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Natural Hazards

Disaster Recovery Operations
commentary
Previous Disasters Provide Important Lessons for Central America's Recovery from Hurricanes
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, David G. Groves
Jan 11, 2021
The National Interest
As the global community works to assist Central America in recovering from the disastrous 2020 hurricane season, other recent recovery efforts offer helpful lessons, both for the governments of the region as well as outsiders providing resources and support.
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Machine Learning
commentary
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Are Important Tools to Improve Cost Estimation for Natural Disasters in Electric Utilities
Ismael Arciniegas Rueda, Parousia Rockstroh
Dec 4, 2020
Energy Central
Natural disasters in the United States cause billions of dollars of damage to electric infrastructure every year. Applying artificial intelligence and machine learning in a disaster-recovery context for electrical utilities might significantly improve cost estimating capability and responsiveness.
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Natural Hazards
commentary
Disaster Reporting and Its Impacts on Policy and Inequities
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg, Shearon Roberts
Nov 16, 2020
Poynter
Disaster news tropes may capture audience attention, but they ultimately frustrate progress in mitigating the short- and long-term effects of disasters on communities. It's more important than ever that news stories about disasters frame the effects of environmental phenomena in meaningful ways.
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Veterans Health Care
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Veterans Day, Psychedelic Drug Policy, Family Caregivers: RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 13, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on supporting veterans with mental health and substance use disorders, changes to psychedelic drug policy, the vital role of family caregivers, and more.
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Wildfires
commentary
Another Record-Breaking Fire Season Shows the Need for a Comprehensive Strategy
Jay Balagna, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg
Nov 6, 2020
United Press International
Year after year, fires across western U.S. states scorch forests, rangeland, and neighborhoods, wreaking havoc on rural economies and pushing smoke into cities. Policymakers should consider a coordinated and comprehensive effort that brings together the best minds in government, communities, and academia.
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Disaster Recovery Operations
commentary
HSOAC Hosts Seminar Series on Improving Equity in Disaster Policy
Max Izenberg
Oct 7, 2020
The RAND Blog
Natural and biological hazards, and critically the human response to these hazards, have the potential not only to exacerbate existing population inequities but also to create them. To better understand the equity implications of disaster policies, the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center invited several experts to share their knowledge.
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Wildfires
blog
Wildfires, America's Wealth Gap, Screening for COVID-19 at Work: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 18, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the growing risk of wildfires, how Americans' incomes have grown (or not), workplace screenings for COVID-19 symptoms, and more.
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Democracy
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Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 18, 2020
During the August recess Hill staff should have an opportunity to step back from the fast pace of votes and hearing preparation to examine priorities for the fall and beyond. This list of must-read research and commentary covers some policy issues they will likely be addressing after the break.
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Emergency Preparedness
commentary
How COVID-19 Sheds Light on Disaster Policy's Need to Prepare for Multiple, Sequential Emergencies
Carlos Martín, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg
Aug 11, 2020
Urban Wire
The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities many disaster-affected households face. As lawmakers debate a second relief package, they could reconsider how the emergency management framework responds to the effects of simultaneous hazards on individual-assistance and community-recovery programs.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
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Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 7, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on preparing for a COVID-19 election, how the pandemic is affecting artists, North Korea's deadly artillery, and more.
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Global Climate Change
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Civilians and Military Collaborate to Address Climate Change
May 13, 2020
The Hampton Roads area in Virginia is home to more than 1.7 million people, a major port, and more military installations than anywhere else in the United States. Its rising sea levels and floods brought together civilian and military officials on a project to mitigate damage and foster resiliency.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
commentary
Planning for the Upcoming Hurricane Season in Light of COVID-19
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg, Gary Cecchine @GaryCecchine, Craig Fugate, Craig A. Bond
May 4, 2020
Vox
What if Hurricane Katrina had hit during a pandemic? Emergency planners can prepare for this scenario by evaluating current response system capacity, evacuation and sheltering procedures, food and supply issues, and more.
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Firearms
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U.S. Gun Policy, Reopening Schools, Prepping for a Hurricane: RAND Weekly Recap
Apr 24, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on what scientific evidence says about the effects of U.S. gun laws, how schools may have to change when they reopen, preparing for a COVID-19 hurricane, and more.
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Community Resilience
commentary
What Can FEMA Learn from the Historic 2017 Hurricane and Wildfire Seasons?
Jason Thomas Barnosky, Patrick Roberts @RamblingRoberts, Joie D. Acosta
Feb 3, 2020
Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
When a hurricane comes ashore or a wildfire ignites, most of a community's vulnerability to disaster is already set. Emergency managers including FEMA, states, and localities could do much more to identify statewide risks and build community resilience before an event makes headlines.
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Wildfires
blog
Australia's Fires, Artificial Intelligence, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap
Jan 24, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on Australia's devastating fires, how artificial intelligence could manipulate the masses, the fentanyl crisis, and more.
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Wildfires
commentary
Australia's Fires: Respond Now, but Also Measure Toll on People for the Future
Melissa L. Finucane @MelissaFinucane
Jan 20, 2020
The RAND Blog
As an Australian, Melissa Finucane has watched with anguish as massive bushfires devastated wide swaths of her home country. As a researcher who studies community resilience, she can't help but think of how much blood, sweat, tears, and money will be required to recover.
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