Emergency and disaster management briefing for May 16, 2016: The Alberta government launches a Fort McMurray wildfire app, researchers predict an increase in Alaskan wildfires, the 42nd annual National EMS Week kicks off, and the FDA says it reported safety concerns at the facility at the heart of the listeria outbreak months ago.
- The Alberta government [link url=”https://amuedge.com/alberta-government-releases-fort-mcmurray-wildfire-app/” title=”released an app“] that will give Fort McMurray residents a bird’s eye view of the burning region in the wake of a destructive wildfire that forced the evacuation of over 90,000 people. The wildfire damage surveillance app is an [link url=”https://amuedge.com/alberta-government-releases-fort-mcmurray-wildfire-app/” title=”online mapping application“] that provides a high-level satellite overview of the status of the city.
- Researchers at the University of Montana recently concluded that climate change is producing an environment in Alaska — most notably a warmer, drier climate — that [link url=”https://amuedge.com/study-wildfires-in-alaska-likely-to-increase/” title=”greatly increases the probability of wildfires“] in the state in coming years. Alaskan wildfires will be [link url=”https://amuedge.com/study-wildfires-in-alaska-likely-to-increase/” title=”four times as likely to occur“] by the end of the century, and both tundra and forest-tundra boundary regions could be hit especially hard by the temperature and moisture differences.
- Yesterday marked the beginning of the [link url=”https://www.naemt.org/ems_agencies_audience/ems-week/celebrate-ems-week” title=”42nd annual National EMS Week.“] The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), in partnership with the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), is leading the weeklong (May 15-21) nationwide campaign that [link url=”https://www.naemt.org/ems_agencies_audience/ems-week/celebrate-ems-week” title=”celebrates and recognizes Emergency Medical Services (EMS) practitioners“] for their role in safeguarding the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities. President Gerald Ford authorized the inaugural EMS Week [link url=”https://www.naemt.org/ems_agencies_audience/ems-week/celebrate-ems-week” title=”in 1973“] to highlight the important work that EMS responders take part in daily across the nation.
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors reportedly [link url=”http://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-report-cites-flaws-at-frozen-food-plant-linked-to-listeria-outbreak-1463184063″ title=”found flaws in a frozen-food maker’s factory“] more than a month before the onset of the [link url=”https://amuedge.com/frozen-food-recall-expands-due-to-listeria-outbreak/” title=”listeria outbreak“] that now involves recalls in all 50 U.S. states and Canada. FDA Inspectors [link url=”http://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-report-cites-flaws-at-frozen-food-plant-linked-to-listeria-outbreak-1463184063″ title=”discovered equipment flaws“] that “prevented suitable cleaning and maintenance” at the CRF Frozen Foods LLC plant in Pasco, WA back on March 17, 2016. CRF Frozen Foods announced the initial recall of 11 frozen vegetable products on April 23, and then expanded the recall on May 2.
- California Governor Jerry Brown [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-brown-plan-to-ease-homelessness-20160513-story.html” title=”publicly supported an aggressive new homelessness plan“] that involves $2 billion in funding to fight the growing problem. Brown is backing the $2 billion plan, which would work to ease homelessness across California, but the proposal reportedly [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-brown-plan-to-ease-homelessness-20160513-story.html” title=”faces many legal and political hurdles“] before it has a chance to become a reality. The city of Los Angeles [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/us/los-angeles-homelessness/” title=”declared a state of emergency on homelessness“] back in September 2015, and various cities in California are frequently mentioned as having some of the highest homeless populations in the U.S.
- Weather experts said that the [link url=”https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/severe-thunderstorms-flooding-rain-texas-louisiana-may-2016″ title=”threat of flash flooding and severe thunderstorms“] is still high in Texas and Louisiana as the week begins. Forecasts point to the possibility of [link url=”https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/severe-thunderstorms-flooding-rain-texas-louisiana-may-2016″ title=”more heavy rain“] in in parts of Texas, Louisiana, and other parts of the Southern Plains and Gulf Coast today and into tomorrow. Both Texas and Louisiana have already dealt with severe flooding incidents in 2016, with the latest major events occurring from [link url=”https://weather.com/news/news/late-april-2016-severe-storms-flooding-south-impacts” title=”late April into early May.”]
- A new study from a team on international scientists made a connection between the warming of the Arctic and [link url=”http://news.discovery.com/animals/arctic-bird-shrinking-as-planet-warms-160513.htm” title=”drops in the population of a sub-species of red knot bird.“] According to the study, [link url=”http://news.discovery.com/animals/arctic-bird-shrinking-as-planet-warms-160513.htm” title=”a reduction in body size“] of the birds is a direct response to climate warming. Reduced body size — especially shortened bills — is resulting in higher mortality among the juvenile population of the red knot bird, as properly obtaining food is becoming increasingly problematic. The scientists believe that their discovery about the red knot’s transformation could bring forth better understanding of changes occurring with migratory shore birds across the globe.
- ISIS reportedly claimed responsibility for a [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/middleeast/iraq-violence-isis/” title=”gas plant blast“] north of Baghdad yesterday. At least 10 people died, including seven police officers and three guards, and at least 24 others were injured in the assault on the facility. The incident is the [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/middleeast/iraq-violence-isis/” title=”latest in a series of deadly attacks“] in the country allegedly led by ISIS that have collectively taken more than 100 lives in recent days.
- A [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-madrid-spain-tire-fire-20160513-snap-story.html” title=”massive tire fire near Sesena, Spain“] forced the evacuation of 9,000 people as toxic clouds of black smoke engulfed the town near Madrid. Authorities said they [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-madrid-spain-tire-fire-20160513-snap-story.html” title=”believe the fire was intentionally set“] but no injuries were reported.
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