The Lookout Post - Issue 4

ISSUE 4

NOVEMBER

Brought to you by

2020

APRIL 21 & 2 2 2 0 2 1 / M IA M I BE A CH CON V EN T I O N C EN T ER

Welcome to the November 2020 Edition of The Lookout Post!

We have tons of informative content for all those following the current state of affairs in natural disaster management and emergency response. We aim for the continual distribution of this newsletter to help inform professionals in the industry about the latest happenings and innovations that are transforming how communities prepare and respond to natural disasters.

Check out what’s been coming over the horizon since last month’s edition!

ISSUE 4 / November 2020

SITUATION OF THE MONTH

Hurricane Iota Poses Major Landslide Risks Hurricane Iota made landfall in Nicaragua on November 16, 2020, as a Category 4 Hurricane. The Northeast coast impacted by Iota was the same coast hit by Hurricane Eta which occurred on November 4, 2020, just two weeks prior. Buildings were slammed by the intensity of the storm, leaving many people displaced and in need of aid.

Wind speeds were recorded at 155 miles per hour which led to the destruction of various establishments paired with the flooding of major roads. This isolated those desiring to leave the region for safety. Nicaragua’s Vice President, Rosario Murillo, recently announced the national death toll as 16 although rescuers are working hard to thoroughly search the landslides for the most up-to-date information.

See Full Article

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ISSUE 4 / November 2020

MODERNIZE YOUR HURRICANE PREP We’re in the midst of hurricane season in 2020, and homeowners and businesses alike in at-risk areas need to consider all the methods available in terms of mitigation. The good news is that modern technology and trends are opening up new ways to help protect buildings from wind, water, and debris. Here are some of the standouts.

How Are Things Changing?

Supercomputers and forecasting tools: A key factor in hurricane preparation is giving as much advance time as possible. The sooner risk is detected, the more time there is for evacuations, fortifications, and other essential procedures. Modern supercomputers are taking this to the next level through the power of big data. Scientists now have the ability to process massive amounts of data from weather satellites looking around the world to simulate and predict storm behavior and intensity.

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ISSUE 4 / November 2020

SIMPLE SEISMIC SOLUTION \for High-Value Product located in Storage Racks Storing valuable products in areas with seismic

Such was the case for HALL Wines in Napa

activity can be risky and even dangerous.

Valley, California. The 2014 earthquake on the

Whether you’re in the business of warehousing

West Napa Fault caused estimated damage in

irreplaceable vintage wines or you operate a

excess of $300 million with much of that being

distribution center storing rare spices from around

sustained by the region’s 500 winemakers. In

the world, keeping your high-value inventory

the aftermath of that 6.0 magnitude earthquake,

protected during an earthquake is a big issue.

HALL Wines knew they needed additional seismic protection to safeguard their inventory of valuable and irreplaceable vintage wines.

Installing Seismic Base Isolators under their storage rack columns was an easy decision.

See Full Article

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NATURAL DISASTER EXPO LAUNCHES IN SINGAPORE With the ever present and growing threat of natural disasters on populations across the world, The Natural Disaster Expo - Asia is launching in Singapore on December 1st & 2nd of 2021!

Check out the insightful and expert features present at this launch into the Asia-Pacific region

ISSUE 4 / November 2020

Weather Update

NOAA’S EMERGING TECH STRATEGIES Three primary strategies the National Oceanic

these machines a first priority among the

and Atmospheric Administration has finalized

agency. The overall goal of this sector is

through precise research are Unmanned

to amplify public safety and security.

Systems Strategy, Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Omics Strategy. NOAA developed these strategies with the intention of enhancing the quality of their science branch under the guidance of Congress and the administration.

Furthermore, the Artificial Intelligence Strategy is implemented to apply artificial intelligence to previous systems set by the NOAA, advancing mandatory mission features. The organization hopes to minimize errors while

The Unmanned Systems Strategy will improve

expanding on its effectiveness in order to

operations and strengthen a cost effective

increase the quality of their products.

foundation for complaint Unmanned Systems.

This also makes strategic investments for

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ISSUE 4 / November 2020

I have been involved in bringing flood barriers to market for 20 years and it has been amazing to see how they have evolved. What was once the domain of sandbags might now be occupied by passive or automatic flood barriers.

But I have also seen flood barriers fail.

In most cases it was not the barrier that actually failed, but it was that the scheme was poorly designed or that the barrier

We all know that mobile flood barriers have

was specified without recognizing some

a reliance on manpower and equipment. But

fundamental characteristics such as these

there is also a big need for organization and

which are applicable to mobile flood barriers:

planning which themselves are dependent

• Storage and transportation • Assembly method • Deployment time and resources • Adaptability to different terrains • Service life and maintenance • Structural failure modes (puncture, rolling, sliding, collapse etc)

on good information. This makes flood barrier deployment no different to the way responders deal with other hazards such as fire or earthquake. Imagine attending a wildfire without knowing the weather and specifically the wind direction.

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ISSUE 4 / November 2020

MEET THE HEROES

Check out these highlights for the heroes of the The Lookout Post November edition! These proud people and organizations are at the forefront of providing crucial industry knowledge for disaster professionals.

Krucial Staffing When disaster strikes, you need the right partner to weather the storm. Krucial Staffing will ensure your organization is prepared with a robust contingent staffing plan. Together, our team brings a decade’s worth of experience within the response and recovery sector and has responded to some of the nation’s most notable crises and disasters.

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ISSUE 4 / November 2020

MEET THE HEROES

Jeffrey Baxter Erickson, Inc. National Flood Protection LLC

Jeff Baxter is responsible for Research and

At National Flood Protection, LLC we use the most up to

onto our existing fleet of aircraft, as well as

date technology and flood mitigation products to ensure our clients keep their buildings protected from flood damage caused by natural disasters and other storm events. We are your one source for all Flood Panel products, offering expert advice on the selection and installation of these systems.

Development of new products to retrofit the evaluation and incorporation of new technologies into our overall product offering. His experience covers a wide array of engineering disciplines, from spaceflight hardware design to autonomous flight controls.

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ISSUE 4 / November 2020

PARTNER SHOUTOUT Our Partners to The Natural Disaster Expo, the organizations leading the way for stronger communities against natural disasters and for a more sustainable future

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Looking to be included in an upcoming edition of The Lookout Post?

Contact Eddy Lawrance at Eddy.Lawrance@prysmgroup.co.uk for more information.

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