Emergency and disaster management briefing for February 11, 2016: The U.S. Senate approves sanctions against North Korea after the nation’s ill-advised rocket launch, the U.S. Justice Department sues the city of Ferguson, MO for unjust policing practices, and Florida expands its state of emergency due to Zika virus.
- The U.S. Senate [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/02/10/senators-want-north-korea-sanctions-bill-to-spark-white-house-and-global-action/” title=”approved sanctions against North Korea“] yesterday after two recent incidents involving the country grabbed worldwide attention. The sanctions, which passed unanimously (96-0), come in the wake of what some are calling [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/10/reports-north-korean-army-chief-executed/80166884/” title=”flagrant violations of international law“] by Pyongyang.
- North Korea [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/asia/north-korea-hydrogen-bomb-test/” title=”announced its fourth nuclear test“] in early January, and then [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/09/opinions/north-korea-satellite-launch-freese/” title=”launched its second satellite“] via missile technology into orbit this past weekend. While North Korea maintains that the rocket/satellite launch was for [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/asia/north-korea-rocket-launch/” title=”scientific and peaceful purposes only“], U.S. intelligence agencies claim that the recent events were instead aimed at [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/10/reports-north-korean-army-chief-executed/80166884/” title=”developing an intercontinental ballistic missile tipped with a nuclear warhead“].
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced yesterday that it is [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/10/466329269/justice-department-sues-ferguson-after-city-amends-police-reform-deal” title=”suing the city of Ferguson, MO“] for unjust policing that violates the civil and constitutional rights of citizens. In January, after seven months of negotiation, Ferguson and the federal government [link url=”http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/justice-department-sues-ferguson-missouri-over-reforms-n516126″ title=”reached an agreement“] that specified improvements in police practices and operational changes to local courts. But on Tuesday, [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/09/466221524/ferguson-approves-police-and-courts-overhaul-with-some-changes” title=”the Ferguson City Council voted to make changes to the agreement“], saying it cost too much, which then, in turn, [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/10/466329269/justice-department-sues-ferguson-after-city-amends-police-reform-deal” title=”prompted the lawsuit from the DOJ“].
- U.S. health officials said that the key to protecting pregnant women from Zika virus until a vaccine can be developed is [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/study-finds-zika-virus-fetal-brain-clue-outbreak-36847156″ title=”mosquito eradication both in the U.S. and abroad“]. Whether or not the mosquito-borne virus is directly linked to [link url=”http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html” title=”microcephaly“] has not yet been proven, but [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/study-finds-zika-virus-fetal-brain-clue-outbreak-36847156″ title=”new findings on the virus’ impact on fetal brains“] emerged this week, moving doctors closing to discovering more answers about the mysterious virus.
- There have been no cases of [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-usa-idUSKCN0VJ2H0″ title=”Zika virus cases passed by mosquitoes“] in continental U.S. thus far, but mosquito control is a big concern — especially in the southern states — as the nation heads into the spring and summer months. [link url=”http://wwmt.com/news/local/as-zika-spreads-focus-on-mosquito-control-repellent-sharpens” title=”Florida, Texas, and other southern states“] are particularly at risk as the U.S. warms up, as the Aedes mosquitoes are most prevalent there.
- The state of Florida [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/Health/zika-virus-outbreak-updates-florida-expands-state-emergency/story?id=36806853″ title=”extended its state of emergency to a two additional counties“] due to Zika virus. Late last week, Governor Rick Scott [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/Health/zika-virus-prompts-florida-governor-expand-state-emergency/story?id=36717713″ title=”declared emergency in five Florida counties“], so the total is now up to seven: Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Osceloa, Santa Rosa and St. Johns. The number of confirmed Zika cases in the state [link url=”http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/vital-signs/os-zika-update-feb-10-20160210-story.html” title=”remains at 16“] as of yesterday.
- A gunman [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/abingdon/ph-ag-police-shooting-0212-20160210-story.html” title=”fatally shot two sheriff’s deputies in Maryland“] yesterday. While the exact motive is still unclear, police do believe that the gunman [link url=”http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/abingdon/ph-ag-police-shooting-0212-20160210-story.html” title=”took that action because the officer was in a police uniform“]. The incident occurred in Abingdon, MD, which is about 20 miles northeast of Baltimore. The suspect, David Brian Evans, was [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/maryland-sheriffs-office-deputies-involved-shooting-36839745″ title=”killed in a shootout“] not far from the initial shooting. There were reportedly [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/maryland-sheriffs-office-deputies-involved-shooting-36839745″ title=”two outstanding warrants for Evans’ arrest“] at the time of the incident.
- Federal agents moved in Wednesday night on the [link url=”http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/oregon_standoff_fbi_moves_in_o.html” title=”last four occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge“] near Burns, OR. The end could be near for the standoff of anti-government militants that began on January 2 over federal land use rights. The remaining occupiers reportedly agreed to [link url=”http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/oregon_standoff_fbi_moves_in_o.html” title=”turn themselves in at a checkpoint“] this morning.
- Cliven Bundy [link url=”http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/nevada_rancher_cliven_bundy_de.html” title=”was arrested in Portland, OR“] on Wednesday after disembarking from a flight from Las Vegas and now faces federal charges related to a 2014 standoff at his ranch. Bundy reportedly had plans to [link url=”http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/nevada_rancher_cliven_bundy_de.html” title=”travel to the region“] near the wildlife refuge standoff. Bundy’s sons Ammon and Ryan [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/10/fbi-closes-in-on-last-oregon-refuge-occupiers/” title=”are currently in jail facing felony charges“] of conspiracy to impede a federal officer in connection with the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge standoff.
- Two female suicide bombers struck a Nigerian “safe haven” camp, [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/world/africa/suicide-bomber-girls-kill-58-in-nigerian-refugee-camp.html” title=”” title=”killing 58 people and wounding 78“] in the town of Dikwa. All victims were in the camp, which was established for those [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/11/africa/nigeria-suicide-bombing-boko-haram/” title=”displaced by Boko Haram violence“] in Nigeria’s Borno State. Officials say it could have been worse, as [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/world/africa/suicide-bomber-girls-kill-58-in-nigerian-refugee-camp.html” title=”” title=”one additional bomber backed out at the last minute“].
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