Underinvesting in Resilience

Underinvesting in Resilience

By Michael Spence

NEW YORK – The hurricane on America’s eastern seaboard last week (which I experienced in lower Manhattan) adds to a growing collection of extreme weather events from which lessons should be drawn. Climate experts have long argued that the frequency and magnitude of such events are increasing, and evidence of this should certainly influence precautionary steps – and cause us to review such measures regularly.

There are two distinct and crucial components of disaster preparedness. The one that understandably gets the most attention is the capacity to mount a rapid and effective response. Such a capacity will always be necessary, and few doubt its importance. When it is absent or deficient, the loss of life and livelihoods can be horrific – witness Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged Haiti and New Orleans in 2005.

The second component comprises investments that minimize the expected damage to the economy. This aspect of preparedness typically receives far less attention.

Indeed, in the United States, lessons from the Katrina experience appear to have strengthened response capacity, as shown by the rapid and effective intervention following Hurricane Sandy. But investments designed to control the extent of damage seem to be persistently neglected.

Redressing this imbalance requires a focus on key infrastructure. Of course, one cannot at reasonable cost prevent all possible damage from calamities, which strike randomly and in locations that cannot always be predicted. But certain kinds of damage have large multiplier effects.

This includes damage to critical systems like the electricity grid and the information, communication, and transport networks that constitute the platform on which modern economies run. Relatively modest investments in the resilience, redundancy, and integrity of these systems pay high dividends, albeit at random intervals. Redundancy is the key. 

The case of New York City is instructive. The southern part of Manhattan was without power for almost a full workweek, apparently because a major substation hub in the electrical grid, located beside the East River, was knocked out in a fiery display when Hurricane Sandy and a tidal surge caused it to flood. There was no pre-built workaround to deliver power by an alternate route.

The cost of this power failure, though difficult to calculate, is surely huge. Unlike the economic boost that may occur from recovery spending to restore damaged physical assets, this is a deadweight loss. Local power outages may be unavoidable, but one can create grids that are less vulnerable – and less prone to bringing large parts of the economy to a halt – by building in redundancy.

Similar lessons were learned with respect to global supply chains, following the earthquake and tsunami that hit northeast Japan in 2011. Global supply chains are now becoming more resilient, owing to the duplication of singular bottlenecks that can bring much larger systems down.

Cyber security experts rightly worry about the possibility of bringing an entire economy to a halt by attacking and disabling the control systems in its electrical, communication, and transportation networks. Admittedly, the impact of natural disasters is less systemic; but if a calamity takes out key components of networks that lack redundancy and backup, the effects are similar. Even rapid response is more effective if key networks and systems – particularly the electricity grid – are resilient.

Why do we tend to underinvest in the resilience of our economies’ key systems?

One argument is that redundancy looks like waste in normal times, with cost-benefit calculations ruling out higher investment. That seems clearly wrong: Numerous expert estimates indicate that built-in redundancy pays off unless one assigns unrealistically low probabilities to disruptive events.

That leads to a second and more plausible explanation, which is psychological and behavioral in character. We have a tendency to underestimate both the probabilities and consequences of what in the investment world are called “left-tailed events.”

Compounding this pattern are poor incentives. Principals, be they investors or voters, determine the incentives of agents, be they asset managers or elected officials and policymakers. If principals misunderstand systemic risk, their agents, even if they do understand it, may not be able to respond without losing support, whether in the form of votes or assets under management.

Another line of reasoning is that businesses that depend heavily on continuity – for example, hospitals, outsourcing firms in India, and stock exchanges – will invest in their own backup systems. In fact, they do. But that ignores a host of issues concerning the mobility, safety, and housing of employees. A broad pattern of self-insurance caused by underinvestment in resilient infrastructure is an inefficient and distinctly inferior option.

Underinvestment in infrastructure (including deferred maintenance) is widespread where the consequences are uncertain and/or not immediate. In reality, underinvestment and investment with debt financing are equivalent in one crucial respect: they both transfer costs to a future cohort. But even debt financing would be better than no investment at all, given the deadweight losses.

Cities and countries that aspire to be hubs or critical components in national or global financial and economic systems need to be predictable, reliable, and resilient. That implies a transparent rule of law, and competent, conservative, and countercyclical macroeconomic management. But it also includes physical resilience and the ability to withstand shocks.

