On March 11, 2011, Japan was struck by the shockwaves of a 9.0 magnitude undersea earthquake originating less than 50 miles off its eastern coastline. The most powerful earthquake to have hit Japan in recorded history, it produced a devastating tsunami with waves reaching heights of over 130 feet that in turn caused an unprecedented multireactor meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This triple catastrophe claimed almost 20,000 lives, destroyed whole towns, and will ultimately cost hundreds of billions of dollars for reconstruction.

In 3.11, Richard Samuels offers the first broad scholarly assessment of the disaster's impact on Japan's government and society. The events of March 2011 occurred after two decades of social and economic malaise as well as considerable political and administrative dysfunction at both the national and local levels and resulted in national soul-searching. Political reformers saw in the tragedy cause for hope: an opportunity for Japan to remake itself. Samuels explores Japan s post-earthquake actions in three key sectors: national security, energy policy, and local governance. For some reformers, 3.11 was a warning for Japan to overhaul its priorities and political processes. For others, it was a once-in-a-millennium event; they cautioned that while national policy could be improved, dramatic changes would be counterproductive. Still others declared that the catastrophe demonstrated the need to return to an idealized past and rebuild what has been lost to modernity and globalization.

Samuels chronicles the battles among these perspectives and analyzes various attempts to mobilize popular support by political entrepreneurs who repeatedly invoked three powerfully affective themes: leadership, community, and vulnerability. Assessing reformers successes and failures as they used the catastrophe to push their particular agendas and by examining the earthquake and its aftermath alongside prior disasters in Japan, China, and the United States Samuels outlines Japan s rhetoric of crisis and shows how it has come to define post-3.11 politics and public policy."

The 2011 Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition (FEMA P-55), is a two-volume publication that provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment. Volume I of the Coastal Construction Manual provides information about hazard identification, siting decisions, regulatory requirements, economic implications, and risk management. The primary audience for Volume I is design professionals, officials, and those involved in the decision-making process. Volume II contains in-depth descriptions of design, construction, and maintenance practices that, when followed, will increase the durability of residential buildings in the harsh coastal environment and reduce economic losses associated with coastal natural disasters. The primary audience for Volume II is the design professional who is familiar with building codes and standards and has a basic understanding of engineering principles. Volume II is not a standalone reference for designing homes in the coastal environment. The designer should have access to and be familiar with the building codes and standards that are discussed in Volume II and listed in the reference section at the end of each chapter. The designer should also have access to the building codes and standards that have been adopted by the local jurisdiction if they differ from the standards and codes that are cited in Volume II. If the local jurisdiction having authority has not adopted a building code, the most recent code should be used. Engineering judgment is sometimes necessary, but designers should not make decisions that will result in a design that does not meet locally adopted building codes. The topics that are covered in Volume II are as follows: Chapter 7 - Introduction to the design process, minimum design requirements, losses from natural hazards in coastal areas, cost and insurance implications of design and construction decisions, sustainable design, and inspections; Chapter 8 - Site-specific loads, including from snow, flooding, tsunamis, high winds, tornadoes, seismic events, and combinations of loads. Example problems are provided to illustrate the application of design load provisions of ASCE 7-10, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures; Chapter 9 - Load paths, structural connections, structural failure modes, breakaway walls, building materials, and appurtenances; Chapter 10 - Foundations, including design criteria, requirements and recommendations, style selection (e.g., open, closed), pile capacity in soil, and installation; Chapter 11 - Building envelope, including floors in elevated buildings, exterior doors, windows and skylights, non-loading-bearing walls, exterior wall coverings, soffits, roof systems, and attic vents. Chapter 12 - Installing mechanical equipment and utilities; Chapter 13 - Construction, including the foundation, structural frame, and building envelope. Common construction mistakes, material selection and durability, and techniques for improving resistance to decay and corrosion are also discussed; Chapter 14 - Maintenance of new and existing buildings, including preventing damage from corrosion, moisture, weathering, and termites; building elements that require frequent maintenance; and hazard-specific maintenance techniques; Chapter 15 - Evaluating existing buildings for the need for and feasibility of retrofitting for wildfire, seismic, flood, and wind hazards and implementing the retrofitting. Wind retrofit packages that can be implemented during routine maintenance are also discussed (e.g., replacing roof shingles.

