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National
Partnership for Reinventing Government
July 17, 2000
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Averting
Disaster Damage in Tillamook County - a Case Study
Floods in Tillamook
County, Oregon, in the winter of 1996, forced thousands of
people from their homes, destroyed highways and businesses,
and drowned more than 700 dairy cows. Federal help covered
about $8 million, but uncompensated losses totaled $53 million
- a devastating blow for a small county of 25,000 people with
average incomes of $18,000 a year.
more...
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The Perfect Storm
Plan
Government
Agencies Can Help
Storms happen.
So do other disasters.
In the hurricane
season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, it’s wise to
be alert — and prepared.
The storm that
took Captain Billy Tyne by surprise off the coast of Nova Scotia
in October 1991 was more than a hurricane. It was a puzzling convergence
of weather conditions so rare that scientists have called it the
"perfect storm."
Billy and his
small crew on the Andrea Gail perished in waves more than 100 feet
high. The boat was never found. This true story was first a book,
and now a hit movie. The Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service had important
roles — government workers just doing their job, and a heroic
one at that.
FEMA: The
Emergency Preparedness Hub
Preparedness
is the answer to reducing the loss of lives and property when disasters
hit. The agency that is charged with helping us survive disasters
is also charged with helping us get ready for them — the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Both FEMA and the National Weather
Service are designated high
impact agencies (HIAs) by the National Partnership for Reinventing
Government. A HIA is an agency that serves a large majority of Americans.
Much can be
done to prevent or reduce the impact of disasters, the loss and
suffering - to manage emergencies and disasters, says FEMA
Director James Lee Witt.
You
Need to Plan
FEMA works
with other federal agencies, state, and local emergency management
agencies, and local governments to help communities get ready for
disasters.
They need to
plan. So do individuals.
The government
websites below will help you make the perfect disaster-preparedness
plan.
Disaster
Preparedness, Relief, and Recovery
Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA’s
Project Impact
FEMA works
with 26 federal agencies, local governments, and 1000 private
sector partners to make 200 communities disaster-resistant.
FEMA’S
National Flood Insurance Program
Most hurricane
damage comes from flooding, not winds. Get insurance now.
FEMA
Mitigation
FEMA
on Preparedness
FEMA
Homepage
As each disaster
approaches or hits, this site has news, warnings, briefings, preparedness,
evacuation tips (including animals), emergency response updates,
and links to other sites.
FEMA
Response and Recovery
FEMA
Disaster Supplies Kit
FEMA
for Kids
FEMA
on Fire Preparedness
Supporting
Special Needs and Vulnerable Populations (9 languages)
NASA's
Disaster Finder
National
Interagency Fire Center
Wildland
Fire Prevention and Education
U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) works closely with the FEMA
in response and recovery missions.
U.S. Small
Business Administration
Small
Business Disaster Assistance
Administration
on Aging
Department
of Agriculture
U.S. Geological
Survey
Geographic
Information Systems
GIS software
products can turn raw data about populations, highways, biological
resources, disease, the environment, and crime statistics into
understandable maps or displays that can support community planning.
An example is where to develop flood control and where to protect
specific property.
American
Red Cross
Red
Cross Disaster Services Guide
This guide
is a resource for anyone providing disaster safety information
to the public. You’ll find a family disaster plan, a disaster
supply kit, and a lot of information about preparing for disasters
of all kinds.
This guide
represents the hard work and collaboration of many professionals
affiliated with the organizations that founded the National Disaster
Education Coalition:
National
Governors Association Emergency Management Best Practices
Online
Storm Alerts and Tracking
National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National
Weather Service homepage
The National
Weather Service provides warnings and forecast of hazardous
weather, including thunderstorms, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes,
winter weather, tsunamis, and climate events. The National Weather
Service is the official voice for issuing warnings during life
threatening weather situations in the United States.
National
Weather Service Administration Sites
National
Weather Service Active Warnings
Weather
Information Super Highway
NOAA
Homepage
NOAA
Weather Radio Receivers
Information
on Buying a NOAA Weather Radio Receiver
National
Hurricane Center Tropical Prediction Center
This server
maintains a current database of meteorological and hydrological
data, historical data, and written information generated by the
National Weather Service or received from other official sources.
In addition, this server accesses in real-time a selection of
current official weather observations, forecasts, and warnings
from U.S. government sources for use by the national and international
community.
Tropical
Predictions
NOAA’s
National Environmental, Satellite, Data, and Information Service
U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS)
Coast Guard
National
Institute of Standards and Technology
Stories
Other Links
State Hurricane
or Disaster Sites
About the
Author
List compiled
by Patricia B. Wood, editor, Access
America E-Gov E-Zine. Pat is a member of the Communications
Team at the National Partnership for
Reinventing Government. You may reach her at pat.wood@npr.gov
or (202) 694-0063.
Press Contact:
Kelly Paisley, National Partnership for Reinventing Government,
kelly.paisley@npr.gov
or (202) 694-0051.
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