Cloudy with a Chance of Eruption: The Uncertainty of Predicting Volcano Behavior

Disaster News Redux: Disability and Disasters

In Case You Missed It: The Natural Hazards Center Is Hiring

• Call Outs: Calls for Papers, Abstracts, Proposals, and More

• Call for Presenters
  ASFPM 2015 Conference
  Association of State Floodplain Managers
  Deadline: October 31, 2014

• Call for Nominations
  Bruce Bolt Medal
  COSMOS, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and the Seismological Society of America
  Deadline: October 31, 2014

• Call for Abstracts
  Fire Ecology and Management Congress
  Association of Fire Ecology
  Deadline: November 1, 2014

• Some New Web Resources

• Putting Libraries on the Map: A Prototype for Location-Based Literature Collections

• Supporting the Supporters

• TRAIN

• 
  Resilience at the National Academies
  
• 
  Global Defense Security Index on Climate Change
  

• Conferences and Events

• 
  November 3-4, 2014
  Modeling the Health Risks of Climate Change
  National Academy of Sciences
  Washington, D.C.
  Cost and Registration: Free, open until filled
  
• 
  October 27-29, 2014
  Disaster Resilience Workshop
  National Institute for Standards and Technology
  Norman, Oklahoma
  Cost and Registration: $150, closes October 20
  
• 
  December 8-11, 2014
  AHIMTA Educational Symposium
  All Hazards Incident Management Teams Association
  Fort Worth, Texas
  Cost and Registration: $325 before November 1, open until filled
  
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  November 11, 2014
  Emergency Services Conference 2014
  Nottingham Trent University
  Nottingham, England
  Cost and Registration: $299, open until filled
  
• 
  February 11-12, 2014
  Citizen Science 2015
  Citizen Science Association
  San Jose, California
  Cost and Registration: $300, open until filled
  

• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

• 
  Tribal Affairs Specialist
  Federal Emergency Management Agency
  Various Locations
  Salary: $33,238 to $49,774
  Deadline: October 21, 2014
  
• 
  Disaster Anthropology Post-Doctoral Researcher
  University of Copenhagen
  Copenhagen, Denmark
  Salary: $65,027 to $68,464
  Deadline: November 1, 2014
  
• 
  Shelter Accessibility Coordinator
  New York City Office of Emergency Management
  Brooklyn, New York
  Salary: $60,000 to $70,000
  Deadline: Open until filled
  
• 
  Research Associate
  Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center
  North Hills, California
  Salary: Not Listed
  Deadline: Open until filled
  
• 
  Division Manager, Wildland Fire Operations
  National Fire Protection Association
  Denver, Colorado
  Salary: Not listed
  Deadline: Open until filled
  

• Webinars, Training, and Education

• 
  Webinar Series
  Shifting Paradigms: Medical Ethics, Public Health Ethics, and the Law
  October 29 to December 16, 2014, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT
  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American Health Lawyers Association
  Cost and Registration: Free, register online before the event
  
• 
  Training
  Multihazard Emergency Planning for Schools
  March 9-12, 2015
  Emergency Management Institute
  Emmitsburg, Maryland
  Cost and Registration: Free, register before February 23, 2014
  

To subscribe, visit http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/dr/.

• 
  Naval Postgraduate School - Greta E. Marlatt; email: gmarlatt@nps.edu/, September 15, 2014;
  

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  Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff. RS21363
  
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  Beverage Industry Pledges to Reduce Americans' Drink Calories, CRS Insights. IN10162
  
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  The Ebola Outbreak: Select Legal Issues, CRS Legal Sidebar. ebola
  
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  As Midterm Election Approaches, State Election Laws Challenged, CRS Legal Sidebar. Midterm
  
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  Ebola: Basics About the Disease. R43750
  
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  House Offset Amendments to Appropriations Bills: Procedural Considerations. RL31055
  
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  House Standing Committee Chairs and Ranking Minority Members: Rules Governing Selection Procedures. RS21165
  
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  Increased Department of Defense Role in U.S. Ebola Response, CRS Insights. IN10152
  

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  Diversity of Risks: The Challenge of Retirement Preparedness in America http://bipartisanpolicy.org/sites/default/files/BPC Retirement Security Personal Savings.pdf
  