Do you want to get started prepping, but don't have enough money to cover your expenses now, let alone start prepping for the future?
When you're living paycheck to paycheck it's tough to look ahead and start planning for the future. While you may not think you can afford to stockpile food and supplies for an emergency situation, the reality is you can't afford not to.
Think about the potential cost of inaction. Your family is counting on you to see them through an emergency. If you aren't prepared, you're going to have to depend on the kindness of others. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be self-reliant, especially in this day and age.
You know you need food and gear, but until now you thought purchasing it was out of reach. You don't have to shell out thousands of dollars at a time preparing for the future. The tips and tricks in "The Poor Man's Prepping Guide" will enable you to slowly but surely build up a respectable cache of food and supplies.
For less than the price of a cup of coffee, you can buy this book now and find out how to begin prepping on a serious budget.

Are you prepared to survive in a shelter-in-place emergency situation?
Well, are you? If you are, pat yourself on the back. You're a step ahead of most people. The average citizen turns a blind eye to disaster preparedness and is largely unprepared to handle all but the most minor of emergency situations.
Do you really want to take a chance that could cost you and your family your lives?
The first thing most victims say is, "I never thought it would happen to me." Don't be caught unprepared when an emergency strikes that forces you to take refuge in your own home. The time to get ready for a crisis situation is now. Wait until the last minute and you'll be forced to pay top dollar for food, water and supplies, if you can find them at all. If not, you'll be forced to scavenge for scraps or beg for help, along with hundreds of thousands of others who couldn't be bothered to prepare.
The following topics are covered in this helpful and easy to read book: What hunkering down is and why it's preferred over bugging out.The disasters you should start prepping for.The most common type of disaster. HINT: It's the one people are least prepared for.Bugging out vs. bugging in.The meaning of normalcy bias and how it can get you killed.Questions you need to ask yourself in an emergency situation that will help you determine the best course of action.The 5 plans you need in order to survive.Building a Get Home Bag that will give you the best chance of making it home if a disaster occurs while you're away.How long should you prepare to survive on your own?Shelter: Don't make any assumptions.Shutting down utilities.Water . . . Must have water.How to keep from freezing to death when the power is out.How not to starve to death.Staying clean when there's no running water.How to handle first aid emergencies when there is no professional medical care available.How to stay safe when you can't call the cops.How stockpiling alcohol and tobacco might save your life.Why you might not want to run a generator. HINT: There's a better option.Sealing yourself in to protect your family from chemicals and radiation.The attack that could render all electronic equipment useless and how to protect your equipment.How to communicate when the phones stop working.Appendix #1: A list of supplies you'll need.Appendix #2: Survival skills you're going to need to learn (if you don't already have them).Appendix #3: Step-by-step guide to getting prepped.

This report, FEMA-351 - Recommended Seismic Evaluation and Upgrade Criteria for Existing Welded Steel Moment-Frame Buildings has been developed by the SAC Joint Venture under contract to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide structural engineers with recommended criteria for evaluation of the probable performance of existing steel moment-frame buildings in future earthquakes and to provide a basis for updating and revision of evaluation and rehabilitation guidelines and standards. It is one of a series of companion publications addressing the issue of the seismic performance of steel moment-frame buildings. The set of companion publications includes: FEMA-350 - Recommended Seismic Design Criteria for New Steel Moment-Frame Buildings. This publication provides recommended criteria, supplemental to FEMA-302 - 1997 NEHRP Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures, for the design and construction of steel moment-frame buildings and provides alternative performance-based design criteria. FEMA-351 - Recommended Seismic Evaluation and Upgrade Criteria for Existing Welded Steel Moment-Frame Buildings. This publication provides recommended methods to evaluate the probable performance of existing steel moment-frame buildings in future earthquakes and to retrofit these buildings for improved performance. FEMA-352 - Recommended Postearthquake Evaluation and Repair Criteria for Welded Steel Moment-Frame Buildings. This publication provides recommendations for performing postearthquake inspections to detect damage in steel moment-frame buildings following an earthquake, evaluating the damaged buildings to determine their safety in the postearthquake environment, and repairing damaged buildings. FEMA-353 - Recommended Specifications and Quality Assurance Guidelines for Steel Moment-Frame Construction for Seismic Applications. This publication provides recommended specifications for the fabrication and erection of steel moment frames for seismic applications. The recommended design criteria contained in the other companion documents are based on the material and workmanship standards contained in this document, which also includes discussion of the basis for the quality control and quality assurance criteria contained in the recommended specifications. The information contained in these recommended evaluation and upgrade criteria, hereinafter referred to as Recommended Criteria, is presented in the form of specific recommendations for design and performance evaluation procedures together with supporting commentary explaining part of the basis for these recommendations.

