FREEP: All routes to D.C. guarded for Obama inauguration

WASHINGTON -- As the U.S. Secret Service, Washington Metropolitan Police, U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies prepare for an unprecedented level of security around Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration, they may be leaving out one piece of advice for the public:

Get used to it.

DAILY DUNKLIN: Emergency Management Kennett Schools awarded $126,000 grant from U.S. Department of Education

Since being awarded a Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools grant by the U.S. Department of Education, Kennett School District No. 39 has spent many hours in preparing its teams in the event of an actual emergency.

The Kennett School District was awarded the $126,000 grant to aid in developing district and building level disaster and response plans. Kennett was also the only district in the state of Missouri to receive the grant in 2008. Assistant Superintendent Chris Wilson and Deb Cook, director of nursing, currently serve as the project's managers.

GALVESTON DAILY NEWS: FEMA extends deadline to apply for aid

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again extended the deadline for Texans who still need to apply for federal and state assistance for damages from Hurricane Ike.

The new deadline for FEMA assistance is Feb. 6. The deadline was previously extended to Jan. 10 from Dec. 12.

HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN:

Hawaii is often considered a recreational boater's paradise compared to just about anywhere in the world.

Sailors come here from all points of the globe to "sail the winds of paradise," as our warm tradewinds are often called. And international anglers are well aware that the Big Island's Kona Coast is home to arguably the world's best fishing hole for catching giant Pacific blue marlin.

But because our state's major islands stretch from Hawaii in the southeast to Kauai and Niihau in the northwest, the prevailing northeast trades are at a right angle to the chain and tend to blow anything that is adrift away from land.

Subsequently, with nothing but open ocean to our southeast for thousands of miles, becoming lost at sea can become a reality to anyone on a vessel without power.

This is one of the reasons that emergency position-indicating radiobeacons, or EPIRBs, have become essential equipment aboard most vessels. They allow the Coast Guard to have a much better chance of finding those aboard satellite-tracked boats when an emergency arises.

All boat owners with EPIRBs though, should be aware of a recent announcement from the Coast Guard regarding these devices.

Those with the older analog EPIRBs that operate on 121.5 or 243 MHz -- who were advised in 2006 to discontinued their use as of January 2007 -- are reminded that beginning on Feb. 1, satellite processing of distress signals from these beacons will be terminated.

LA TIMES: LAX vehicle search yields cache of guns, ammunition

A routine vehicle search by Los Angeles Airport Police ended with the nonroutine discovery of 16 guns and roughly 1,000 bullets stowed in the bed of a pickup truck late Friday morning.

The driver, Phillip Joseph Dominguez, 47, of Orange, was booked on suspicion of transportation of weapons and held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to the LAPD.

Authorities said that there was no indication the man intended to cause harm at the terminal, but investigators said they were still trying to sort out exactly what he was doing there.

WASHINGTON MONTHLY: The Next FEMA

Every two years the federal government conducts a "Human Capital Survey" of its own employees. Nearly a quarter of a million civil servants participate, providing anonymous, detailed, and often quite revealing answers to questions about their own agencies: What’s the level of morale and teamwork? Do their skills match their missions? Do they have the resources to get the job done? How able and trustworthy are their leaders? Are high-performing employees promoted, and the lazy and incompetent shown the door?

FIREHOUSE: Groups Urge Obama to Keep FEMA in DHS

Three prominent fire and emergency service organizations are urging President-Elect Barack Obama to leave the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in the Department of Homeland Security, DHS. To move FEMA out of DHS could endanger America's emergency response capabilities, said the leaders of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI) in a letter December 22 to President-Elect Obama.

GASTON GAZETTE: Bob Phillips, Gaston's first emergency management director, dies

GASTONIA -- When conditions were at their worst, Bob Phillips was at his best.

Gaston County's first emergency management director, Phillips led evacuation and public safety efforts during hurricanes and other disasters for more than 15 years. He died of lung cancer in his home Saturday at the age of 76.

