EDM Friday Briefing: Ice Storm; Orlando Latest; Arizona Shooting

Emergency and disaster management briefing for Friday, January 13, 2017: Dangerous ice storm; $100,000 reward for the capture of Orlando police officer’s killer; Arizona shooting; Devastating African drought.

1. People from Texas to Ohio are bracing for a dangerous long-duration ice storm that could turn destructive and cut power to hundreds of thousands across a 1000 mile swath. The [link url=”http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/dangerous-potentially-destructive-ice-storm-looms-for-1-000-mile-swath-of-central-us-to-end-the-week/70000533″ title=”ice storm is forecast to begin on Friday”] where the zone of freezing rain will extend from the Texas Panhandle to part of southern portions of Illinois and Indiana. The zone of freezing rain will expand northward and eastward at night.

Just updated…Freezing rain advisory all of central Indiana 7 pm Friday thru 1 pm Sunday. Replaces winter weather advisory. #INwx #icestorm

— NWS Indianapolis (@NWSIndianapolis) January 13, 2017

2. Three people [link url=”http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/11/us/orlando-shooting-manhunt/” title=”have been arrested”] in connection with the hunt for police murder suspect Markeith Loyd. Reports yesterday show a Facebook video featuring Loyd where his then girlfriend – who Loyd later killed – joked about killing police. Authorities are offering a $100,000 reward for anyone who helps to capture Loyd.[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/community-resiliency-providing-the-framework-to-prevent-non-emergency-911-calls/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/logistics-expanding-beyond-the-basics-during-disasters/”]
3. A man who shot and wounded [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ambushed-arizona-trooper-saved-passing-motorist-who-shot-attacker-dead-n706381″ title=”an Arizona state trooper Thursday”] along a remote highway and then started slamming the officer’s head into the pavement as the two struggled was shot dead by a passing driver. While the trooper was being attacked, a passing driver showed up and asked if the trooper needed help. The trooper said yes and the passer-by went back to his vehicle, got his gun and told the suspect to stop the attack. When he didn’t, the driver shot him.
4. Southern Africa has been hit by its [link url=”http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2017/01/10/how-safety-nets-are-becoming-game-changers-in-disaster-response-in-southern-africa” title=”worst drought in 35 years”]. Across the region, it is estimated that between June 2016 and March 2017, 32 million people are food insecure. In response to this emergency, the World Bank is providing additional financing to a number of countries, including Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique to provide fast disbursements of cash transfers to the affected population.[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/disaster-preparedness-food-storage/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/what-makes-a-good-leader-in-emergency-management/”]
5. Security, public health and disaster management personnel from across the Caribbean were put to the test as in a [link url=”https://goo.gl/wRJ4cv” title=”training exercise aimed at improving regional responses”] during an emergency situation. The exercise, Synergy 2017, presented emergency scenarios that could occur in the Caribbean region. It took place from January 11 to 12 at the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) based in Barbados.
6. An Alaskan village is seeking disaster relief due to the effects of climate change. The frozen permafrost underneath Newtok is [link url=”http://www.npr.org/2017/01/10/509176361/alaskan-village-citing-climate-change-seeks-disaster-relief-in-order-to-relocate” title=”thawing and about 70 feet of land a year erodes away”]. In an unprecedented case, Newtok wants the federal government to declare these mounting impacts of climate change an official disaster so the entire community can be relocated – a move that comes with a high price tag that cannot be met by the village alone.
7. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new [link url=”http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/United-States-Environmental-Protection-Agency-Issues-New-Emergency-Guidelines-for-Radiation-in-Water-410468905.html” title=”emergency guidelines for radiation in water”]. Prompted by the Fukushima incident, the EPA guidelines are designed to protect Americans in the event of a nationally significant nuclear disaster, but have attracted criticism.