This book is truly the comprehensive biography of man-made ills and evils such as poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, crime, violence, economic chaos, terrorism, pollution, species extinction, global warming and climate change. These curses resisted extensive and very costly eradication efforts because humanity failed to address the real "secret" factor behind their origin. The author exposes that secret through this book, which explains the what, why and how of the above evils and the other disturbing diverse happenings around the globe. Controlling that hidden factor will gradually end all those evils and bring diverse humanity together as a global village. "The author has come out with revolutionary ideas which will bring to an end the long-standing ignorance of humanity and will help them to eradicate global ills. It is a must for every global citizen, and understanding these will soon become a prerequisite for rulers, bureaucrats, planners, and activists." - Dr. D. Peter, Ph.D., economist, educationalist, author, and activist - Dr. Ivy Peter, Ph.D., historian, educationalist and author "The most excellent book ever written on sustainable living." - Dr. R.S. Lal Mohan, Ph.D., scientist, nature conservationist, educationalist and author Dr. S.J.P. Thompson is a family physician in India and the grandfather of four. Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/SJPThompson

In April 1977, President Carter issued a memorandum directing the review of federal dam safety activities by an ad hoc panel of recognized experts. In June 1979, the ad hoc interagency committee on dam safety (ICODS) issued its report, which contained the first guidelines for federal agency dam owners. The Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety (Guidelines) encourage strict safety standards in the practices and procedures employed by the federal agencies or required of dam owners regulated by the federal agencies. The Guidelines address management practices and procedures but do not attempt to establish technical standards. They provide the most complete and authoritative statement available of the desired management practices for promoting dam safety and the welfare of the public. To supplement the Guidelines, ICODS prepared and approved federal guidelines in the areas of emergency action planning; earthquake analysis and design of dams; selecting and accommodating inflow design floods for dams; and glossary of terms. These publications, based on the most current knowledge and experience available, provided authoritative statements on the state of the art for these important technical areas involving dam safety. In 1994, the ICODS Subcommittee to Review/Update Federal Guidelines began an update to these guidelines to meet the new dam safety challenges and to ensure consistency across agencies and users. In addition, the ICODS Subcommittee on Federal/Non-Federal Coordination developed a new guideline on hazard potential classification systems for dams. With the passage of the National Dam Safety Program Act of 1996, Public Law 104-303, ICODS and its Subcommittees were reorganized to reflect the objectives and requirements of Public Law 104-303. In 1998, the newly convened Guidelines Development Subcommittee completed work on the update of the following guidelines: Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Emergency Action Planning for Dam Owners, FEMA 64, October 1998, reprinted April 2004; Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Selecting and Accommodating Inflow Design Floods for Dams, FEMA 94, October 1998, reprinted April 2004; Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Hazard Potential Classification Systems for Dams, FEMA 333, October 1998, reprinted April 2004. With the amendment of the Act into the National Dam Safety and Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-310, former ICODS Subcommittees were reorganized under the National Dam Safety Review Board (NDSRB). In 2004, two task groups finalized the ongoing work of the previous Subcommittee on the update of the following guidelines: Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Glossary of Terms, FEMA 148, printed April 2004; Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety: Earthquake Analyses and Design of Dams, FEMA 65, printed May 2005. The publication of these guidelines marks the final step in the review and update process. In recognition of the continuing need to enhance dam safety through coordination and information exchange amongst federal and state agencies, the NDSRB will assume responsibility for maintaining these documents and establishing additional guidelines that will help achieve the objectives of the National Dam Safety Program. The NDSRB has established a task group and work is currently underway to prepare an update to the ground motions portion of this document with new research and methodologies.

When the SHTF (Stuff Hits the Fan), will you be prepared for it?
If you don't have a bug out bag ready, you're going to waste valuable time gathering resources when you should be on the road. Having a bug out bag ready will allow you to get on the road ahead of the sweaty masses and avoid traffic jams that could put your life at risk.
This book lays out everything you need to have in your bug out bag to ensure survival. Even if you have a bag ready, you may be woefully unprepared for the worst the world has to offer.
Buy this book now and start preparing for the worst. It may never come, but if it does, you'll be ready

Dramatic scenes of devastation and suffering caused by disasters such as the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, are viewed with shock and horror by millions of us across the world. What we rarely see, however, are the international politics of disaster aid, mitigation and prevention that condition the collective response to natural catastrophes around the world. In this book, respected Canadian environmental sociologist John Hannigan argues that the global community of nations has failed time and again in establishing an effective and binding multilateral mechanism for coping with disasters, especially in the more vulnerable countries of the South.Written in an accessible and even-handed manner, Disasters without Borders it is the first comprehensive account of the key milestones, debates, controversies and research relating to the international politics of natural disasters. Tracing the historical evolution of this policy field from its humanitarian origins in WWI right up to current efforts to cast climate change as the prime global driver of disaster risk, it highlights the ongoing mismatch between the way disaster has been conceptualised and the institutional architecture in place to manage it. The book's bold conclusion predicts the confluence of four emerging trends - politicisation/militarisation, catastrophic scenario building, privatisation of risk, and quantification, which could create a new system of disaster management wherein 'insurance logic' will replace humanitarian concern as the guiding principle. "Disasters Without Borders" is an ideal introductory text for students, lecturers and practitioners in the fields of international development studies, disaster management, politics and international affairs, and environmental geography/sociology.