"He did his best, he gave his fullest to his job, and he did it right," said Martha Phillips, his wife of 53 years.

TECHNOLOGY TIPS: One really different technology website

I was going to write about some of the items on the website craziestgadgets.com, but the list was getting longer and longer. Sure, we could list the solar powered battery charger, handgrip iPhone charger, federal agent convertible travel jacket, 25 mile USB cable, USB gas stove warmer, or the map that rolls up to be a flashlight, but that would just take away from the fun you will have perusing the website yourself. Sure, some of it is a stretch, but some of the stuff will actually get you thinking. Have fun!

http://craziestgadgets.com/

LA TIMES: 2008 saw notable increase in moderate Southern California earthquakes

Do you think the ground feels a little shakier these days? It's not your imagination.

Last year saw a significant increase in the number of temblors of magnitude 3.0 or greater in Southern California and the northern portion of Baja California, according to data from Caltech and the U.S. Geological Survey.

USA TODAY: Peanut butter distributor recalls product amid salmonella scare

The brand of peanut butter that tested positive for salmonella in Minnesota and is possibly connected to a nationwide outbreak has been voluntarily recalled by its distributor, King Nut Companies of Solon, Ohio.

The Minnesota Dept. of Health on Friday issued a warning that a five pound tub of creamy peanut butter distributed by King Nut had tested positive for salmonella bacteria. Staff said epidemiological evidence pointed to that brand being implicated in a nationwide outbreak of salmonella typhimurium which has sickened 399 people in 42 states.

PRLog: National Emergency Contact Registry Urging flood victims to register in Washington State

Washington D.C., – The Next of Kin Registry (NOKR) America’s central repository for Emergency Contact information is highly encouraging families and those with special needs to register their loved ones and friends who may be exposed to this potentially dangerous flooding.

AFP: Obama-Bush teams to stage 'disaster' exercise

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The outgoing White House administration will next week hold a joint "disaster scenario" exercise with top members of the incoming team of president-elect Barack Obama, US officials said Friday.

"I'm not going to go into the details of it, but it is a disaster scenario where the government would be very much tested," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

"It is an exercise scenario, a hypothetical scenario that is designed to test and tax the capabilities of the federal government," he added.

He did not specify whether Obama or vice president-elect Joe Biden would take part in Tuesday's three-hour long exercise, saying merely it was part of regular training events and had not been motivated by any specific threat.

AP: CDC director is out, government e-mail says

ATLANTA – The head of the federal government's public health agency is stepping down, according an e-mail sent Friday night to federal employees.

Dr. Julie Gerberding has resigned as director of the Atlanta-based U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and will be replaced on an interim basis by a deputy as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated.

The e-mail obtained by The Associated Press that discloses the news was sent Friday night to employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which the CDC is part of.

Although an HHS housecleaning has been expected with the new administration, Gerberding's fate was somewhat unclear. The first woman to head the agency, Gerberding led the CDC through a post-Sept. 11 world of bioterrorist fears and was considered an effective communicator with legislators and the public.

In a November e-mail to staff, Gerberding said she expected she might be leaving her job after the Bush administration left office. But colleagues said she quietly had held out hope she would be allowed to stay on in the job.

AP: Ala. plant accident heightens pressure on TVA

STEVENSON, Ala. – A retention pond at a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-burning power plant leaked waste into a northeast Alabama creek Friday, ramping up pressure on the utility that already is trying to clean up last month's major coal ash spill at a plant in Tennessee.

TVA officials said the latest discharge — water laced with calcium sulfate, a component of a material known as gypsum — presented no danger to people or the environment. But environmentalists were quick to criticize, and some lawmakers said it was more evidence Congress needs to overhaul coal waste regulations.

AP: Boston fire truck smashes into building; 1 dead

BOSTON – A Boston Fire Department ladder truck coming down a hill plowed through an intersection Friday and crashed into a high-rise apartment building, killing one firefighter and seriously injuring a second.