• 
  Homeward Bound?  Don't Hype the Threat of Returning Jihadists  http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2014/09/30-syria-foreign-fighters-byman-shapiro
  

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  A Data Picture of USAID Public - Private Partnerships: 2001 - 2014 http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2014/10/10%20usaid%20public%20private%20partnerships%20ingram/Ingram%20PPP%20Fact%20Sheet%20Final.pdf
  

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  Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2014 http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/fprc-on-americas-governors_1.pdf
  

• 
  Blueprint for Southern Border Security
  
  • 
    Report http://homeland.house.gov/sites/homeland.house.gov/files/documents/100614-Blueprint-Southern-Border-Security.pdf
    
  • 
    Map http://homeland.house.gov/blueprint-border-security-map
    

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  Characteristics of the Long-Term Unemployed in March 2007 and March 2014 http://www.cbo.gov/publication/49448
  
• 
  Understanding FEMA’s Rate-Setting Methods for the National Flood Insurance Program http://www.cbo.gov/publication/49441
  

• 
  Ebola Resources http://catalog.gpo.gov/F?func=find-b&find_code=WRD&request=ebola
  

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  DHS National Risk Estimate: Risks to U.S. Critical Infrastructure from Insider Threat http://info.publicintelligence.net/DHS-NRE-InsiderThreats.pdf
  
• 
  Memo: Oversight of Unaccompanied Alien Children http://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2014/Over_Un_Ali_Child_100214.pdf
  

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  The Grand Strategy of the United States http://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/Books/grand-strategy-us.pdf
  

• 
  FACT SHEET: The U.S. Response to the Ebola Epidemic in West Africa http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/10/06/fact-sheet-us-response-ebola-epidemic-west-africa
  
• 
  Remarks by the President at the Pentagon http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/10/08/remarks-president-pentagon
  

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  Remarks by the President After Meeting on Ebola http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/10/06/remarks-president-after-meeting-ebola
  
• 
  FACT SHEET: President Obama's Agenda for Creating Economic Opportunity for Millennials http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/10/09/fact-sheet-president-obamas-agenda-creating-economic-opportunity-millenn
  

• 
  NYC Citizen Corps Weekly News – October 15, 2014
  

The Commodity Distribution Point (CDP) Program is a coordinated, City-led operation to distribute temporarily unavailable life-sustaining commodities such as food, water, ice, and baby formula to the public following an emergency or disaster that disrupts access to traditional supply chains. Primary CDP sites have been identified throughout the five boroughs, one in each community district, to use as points of distribution. OEM is looking to build a team of trained individuals who may be called upon to volunteer at one of these CDP sites during an emergency response. 

NYC OEM will be hosting monthly CDP trainings for interested volunteers.  You only have to attend ONE session.  Please click this link to see available training dates.  The next available trainings will be held on October 29th, November 19th, December 17th.

Partners in Preparedness has released a brochure explaining the program, benefits of being a partner, and the steps to partnership.  A second brochure provides a wider explanation of NYC OEM programs for businesses and the unique role each has in supporting the City's resilience. Check out other resources for businesses on OEM's website. 

    

Know Your Zone - Hurricane Awareness Campaign

New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has launched a new "Know Your Zone" hurricane awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to find out whether they live in one of the city's six hurricane evacuation zones. We encourage everyone to spread the word about the Know Your Zone campaign by showing off badges to their websites and social media, requesting window stickers for display, and sharing this motiongraphic. For hurricane safety preparedness tips and information, or to request a Ready New York hurricane presentation, visit the Know Your Zone website or call 311.   

The "The Storm" toolkit features 1 Facilitator Guide, 1 DVD of "The Storm", 5 Sets of Conversation Groups Pictures and Words, 30 Study Guides, and 30 Emergency "My Plan" workbooks, which allow people to write in their own personalized plans. Toolkits can be used by ESL instructors, conversation group leaders, and community groups interested in helping New Yorkers improve their English while learning how to plan, prepare, and get informed during emergencies. If you would like to order toolkits, click here.  If you are interested in learning more about this project, you can click here or email NYC Citizen Corps.