Hubs that lack resilience create cascades of collateral damage when they fail. Over time, they will be bypassed and replaced by more resilient alternatives.

Michael Spence, a Nobel laureate in economics, is Professor of Economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. His latest book is The Next Convergence – The Future of Economic Growth in a Multispeed World (www.thenextconvergence.com).

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2012.
www.project-syndicate.org

WEBINAR -- Remedies for Women Who Do Too Much. Nov 16th

General Information

Title:	WEBINAR -- Remedies for Women Who Do Too Much
Date(s):	Friday, November 16, 2012 - Friday, November 16, 2012
Location:	Webinar (audio- and Web-based)
Member Fee:	$0.00
Non-Member Fee:	$0.00
CAE Hours:	1 hours

Program Description

ASAE CareerHQ.org invites you to join us for a special In Honor of Women webinar, " Remedies for Women Who Do Too Much ," presented by Jessica Hartung, founder and CEO of Integrated Work Strategies.

Women leaders are under tremendous pressure to do more with less. We are under scrutiny in a constantly changing, fast-paced environment.

These multiple, rapid-fire demands create stress and eventually overwhelm and burn out even the most effective leaders.

What can women leaders do to reclaim our time? How can we recharge our sense of purpose? How can we prevent burnout in ourselves and in others?

Our response to the stressors in our lives determines how we are affected by them. 

Jessica Hartung will focus on what women can do to meet the high-pressure demands of our various roles with gumption and grace by providing practical tools for burnout prevention and building resilience in ourselves and others.

Remedies for Women Who Do Too MuchFriday, November 16, 2012
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST
#asaewebinar
Cost: FREE

Click here to register.

Participation in the live presentation is worth 1 CAE credit hour.

What will you learn?

• Recognize the signs of burnout in yourself and others.
• Learn to use six strategies for when there is too much to do and not enough time.
• Understand habitual patterns of response to adversity and how to improve them.
• Focus your attention where it will yield the greatest benefit for you and your organization.
• Review research on factors influencing burnout recovery and prevention.
• Identify your own pathway to a renewed sense of spirit.

This 60-minute webinar will include time for your questions and answers.

Our speaker, Jessica Hartung, is founder and CEO of Integrated Work Strategies.

*****
Be sure to tune into the live program for the chance to win a $100 SpaFinder Wellness gift card.

Attendees who log on for the live webinar on November 16th will automatically be entered into a random drawing. The winner will be announced during the live webcast.

Training Opportunity: The Role of a Chaplain Following a Mass Casualty Event. November 27, 2012

Public Safety Chaplains 

November 27 2012

Title:	The Role of a Chaplain Following a Mass Casualty Event
Start Time:	08:30 AM
End Time:	01:00 PM
Event Category:	Training
Location:	Fairfax County Government Center
Address:	12000 Government Center Parkway
City:	Fairfax
State:	VA
Zip Code:	22035
Contact Name:	Dennis Bailey
Phone:	202-962-3269
Email:	dbailey@mwcog.org
Description:	The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Public Safety Chaplains Subcommittee In Partnership with the Fairfax County Community Chaplains Corp. Presents Its Fall 2012 Chaplains Training Day  The Role of a Chaplain Following a Mass Casualty Event Caused by Human Hands  This training is geared to all Public Safety, Community, Hospital and Military Chaplains Date                Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Time                8:30 am – 1 pm Location         Fairfax County Government Center 12000 Government Center Parkway  Main Auditorium Fairfax, VA  22035 Focus This year’s Training will focus on 3 Mass Casualty Events in: 1.      Tucson, Arizona 2.      Aurora, Colorado AND 3.      Fort Hood, Texas Keynote Speakers Keynote Speakers include:  1.      Retired Military Chaplain, Reverend Oscar Arauco, first Chaplain on the scene at Ft. Hood Army Hospital following a mass shooting at the Hospital AND  2.      Rev. John Cheek, former police officer, now a pastor in Arizona, responded to the Tucson, Arizona mass casualty event, as well as Movie Theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado representing the Presbyterian National Response Team. We will hear from these Chaplains, their experiences in helping the community, hospital chaplains, public safety personnel and military personnel through the ordeals of a major mass casualty caused by human hands. REGISTRATION             Registration is required!  In order to register, please click below and complete the brief questionnaire. This training is sponsored by the Fairfax County Community Chaplain Corps And the MWCOG Public Safety Chaplains Subcommittee
Registration required starts on October 17, 2012 and ends on November 27, 2012. Please click here to go to registration form.

