Earthquakes are a serious threat to safety in multifamily apartment buildings and pose a significant potential liability to building owners. Multifamily buildings in 39 states are vulnerable to earthquake damage. Unsafe existing buildings expose multifamily building owners and tenants to the following risks: Death and injury of tenants, occupants, and visitors; Damage to or collapse of buildings; Damage to and loss of furnishings, equipment, and other building contents; Disruption of rental and occupancy functions and other building operations. The greatest earthquake risk is associated with existing multifamily buildings that were designed and constructed before the use of modern building codes. For many parts of the United States, this includes buildings built as recently as the early 1990s. Although vulnerable multifamily buildings need to be replaced with safe, new construction or rehabilitated to correct deficiencies, for many building owners new construction is limited, at times severely, by budgetary constraints, and seismic rehabilitation is expensive and disruptive. However, incremental seismic rehabilitation, proposed in this manual, is an innovative approach that phases in a series of discrete rehabilitation actions over a period of several years. It is an effective, affordable, and non-disruptive strategy for responsible mitigation actions that can be integrated efficiently into ongoing facility maintenance and capital improvement operations to minimize cost and disruption. This manual and its companion documents are the products of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) project to develop the concept of incremental seismic rehabilitation-that is, building modifications that reduce seismic risk by improving seismic performance and that are implemented over an extended period, often in conjunction with other repair, maintenance, or capital improvement activities. It provides owners of Class A, B, or C multifamily buildings, be they Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), pension funds, partnerships, individuals, or other forms of ownership, with the information necessary to assess the seismic vulnerability of their buildings and to implement a program of incremental seismic rehabilitation for those buildings.

The area within the Central United States (CUS) (i.e., Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee) known as the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is at risk for experiencing a major earthquake. Although the CUS is not traditionally thought of as an earthquake-prone zone, the scientific community agrees that this area is a seismically active zone. To educate the residents of these states, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), with support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), conducted six months of outreach from December 2010 to May 2011. This outreach (collectively referred to as ''Earthquake Outreach'') comprised several major initiatives, such as the anniversary of the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes, the first Great Central U.S. ShakeOut and the 2011 National Level Exercise (NLE). The outreach from all these initiatives is collectively referred to as ''Earthquake Outreach'' throughout this report. To measure the effectiveness of this outreach, to gauge residents' current preparedness behaviors and attitudes regarding the risk of experiencing an earthquake and to provide recommendations for increasing preparedness, FEMA's National Preparedness Assessment Division developed the 2011 FEMA Central States Disaster and Earthquake Preparedness Survey (2011 FEMA CUS Earthquake Survey). FEMA administered the 2011 FEMA CUS Earthquake Survey to 3,211 respondents from the CUS states through a telephone interview, asking respondents about the following areas of interest: Perceptions of the likelihood of an earthquake; Participation in earthquake preparedness drills and discussions about earthquake preparedness; Preparedness for an earthquake; Awareness of earthquake preparedness activities and events; and Understanding of the protective actions to take during an earthquake. Enclosed is a summary of the findings as well as recommendations for future outreach efforts. The findings are broken down into six basic sections. Several of these sections include comparisons between different groups, with the most prevalent being respondents who were aware of Earthquake Outreach (Outreach Aware) compared to those respondents who were not aware of Earthquake Outreach (Not Outreach Aware). Residence within and residence outside of the NMSZ are also used as comparison groups, as this comparison provides the unique opportunity to assess the preparedness of those individuals who are in the area most at risk of an earthquake. In addition, several of the questions included in the 2011 FEMA CUS Earthquake Survey were also in the 2011 and 2009 FEMA National Household Surveys. Where available, comparisons to these data are made, as well.

This Annex to the 2012 Federal Interagency Response Plan - Hurricane, describes a concept of operations implementing a paradigm shift for response and recovery operations which focuses on transitioning 500,000 eligible households from sheltering to temporary housing and support for their transition to sustainable housing following a catastrophic hurricane. The concepts and options found in this Annex focus on increasing capacity and adjusting timelines to improve efficiency of transitioning households out of congregate and noncongregate sheltering to temporary housing or directly into long-term sustainable or permanent housing. This Annex also identifies the considerations necessary to implement options in the most efficient and effective manner possible by working with the whole community as described in A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action. Emphasis of recovery support will initially be conducted in the least impacted areas and progress inward toward the most heavily impacted area as accessibility allows. Recovery support for survivors living in the most heavily impacted area will emphasize sheltering/temporary housing solutions provided in locations outside of the impacted area. Life-sustaining support for essential personnel performing critical functions and recovery operations will be provided in all areas. This Annex is currently built around FEMA's plans to increase its housing capabilities. Implementation of the concepts presented in this document will be coordinated with external partners for continued development. The information presented in this Annex provides the foundation for Phase I and sets the stage for Phase II catastrophic planning. Phase I encompasses mass care and sheltering. Phase II will focus on the Whole Community, including other Federal agency participation, resources, and authorities, in the development of a plan to provide long-term sustainable or permanent housing. These Phases are illustrated in Figure 4 on page 14. The planning concepts and options provided herein are guidelines only. Every disaster will be unique in scope and magnitude. The needs of a particular community will drive the response and recovery actions.

The American Red Cross is the nation's largest nonprofit organisation involved in disaster relief. The organisation provides services such as sheltering and food assistance, and it has a leadership role in the federal disaster response framework. However, questions have been raised over its ability to respond effectively to large disasters. This book addresses the key factors affecting the nature and extent of the Red Cross's disaster services; how it coordinates with the federal government on disaster assistance; and what external oversight exists of its disaster services. Furthermore, the book provides a brief history of the charter of the American National Red Cross (ANRC); describes the recent congressional interest in the ANRC's governance, operations, and charter; reviews the ANRC's governance audit report and proposal to amend its charter; and describes recent congressional proposals to amend the charter.

