Monday, November 11, 2019

BEMA International Community\Civil Society Imperative. "As climate and disaster threats rise, let’s double down on resilient infrastructure"


BEMA International emergency management and community members

Each of us has to step up our A-Game in preparing for disasters and awareness, and understanding of the impact of climate change now not later when danger is at your door.  Get involved locally in CERT (community emergency response team) training, local exercises, local council and challenge elected officials and candidates.

Community\Civil Society Imperative does not exist without the individual and community members.

BEMA International



As climate and disaster threats rise, let’s double down on resilient infrastructure

·       SAMEH WAHBA
·       MAMI MIZUTORI
|NOVEMBER 08, 2019

From tsunamis in Asia and earthquakes Latin America, to hurricanes in the Caribbean and cyclones in Africa, disasters caused by natural hazards claimed some 1.3 million lives between 1998 and 2017, and wreaked untold havoc on livelihoods and infrastructure worldwide.

A primary school in Hanoi, Vietnam. Photo credit: Quang Vu/Shutterstock

We see no sign of the risk posed by natural hazards decreasing, particularly having witnessed the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai on families and communities in Africa earlier this year. What’s worse, climate change is making storms, floods, droughts, and heatwaves even more frequent, damaging, and deadly.

Disasters can erase decades of hard-won development gains in a matter of seconds, with a painful and costly impact that can last for years, and even generations to come. Today, around 90% of urban expansion in developing countries takes place near hazard-prone areas.  Without urgent action, climate change and disasters may cost cities worldwide $314 billion each year and push up to 77 million urban residents into poverty.
When disaster strikes, we are all at risk; but it is usually the poor that get hit the hardest.  Research shows that the impacts of disasters and climate change are more than twice as significant for poor households, because they tend to live in the most vulnerable areas, often with weak housing standards. Over the next 15 years, and in the absence of adequate investment in housing and slum upgrading, we can expect to see the number of people living in substandard housing more than double.
In an era of worsening climate and disaster risks, countries and cities have no choice but to plan better and invest more in resilient infrastructure – homes, schools, and roads – to meet urbanization challenges and sustain economic growth.
In fact, it pays to make our homes safer and our schools more resilient.  Recent research suggests that investing in resilient infrastructure can provide a net benefit of $4.2 trillion in low and middle-income countries, with $4 in benefit for each $1 invested. Such investments can then improve essential services – such as transport, or water and electricity supply – and contribute to more resilient and prosperous societies.
Resilient infrastructure saves lives. In October 2019, the World Bank’s Global Program for Safer Schools (GPSS) launched its Global Library of School Infrastructure (GLOSI) and the updated Roadmap for Safer and Resilient Schools with the support of the Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR). These tools will help policymakers and school communities better understand and prepare for the natural hazards that put them at risk.
Just like families living in unsafe homes, children and youth studying in poor quality school buildings are also vulnerable to climate and disaster impact.   Disasters damage or destroy school infrastructure, harming or even killing students, teachers, and other members of the school community. In Ecuador, for example, the 2016 earthquake damaged almost 1,000 schools and left more than 120,000 children temporarily without education. In Mozambique, 4,000 classrooms were destroyed by cyclones this past year. These disasters also have a devastating effect on children’s education and learning environments.
That’s why the World Bank and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) are both committed to helping cities and communities mobilize global resources and take local actions to build climate-smart, disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Cities can only be as resilient as their infrastructure, which is why UNDRR, together with the Government of India co-developed the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Launched by Prime Minister Modi at the UN Climate Action Summit in September, CDRI will support countries to risk-proof investment plans by providing technical input, exchanging best practice, and capacity building.  
UNDRR is also committed to leading action in this area through the Making Cities Resilient Campaign, which more than 4,200 cities have joined over the past 10 years. In consultation with partners, and in response to a clear request from the cities with which the campaign has worked, a new campaign will launch in 2020, supporting cities to reduce disaster and climate risk through improved technical support and enhanced capacity for raising finances to implement change.
Similarly, as the World Bank continues to build back better to reduce annual disaster-related losses, its Global Program for Resilient Housing is stepping up efforts to help countries, cities, and communities build better before the next disaster by making homes safer and more resilient to natural hazards. For example:
  • In Guatemala, a rapid, low-cost, and AI-enabled assessment approach – combining drones and car-mounted camera imagery – helped identify and map a significant share of the buildings at risk of collapse in an earthquake. In Saint Lucia, the same approach was used to assess rooftop damage risks from a Category-5 hurricane.
  • In Indonesia, the government is making resilience a central part of their home improvement subsidy program, one of the largest in the world.
  • In Mexico, the authorities are upgrading their housing programs to make them more inclusive and resilient.
  • In Peru, automated property valuations and vulnerability assessments have been conducted to support municipalities.
Investing in safe and resilient infrastructure – including homes and schools – saves lives, protects livelihoods, and safeguards development.  As we just marked International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and World Cities Day last month, let’s double down on our resolve and scale up our action to make the future of our cities and communities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable for all.
********************

