Japanese Tsunami Debri

It's almost been one year since the earthquake and tsunami occurred in Japan. This post by the NOAA Marine Debris Program shares how the debris that could possibly be washed up on US shores will be dealt with.

Alabama Tornadoes: Resources, Facts & Donation Information for April 27, 2011 event

For resources (help or assistance):

• State of Alabama Emergency Management Agency
• FEMA or Alabama Disaster site
• American Red Cross - Get Assistance
• USDA Offers Food Safety Tips In Aftermath of Devastating Storms
• What to do after a tornado
• Tree trimming tips
• Floods & Tornadoes: keeping disaster site workers safe during cleanup & recovery operations
• US Dept. of Labor provides grants to help Alabama residents recover from storms 
• Rebuilding after a natural disaster  

Victims have been asked to forward their mail to a new address in order to avoid identity fraud. Keep in mind that there's only one official site that offers free credit reports.

For facts (which are ongoing):

• National Weather Service
• Tornado Tracks in Mississippi and Alabama 
• State of the Climate: Tornadoes April 2011
• Unique Space Image of Alabama Tornado Tracks
• Satellite and Radar Data Reveal Damage Track of Alabama Tornadic Thunderstorms

Give:

• Christian Service Mission or use the Amazon Wish List 
• Red Cross Donations 

NOAA: 2010 Tied For Warmest Year on Record

According to the preliminary analysis by NOAA, 2010 is tied with 2005 as having the warmest year of the global surface temperature record.

Documents of the Month: Hurricane Katrina, 5 Years Later

This month, we'll take a look at our Katrina documents.

•  Historic Preservation Response Methodology: Based on the Hurricane Katrina Model
• Hurricane Katrina: Five Years of Remembering & Rebuilding (White House)
• Rebuilding Lives Revitalizing Communities (FEMA)
• Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: 5 Years Later (FEMA)
• Hurricane Katrina: A NASA Satellite Video Retrospective (NASA)
• Hurricane Katrina...A Look Back 5 Years Later (NWS - New Orleans/Baton Rouge)
• Hurricane Katrina - Most Destructive Hurricane Ever to Strike the U.S. (NOAA)
• A Performance Review of FEMA's Disaster Management Activities in REsponse to Hurricane Katrina
• The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned
• A Failure of Initiative
• Declarations of National Emergency in Response to Hurricane Katrina
• Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared

Gulf Oil Spill Resources and Images

Here's a collection of resources and images of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: 

• Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon Incident (includes latest information)
• Deepwater Horizon Response on Facebook
• The Deepwater Horizon Incident in the Gulf of Mexico FAQ from USA.gov 
• Remarks from the President on Oil Spill
• Shoreline Impact Outlook (until Monday, May 3, 2010)
• EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
• Photostream from Coast Guard
• Oil Slick Near Mississippi Delta image from NASA
• Oil and Gas Industry Fatal and Nonfatal Occupational Injuries Fact Sheet from Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Database: Oil Spills Since 2000