On June 1, 2011, a super cell thunderstorm developed over Western Massachusetts, producing an EF3 tornado that cut a 39-mile track of destruction across the state. Despite ample warnings, this event took everyone by surprise. These are the stories of survivors and emergency responders who saw firsthand what happened when this life changing tornado touched down.

For four consecutive days in early 2010, it was the number one news story in the world.

Ten Americans left the security and comfort of their homes, placed jobs on hold, and left family and friends behind to help Haitian children victimized by the January 12, 2010, earthquake. Despite their admirable intents, the Christians were charged with kidnapping, criminal association, and attempting to arrange "irregular" travel.

What Satan intended for evil, God used for good. Experience their unwavering faith. Experience their reliance on God's sustaining power, His endless grace, and His abiding presence. And trust, as they trust, that God will use their sacrifices to bring about meaningful change in Haiti. The full measure of their service is yet to be realized ...

Lost and Turned Out represents a unique opportunity for us to re-define clear roles and responsibilities when it comes to disaster preparedness. It challenges our institutions; the faith-based community, emergency managers, politicians, community leaders, and individuals and families, to "get real" about their disaster preparedness efforts. In this book, I explore the reasons why underserved communities are so unprepared, examine solutions to bridge the preparedness gap, and apply practical principles in an effort to save lives. Rather than creating a "wish list" of what others should do, Lost and Turned Out focuses on what underserved communities can do to help themselves survive disasters.

THE HILLSBOROUGH DISASTER - Saturday, the 15th of April 1989 - when 96 innocent men, women and children lost their lives, in Britain's worst ever sporting disaster. WITH HOPE IN YOUR HEART: A HILLSBOROUGH SURVIVOR'S STORY, THE DENIAL OF JUSTICE & A PERSONAL BATTLE OF PTSD - is the REAL, SHOCKING STORY OF HILLSBOROUGH. It is unique as it is written through the eyes of a survivor. It is told by someone who witnessed at first hand all the death and carnage from Pen 4 - one of the two central pens in which the majority of the 96 died. It shockingly tells of the glaring police failures, the lies, the cover ups, the fabrications, the suppression of evidence and the blatant denial of justice over almost a quarter of a century in the biggest single miscarriage of justice in the history of the British legal system. It tells of the bravery of the survivors and the bereaved families in their quest for truth and justice, and tells the shocking reality of what lengths that government, the police, the judiciary, writers and the media will go to, in order to hide the truth.

Each year, natural disasters threaten the strength and stability of communities worldwide. Yet responses to the challenges of recovery vary greatly and in ways that aren't explained by the magnitude of the catastrophe or the amount of aid provided by national governments or the international community. The difference between resilience and disrepair, as Daniel P. Aldrich shows, lies in the depth of communities' social capital. "Building Resilience" highlights the critical role of social capital in the ability of a community to withstand disaster and rebuild both the infrastructure and the ties that are at the foundation of any community. Aldrich examines the post-disaster responses of four distinct communities--Tokyo following the 1923 earthquake, Kobe after the 1995 earthquake, Tamil Nadu after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, and New Orleans post-Katrina--and finds that those with robust social networks were better able to coordinate recovery. In addition to quickly disseminating information and financial and physical assistance, communities with an abundance of social capital were able to minimize the migration of people and valuable resources out of the area. With governments increasingly overstretched and natural disasters likely to increase in frequency and intensity, a thorough understanding of what contributes to efficient reconstruction is more important than ever. "Building Resilience" underscores a critical component of an effective response.

