Preparedness and Communications

When the Biden administration announced earlier this year that the national public health emergency would officially end May 11, North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services began making plans to change the way it manages and tracks the virus.

Just as homeowners are realizing the increased risks of going without flood coverage, FEMA has released data showing that coverage costs are exploding for properties in coastal areas most vulnerable to flooding.

The selectmen unanimously approved school officials' request to use more than $355,000 awarded to Fairfield for its COVID response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s an awesome opportunity to put our hands on real train equipment,” said Pell City Fire Capt. Andrew Minyard. “Norfolk Southern runs through our city. We have nearly 15 train crossings in the city limits.”

The Casa Romantica landslide is the latest in a season of crumbling cliffs in California following a winter of remarkably wet and powerful storms. More than 700 landslides were reported statewide in January alone, according to the California Geological Survey.

Severe bleeding can kill a person in a matter of minutes and it can happen in the house, at work in the city. The Stop the Bleed program teaches people around the world how to stop the bleeding and save someone’s life.

State and local governments may not have a lot of money to spend on the personnel and expertise needed to combat the eventual attacks. Unfortunately, some agencies are lacking even when it comes to the basics of cyberdefense.

School boards are expected to contribute up to $400 a year toward the program; the Regional Office of Education will additionally apply for grants or similar forms of funding.

Once the state confirms the numbers, it will go through a process, including submitting the report to Gov. Janet Mills to see whether the state applies for a federal disaster declaration.

First responders' jobs are traumatic almost by definition. They run toward the danger. They go into the burning building. They put themselves on the line to help us. How could that not take an emotional toll on them?

Monitoring coronavirus conditions is becoming more difficult as the pandemic’s post-emergency phase has seen data collection and reporting endeavors either scaled back or abandoned entirely.

The state’s proposed $48 billion budget for climate measures this year was pruned in January from $54 billion over five years for its many water, energy, electric vehicles, transportation and wildfire programs.

At the 42nd National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial Weekend, U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell spoke alongside Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the increasing risk of fire on homeland security.

For Pinellas County homeowners, National Flood Insurance Program premiums are expected to rise 112%, from $1,537 to $3,257. Hillsborough County homeowners should brace for 125% increases, from $1,132 to $2,549.

In case either medical center does flood, a plan has been put in place for other local hospitals to take in patients who might have to be evacuated, said the county's director of emergency services.