Preparedness

As hurricanes become more severe and dangerous, Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Ga., will play a role in improving research for forecasts by building more advanced “hurricane hunter” aircraft.

Many schools do them, but lawmakers, law enforcement officials, parents and others are considering whether Connecticut should mandate active shooter drills. Concerns include the impact practicing for these scenarios has on schoolchildren.

Next-generation 911 with the resilience of a modern, digital, Internet protocol-based network was essential to North Carolina’s storm response. It enabled officials to answer nearly 90,000 emergency calls in three days.

Residents in the 12 additional counties can now apply for federal disaster assistance, including home repair, property loss and temporary lodging. Currently, nearly 40 counties around the state qualify for FEMA aid.

The early warning system’s yearly test rang some California cellphones on a significant date in earthquake history. Warnings went out Oct. 17, the 35th anniversary of the Bay Area Loma Prieta temblor.

The New York Army National Guard will deploy 41 soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse along with 10 Humvees to provide general-purpose support for recovery efforts in Florida.

One congressman is seeking to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for several years, as opposed to the series of short-term extensions Congress has enacted since 2017.

After making initial landfall, Hurricane Helene moved north and dumped an enormous amount of rainfall onto the mountainous regions of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management’s app provides GIS-powered evacuation zone details via an interactive map, letting residents and visitors pinpoint locations and evaluate their hurricane risk.

Anticipating high winds due to Hurricane Helene that could make bus travel unsafe, Beaufort County Schools in Florida will use remote learning to avoid missing instructional days that would have to be made up later.

Tropical Storm Helene is anticipated to become a Category 3 hurricane when it hits Florida Thursday. Georgia anticipates flooding and severe winds as it moves through the Peach State.

Pasco County, near Tampa Bay, has deployed CentralSquare software to help public works better fix damage from natural disasters and cyber attacks. It’s the latest example of using gov tech for disaster management.

Gov. Ron DeSsantis has declared a state of emergency in 61 of Florida's 67 counties as Tropical Storm Helene is anticipated to develop into a major hurricane Thursday.

The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority has developed a "dynamic risk scoring" system that documents fire hazards on properties and runs them through a simulation. The properties are given a score and re-inspected as needed.

The storm currently called Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine is anticipated to hit the Florida coast as Hurricane Helene later this week. Experts think 2024 will be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record.

Legislation introduced in Congress aims to help homeowners better understand the rising costs of premiums under the National Flood Insurance Program, part of FEMA's newly implemented Risk Rating 2.0 initiative.

The Wildfire Resilience Assistance Program provides $1,000 in cost sharing to help homeowners in designated high-risk areas better prepare ahead of fires. The city plans to devote up to $380,000 to the program this year.

The storm is anticipated to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane and then weaken quickly after landfall. Hurricane warnings are in effect for some parts of the Louisiana coast, while other areas are under watch.