Dozens firefighters bowed their heads and held their helmets over their hearts as they created a pathway for the body of one firefighter — covered in a black body bag on a stretcher — to be carried from the wreckage and put into an ambulance.

The truck was returning from a medical call when it barreled down the steep Parker Hill Avenue, went through the intersection at Huntington Avenue and slammed into the building, said Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald.

Lt. Kevin Kelley, 52, of Quincy, a 30-year veteran supervisor riding in the truck's front seat, died at the scene, MacDonald said. Another firefighter aboard had a broken leg and two others had minor injuries. He said another firefighter helping at the scene suffered a broken ankle.

LEXINGTON HERALD-EXAMINER

Kentucky officials will take a closer look at requiring emergency action plans for coal ash ponds after a dam failed last month at a large ash containment structure in Tennessee.

Such plans spell out procedures for notifying authorities if a dam fails or is about to fail. Federal recommendations for such plans also call for mapping the area that would be flooded in a break, as well as evacuation details.

HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL: High speed crisis management

NOTE: FOR SOME REASON, THE BLOG DID NOT LIKE THE URL FOR THIS STORY AND WOULD NOT LET ME INCLUDE IT AS A LINK. I INCLUDED THE URL FOR THE MAIN WEB PAGE INSTEAD. YOU WILL HAVE TO DO A SEARCH FOR THE STORY USING THE TITLE NAME. MY APOLOGIES FOR THE EXTRA WORK.

For public relations firms handling crisis management, the only thing faster than a New York minute is an Internet minute.

“There is an unfortunate belief out there that if something is on the Internet, it must be true,” says Bruce Hicks, a consultant for Griffin Integrated Marketing who has handled the likes of airline crashes and office-building fires for nearly 40 years. “You’ve also got a lot of blurring of news media with non-news media. If you take what happened to United Airlines in September, a six-year-old story of UA’s bankruptcy appeared with the date lost, was picked up by a Google search and the perfect storm hit United that day. It really shows the power of the Internet, and that means you have to be prepared. You can’t wait until it hits the fan.”

And respond you must, says Hicks, even with a statement such as: “We know something bad happened, and we will tell you more when we have more information.”

Business executives must realize that as technology capabilities increase, so must response times, says Hicks, noting that bloggers and critics pick up and spread rumors at the speed of the Internet.

“Nature abhors a vacuum,” he says, “and the media abhors it even more.”

EPOCH TMES: State of Emergency Declared for Flooded Washington State

OLYMPIA, Wash.—Record levels of flooding hit Washington State over the past two days, causing widespread road closures and damage. A combination of record snowfall last month, rapidly warming temperatures and heavy rainfall created the disastrous conditions.

“It’s kind of the perfect scenario in terms of a disaster,” said David Fenton, Senior Development Director for the Southwest Washington chapter of the Red Cross. The region has been hit particularly hard.

Fenton said heavy flooding last year may pale in comparison when all is said and done. “From the looks of it, this will probably surpass it [last year’s flooding] in terms of property damage and the number of people who were flooded out from their homes.”

PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: City plans to renew Motorola contract

Since being put into operation in 2002, Philadelphia's $62 million emergency radio system has been plagued with problems - from systemwide failures to blocked calls for police and firefighters.

Nonetheless, the city wants to extend its contract with Motorola Corp. for four years and $34.5 million.

City officials say it is the least expensive choice. Unions for the police and firefighters agree, although with reservations about the system's reliability.

CQ HOMELAND SECURITY: Obama Names His National Intelligence Team

By Tim Starks, CQ Staff

President-elect Barack Obama closed one of the last big gaps in his administration’s slate Friday by formally announcing his national intelligence team.

As expected, Obama tapped retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair to serve as director of National Intelligence and named former U.S. House member and White House chief of staff Leon E. Panetta to head the CIA. He also announced that John O. Brennan would serve as his top homeland security and counter-terrorism adviser.

FBI: Donald Van Duyn Chief Intelligence Officer Federal Bureau of Investigation Statement Before the Senate Committee...