IGA Advisory #15: Federal Family and Partners Continue to Support States Impacted by Sandy

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Intergovernmental Affairs Division

Telephone 202-646-3444

Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory

November 10, 2012

Federal Family and Partners Continue to Support States Impacted by Sandy

More than $411 million in Individual Assistance Approved for Disaster Survivors

WASHINGTON -- At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to lead the federal government's effort to provide assistance and support to states affected by Hurricane Sandy, ensuring the federal family and its public and private partners continue to provide all available resources to support state, local, and tribal communities in affected areas. The Administration's top priority remains supporting states, tribes and communities, as response efforts continue. 

As FEMA and its partners continue an aggressive power restoration effort, the President has approved an extension to the 100 percent cost share for emergency work performed by state, tribal and local governments through November 14, 2012. The 100 percent funding was set originally to last ten days, starting October 31 and specifically applies to work executed to restore emergency power and emergency public transportation assistance, including direct federal assistance for New Jersey, New York and Connecticut counties designated for FEMA Public Assistance. Other forms of Category B (emergency work) public assistance remain at a 75 percent cost share.

The federal family continues to work to assist with power restorations and to address fuel shortages. The Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Energy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and representatives from the private sector and local law enforcement remain committed to supporting state and local governments in these efforts.  The federal government has provided hundreds of generators and millions of gallons of fuel to help critical infrastructure sites and fuel stations operate until full power is restored. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) continues to aggressively support a de-watering mission at the direction of FEMA. Teams remain in place at critical areas in New Jersey and New York and pumping operations in 12 of the 14 critical locations as identified by local officials has been completed. The pumping in the Jersey City PATH Train Tunnel and Passaic Valley Waste Water Treatment Plant are estimated to be completed this weekend.  Additional USACE teams are in both New Jersey and New York clearing debris and providing technical assistance personnel to support emergency power operations. 

FEMA is one part of a large team that is working together to support the states in meeting needs of disaster survivors. As extensive work continues to restore power, open roadways and remove debris so that homes can begin to be repaired or rebuilt, individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut can apply for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).  Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week until further notice.  Those in affected areas with access to the internet may register by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov, or online at www.disasterassistance.gov. 

"FEMA's focus remains on helping the survivors of Hurricane Sandy in a number of different ways," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "In addition to registering for disaster assistance online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362), Disaster Unemployment Assistance and free legal services are also now available to eligible survivors in New Jersey and New York."

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been activated for both New Jersey and New York for those whose jobs were impacted by the hurricane in counties designated for FEMA Individual Assistance. This may include people not normally eligible for unemployment benefits such as the self-employed and those unable to provide their services because of Hurricane Sandy. Free legal services are also available. This includes legal advice, counseling and representation, may be provided to low-income disaster victims through an agreement with the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association. Services typically provided include assistance with insurance claims (life, medical, property); counseling on landlord/tenant problems; assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures; and replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in a major disaster.

As of 3 p.m., more than 356,000 individuals in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey have registered for assistance, and more than $411 million has been approved in FEMA housing and other needs assistance. Currently 44 Disaster Recovery Centers are open in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  Of that amount, 21 Disaster Recovery Centers are open in New York, 16 in New Jersey and seven in Connecticut and more continue to open. To find a disaster recovery center location, check out the disaster recovery center locator at FEMA.gov/disaster-recovery-centers or by mobile phone at m.fema.gov.  You may also text DRC and a Zip Code to 43362 (4FEMA).

FEMA has more than 6,600 FEMA personnel deployed to support response and recovery operations and is actively taking registration information through our 24 hour call centers. Many residents may be asking themselves what's next after they register for FEMA assistance. During registration, applicants will be given a personal number that should be kept handy for future use. Often times, a housing inspection is needed and one of the 1,987 FEMA Housing Inspectors on the ground will make contact to schedule an appointment to come see the damaged property if it is accessible. Appointments generally take 30-40 minutes and include an inspection of damaged areas of your home and review of your records. There is no fee for the inspection and inspectors always have proper identification.

