Posts tagged with

Natural Disasters

NOAA’s Response Asset Directory: Helping NOAA Streamline Disaster Response

Posted Mon, 09/26/2022 - 15:19
By NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration

Cataloging assets can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What should be included in your inventory? How should it be categorized? How often should the inventory be reviewed and updated? Fortunately, several years ago, NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center developed an asset directory that provides structure, guidance, and a user-friendly design. 

The First Cross-NOAA Disaster Recovery Support Workshop

Posted Fri, 12/10/2021 - 14:51
By Autumn Lotze, Office of Response and Restoration

The Office of Response and Restoration’s Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP) and the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) recently hosted the first cross-NOAA workshop on Disaster Recovery Support. Find out how this workshop supports our disaster recovery efforts in this blog.

Tsunamis: Know the Signs, Hear the Stories, and Get Prepared!

Posted Thu, 12/02/2021 - 18:26
By Kim Albins, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program

Imagine this: you are sitting on a beautiful beach enjoying a lovely day, when out of the blue an alarm blasts from your phone and reads “Tsunami warning.” Do you know where you would go and what to do? What if you aren’t in the U.S. and there are no alarms, would you know the signs of an approaching tsunami?

All Hands On Deck: NOAA’s Disaster Preparedness Program Is Ready for Hurricane Season

Posted Fri, 07/23/2021 - 16:21

As we all know, the official Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. During this time, the Disaster Preparedness Program located within NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, is busy coordinating with other offices within the National Ocean Service, as well as collaborating with federal, state, and local emergency management partners, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, many of you may still be wondering, “What exactly does the Disaster Preparedness Program do and how is it successful?”

The Dangers of Storm Surge and Flooding

Posted Tue, 03/30/2021 - 16:40
By Charlie Henry, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program

A long time ago, I stood beside my grandfather outside of his house, looking toward the southeast at a very dark sky. We were 200 miles from where Hurricane Camille was making landfall in Mississippi—the second-most intense Atlantic tropical cyclone on record. 

Tornado Preparedness: How to Stay Safe When Tornadoes Threaten

Posted Fri, 03/05/2021 - 13:13
By Katherine Krushinski, NOAA Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program; and Jason Beaman, NOAA National Weather Service

During Severe Weather Preparedness Week we are reminded that weather-related disasters can occur in every area of the United States. Due to geographical features and other aspects, some regions are more prone to certain disasters than others. Recently, one of our southern most states, Texas, was hit with a widespread winter storm and record breaking arctic outbreak that knocked out power and water—making it difficult for people to stay safe. But as we’ve seen, winter weather can impact any portion of our country. 

Living Shorelines Help to Protect Coastal Communities from Impacts of Hurricanes
By Leigh Habegger, Restore America’s Estuaries
alyssa.gray Tue, 02/02/2021 - 07:20

By the second half of this century, more than half of the world’s population will live within 100 kilometers of a coastline. Maybe that’s not a startling fact for some, but when you stop to consider this in light of sea level rise, the predicted increased storm intensity and frequency, and other coastal hazards associated with heavy development, that’s putting nearly 4 billion people at risk. In the U.S. alone, approximately 163 million people could be impacted!

 

Winter Preparedness Tips: Staying Safe in a Winter Wonderland

Posted Tue, 01/19/2021 - 13:48
By Savannah Turner, NOAA Office of Response and Restoration

No matter how technologically advanced we become, or how accurate our weather forecast models are, mother nature maintains the ability to quickly remind us of how little control we have over her. Winters are notorious for impacting those who underestimate seasonal hazards or fail to prepare. For every extreme winter story of the skiers, climbers, or Arctic explorers who surmounted incredible odds to survive, there exists a counter narrative of the Captain Oates of the world—the intrepid explorer who died during the Terra Nova Antarctic expedition, sacrificing himself so that others could survive.

Facility Improvements Enhance Operation and Function at the NOAA Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center

Posted Tue, 12/22/2020 - 18:03
By Jessica White, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program

The NOAA Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center, operated by the Office of Response and Restoration, is a multi-purpose facility located in Mobile, Alabama, which serves NOAA and our partners to enhance preparedness for and support response to all hazards. Established in 2012, the center is strategically equipped with office space, a large space for emergency operations or training events, conference rooms, break out rooms, a lactation room, showers, a loading dock/receiving area, and boat barn. These spaces are built to withstand up to Category 5 hurricane winds and are wired to maintain internet access and power during and after a disaster.