AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

Emergency and Disaster Management Week In Review: February 22, 2016

Emergency and Disaster Management Week In Review February 22, 2016: The battle between Apple and the FBI heats up, as severe weather systems slam the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, while Kalamazoo, Michigan and Hesston, Kansas search for answers after rampage shootings, and Fiji begins the long road of recovery.

Apple vs. the FBI

The battle between Apple and the FBI continues, as both Google and Facebook are reportedly [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/02/25/apple-files-motion-denying-fbi-request/80939820/” title=”backing Apple’s position“].  The iPhone at the center of the current legal clash is not the only cell phone currently in question, either, as the FBI has reportedly [link url=”http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/24/467943526/apple-has-gotten-federal-orders-to-unlock-at-least-13-devices” title=”requested the unlocking of at least a dozen devices“] in recent months.  Public opinion is split in the ongoing [link url=”http://www.latimes.com/business/la-me-fbi-apple-legal-20160219-story.html” title=”battle of privacy vs. national security“] between Apple and the FBI.  Which side the public supports in the debate [link url=”http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2016/02/apple-fbi-polls/470736/” title=”depends on which poll is being referenced“].  Bill Gates even [link url=”http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-02-23/gates-disputes-report-that-he-backs-fbi-in-apple-dispute” title=”disputed a report that he backs the FBI“], and made efforts to clarify his view.  Apple is also reportedly [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/technology/apple-is-said-to-be-working-on-an-iphone-even-it-cant-hack.html?_r=1″ title=”developing new, more advanced security measures“] that would make it even more difficult for authorities to break into locked iPhones.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/privacy-vs-security-the-debate-that-cannot-end/”]

Severe Weather

A severe weather system [link url=”http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2016/02/at_least_7_tornadoes_hit_louis.html” title=”turned deadly late Tuesday“] when almost two dozen tornadoes ripped through areas in Louisiana,  Mississippi, and [link url=”http://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2016/02/23/nws-we-feel-there-tornadoes-around-area/80820334/” title=”Florida“].  That same system moved toward the Mid-Atlantic, where [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather-virginia-idUSKCN0VX2VE” title=”violent thunderstorms and tornadoes“] hit various regions on Wednesday, [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tornado-threat-twisters-louisiana-rv-park-damage-pensacola-florida-apartments/” title=”resulting in at least five deaths“].  In the Midwest, powerful winter storms brought [link url=”http://www.cbsnews.com/news/winter-storm-brings-heavy-snow-strong-winds-through-midwest/” title=”heavy snow and strong winds“] across large parts of the area on Thursday.  [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-looming-midwest-storm-disrupting-chicago-flights-37159147″ title=”More than 1,100 flights were canceled“] at Chicago airports alone.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/tornado-risk-and-preparation-by-the-numbers/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/recent-weather-events-an-indication-of-climate-change/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/climate-in-case-youre-not-convinced-yet/”]

Kalamazoo, MI Gunman

A [link url=”http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/kalamazoo/kalamazoo-shooting-spree-what-we-know/49907751″ title=”gunman in Kalamazoo, Michigan killed at least 6 people“] and injured at least two more Saturday night, in a rampage that reportedly involved the shooter, [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/02/21/six-killed-in-kalamazoo-shooting-spree-were-chosen-at-random-authorities-say/” title=”an Uber driver“], [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/22/us/kalamazoo-michigan-random-shootings.html” title=”targeting victims seemingly at random“].   Police have [link url=”http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/02/21/kalamazoo-shootings/80697940/” title=”yet to identify a motive“] in the Kalamazoo rampage, as it is unclear what may have precipitated the series of shootings.  The suspect, Jason Brian Dalton, [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/02/22/kalamazoo-shooting-rampage-suspect-set-to-appear-in-court-today/” title=”made ‘incriminating statements’ to authorities“] but has not confessed to the crimes.

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Hesston, KS Shootings

Hesston, Kansas was the site of the most recent shooting where a gunman [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/02/26/kansas-gunman-kills-3-injures-14/80972434/” title=”killed three and wounded 14 more“] after opening fire inside of a manufacturing plant with an assault-style long gun. The suspected gunman, [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/26/alcoholic-violent-depressed-portrait-of-kansas-shooter-emerges/” title=”Cedric Ford“], reportedly worked at the plant, but no motive is known at this time.  [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/02/26/kansas-gunman-kills-3-injures-14/80972434/” title=”Police killed the suspect“] once he turned his fire on officers.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/the-intersection-of-tragedy-and-fabric/”]

Cyclone Winston

Tropical Cyclone Winston devastated Fiji this past weekend, leaving [link url=”https://weather.com/news/weather/news/tropical-cyclone-winston-impacts-pacific” title=”at least 10 people dead and hundreds of homes destroyed“].  The Category 5 storm, which made landfall in Fiji on Saturday, is being called [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/21/asia/fiji-tropical-cyclone-winston/” title=”the most powerful storm on record in the Southern Hemisphere“].  In fact, Winston ranks among the [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/02/22/fiji-reeling-after-devastating-cyclone-winston-among-the-strongest-ever-to-strike-land/” title=”strongest-ever tropical cyclones to strike land“] anywhere in the world.  In Fiji, [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/21/asia/fiji-tropical-cyclone-winston/” title=”month-long state of disaster“] has been declared and [link url=”http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/21/asia/fiji-tropical-cyclone-winston/” title=”schools will be closed for a week“].  Aid agencies [link url=”http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/77295723/cyclonehit-remote-fiji-islands-begin-to-receive-aid-death-toll-42″ title=”reached the outer islands and villages of Fiji on Friday“], days after the historic cyclone ravaged the archipelago.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/thank-you-weather-channel/” url2=http://edmdigest.com/response/oh-the-weather-outside-is-frightful-or-is-it/”]

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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