In October 2010, nine months after the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti, a second disaster began to unfold-soon to become the world's largest cholera epidemic in modern times. In a country that had never before reported cholera, the epidemic mysteriously and simultaneously appeared in river communities of central Haiti, eventually triggering nearly 800,000 cases and 9,000 deaths. What had caused the first cases of cholera in Haiti in recorded history? Who or what was the deadly agent of origin? Why did it explode in the agricultural-rich delta of the Artibonite River? When answers were few, rumors spread, causing social and political consequences of their own. Wanting insight, the Haitian government and French embassy requested epidemiological assistance from France. A few weeks into the epidemic, physician and infectious disease specialist Renaud Piarroux arrived in Haiti.In Deadly River, Ralph R. Frerichs tells the story of the epidemic-of a French disease detective determined to trace its origins so that he could help contain the spread and possibly eliminate the disease-and the political intrigue that has made that effort so difficult. The story involves political maneuvering by powerful organizations such as the United Nations and its peacekeeping troops in Haiti, as well as by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Frerichs explores a quest for scientific truth and dissects a scientific disagreement involving world-renowned cholera experts who find themselves embroiled in intellectual and political turmoil in a poverty-stricken country.Frerichs's narrative highlights how the world's wealthy nations, nongovernmental agencies, and international institutions respond when their interests clash with the needs of the world's most vulnerable people. The story poses big social questions and offers insights not only on how to eliminate cholera in Haiti but also how nations, NGOs, and international organizations such as the UN and CDC deal with catastrophic infectious disease epidemics.

For the first time, the truth about who blew "Pan AM 103" out of the sky over Lockerbie Scotland, is revealed by the man who risks all to tell. Find out how and why the United States, Great Britain and Scotland have conspired to cover-up the true identities of those responsible for one of the most heinous terrorist attacks against innocent civilians. Dr. Chasey was contracted to normalize relations between the United States and Libya. He tells about his secret meeting with two of the world's most wanted men. He introduces us to the two Libyan intelligence officers accused of blowing up "Pan AM 103". He details his meeting with Col. Muammar Qadhafi, the man Time Magazine called, "the most dangerous man in the world". Chasey names the terrorists actually responsible for the Lockerbie bombing. This book is packed with political intrigue and reveals an FBI sting operation designed to destroy Chasey's reputation and life. Learn why Dr. Chasey says, "I love my country, but I fear my government".

Not many people realize it, but the world is coming apart-and it's probably not going to get better anytime soon. Terrorism, natural disasters, economic collapses, riots, and civil unrest continue to spread throughout cities, states, and nations. It's more important than ever to prepare to survive such events.

David Browne, a Vietnam veteran who was assigned to the CIA and flew out of Udorn Thailand along the Ho Chi Minh trail with Air America, relies on his experiences during the war and after to help you survive the tough times ahead. As the former operator of Pioneer Survival School, he has lived "off the grid" with his family for twelve years, and he's an expert on survival.

This guidebook to family preparedness can teach you how to survive riots and civil unrest; decide when to ignore governmental orders; plan an escape from the city where you live; and protect your family even when you don't have guns.

You'll also learn what foods and other tangible goods to have on hand in order to keep yourself and your loved ones alive. When the going gets tough, this guide can help you to survive this new millennium.

Veterans in rural communities face unique challenges, who will step up to help?
Beginning with a brief scenario of a more gentle view of rural life, the book moves through learned information about families, children, and our returning National Guard and Reserve civilian military members. Return experiences will necessarily be different in rural and frontier settings than they are in suburban and urban environments. Our rural and frontier areas, especially in Western states with more isolated communities, less developed communication and limited access to medical, psychological and social services remain an important concern. This book helps provide some informed direction in working toward improving these as a general guide for mental health professionals working with Guard and Reserve members and families in rural/frontier settings. An appendix provides an in-depth list of online references for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Specific areas of concern include: Morale, deployment abroad, and stress factors Effects of terrorism on children and families at home Understanding survivor guilt Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide Preventing secondary traumatization Resiliency among refugee populations and military families Adjustment and re-integration following the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Vicarious trauma and its effects on children and adults How rural and remote communities differ from more urban ones following war experiences in readjusting military members Characteristics important in therapists/counselors working with returning military
Doherty's second volume in this new series "Crisis in the American Heartland" explores these and many other issues. Each volume available in trade paper, hardcover, and eBook formats.
Learn more at www.RMRInstitute.org
PSY022040 Psychology: Psychopathology - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
SOC040000 Social Science: Disasters & Disaster Relief
HIS027170 Military - Iraq War (2003-)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages State and local governments, tribal authorities, and private non-profit organizations to take a proactive approach to coordinating and managing debris removal operations as part of their overall emergency management plan. Communities with a debris management plan are better prepared to restore public services and ensure the public health and safety in the aftermath of a disaster, and they are better positioned to receive the full level of assistance available to them from FEMA and other participating entities. The core components of a comprehensive debris management plan incorporate best practices in debris removal, reflect FEMA eligibility criteria, and are tailored to the specific needs and unique circumstances of each applicant. FEMA developed this guide to provide applicants with a programmatic and operational framework for structuring their own debris management plan or ensuring that their existing plan is consistent with FEMA's eligibility criteria. This framework: 1. Identifies and explains the debris removal eligibility criteria that applicants must meet in order to receive assistance under the FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program; 2. Provides a blueprint for assembling an effective and responsive plan for the entire debris management cycle; 3. Outlines the FEMA Public Assistance debris removal organizational structure and strategy.