  
Black Emergency Managers Association 
    International 
1231-B Good Hope Road.  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 

bEMA International

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. 
In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. 
Procrastination is still the thief of time. 
Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. 
This may well be mankind’s last chance to choose between chaos or community.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Where Are We Going From Here:  Chaos or Community’.

Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)            

A 501 (c) 3 organization.


Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Community Emergency Response Teams and Exercise Involvement. November 2019

CERT Teams and other at community level.  Participation in not only developing your local response plans when disasters occur, but plan development in international drills, exercises, and local exercises with those you will be interfacing when disasters occur.

Update of contact lists, primary & secondary contacts, an the ability to know shortfalls before the disaster occurs

BEMA International

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FEMA EMI News
Website Update

1555 - Training Opportunity - L0050 Exercise Control and Simulation Course - PILOT

Emergency Management Institute Mission

To support the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA’s goals by improving the competencies of the U.S. officials in Emergency Management at all levels of government to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the potential effects of all types of disasters and emergencies on the American people. Read more...
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Emergency Management Institute
16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Switchboard: (301) 447-1000
Office of Admissions:
(301) 447-1035      Fax: (301) 447-1658
netc-admissions@fema.dhs.gov
FEMA Independent Study Program Office:
(301) 447-1200     Fax: (301)447-1201
L-0050 Exercise Control and Simulation Course - PILOT
Course Description:
This course is designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of Exercise Control and Simulation as defined by the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Read more in Training Opportunity 1555.
EMI Clock Tower

 

(800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585

3 Step Guide for Assistance


Saturday, October 26, 2019

Action override discussions. Take action now. FREE education and training


Just Do It! 

Do it now.

Helpless or hopeless, or be proactive.  Which would you like to be?

Register for a CERT course in your community



STEP 1:
·       FEMA IS-317: Introduction to CERT (Online)
"Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams," IS-317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members. It takes between six and eight hours to complete the course. Those who successfully finish it will receive a certificate of completion. It has six modules.
·       U.S. CERT Basic Training & Material (Online and Classroom)

STEP 2:
Take a hands-on course in your community.

·       Locate a CERT Team in your community ()enter zip code)


LA County CERT training classes.  Upcoming

The Community Emergency Response Team Program's concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985.  The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs.  As a result, the LAFD created this program to train citizens and private and government employees………………………….


Atlanta CERT training classes.  Upcoming

UPCOMING CLASS DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community





Black Emergency Managers Association  
    International
1231-B Good Hope Road.  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 

bEMA International


“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.  In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.  Procrastination is still the thief of time.  Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity.  This may well be mankind’s last change to choose between chaos or community.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Where Are We Going From Here:  Chaos or Community’.

Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)             A 501 (c) 3 organization.


Friday, October 25, 2019

November 20–21, Climate Reality is presenting 24 Hours of Reality: Truth in Action, a global conversation on the truth of the climate crisis and how we solve it.

Are you interested in changing the climate conversation in your community?


The Climate Reality Project


                           

Disaster Ready's Ready to Go Mobile Guides. October 2019.




DisasterReady’s Ready to Go Mobile Guides are designed specifically for mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) to support learners on the go. They are created by experts from across the humanitarian and nonprofit sectors and cover essential topics such as leadership, security, protection, emergency response, health, and much more. Explore the entire collection here.

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