Good afternoon Chairman Lieberman, Senator Collins, and members of the Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to discuss the FBI’s role in investigating terrorist attacks overseas, including our response to the recent tragic attacks in Mumbai, India. I will also describe how we are working with our U.S. intelligence and law enforcement community partners to apply lessons learned from the Mumbai attacks to protect the U.S. Homeland.

DHS: Testimony of Under Secretary Charles Allen before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, "Lessons from the Mumbai...

Release Date: January 8, 2009

Dirksen Senate Office Building
(Remarks as Prepared)

Thank you, Chairman Lieberman, Senator Collins, and Members of the Committee for the invitation to discuss the lessons the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) learned following the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. I would like to highlight for you our intelligence information sharing efforts regarding these attacks.

VOA: US Lawmakers Examine Chances of Mumbai-like Attack in US

By Deborah Tate Washington 09 January 2009

U.S. lawmakers are concerned that the terror attacks on Mumbai, India in November, which killed some 170 people, could happen in the United States. They heard from U.S. homeland security and law enforcement officials at a Senate hearing Thursday.

Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who calls himself an independent Democrat, opened a hearing of the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs committee to examine ways to prevent the kind of deadly attacks that occurred in Mumbai from happening in the United States.

NCPC: NCPC Approves Final Master Plan for DHS Headquarters at St. Elizabeths

Washington, DC – At its January monthly meeting the National Capital Planning Commission approved a proposal by the General Services Administration (GSA) for a final master plan for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters at St. Elizabeths, located in Southeast Washington, D.C. The Commission approved the West Campus portion of the final master plan and commented favorably on the Transportation Improvements and the East Campus portion of the plan.

WSJ: Chertoff Sees No Credible Threat on Historic Day

WASHINGTON -- U.S. intelligence analysts reviewing secret data and electronic intercepts have found no credible evidence of plans to disrupt the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

"Everybody has been very focused on this for months," he said in an interview Thursday.

FRIDAY FLYER: City Connection: Don't forget to include pets in disaster planning

The Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee (CLEPC) has spent a great deal of time and effort over the past few years to make sure that residents know what to do and where to go in the case of a natural disaster or other emergency, but what about pets? The committee, through the work of long-standing member Mayor Mary Craton, now has prepared a plan for pets in the event of a disaster.

In addition, residents are asked to assist CLEPC by completing a Canyon Lake Animal Census Survey. The survey, which will also be made available within the next few weeks on the City’s website, www.cityofcanyonlake.com, will help volunteers protect pets during an emergency and assist the committee in determining emergency shelter needs.

Residents completing the survey will receive the brochure, “Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies,” as well as a sign to place in their front window to alert rescue personnel and volunteers as to the number and types of pets in the home.

DALLAS NEWS: Foundation donates $5 million for Dallas-Fort Worth disaster response plan

Four local agencies have teamed up to make sure North Texas will be prepared when disaster strikes.

Their project, called the Mass Care Response and Disaster Relief Plan, will cost $26.7 million over the next five years. It's a collaboration of the Dallas-area chapter of the American Red Cross, the North Texas Food Bank, the Salvation Army DFW Metroplex Area Command and the Volunteer Center of North Texas. The agencies help provide emergency food and shelter.

The effort got a major start on Thursday, when a local foundation announced it will donate $5 million to create and carry out the plan.

The money will come from the W.W. Caruth Jr. Foundation, a fund at the Dallas-based Communities Foundation of Texas. It will depend on matching funds, so donations are needed.

KDRO-TV: Email Print Text Size Ex-FEMA director Brown flees Colo. wildfires

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Michael D. Brown, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was among those forced to flee his home by the wildfires in Colorado's Boulder County.

OASIS: OASIS Members Approve Emergency Data Exchange Standards for Resource Messaging and Hospital Availability

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OASIS, the international open standards consortium, today announced that its members have approved the Emergency Data Exchange Language Resource Messaging (EDXL-RM) 1.0 and the EDXL Hospital AVailability Exchange (HAVE) 1.0 specifications as OASIS Standards, a status that signifies the highest level of ratification.

