Preparedness

January 28, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today announced the creation of a storm recovery task force and that she is strengthening the focus and organization of the state’s storm relief efforts

“We are shifting out of crisis mode and into the hard work of recovery,” she said. “We’re reorganizing our efforts to respond to the storm’s aftermath over the mid- to long-term.”    » read more »

Ready Georgia to focus on helping Georgians prepare for disaster

January 28, 2008 -- ATLANTA –Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced Ready Georgia, a new statewide campaign that will be led by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). Governor Perdue unveiled the campaign during a ceremony proclaiming February 3-9 as Severe Weather Awareness Week (SWAW) in Georgia.    » read more »

January 24, 2008 -- "I am very disappointed in today's NRC decision. The fine announced today amounts to another slap on the wrist for Entergy, which has repeatedly failed to meet deadlines at Indian Point.

It has been a year since the legal deadline for Entergy to have a new siren system passed. The people of New York deserve better from Entergy and from the federal agencies charged with overseeing Indian Point.    » read more »

January 9, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today called on President Bush to commit the needed focus and funds to the BioWatch program, an initiative committed to the development and deployment of desperately needed bioweapons sensors that could detect the early stages of a biological attack. According to news reports, New York City officials have faced resistance from the Bush Administration as they work to deploy this critical homeland security program, despite the fact that New York continues to be a high-threat target for terrorist attack.    » read more »

01/11/2008 -- In a ceremony with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the start of a construction project that will double flood protection in most areas of the Sacramento region. The $683 million project will be paid for with a combination of federal, state and local funding, including $167 million from Proposition 1E, a major component of the Governor's Strategic Growth Plan.    » read more »

January 8, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY — In the wake of the fatal tornadoes that swept across Missouri last night and that continue to threaten some areas of the state, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is reminding families that it is important to have an emergency response plan in place before disaster strikes.

“It only takes a moment for disaster to strike, and it is so important for families to have an emergency plan in place before it happens,” Gov. Blunt said. “A small amount of planning can make a big difference in an emergency.”    » read more »

As temperatures continue to increase, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (EMHSD) is encouraging citizens to take precautionary steps for potential flooding as melting snow combines with expected rainfall this week.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids issued a flood watch today for portions of central, south central, southwest and west central Michigan. The flood watch is in effect through the morning of January 9. A flood watch means there is a possibility of flooding or a flash flood in the area.    » read more »

January 4, 2008 -- Ten years ago, one of the worst natural disasters in Maine history struck, first quietly, and then with the crack of falling trees and explosion of transformers. The Ice Storm of 1998 began in the first week of January. It extended over almost three weeks and its effects were felt for months and years by towns, families and business owners struggling to recover.    » read more »

December 19, 2007 -- BURLINGTON – The Vermont Department of Health achieved a high rating (a score of 9 out of 10 possible points) in the fifth annual Trust for America’s Health “Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism” report.

The report contains state-by-state scores based on 10 key indicators to assess health emergency preparedness capabilities. Only seven states received a rating of 10 out of 10.    » read more »

Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri today announced that Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Executive Director Robert Warren’s state employment has been terminated, effective immediately. The decision was made jointly by Governor Carcieri and Major General Robert Bray, to whom the EMA Executive Director reports.

Major General Bray, the Adjutant General of the State of Rhode Island and the commanding general of the Rhode Island National Guard, will assume the responsibilities of EMA Executive Director until an interim replacement is named.    » read more »

December 18, 2007 -- BURLINGTON – The Vermont Department of Health achieved a high rating (a score of 9 out of 10 possible points) in the fifth annual Trust for America’s Health “Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism” report.

The report contains state-by-state scores based on 10 key indicators to assess health emergency preparedness capabilities. Only seven states received a rating of 10 out of 10.    » read more »

Decrease in funding could affect local emergency response

December 18, 2007 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge called on President Bush to fully fund local homeland security agencies. In a letter to the president, Governor Culver and Lt. Governor Judge – who also serves as Iowa’s Homeland Security Advisor – addressed the necessity of federal dollars in ensuring the security of Iowans.    » read more »

Legislation Now Goes to the President's Desk to Be Signed Into Law

December 14, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the Senate has approved a measure she introduced to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the readiness of the Ground Forces within the Army and Marine Corps as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Defense Authorization Act. The measure requires the GAO to assess the impact on the ground forces of the troop surge initiated by President Bush in January, 2007.    » read more »

Clinton: Preparedness and Supplies are Vital to Ensure Long Island Residents are Protected in the Event of an Emergency

December 12, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today renewed her call to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pre-deploy hurricane and disaster preparedness supplies to Long Island for the 2008 hurricane season. In a letter to FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison, Senator Clinton urged FEMA to provide hurricane supplies to the area as was previously done in 2006.    » read more »

12-06-2007 -- With this weekend's forecast calling for the first threat of measurable winter precipitation this season, now is the time for Oklahomans to take action. Toward that effort, Governor Brad Henry, the National Weather Service (NWS) and Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) have teamed together to share information that will assist Oklahomans in being winter weather prepared.    » read more »