To date, the President has declared that major disasters exist in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island and emergency declarations have been made in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. FEMA continues to deliver commodities including food, water, blankets, generators and others resources to distribution points across the region impacted by Sandy.

In addition, a snapshot of some of the federal activities that are being coordinated:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that businesses with physical damages or loss of revenue should consider visiting a Business Recover Center and applying for an SBA disaster business loan. The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private non-profit organizations, to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.  Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage. SBA continues to operate several Business Recovery Centers in New York and New Jersey. As of November 10, the SBA has issued 248,094 disaster loan applications to residents and businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.   That includes 196,822 home disaster loan applications, and 51,272 business disaster loan applications.  SBA continues to operate Business Recovery Centers in New York and New Jersey.  For more information, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or go to www.sba.gov.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has more than 1,100 HHS personnel deployed to provide public health and medical assistance to New York and New Jersey. These personnel include disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs). DMATs are a group of professional medical personnel organized to provide rapid-response medical care. To read more about DMAT teams active in the Hurricane Sandy response visit: www.phe.gov/asprblog. The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps also continues to support shelter operations. Nearly 60 officers from three Mental Health Teams have assisted approximately 700 residents and first responders a day, helping address basic mental health issues and facilitating environmental interventions in shelters such as ensuring that lights were off or low in a shelter at a sufficient time for people to sleep, arranging structured activities for children and adults, limiting access to sugary/caffeinated items by children after supper so that they are better able to sleep. These types of basic issues are increase people's resilience in difficult circumstances.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced special relief intended to support leave-based donation programs to aid survivors who have suffered from the extraordinary destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. Under these programs, employees may donate their vacation, sick or personal leave in exchange for employer cash payments made to qualified tax-exempt organizations providing relief for the survivors of Hurricane Sandy. Also, the Treasury Department and the IRS announced an expedited review and approval process will be offered for organizations seeking tax-exempt status in order to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy. The IRS continues to encourage people to use existing organizations currently working on immediate aid efforts.

The Department of Energy (DOE) in response to a request from the State of Connecticut, the will be loaning an additional 4.2 million gallons of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), to provide emergency loans to fuel distributors in Connecticut to address fuel shortages in the state. This is a continuation of the agreement announced a week ago when President Obama declared that Hurricane Sandy has created a severe energy supply interruption.  The fuel will then be provided to fuel distributors in the state and will be repaid in the next 30 days by the distributors directly. DOE and DLA stand ready to make available additional fuel as needed. 

The Department of Defense (DoD) is a fully integrated partner in the federal, state, tribal, and local response to Hurricane Sandy and the northeaster that swept through the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States. 

U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) has nearly 4,000 personnel supporting Hurricane Sandy relief operations in the affected area. 

Air Force teams completed unwatering (removing water) operations at Rockaway Waste Water Treatment facility, and East School in Long Beach, N.Y., and provided teams to support fire departments conducting unwatering operations in Breezy Point, N.Y. Army divers repaired the pier system at Caven Point, N.J.  Also, divers continue to assist the New York City Fire Department unwater the PATH Tunnel at the World Trade Center and unwater the Long Beach High School and Recreation Center.  Navy dive detachments continue to support the World Trade Center site and Marine pump teams are assisting pumping operations at Breezy Point. Helicopters from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are transporting and re-locating generators in affected areas to support critical infrastructure.  Navy Seabees and Marine personnel restored the beach at Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook and continue supporting debris clearance operations at locations in Bayonne, N.J. and the Battery, N.Y.

The Defense Logistics Agency continues to supply FEMA with much needed emergency supplies, medical equipment, fuel and now cold and wet weather clothing to help those working toward recovery after Hurricane Sandy.  DLA has delivered more than 1.8 million gallons of fuel to federal government distribution points in the New York/New Jersey region.  DLA delivered nine generators to the Army Corps of Engineers to power apartment buildings in New York City.  Seven more generators and seven transformers are en route.  They also provided seven additional generators to the New York City Housing Authority. DLA has contracts in place to support waste water clean-up, hazardous material removal, and debris removal operations.  DLA has also awarded two contracts for 330 roll-off dumpsters and 34 trucks for overland trash hauling.  2.5 million pounds of debris have been removed in the last 48 hours. 

