.”
As Tornado Alley Shifts East, Bracing for Impact in Unexpected Places
Experts say the causes are still unclear, but the change is consistent with a warming world. The effects on the ground could be devastating.