Rothstein Associates Inc. Business Survival ™ Weblog

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released a report, Impact of Earthquakes on the Central USA, which presents the findings of a two-year study on the impact of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on states in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).

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The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially came to a close on Sunday, November 30, marking the end of a season that produced a record number of consecutive storms to strike the United States and ranks as one of the more active seasons in the 64 years since comprehensive records began.

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General Douglas O’Dell, President George W. Bush’s federal coordinator for Gulf Coast rebuilding, recently came out in support of businesses developing continuity of operations plans, or COOP plans, before a disaster.  In keynote remarks at the Louisiana Technology Council “Business Continuity: Planning Your Survival Kit” event, O’Dell noted the importance of technology specialists in developing and carrying out such plans.

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On December 20, 2008 three undersea/submarine cables that carry high-speed data traffic between Italy and Egypt were damaged.  These three cables carry approximately 90 percent of all data traffic between Europe and the Middle East.

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China, Japan and South Korea recently announced an agreement to enhance cooperation on disaster management issues.  According to a joint statement, the three countries are subject to natural disasters including earthquakes, typhoons, floods, sediment-related disasters and tsunamis.  The risk is expected to rise with water-related disasters such as typhoons, floods and sediment-related disasters.  This is due to changes in the environment from climate change and rapid urbanization.

The leaders of the three countries agreed on the importance of sharing information on projects, initiatives, good practices, lessons learned and science and technologies to strengthen their disaster management capabilities.  This will involve enhanced cooperation in developing a comprehensive disaster management framework, working out measures to reduce vulnerability to disaster while minimizing the damage, and strengthening effective disaster management at the national, local and community levels.

To facilitate the agreed-upon cooperation, the three countries agreed to hold trilateral meetings at each country’s government agencies that address disaster management.

WASHINGTON — The economic crisis is jeopardizing the nation’s ability to handle public-health emergencies and possible bioterrorist attacks, according to government leaders and a new report.

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This is the last regular issue of Rothstein Associates’ Business Survival(tm) Weblog for 2008. We will be back to provide you the latest information and resources in early January, 2009.

Take advantage of the time you’ll be saving from reading, and join us in supporting The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. A portion of all of our sales is donated every year to this amazing organization.

DISASTER RELIEF FUND

The American Red Cross is actively seeking donations to raise $100 million for the Disaster Relief Fund, which is depleted as a result of an active year of disasters.

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, with the designation, to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND

You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

NOAA (National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration) scientists have created four high-resolution digital elevation models, or DEMs, of Oregon’s coastline that simulate deadly tsunamis and floods. These models will help emergency managers develop life-saving plans for communities in those locations.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced the completion of Southern Exposure, a full-scale exercise (FSE) which marked the culmination of the Southeast Transportation Corridor Pilot (SETCP).  The exercise ran from October 23 through November 5, 2008, and was sponsored by the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), along with other federal, state, and local participants.  The FSE was intended to demonstrate the Southeast region’s capabilities to coordinate, communicate and respond during and after a possible radiological/nuclear threat to the region’s interstate highways.

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Earthquakes are far more than just geological phenomena — they can greatly alter the way people live by damaging whole communities.

A new USGS video production, “The Great Southern California ShakeOut: An Earthquake Scenario Based On Science,” shows how science is used by government agencies, emergency responders, policymakers and the public to help build safer communities.

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New research from the BCI Partnership reveals that less than 50% of United Kingdom workers have been advised what to do in the event of their workplace becoming inaccessible following an incident such as a fire or flood.

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