The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has more than 3000 employees from the North Atlantic Division with an additional 960 team members deployed from other USACE divisions across the Nation engaged to support the response mission. Response teams are assisting with debris management, commodities distribution, infrastructure assessment, temporary roofing, critical public facilities, water planning, and temporary housing. USACE has established Recovery Field Offices in New York and New Jersey to support FEMA and recovery operations.

The National Guard continues to work to expedite recovery efforts. More than 6,200 Army and Air National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 11 states are conducting food, water, and fuel distribution, communications, security, sheltering, debris removal and transportation missions in support of recovery efforts.

The U.S. Fleet Forces (Navy & Marine Corps) are assisting the Army Corps of Engineers in their power restoration, cleaning and dewatering efforts in NY and NJ.

      

The United State Postal Service (USPS) wants to remind customers who have evacuated or relocated due to hurricane Sandy to submit a change of address, place mail on hold or request that mail be temporarily forwarded to their new location. For the latest service updates regarding hurricane Sandy, call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has distributed an initial $5.3 million to 11 states affected by Hurricane Sandy. NRCS provides this funding through its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program.

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is allowing flexibility to New York City Public School District to serve all meals free through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the month of November. FNS has also approved New Jersey's request to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP- formerly Food Stamps) recipients that reside in Atlantic County, Bergen County, Cape May County, Essex County, Hudson County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Ocean County, Somerset County and Union County,( all of which have received individual assistance declarations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to be allowed to purchase hot foods and hot food products with SNAP benefits through the end of the month. 

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has 1008 national service members who have been deployed to seven states.  AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia are assisting with shelter operations, call centers, debris removal, and mass care. About 435 members of FEMA Corps, an innovative partnership between FEMA and AmeriCorps, are working directly with disaster survivors in New York and New Jersey.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reminds consumers to take precautions for storing water and ensuring the safety of their food and medical supplies for themselves, their families, and their pets during and after any hurricane-related rain, possible flooding and power outages. For food and drug safety messaging, visit the Food and Drug Administration hurricane safety checklist, available in English and Spanish (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm317232.htm).

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) mobilized resources to speed storm recovery on Federal and tribal lands in the impacted region and to support FEMA in its efforts to assist states and local governments in the disaster area, including nearly 700 DOI employees conducting response and recovery missions and at least an equal number are committed to disaster recovery work in at their home locations.  More than 1,200 wildland firefighters from all agencies, including about 260 wildland firefighters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park service are responding with fellow wildland firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and State Forestry Divisions to support FEMA staging areas, assist in emergency operations centers, and provide crews to clear trees for emergency access and power crews. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is leading a Tribal Assistance Coordination Group, enhancing communications and coordination between Native American Tribes in the disaster area, other Federal agencies including FEMA, and non-profit relief organizations. 

The National Park Service (NPS) has deployed more than 300 incident management personnel, technical experts and work crews to assist almost 650 personnel at parks throughout the region in recovery operations.  Working with interagency partners, NPS has also established a debris transfer site at Jacob Riis Park in New York to support local clean-up activities and is providing feeding for emergency workers in the vicinity of its logistics base at Fort Wadsworth in the Gateway National Recreation Area.

If you have any questions, please contact FEMA’s Intergovernmental Affairs Division at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Follow FEMA online at www.fema.gov/blog, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate's activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema. The social media links are provided for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Veterans Day: Free & Other Meal Deals

Please credit this resource: We are frequently updating this list with new deals and offers for the military community. If you use items in this list, please direct your visitors to this page so they can find the most up to date information: http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/ Thanks!

Applebee’s – free meal, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012: Last year, Applebee’s served over one million free meals to military veterans and active servicemembers. Applebee’s is again offering a free meal to military veterans and active-duty service members on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. There will be 7 entrées to choose from, beverage and gratuity not included. Military ID or proof of service required. More.

Bar Louie, Free meal on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. 2012.Active duty military members and veterans can receive a free meal, up to $10 in value, and a free non-alcoholic beverage. Available at all locations, military ID or proof of service is required (source). Find a location near you.

BD’s Mongolian Grill, Nov. 5-11, 2012. 1/2 off Stir-fry with valid military ID. Only at participating locations. Find the location nearest you.