EDXL-RM describes a suite of standard messages for sharing data among information systems that coordinate requests for emergency equipment, supplies, and people. HAVE specifies an XML document format that allows a hospital's status, services, and resources (including bed capacity, emergency department status, and available service coverage) to be communicated. Both standards were developed through an open process by the OASIS Emergency Management Technical Committee.

BRANSON DAILY NEWS: County pursues emergency center

KIMBERLING CITY — The Kimberling City Board of Aldermen received a request Tuesday night for a letter of support for an emergency operations center in Stone County.

Kimberling City Emergency Management Director Gary Lewis told aldermen that federal grant money is available from the Department of Homeland Security to fund the project.

On Tuesday morning, Stone County commissioners voted unanimously for the county’s emergency management director, Tom Martin, to pursue the grant funding.

HANNIBEL NET: Emergency management director receives congressional honor

Hannibal, MO —If all the certificates that John Hark has received during his life were hung up, he would have little wall space left in his Hannibal home. While most of them have been filed away, Hannibal’s emergency management director admits that he will find wall space for the Congressional Medal of Merit award, which he was nominated for by then-Congressman Kenny Hulshof in recognition of Hark’s efforts during the 2008 flood.

While the honor arrived Hark late last year, news of it only surfaced Tuesday night when City Manager Jeff LaGarce informed the members of the Hannibal City Council of the tribute.

“He definitely earned it,” said LaGarce.

CIBOLA BEACON: Local Emergency Emergency management system

From using a smoke detector to planning a fire exit strategy, loading up on fuel for cold winter months or buying candles for power outages, we all plan our lives around the possibility of emergencies. Those who live in rural areas are keenly aware of “emergency planning” just to survive challenges of living away from town and conveniences. But, the common framework of individual and family preparedness applies to us all - it's “routine” to consider all necessary details to ensure safety every step of our day.

LUMINA NEWS: Public Safety Facility approval approaches

The Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 14, to receive input from residents on the proposed funding and construction of a new Public Safety Facility.

CQ HOMELAND SECURITY: Nonprofits Should Play Greater Role in Disaster Response, Says Former FEMA Official

By Daniel Fowler, CQ Staff

As a former FEMA employee and official at James Lee Witt Associates who now serves as director of disaster services for a leading hunger relief charity, Patrick Crawford has worn a number of hats in the emergency management world.

Since entering the field in 1994, Crawford has held positions ranging from disaster specialist in FEMA’s Region IX (Oakland, Calif.) and Congressional Relations Officer for Appropriations at FEMA headquarters to director of the Midwest region for James Lee Witt Associates, a crisis and emergency management consulting firm. Crawford joined Feeding America in 2007.

“I feel fortunate to have had an opportunity to work on emergency management and disaster relief from a variety of perspectives — from the government sector, the private sector and now the nonprofit world — and also had the opportunity to work with officials at all levels of government — local, state and federal,” Crawford said. “I think it gives me a more holistic approach to some of the issues we all work on in common.”

In a recent interview with CQ Homeland Security, Crawford discussed topics ranging from the state of disaster preparedness and response in the country to the role of food banks in disasters and whether FEMA should remain part of the Homeland Security Department.

REUTERS: Obama to revamp counterterrorism efforts: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama will revamp the way the U.S. government coordinates counterterrorism efforts, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper, citing people close to the presidential transition, said on its website that Obama would abolish the White House homeland security adviser's office and transfer its responsibilities to the National Security Council. A deputy national security adviser would oversee plans to guard against terrorism and also respond to natural disasters, the Times said.

HUFFINGTON POST: Tennessee Coal Sludge Disaster: Think This Could Not Happen to You? Think Again.

