Preparedness and Communications

Last year, FEMA, which manages the NFIP, took a significant step toward a new rate structure, attempting to more accurately reflect a property's actual flood risk.

Evacuation behavioral studies have found that people who have a plan in place before a storm is forecast are more likely to evacuate when orders are called, said hazard geographer Chris Emrich.

Already, about 28% of beachfront homes along the North Shore are within 20 feet or less of the shoreline, putting them at risk of being damaged by ocean waves and increased flooding.

The Western Fire Chiefs Association released Phase II of its Wildland Fire Map, where citizens can quickly and easily locate a fire and determine where it is burning, how big it is and where it is headed in real time.

One of the three ongoing post-Sandy projects is "Raised Shorelines," which was rolled out by ex-Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2016 with an aim to elevate roadways and other infrastructure in low-lying neighborhoods.

The Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program will now offer grants to residents who live in 521 "high-risk" ZIP codes — an additional 126 ZIP codes compared to last year that include more Bay Area cities.

The state of New Jersey approved barriers and decking removal but said no to the new bulkhead and regrading of dunes because there was no immediate threat of "loss of life or property."

"The state of Texas is working closely with local emergency management officials to ensure our communities have access to critical resources ahead of severe weather threats," Gov. Greg Abbott said.

During an emergency like an earthquake, first responders will not be able to respond to resident calls. This free app can help by guiding the resident on how to find and turn off utilities when no one else is available to help.

Police, firefighters and emergency technicians often reference those maps when responding to school emergencies. But law enforcement and school safety experts say the maps are frequently inaccurate and out-of-date.

You often hear about the wind and see the video of the wind-blown news reporter in a hurricane, but the real danger to people is caused by rainfall and accompanying flooding that has nowhere to go in built-up communities.

For participating public-safety personnel, this simulated exercise offered the type of hands-on training that can only be surpassed by an actual disaster.

Final tallies aren’t in yet, but it’s clear Ian brought historic levels of storm surge from Key West to Naples to Fort Myers, Fla., with some spots seeing at least seven feet of water above dry land.

The people in this room do not control the weather. They could not stop climate change on their own. But with the right tools and better observations, they might warn more people sooner?

The report from the firm Mission Critical Partners lays out a plethora of issues facing 911 call centers, including personnel issues, cyber attacks and the difficult transition from legacy technology to NG 911.