Posts tagged with

Natural Disasters

Essential Functions: What Makes Them Essential?

Posted Tue, 06/30/2020 - 20:59
By Alyson Finn, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program

Everyday, organizations, communities, and government institutions provide critical services that are essential to our everyday life. But what would happen if we didn’t have access to these services? What would life be like? Hospitals, banks and grocery stores all provide essential services that we, the American people, depend on. The ability to continually perform such services is an important component of resilience and requires extensive continuity planning.

Exercises Play a Vital Role in Disaster Preparedness

Posted Thu, 06/11/2020 - 11:46
By Katie Krushinski, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program

A core pillar of the Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP) is designing and implementing exercises. Exercises play a vital role in preparedness by enabling NOAA and the National Ocean Service (NOS) to test and validate plans and capabilities, and identify and address gaps and areas for improvement. The DPP leads exercise programs to improve NOS’s preparedness posture and emphasize the value of the exercise cycle. 

Disaster Preparedness Program Shares Preparedness Tips for Pet Parents

Posted Mon, 06/01/2020 - 08:37
By Katherine Krushinski, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program

Just last week, NOAA announced the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season predictions. Many of us take this time to ensure we’re prepared for hurricanes and other disasters. Usually, the Office of Response and Restoration shares tips about protecting yourself, your property, and the marine environment before, during, and after a hurricane. But, while many of the OR&R staff are making personal preparedness efforts, they’re also preparing for their furry family members. We at the Disaster Preparedness Program believe it’s important to not only be prepared for ourselves, but for our pets, too!

National Geodetic Survey Disaster Response

Posted Mon, 09/23/2019 - 14:50
By Dave Gothan, NOAA National Geodetic Survey

This week, during National Preparedness Month, OR&R is taking a closer look at some of the disaster response roles our office and its partners serve in being prepared for both natural and human-caused disasters. In today’s blog, learn more about an important partner in preparedness within NOAA — the National Geodetic Survey.

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels: A Side Effect of Natural Disasters

Posted Thu, 05/23/2019 - 17:26
By Vicki Loe, Office of Response and Restoration

As a NOAA scientific support coordinator for Alaska with OR&R’s Emergency Response Division, Catherine Berg is used to the pollution removal process following an oil or chemical spill. But soon after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017, Catherine learned that her response skills would soon be needed to address the thousands of abandoned and derelict vessels scattered on or near the coast, many a potential source of marine pollution, as fuel and other chemicals made their way into the marine environment.