On December 22 (2 weeks ago), over 1 billion gallons of toxic coal sludge came cascading through Eastern Tennessee. The tidal wave of sludge toppled houses and dirtied rivers and streams. This toxic coal ash has been stored in an open 40-acre pond next to the 50-year-old power plant. According to State authorities, after the spill there are 54,000 people with contaminated water in Roane County alone, and many more outside the county may also have tainted drinking water.

If you think this could not happen to you, think again. More than 50 percent of Americans live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant.

CNET: ioSafe Solo: Disaster-proof external hard drive

Copying data to an external hard drive is probably the easiest, most popular way to back up. This won't help save important data against fire or flood, however, unless the external hard drive is the one unveiled by ioSafe at CES this year: the ioSafe Solo.

ioSafe is known for making internal hard drives that can survive extreme heat. The ioSafe Solo is the result of putting that internal hard drive into an external case that features a USB 2.0 connection to hook up to a computer.

According to ioSafe, the Solo can withstand fires up to 1,550 degrees F, compliant with the ASTM E119 industry standard. The drive can also be submersed in fresh or salt water for three days at a depth of 10 feet.

The internal hard drive used in the Solo is protected with ioSafe technologies including FloSafe, HydroSafe, and DataCast.

ABC NEWS: Unprecedented Public Safety Plan for Obama Inauguration

Virtually every major bridge heading into the nation's capital on Inauguration Day will be closed to vehicular traffic. In other words, unless they are on a bus or in an authorized vehicle, riders will be turned away by the police or the military.

AUTO BLOG: Toyota announces telematics service: Safety Connect and Lexus Enform

Toyota Motor Sales has announced a new in-car convenience telematics program for select Toyota and Lexus models that sounds a lot like GM's popular OnStar program. The proprietary system will be dubbed Safety Connect for Toyota buyers and Lexus Enform for ToMoCo's luxury brand. There's a lengthy press release after the jump, but here are the salient points. Safety Connect is the core service and, as its name implies, is designed to give drivers additional peace of mind.

WASHINGTON POST: 'Homeland Security' Show An Incomplete Picture

The Eye and Almost Mrs. Eye spent part of their Tuesday evening watching the debut episode of ABC's "Homeland Security USA" in spite of poor reviews and strong online criticism of the program.

While the show provides a unique and informative look at the work of homeland security employees, very little distinguishes it from similar reality programs about law enforcement or government programs like "Cops" or the Discovery Channel specials. The show also leaves several questions unanswered, and may suggest to viewers that some of the department's rank and file are too eager for action.

PRIVATE JET DAILY: Homeland Security proposes to tighten Private Aviation Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to extend security rules and regulations on private jets.

Some of the proposed security checks to be implemented are finger-print background checks on pilots, cross-referencing passenger names against a government watch list, and restricting carry-on items on the plane. The proposal will affect 10,000 previously exempt air operators, including big name businessmen and celebrities who own private jets.

This has already triggered resentment from many private jet owners. Organizations that own private jets have already placed complaints about the issue. That’s why the Transportation Department has scheduled a series of public meetings to resolve pending issues and complaints.

“Businesses have airplanes in order to transport what they produce, sometimes because it’s too difficult or impossible to carry onto an airliner,” said Ed Bolen, president of the National Business Aviation Association. “Tool companies that can’t take their own products, sporting goods companies that can’t take their own products on to their own airplanes, that doesn’t make sense.”

In the proposal’s notice, which was published in the October issue of the Federal Registrar, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) suggested that improvements in commercial airplane security have exposed security weaknesses of private aviation security. Thus, the TSA said “Terrorists may view general aviation aircraft as more vulnerable and thus attractive targets.”

GAZETTE ONLINE: Goldberg accepts Linn County EMA job

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mike Goldberg has accepted the offer to become Linn County's emergency management coordinator.

He will replace Rich Mahaney, who resigned in August. Goldberg is the strategic and legislative services director for the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner, chairman of the Emergency Management Commission, hopes Goldberg can start Feb. 1 and help the EMA prepare its fiscal 2010 budget, which is due by month's end.

