RAND: Emergency Preparedness and Response 2008-03-21T13:53:06Z Copyright (c) 2007-2008, The RAND Corporation Bricolage RAND Corporation urn:uuid:AC7CDDCE-33E1-11DC-A328-64E9D44B69C5 Concrete Closets Under Manufactured Homes Could Save Lives urn:uuid:7C5FCE76-F786-11DC-AC0B-E1BD38788F35 2008-02-23T00:00:00Z 2008-02-23T00:00:00Z Tornado deaths and injuries are the predictable result of poorly conceived construction patterns that threaten to reverse the benefits that have resulted from advanced storm warning and forecasting capabilities, writes Charles Meade. Live Operators Crucial for Public Health Department Disease-Reporting Hotlines urn:uuid:BA714A28-B947-11DC-B4D8-C5EE38788F35 2008-01-02T00:00:00Z 2008-01-02T00:00:00Z Public health departments that staff disease-reporting hotlines with live operators at all times are more likely to meet federal guidelines designed to help stop the spread of infectious diseases. Preparing for the Psychological Consequences Following Large-Scale Emergencies urn:uuid:12797B1C-A2A2-11DC-AEA0-193339788F35 2007-12-31T00:00:00Z 2007-12-31T00:00:00Z New training manuals provide a curricula that can be used to train hospital and clinic staff as well as department of mental health staff on how to prepare for and respond to the psychological consequences of large-scale disasters. A Framework for Planning Cost-Effective Rail Security Against a Terrorist Attack urn:uuid:1353D1FE-A2A2-11DC-AEA0-193339788F35 2007-12-11T00:00:00Z 2007-12-11T00:00:00Z U.S. communities depend on reliable, safe, and secure rail systems, but such systems are vulnerable to terrorist attack. A framework developed for rail security planners and policymakers can help guide cost-effective plans to secure their rail systems from attacks. An Economic Redevelopment Plan for New Orleans urn:uuid:804294CE-9CE6-11DC-AA82-E2BD38788F35 2007-11-28T00:00:00Z 2007-11-28T00:00:00Z New Orleans should craft a comprehensive economic redevelopment plan that combines public- and private-sector funding with a centralized structure. Total operating costs could run between $2 million and $3 million per year. Evidence-Based Planning Will Be Critical to a Successful 2012 London Olympics urn:uuid:6C290248-7E6E-11DC-AC90-E2BD38788F35 2007-11-28T00:00:00Z 2007-11-28T00:00:00Z Planning a successful Olympics in London in 2012 will require organizers to learn from the successes and problems of past games in the areas of transportation, infrastructure and security. Victims of Terrorism Have Significant Influence on Policy and Legislation urn:uuid:F3FDA172-92E8-11DC-9932-E2BD38788F35 2007-11-20T00:00:00Z 2007-11-20T00:00:00Z Since September 11, 2001, organized groups of families and friends have emerged to become a powerful voice in U.S. counterterrorist policy and legislation. These groups have been successful in establishing the 9/11 Commission and implementing its most important recommendations. Mental Health Risks for Residents Displaced by Wildfires urn:uuid:69B68510-44FF-11DC-BFAF-5D73D9109DDE 2007-10-25T00:00:00Z 2007-10-25T00:00:00Z Residents who have been displaced by the wildfires may experience serious mental health problems. Up to one-third of the residents displaced by the San Diego area fires in 2003 showed symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and major depression three months later. Natural Disaster Research Could Help Reduce Economic Losses urn:uuid:368C4E8C-4388-11DB-808F-A8201D4D57CE 2007-10-25T00:00:00Z 2007-10-25T00:00:00Z The nation may be able to reduce losses from disasters such as wildfires and floods if more research focused on how to protect people, buildings and infrastructure. Schools Not Sustaining Mental Health Aid to Children Displaced by Hurricane Katrina urn:uuid:0903E372-7743-11DC-A8F9-5BBE38788F35 2007-10-18T00:00:00Z 2007-10-18T00:00:00Z Despite strong initial efforts to support the mental health needs of students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many schools have not been able to fulfill students' mental health needs over the long term. Repair and Replacement of Affordable Housing Lags in Mississippi's Post-Katrina Recovery urn:uuid:4F440544-6B9D-11DC-B1F5-EFBD38788F35 2007-09-27T00:00:00Z 2007-09-27T00:00:00Z While construction permits have been issued for approximately 60 percent of the housing damaged by Hurricane Katrina, repair and replacement of multi-unit housing significantly lags behind repair and replacement of single-family homes in three coastal counties in Mississippi heavily damaged by the hurricane. Katrina Proved We Must Do Better Job of Protecting Our Protectors urn:uuid:9C3A9E28-4A67-11DC-BF85-5D73D9109DDE 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z 2007-08-13T00:00:00Z Protecting our [emergency] protectors is more than just the right thing to do; it is critical to maintaining America's capability to respond to future disasters, writes Brian A. Jackson. Lessons Learned from the Army's Response to Hurricane Katrina urn:uuid:1739E2DE-F98A-11DB-BBC8-B2A96D6218A8 2007-06-04T15:00:00Z 2007-06-04T15:00:00Z The U.S. Army should change the way it plans for domestic emergencies to better support state and local first responders.