During Hurricane Irene and Sandy, thousands of volunteers spent time in one of the City's Evacuation or Distribution Centers. NYC Service is working with NYC OEM to recruit New Yorkers who can be called upon in case of an emergency to help staff Evacuation Shelters and Commodity Distribution Points. To find out how you can use your skills for good, visit EmergeNYC. 

The Business Network of Emergency Resources (BNET) has created a new cost-effective program geared to improve small business preparedness. The new small business enrollment "tier" targets businesses, with 20 or fewer employees, with a significantly reduced cost to participate. The Corporate Emergency Access System (CEAS), is a disaster re-entry program for businesses, provides credentials recognized by local law enforcement to critical business employees allowing access to their work sites in restricted areas following an emergency.

Click here for more information or to enroll in the CEAS Small Business Tier.

As has been reported, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed (through laboratory tests) the first case of the Ebola virus to be diagnosed in the United States in a person who had traveled to Dallas, Texas from West Africa.

There are no confirmed cases in New York City or the surrounding area at this time. However, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) regularly monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, in conjunction with the city's healthcare community.

Ebola is a severe, often fatal disease that affects humans and some animals. Ebola spreads through direct contact with an infected person's or animal's skin, blood or body fluids.  It cannot be spread simply by being near someone who is infected. People can be infected by touching objects that contain infected blood or body fluids, such as needles or bed sheets.      

For more information about Ebola, please see the resources below.

• 
  New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene's Ebola webpage
  
• 
  CDC's Ebola webpage
  
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  Follow Dr. Mary T. Bassett on Twitter, @DrMaryTBassett
  
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  Follow the CDC on Twitter, @cdcgov
  

Beyond the Go Kit: Empowering Older Adults in Disasters

The New York Academy of Medicine has released a report regarding how to keep older adults safe during disasters. The report draws from lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy and recommends 12 action steps toward community preparedness, including establishing community planning hubs in each neighborhood, supporting landlords with large concentrations of older adults, enacting a pharmacy law for disasters, and consulting with home health care and hospice providers on emergency plans. For more information, click here.


Stronger Community, Better Response: Connecting Community Organizations During Disaster Video

Regional Catastrophic Planning Team has released a new video on connecting community organizations during disaster. To view this video, click here.

The national Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH), a program of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by the Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC), offers specialized crisis counseling and support for anyone struggling with emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. The DDH offers 24/7/365 toll-free, confidential and multi-lingual hotline (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text "TalkWithUs" to 66746; Spanish-speakers can text "Hablanos" to 66746) counseling, support, and referrals to local community-based resources. Calls and texts are answered by trained crisis counselors. For more information, click here or email Lauri Benblatt.

Join the New York Recovery Network (NYRN) on MAX.gov, an online community where you will find tools and resources to help you with important work.  It includes news, reports, grant announcements, access to experts, conferences, training and programs. The NYRN was designed to link people from different governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations working on Hurricane Sandy recovery.  As a member of the NYRN you will be able to share ideas, updates and best practices with other professionals and volunteers working in all areas of recovery. To join the network, simply email NYRN@fema.dhs.gov to get sponsored, and complete your registration to MAX.gov using the link in the email that will be provided to you.

This free program operating in areas of Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Rockaways, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties offers clinical staff trained by the National Center for PTSD to come to you in your home or community for Cognitive Behavior Therapy - Post Disaster Distress (CBT-PD). CBT-PD helps affected individuals to identify the triggers that produce negative feelings/thoughts related to a disaster and help him/her in recovery. For information about VNSNY's Disaster Distress Response Program, call 1-718-888-6955 or visit link.

As part of MHA-NYC, iHelp: Sandy Stress Relief is a new program that will provide internet based cognitive behavioral therapy to New York residents who are experiencing prolonged mental health effects of Superstorm Sandy. Cognitive behavioral therapy with telephone, text, and chat supports will be made available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week free of charge. To access iHelp, visit mha.cobaltcbt.com or call 1-866-793-2765. For more information about the program, please contact Melany Avrut, MA, Ed.M at 212-614-6349 or via email. 

