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Disaster-proofing email servers for maximum resiliency
On Tuesday Databarracks announced the launch of its Hosted Exchange solution, which allows companies to host email servers in a virtually indestructible location – a former U.K. Ministry of Defense bunker designed to protect critical systems in the event of a nuclear war
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Japan tsunami waves merged, doubling power
Researchers have discovered that the destructive tsunami generated by the March 2011 Tōhoku-Oki earthquake was a long-hypothesized “merging tsunami” that doubled in intensity over rugged ocean ridges, amplifying its destructive power before reaching shore
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U.S. 2011 billion-dollar disasters
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recalculated the number of weather disasters in the United States which passed the billion dollar mark; NOAA added two disasters, pushing the 2011 tally to twelve billion-dollars-or-more disasters; these disasters caused more than 1,000 deaths and inflicted damaged estimated at $52 billion
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New severe-weather alert service launched
Reddaway has announced a new Service Alert process that will inform customers about situations that may impact their supply chain
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Making sure skyscraper foundations stand up to earthquakes
Engineers are preparing to conduct the first rigorous tests of how the steel columns that secure skyscrapers to their foundations stand up during earthquakes, research that could make the towering structures safer — and perhaps less expensive to build
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Strong ground motion shows need to modify building codes
Population growth and scarcity of undeveloped metropolitan land have changed urban land use patterns and placed an increasing number of people and infrastructure in areas susceptible to topographic effects during earthquakes; building codes should take such trends into account
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Chicago emergency officials preparing for harsh winter
As Chicago braces for an especially brutal winter, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is doing its best to prepare residents, emergency responders, and work crews for the worst weather in the nation
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Earthquake science put on trial, quake experts accused of manslaughter
In an unprecedented turn of events, an Italian court has put the heart of earthquake science on trial by accusing seven Italian earthquake experts for failing to warn residents about a 2009 earthquake that killed 309 people
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New Jersey teams with Target for disaster response
During the next major disaster, New Jersey emergency responders will receive assistance from the big box retailer Target; last week the company announced that it had officially teamed up with New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to assist state and local officials in the event of a major disaster or terrorist attack
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Animals as earthquake forecasters
Animals begin to behave strangely in the days leading to an earthquake. Researchers find that the chemistry of ground water changes in the run up to an earthquake, and that animals sense these chemical changes and begin to move away. Scientists suggest animal behavior could be incorporated into earthquake forecasting.
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Real disasters hurt annual national disaster drill
This year the federal government’s annual nationwide disaster drill was hampered by actual disasters; due to an unusually severe series of natural disasters across the country, several states, local agencies, and federal employees were unable to participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Level Exercise as they were too responding to real emergencies
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Oklahoma hit by six earthquakes in four days
On Sunday residents of Oklahoma were shook by their sixth earthquake in four days; these quakes come in the wake of Oklahoma’s strongest earthquake on record, which struck the state on 5 November; the 5.6 magnitude tremor damaged dozens of homes and caused a freeway to buckle
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Mind-Alliance joins UN Disaster Risk Reduction Private Sector Partnership
More than 200 million people are affected by disasters each year and in 2010 at least 300,000 people died in major disaster events; annual reported disaster losses now regularly exceed $100 billion; Mind-Alliance, a developer of Information Sharing Management software for homeland security, emergency preparedness, and business continuity professionals, has joined the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Private Sector Partnership
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How disaster survivors survive Thanksgiving
This year’s rash of deadly natural disasters has displaced tens of thousands of people and shattered families across the United States; with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, many will find it impossible to celebrate in their own home or be forced to face an empty seat once occupied by a loved one
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USDA declares NY and PA counties disaster zones
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that several counties Pennsylvania and New York are now eligible for federal disaster aid
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More headlines
The long view
Using Drone Swarms to Fight Forest Fires
Forest fires are becoming increasingly catastrophic across the world, accelerated by climate change. Researchers are using multiple swarms of drones to tackle natural disasters like forest fires.
How Climate Change Will Affect Conflict and U.S. Military Operations
“People talk about climate change as a threat multiplier,” said Karen Sudkamp, an associate director of the Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program within the RAND Homeland Security Research Division. “But at what point do we need to start talking about the threat multiplier actually becoming a significant threat all its own?”