The Great Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami: Better Prepared Today Posted Thu, 03/28/2024 - 11:14 By Doug Helton, Regional Operations Supervisor, Emergency Response Division Tags Natural Disasters emergency response disaster preparedness Emergency Response Division (ERD) tsunami ..read more

Keeping Ports Open After a Storm alyssa.gray Thu, 04/27/2023 - 13:29 A natural disaster such as a hurricane impacts all facets of life in a community, and can even cause ripple effects that spread beyond the area of landfall to impact distant places and people. This far-reaching impact can be a devastating reminder of the interconnected nature of the blue economy, connecting people across the globe through sustainable economic activity alongside environmental protection. NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) supports this blue economy through response and planning activities t ..read more

NOAA’s Response Asset Directory: Helping NOAA Streamline Disaster Response Posted Mon, 09/26/2022 - 15:19 By Leah Odeneal, Office of Response and Restoration Cataloging assets can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What should be included in your inventory? How should it be categorized? How often should the inventory be reviewed and updated? Fortunately, several years ago, NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center developed an asset directory that provides structure, guidance, and a user-friendly design.  Read more about NOAA’s Response Asset Directory: Helping NOAA Stream ..read more

The Power of Partnerships By Jessica White, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program alyssa.gray Wed, 08/31/2022 - 20:00 OR&R’s Disaster Preparedness Program has a big mission: to ensure the National Ocean Service, partners, and coastal communities are able to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from all hazards, including coastal disasters. To accomplish this, we often partner with others who are working toward the same goal. When we work together, we are able to accomplish more by leveraging our resources, expertise, and networks. This creates a win ..read more

Safe Travels: Wherever You Go, Be Prepared! By Leah Odeneal, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program alyssa.gray Mon, 08/01/2022 - 23:17 As travelers, we need to know our surroundings and be aware of potential risks. Those risks can include reducing our vulnerability to crime, taking necessary precautions to avoid illness, and knowing what hazards are more common in the areas we visit. As you prepare for your next vacation, or even your next work trip, take a little time to familiarize yourself with your destination and think through what steps you might take should ..read more

Are You Prepared for Remote Work Disruptions? By Savannah Turner, Office of Response and Restoration alyssa.gray Tue, 01/18/2022 - 00:36 A full-scale business continuity exercise occurred worldwide, in early 2020, when the coronavirus outbreak forced employees to work from home. While never before on this kind of scale, continuity of operations is not a new concept, evidenced by the protracted telework situation many of us still find ourselves in. However, continuity plans require review and need to be updated, which gives rise to the question, after 22 months of working from home, have you ..read more

The First Cross-NOAA Disaster Recovery Support Workshop By Autumn Lotze, Office of Response and Restoration alyssa.gray Fri, 12/10/2021 - 14:51 The Office of Response and Restoration’s Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP) and the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) recently hosted the first cross-NOAA workshop on Disaster Recovery Support. Find out how this workshop supports our disaster recovery efforts in this blog. Read more about The First Cross-NOAA Disaster Recovery Support Workshop 1 comment Add new comment Tags Natural Disasters disaster prepa ..read more

Tsunamis: Know the Signs, Hear the Stories, and Get Prepared! By Kim Albins, Office of Response and Restoration Disaster Preparedness Program alyssa.gray Thu, 12/02/2021 - 18:26 Imagine this: you are sitting on a beautiful beach enjoying a lovely day, when out of the blue an alarm blasts from your phone and reads “Tsunami warning.” Do you know where you would go and what to do? What if you aren’t in the U.S. and there are no alarms, would you know the signs of an approaching tsunami? Read more about Tsunamis: Know the Signs, Hear the Stories, and Get Prepared! 4 comments Add new comment ..read more

Preventing Marine Pollution Before the Storm By Leah Odeneal, Office of Response and Restoration alyssa.gray Wed, 09/29/2021 - 13:50 There are many ways to prepare for hurricanes as individuals, organizations, and as communities. Hurricanes pose threats from storm surge, inland flooding, wind damage, and even tornadoes. These impacts also lead to a lesser known but dangerous threat—natural and man-made marine debris. Read more about Preventing Marine Pollution Before the Storm Add new comment Tags Marine Debris disaster preparedness pollution ..read more

All Hands On Deck: NOAA’s Disaster Preparedness Program Is Ready for Hurricane Season Posted Fri, 07/23/2021 - 16:21 As we all know, the official Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. During this time, the Disaster Preparedness Program located within NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, is busy coordinating with other offices within the National Ocean Service, as well as collaborating with federal, state, and local emergency management partners, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, many of you may still be wondering, “What exactly does the Di ..read more