"We feel that Mike has the background and skill sets that we are looking for to manage the activities of the agency," Gardner said.

Goldberg's salary will be $86,003, the same amount he is making in his job working for the Board of Supervisors.

Goldberg has worked for the board for 14 years and was the county's lead public information officer during the 2008 flood.

Mahaney resigned just as the agency was beginning to evaluate its performance during the flood, and received $18,307 in severance payments, according to a resignation letter he signed Aug. 8.

Tom Ulrich, the agency's second in command under Mahaney, has been the agency's interim coordinator.

Ulrich, who also applied for the job, questioned the decision to hire Goldberg, based on his lack of experience in emergency management. But Ulrich said he was committed to working with Goldberg.

NY TIMES: Mysterious Sweet Smell From 2005 Returns to Manhattan

The mysterious sweet smell that swept over parts of the city more than three years ago returned on Monday night.

The city’s 311 information line was flooded with callers reporting the smell of maple syrup, or something like it, wafting across several neighborhoods, a spokesman for the Office of Emergency Management said.

MCCLATCHY: Commentary: Creating a culture of disaster preparedness

By Michael Chertoff, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security | Special to McClatchy Newspapers

With the New Year comes the inevitable urge to make ambitious resolutions for 2009. High on people's lists should be a resolve to become better prepared for emergencies.

Indeed, looking back at 2008, we see the importance of preparedness as we recall the return of an extremely active hurricane season, especially along the Gulf Coast.

AP: Ill. governor's federal security clearance revoked

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich's access to classified federal security information, officials said Friday.

TPM: First Job for Waxman: Investigate the Kingston, TN Coal Ash Disaster

If Henry Waxman wants to make a statement that the time has arrived for a serious debate about the country's energy future, climate change, deregulation, and policy effectiveness, his first act as the new chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee should be to launch hearings into last month's coal ash spill in eastern Tennessee.

NEW MEXICO BUSINESS WEEKLY: Much of SkyWi’s telecom network still down

Local voice and Internet service provider SkyWi Inc. said Qwest Communications International has yet to restore most of its telecommunications network.

Qwest disconnected SkyWi on Dec. 30 because of a billing dispute, leaving thousands of Internet and phone customers without service in the six states where SkyWi operates: New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.

The cutoff created a crisis situation in some New Mexico communities because public safety — including fire, police and medical services — were affected.

CULLMAN TIMES: Hanceville public safety director resigns

The Hanceville public safety director agreed to resign Wednesday after he learned his position would be removed from the city’s 2009 budget to cut costs.

NOWPUBLIC: Crowd Control Wal-Mart's Responsibility, Police Say about Death

Mineola, NY - Rope lines, numbered tickets and walkie-talkies for employees could help control frenzied crowds such as those stampeding Wal-mart on Black Friday, say police, as they release recommndations two weeks after meeting with 75 Long Island retailers about how to stage major sales events safely.

PRESS-ENTERPRISE: Critics press case against security training camp

A year after the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to build a security training camp in the Homeland foothills, a handful of critics have begun to cry foul.

Meanwhile, John Choate, the former Navy SEAL developing his family's property, is a few steps away from acquiring the county grading permit that would allow him to start building the tactical training facility.

AFCEA: Joint Experiment Bridges Interoperability Gap

Multinational effort focuses on information sharing between civilian and military agencies.

Network-centric data transfer capabilities are swiftly moving from the battlefield into areas such as national emergency response and homeland security. A recent joint exercise between NATO and Sweden demonstrated how coalition nations and local civilian authorities can link their networks together to share information in real time.

The goal of the Joint Live Experiment on Network Enabled Capabilities, held in September 2008 in Enkoping, Sweden, was to validate solutions for future coalition operations with live data exchanges between Sweden and NATO. The experiment also demonstrated Sweden’s Network Based Defense (NBD) and NATO’s Network Enabled Capabilities (NNEC) concepts.