California Pizza Kitchen, Nov. 11-12, 2012. Free meal and non-alcoholic beverage for veterans and active military with valid ID or proof of service. Find a location near you.

Champps Americana, Nov. 12, 2012. All Veterans and Active Military will receive a free Champps Cheeseburger and fries on Monday November 12th. Proof of service required. Offer not valid for the Pepperjack Bacon Stack Burger or Kobe Burger. Dine in only, valid at participating locations.More info, Find a location near you.

Cheeseburger in Paradise, Nov. 12, 2012. Free meal from select menu with military ID or proof of service. Beverages and gratuity not included. Find a location near you.

Chili’s – free meal, Sunday, Nov. 11 2012. Chili’s is offering all military veterans past and present their choice of one of 7 meals. This offer is available from 11am – 5pm on November 11, 2012 at participating Chili’s in the U.S. only. Dine-in from limited menu only; beverages and gratuity not included. Veterans and active duty military simply show proof of military service. Visit their website to find locations.

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Denny’s Veterans Day Appreciation Event, Nov. 12 2012. Free all you can eat pancakes from 6 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12 for all active, retirees, and veterans with a valid military ID or proof of military service. Offer available in every Denny’s nationwide.

Famous Dave’s – Sunday Nov. 11 2012. Free or discounted meals on Veterans Day. Offer varies by location, please check the Famous Dave’s Veterans Day page or call your local restaurant for more information.

Fox & Hound and Bailey’s Sports Grille Nov. 12, 2012. Free Sandwich or Entree (up to $13) for active duty military and veterans with ID. Participating locations only. Visit site for location information.

Friendly’s, Nov. 12, 2012. Free breakfast during breakfast hours for active military and veterans with ID. Locations.

Golden Corral – Free meal, Monday Nov. 12: The 12th annual Golden Corral Military Appreciation Monday dinner will is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner. For more information visit http://www.goldencorral.com/military/.

Special thanks to Golden Corral: To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 3.2 million free meals and contributed over $6.1 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization. Amazing!

See more Military Discounts and Veterans Day Deals.

Hooters – Free Meal, Sunday, Nov. 11 2012. Hooter’s is serving up a free meal to military veterans all day on Veterans Day. Offer good for all veterans and active duty military personnel. Get 10 Free Wings – Boneless or Regular, drink purchase required. Offer valid at participating Hooters only; open to all active duty and military veterans with valid military ID or proof of military service. For more information, visit, www.HootersVeteransDay.com.

Hy-Vee, Free Breakfast, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. Free Veterans Day breakfast from 7am – 11am at all Hy-Vee supermarkets with in-store dining. Please call ahead to verify participation, and bring proof of service.

Krispy Kreme – Free doughnut, Nov. 11, 2012.Available only at participating Krispy Kreme stores. Offer available to all active-duty, retirees & veterans. Be sure to call ahead to verify your local Krispy Kreme is participating.

Little Caesars® Pizza, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. Little Caesars is honoring the men and women of the United States armed forces this Veterans Day by providing veterans and active military members with a free Crazy Bread® with proof of military status or proof of service at participating stores nationwide. Call ahead to verify participation. Find a location near you.

Lone Star Steakhouse, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012.(update): All veterans and active duty military will receive a FREE entrée from the Stars & Stripes Menu. ID required, please call ahead for verification.

LongHorn Steakhouse, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. Complimentary Texas Tonion and non-alcoholic beverage. Offer good for Veterans and active-duty military members. Proof of service required. Visit their site to find a location near you.

Max & Erma’s, Sunday, November 11, 2012.Participating Max & Erma’s locations are offering military members and veterans a free Best Cheeseburger in America Combo, which includes tortilla soup or side Caesar salad, seasoned fries, and chocolate chip cookies. Locations.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants – free lunch or dinner, Sunday Nov 11, 2012: McCormick & Schmick’s is celebrating their 14th annual Veteran’s Appreciation Event on Sunday, November 11th. Veterans will be able to choose a complimentary lunch or dinner entrée. Veterans must provide proof of military service. Be sure to contact your local McCormick & Schmick’s as this is valid at participating restaurants only. Also, space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. For more information visit: M&S Veterans Appreciation Event.