Who will step up to meet the challenge of the next rural crisis?
Rural practice presents important yet challenging issues for psychology, especially given uneven population distribution, high levels of need, limited availability of rural services, and ongoing migration to urban centers. It is critical that mental health professionals and first responders in rural areas become aware of recent research, training and approaches to crisis intervention, traumatology, compassion fatigue, disaster mental health, critical incident stress management, post-traumatic stress and related areas in rural environments. Critical issues facing rural areas include:
Physical issues such as land, air, and water resources, cheap food policy, chemicals and pesticides, animal rights, corruption in food marketing and distribution, and land appropriation for energy development. Quality of life issues such as rural America's declining share of national wealth, problems of hunger, education, and rural poverty among rural populations of farmers and ranchers. Direct service issues include the need to accommodate a wide variety of mental health difficulties, client privacy and boundaries, and practical challenges. Indirect service issues include the greater need for diverse professional activities, collaborative work with professionals having different orientations and beliefs, program development and evaluation, and conducting research with few mentors or peer collaborators. Professional training and development issues include lack of specialized relevant courses and placements. Personal issues include limited opportunities for recreation, culture, and lack of privacy.
Doherty's first volume in this new series "Crisis in the American Heartland" explores these and many other issues. Social Science: Disasters & Disaster Relief
For more information please visit www.RMRInstitute.org

Based on experience and knowledge gained during his thirty-plus years of service in uniform, the author prepared this Personal Disaster Planning Handbook to offer basic guidance. This handbook addresses emergency preparedness at home, and in a redundant, layered approach if you are required-by law or circumstance-to leave your home. The first sections address the various layers, beginning with you, followed by your home, your vehicle, your backpack, your vest (if you use one) and finally your belt and pockets. Weapons for hunting and defense are discussed, as are an assortment of other tools necessary to survive in austere environments. The final sections of the book provide reference material such as checklists, online resources, recommended websites, and equipment reviews.

In the winter of 1910, the river that brought life to Paris quickly became a force of destruction. Torrential rainfall saturated the soil, and faulty engineering created a perfect storm of conditions that soon drowned Parisian streets, homes, businesses, and museums. The city seemed to have lost its battle with the elements. Given the Parisians' history of deep-seated social, religious, and political strife, it was questionable whether they could collaborate to confront the crisis. Yet while the sewers, Metro, and electricity failed around them, Parisians of all backgrounds rallied to save the city and one another. Improvising techniques to keep Paris functioning and braving the dangers of collapsing infrastructure and looters, leaders and residents alike answered the call to action. This newfound ability to work together proved a crucial rehearsal for an even graver crisis four years later, when France was plunged into World War I. On the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the flood, Jeffrey H. Jackson captures here for the first time the drama and ultimate victory of man over nature.

On April 20, 2010, the "Deepwater Horizon" oil rig exploded, killing eleven workers and creating the largest oil spill in the history of U.S. offshore drilling. But this wasn't the first time British Petroleum and its cost-cutting practices destroyed parts of the natural world. It also was not the first time that BP's negligence resulted in the loss of human life, ruined family businesses, or shattered dreams. From Alaska to Kansas to the Gulf, journalist Mike Magner has been tracking BP's reckless path for years, and in "Poisoned Legacy" he focuses, for the first time, on the human price of BP's rise to power.

The natural workings of the Earth often lead to immense human suffering. Is this suffering inevitable? In this book Simon Saint makes the case that it isn't. He considers two events which are typically thought of as 'natural disasters' - the 2008 Boxing Day Tsunami and the current events in Japan (March 2011) - and explains why these events, whilst having natural causes, are actually 'human-made' disasters. The acceptance that these disasters are the results of human actions is useful because it means that humans can act so as to prevent such disasters reoccurring in the future.

Strategic Survival is about planning and preparation so that when life-threatening scenarios flare up you will have the necessary knowledge, supplies, and equipment to get through it. This book covers the most significant potential disaster scenarios we face in our modern world and details the overlapping personal, family, and community affects of each. With an understanding of the potential problems we face you're ready to explore strategies to survive them. Learn about equipment and supplies you can carry with you, and skills to develop to use them effectively. Learn how to travel safely should you need to get home, or somewhere away from home, in an emergency. Learn about three levels of survival "retreats" including your home, a place to live during or after a disaster, and a place to hide when other places aren't safe. Learn about inexpensive shelters that will protect you from nuclear fallout and exposure to hot or cold weather without dependence on energy or fuel. Learn about caching valuable equipment and supplies, and maintaining mobility. Finally, learn about trading, building communities based on need, and setting a foundation for future prosperity. This is a great book for beginners with references to dozens of other recommended books about survival, preparedness, infrastructure, food production, and of course works of fiction to stimulate the imagination and provide some entertainment along the way. This book also references many specific products to save you time on research and give you examples of things you may find useful both now and after the world is no longer as we know it. Written by an author who is not a survival professional, Scenario-Based Strategic Survival comes from the perspective of a busy professional with a hobby of preparedness who wishes he had the information in this book many years ago when getting started.

A salute to life is a commemorative book honoring the thousands of lives that were, and continue to be, impacted by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.