AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Thursday Briefing: List of Zika Cases in U.S. Grows, Oregon Standoff Winds Down, East Coast Digs Out

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Emergency and disaster management briefing for January 28, 2016: The number of confirmed cases of Zika virus in the U.S. continues to grow, the standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon winds down after authorities make more arrests, the East Coast deals with the aftermath of the recent, historic snowstorm, and El Nino continues its assault on the West Coast.

  1. The number of [link url=”http://www.newsweek.com/zika-cases-america-420343″ title=”confirmed cases of Zika virus in the U.S.“] continues to grow, as cases have surfaced in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia. Zika virus is being called [link url=”http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160126144111.htm” title=”‘a game-changer’ for mosquito-borne diseases“], as it is relatively unknown and unstudied. The virus is known to be [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/world/brazil/la-fg-zika-virus-20160127-story.html” title=”linked to birth defects“], so pregnant women have been urged to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
  2. Public health experts are urging [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/experts-urge-who-call-zika-public-health-emergency-n505346″ title=”swift action on Zika“] to avert what could become a devastating epidemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently [link url=”http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/s0126-zika-travel-guidance.html” title=”added two more destinations“] to its growing list of places where Zika virus is already present and travelers should avoid.
  3. Eight members of the group of armed militants that has been occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon since January 2 left the refuge yesterday and were met by FBI and Oregon State Police at established checkpoints. [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/01/28/fbi-arrests-3-more-protesters-standoff-winds-down/79446598/” title=”Authorities arrested three of the protesters and let five go“]. Other groups reportedly [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/01/28/fbi-arrests-3-more-protesters-standoff-winds-down/79446598/” title=”left the refuge without incident“] earlier in the day before checkpoints were established.
  4. The previous day, confrontations with law enforcement officials led to eight members of the armed militants [link url=”http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/01/oregon-militant-leaders-arrested-one-dead.html?mid=google#” title=”being taken into custody“] and also led to the death of one of the protestors. Those taken into custody included leaders Ammon and Ryan Bundy. Following his apprehension, [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-occupation-ammon-bundy-asks-supporters-abandon-refuge-n505536″ title=”Ammon Bundy urged his remaining followers to stand down“] and leave the refuge.

    5. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/an-unfolding-role-for-emergency-management/”]

  5. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the January snowstorm that swept across the eastern portion of the U.S. [link url=”https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/january-2016-snowstorm-was-category-4-event” title=”was a Category 4 event“]. From January 22 – 24, 2016, winter storms affected almost [link url=”https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/january-2016-snowstorm-was-category-4-event” title=”103 million people from Arkansas up to New Hampshire“]. In the Northeast, 21 million people received at least 20 inches of snow, while in the Southeast, 5.6 million people got at least 10 inches of snow.

  6. In the Northeast, the January 2016 snowstorm [link url=”https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/january-2016-snowstorm-was-category-4-event” title=”ranks sixth out of the 199 snowstorms analyzed since 1900“]. A late February 1969 snowstorm remains the strongest ever to hit that region of the U.S. In the Southeast, this month’s snowstorm [link url=”https://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/january-2016-snowstorm-was-category-4-event” title=”ranks 14th of the 153 snowstorms analyzed since 1900“], while an early January 1996 snowstorm still sits atop the charts for the Southeast.
  7. [link url=”http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2016/01/26/connecticut-to-lend-snow-removal/” title=”Connecticut sent crews and equipment“] to help aid snow removal in Washington D.C. and Maryland as part of a state-to-state agreement known as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. The director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, Russell Strickland, [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-big-snowstorm-disaster-assistance-20160125-story.html” title=”officially requested federal assistance“] for snow recovery efforts and Maryland officials [link url=”http://wtop.com/maryland/2016/01/maryland-officials-confident-of-snowstorm-disaster-aid/” title=”are confident that they’ll receive aid“].

    8. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/the-snow-dough-declaration-dance/”]

  8. Israel’s Public Utility Authority was reportedly the target of a [link url=”http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israels-electrical-grid-attacked-in-massive-cyber-attack-442844″ title=”massive cyber attack“] earlier this week, but no blackouts were reported. Officials discovered the attack on Monday and are [link url=”http://www.timesofisrael.com/steinitz-israels-electric-authority-hit-by-severe-cyber-attack/” title=”taking steps to counter the assault“]. The incident is one the [link url=”http://www.ibtimes.com/israeli-electric-grid-hit-paralyzing-cyberattack-no-blackouts-reported-2281969″ title=”largest cyber attacks the country has ever reported“]; authorities have not yet named any possible suspects.

    9. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/a-look-at-cyber-security/”]

  9. The city of Los Angeles is [link url=”http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/trend/los_angeles_homeless_el_nino_rain_storms_flooding_la_river/55027937″ title=”stepping up efforts to protect its homeless population“] in what has already been a tumultuous El Niño season. Heavy rains and severe weather have battered parts of the state in recent weeks. Despite the recent onslaught of El Niño storms, though, reservoirs in drought-stricken California are still reportedly [link url=”http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/01/22/despite-el-nino-storms-california-reservoirs-half-full/” title=”only about half full“].

    10. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/water-management-too-much-or-too-little/”]

  10. The city of Pacifica, CA [link url=”http://www.sfgate.com/video/article/Pacifica-in-state-of-emergency-over-El-Ni-o-6784747.php” title=”is in a state of emergency“] due to El Niño damage. Severe weather associated with El Niño — namely increased winds — [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/dramatic-photos-show-apartments-feet-falling-ocean/story?id=36528327″ title=”have caused the erosion of an estimated 20 feet of land“] near a bluff to disappear over a period of about two weeks. This has left some residents [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/dramatic-photos-show-apartments-feet-falling-ocean/story?id=36528327″ title=”literally on the edge“] and has forced evacuations.

    11. [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/comes-the-el-nino/”]

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