O’Charley’s, Nov. 12, 2012. Free entree from the $9.99′er menu for all active military and veterans with proof of service. Find a location near you.

On The Border, Sun. Nov. 11, 2012. “Sizzling Salute to Veterans” promotion. Mention this special, and On the Border will donate 15% of your purchase to Carry the Load, a non-profit military organization. Veterans and Service members with ID who dine at On The Border on 11/11/12 will receive a certificate for a free entree (up to $10) valid from 11/12/12 thru 11/30/12 (valid at corporate locations only). Find a location near you.

Outback Steakhouse – A week of Free Bloomin’ Onions and Cokes Nov. 11-12, 2012. Outback Steakhouse is honoring America’s military veterans by offering active duty military and veterans a free Bloomin’ Onion and a Coca-Cola product during the week leading up to Veteran’s Day. This offer is available to Military Personnel with ID. Also receive 10% off your purchase from Nov. 13-Dec 31, 2012. More information.

The Outback understands commitment. For the past two years, The Outback, with the help of their patrons, has donated $2 Million to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization providing everyday and emergency support for active troops, wounded warriors and their families.

Red Lobster – Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. Free Appetizer on Veterans Day with military ID or proof of service. Vets may choose from a select list of appetizers. Find a location near you.

Red Robin, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. Free Red’s Tavern Double and Bottomless Steak Fries for all Red Robin guests with a military ID or proof of service. Red Robin is also partnering with Heinz for Veterans Day to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Red Robin will also donate $10,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project. Find a location near you.

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Spaghetti Warehouse, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. Buy one entrée, get one free, coupon required. Choose any of 11 Original Recipe Spaghetti entrées and receive a second entrée free. This offer is open to everyone, not just veterans. Download the coupon at their website (available starting Nov. 5th).

Sizzler Restaurants, Nov. 12, 2012. Free lunch served until 4pm. Choice of 3 entrees. Valid with proof of military service. More info and locations.

Souplantation & Sweet Tomoatoes, Nov. 11-12, 2012. Free meal with purchase of another regular priced meal. Available to current and former military members with valid ID. Available at all Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes locations. More info.

Subway. In honor of Veterans Day, SUBWAY® will donate $111,112 to the Wounded Warrior Project ‘s economic empowerment program

Texas Corral – Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. Free entrée (dine-in only). Offer available to all active duty members and veterans with ID. Note: All Texas Corral locations also regularly offer a 50% discount to active duty police officers, firemen and military personnel dining in. Locations.

Texas Roadhouse – free lunch, Monday Nov. 12, 2012. Every Texas Roadhouse location across the country will participate in the free lunch event to honor the men and women of our armed forces. Choose from one of 10 free meals, plus sides and a drink. Offer good for All veterans – including all active, retired or former U.S. military. ID Required. Find locations.

T.G.I. Friday’s – Free Lunch, Monday Nov. 12, 2012.Valid for all US Military personnel and veterans. Must wear uniform (if permitted by your service) or present military ID or other proof of service. Only valid at participating locations for anyone with an old or current military ID. More details on TGIFridays.com.

The Olive Garden, Free entrée, Nov. 11, 2012. Offer good for veterans and active duty military, on Sunday, November 11th during regular business hours. Chose from a special menu; all entrées inlcude freshly baked garlic sticks and choice of soup or salad. Off er good in US and Canada, proof of service required. More info.

Tim Hortons – all US locations are offering a free donut to all veterans (check out the Star Spangled donut!).

Tony Roma’s, Nov. 11, 2012. Free Entree, up to $15 for current and former military members with valid proof of service. Valid at select locations only: Carson CA, Palm Desert CA, Savannah GA, Doral FL, I-Drive FL, Jensen Beach FL, Lee Vista FL, Sunny Isles FL, E. Sahara NV, Henderson NV, Summerlin NV, Brownsville TX, Laredo TX, McAllen TX, McAllen North TX, : Green Bay WI.Details.

Uno Chicago Grill, Nov. 11 -12, 2012. Free individual pizza or entrée with the purchase of a pizza or entrée of equal or greater value. Available for all active duty and veterans. No coupon necessary; proof of service required. Find a location near you.

7-Eleven – Free small Slurpee on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Offer good to all current and former military members. ID or proof of service required.