Hurricane Sandy NY Resource List

• 
  NY Disaster Grants Resources Guide (UPDATED 4/23/14)
  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be hosting a call to discuss CDC's ongoing efforts to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa from 11am to 12pm. Reverend Miriam J. Burnett of the Resource and Promotion of Health Alliance, Inc. will discuss the potential role of places of worship, community, and family in addressing Ebola concerns of those living in the US. In an effort to answer as many of your questions as possible, please email your questions ahead of time to emergencypartners@cdc.gov (please use the subject line "10/18 Ebola Call."). To participate in the call, please dial (800) 857-5755 and, when requested, say the verbal passcode "Community".

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) will be conducting public workshops on the free 10-week DDRP program. Clinical staff will cover common reactions to disaster, teach a breathing retraining technique to manage anxiety, talk about the importance of scheduling pleasant activities to combat sadness and depression and discuss the 5 steps of cognitive restructuring to reframe unhelpful thoughts that cause distress.

[World Cares Center Disaster Volunteerism Series] This session addresses the specific microbial hazards that volunteers and residents must be aware of to remain safe while being a part of a flood response or recovery effort. Participants are taught to identify, avoid, and address present hazards common to flood response appropriately, safely, and effectively. This event is free. Location: World Cares Centers Offices (520 8th Ave, 2nd Floor Conference Room), 6:00pm-8:00pm. To register, click here.

Rockaway United, in partnership with Beacon 43) is hosting a Service Providers Fair on Sat. October 25th where attendees can meet with a variety of service providers, get their blood pressure checked, receive free emergency preparedness items, participate in raffles, learn about wellness, and more. The event is from 1:00pm-5:00pm at Beacon 43 (160 Beach 29th St., Queens, NY). For more information, please email rockawayunited4u@gmail.com

[World Cares Center Disaster Volunteerism Series] This session participants are taught to identify, and map areas that must be avoided, and address present hazards and prepare a work plan for their team. This event is free. Location: World Cares Centers Offices (520 8th Ave, 2nd Floor Conference Room), 6:00pm-8:00pm. To register, click here.

The Commodity Distribution Point (CDP) Program is a coordinated, City-led operation to distribute temporarily unavailable life-sustaining commodities such as food, water, ice, and baby formula to the public following an emergency or disaster that disrupts access to traditional supply chains. Primary CDP sites have been identified throughout the five boroughs, one in each community district, to use as points of distribution. OEM is looking to build a team of trained individuals who may be called upon to volunteer at one of these CDP sites during an emergency response. NYC OEM will be hosting monthly CDP trainings for interested volunteers. You only have to attend ONE session. Please click this link to register.

The Staten Island Long Term Recovery Organization (SI LTRO) invites affected residents, recovery service providers, and the wider Staten Island community for this event in remembrance of post-Sandy recovery.

For more information, please visit the SI LTRO event page.
October 29th - Remembering Sandy: Still Standing Strong Two Years Later

LES Ready! Long-Term Recovery Group from the lower east side is hosting a remembrance event from 6:00pm-9:00pm at La Plaza Cultural Garden (9th Street & Avenue C). To view event flyer, click here. For more information, please contact Lilah Mejia at 212-358-1231 or email lesreadyinfo@gmail.com.

[World Cares Center Disaster Volunteerism Series] This "How to" session teaches participants how to conduct a muck out and mold remediation project step by step. The session includes what equipment, skills, guidelines, and process of safely and effectively recovering flood affected property are needed in order to prepare it for safe repair and rebuild work. This event is free. Location: World Cares Centers Offices (520 8th Ave, 2nd Floor Conference Room), 6:00pm-8:00pm. To register, click here.

• 
  Ricardo Alvarez – MITIGAT.COM
  

• 
  It’s Been Nine Years - http://mitigat.com/2014/10/11/03/55/36/its-been-nine-years/
  
• 
  2014 Atlantic: It is FAY and GONZALO out there!
  

• 
  Submitted by William Cummings
  

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2014/07/14-cascade-failures-why-government-fails-light

Higher Education Program Assistant

FEMA/EMI/NETC

Department of Homeland Security

16825 S. Seton Avenue, K016

Emmitsburg, MD 21727