NWANEWS.COM: Maxwell's the name, disaster's the game

Whether it's on the scene of a deadly storm or in the delivery room, David Maxwell is calm amid chaos.

As the director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, he is in charge of the state's response to everything from tornadoes to terrorism. And in 1986 he was about to become a dad.

A nurse's examination revealed Lauren Maxwell was about to give birth to their only daughter. But the nurse was the only one who was worked up.

It's the Maxwell way: "You do not get overly excited about anything," his wife said. "If you want to help and get things done, you keep your cool."

NPR: Scores Killed In Bangkok Nightclub Fire

BANGKOK, Thailand — It was billed as a New Year's Eve blowout and a last-night celebration of the wildly popular, classy nightclub before it moved to a new location. "Goodbye Santika," the promotion poster read.

WASHINGTON POST: Ruins of Thai Nightclub Examined After New Year's Fire Kills 59

BANGKOK, Jan. 1 -- Police and firefighters picked through the ruins of a popular nightclub in the Thai capital Thursday morning trying to determine the cause of a blaze that killed at least 59 revelers and injured 200 others celebrating the first minutes of the new year.

MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER: Feds want Alabama to repay $5.7M in disaster funds

State officials are disputing the federal government’s claim that Alabama should repay $5.7 million it received for disaster preparedness.

The government reimbursed Alabama for the millions it spent for its Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program that was part of a federal project administered by state public health officials.

DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL: Gov. appoints head of disaster recovery

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Ellen Witt, former deputy attorney general for legal counsel in the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, as director of the Division of Disaster Recovery and Renewal within the Office of the Governor.

BULK TRANSPORTER: TSA extends rail hazmat security rule

The effective date of one section in a final rule that addresses railroad hazardous materials security, including operations at certain fixed-sites, has been extended to April 1, 2009, according to information published in the Federal Register December 19.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it was extending the rule so that affected parties would have more time to conduct training and implement procedures to come into compliance with the chain of custody and control requirements of the rule.

TIME: Should the Military Be Called in for Natural Disasters?

Theoretically, even pacificists would probably admit that no one can respond as quickly and efficiently to a major U.S. disaster as the military. But the news that active duty soldiers fresh from a combat tour of Iraq will be gearing up to assist civilian agencies charged with responding to anything from accidental chemical spills to terrorist attacks has sparked mixed reactions from experts in emergency management and civil liberties advocates.

VOICE OF AMERICA: NASA Issues Safety Report On Columbia Disaster

The US space agency NASA issued a report on the 2003 Columbia space shuttle disaster Tuesday, concluding that nothing could have been done to save the shuttle's seven crewmembers. The report outlined a series of failures during the last moments of the ill-fated mission that investigators say need to be addressed to make future space flight safer.

USA TODAY: Napolitano backs security tech

Gov. Janet Napolitano — President-elect Barack Obama's pick to run the Homeland Security Department — has strongly advocated using advanced security technology as a law enforcement tool, drawing praise from police and raising concern among civil liberties groups that warn about privacy invasion.

FIREHOUSE: Round 17 of 2008 AFG Awards Announced

On Friday, $16.4 million in Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) was awarded to 191 fire departments within the United States.

Another emergency management program take-over

In a news report on citizen.com on December 30, 2008, it was reported that the Meredith emergency management director is stepping down.

The article noted that the emergency management director observed that the new director must be able to meet the commitment required of the position in today's environment.

In spite of that recommendation, the political leaders decide to get rid of the separate EM Director position and give the responsibility to the chief of police.

While Selectman Worsman said another option might be to have a separate individual take the position to provide a wider view of emergency management, the article quoted Selectman and Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Palm saying that he worked for a town with a similar system and "that did not work well at all."

While every jurisdiction is different, and there is no such thing as one size fits all, how does this make sense? Maybe it "did not work well" in that one town but that is not the consensus opinion across the country. This seems like another example of a lack of understanding of the emergency management profession and the roles and responsibilities of a local emergency manager. The political leaders should take another look at their decision, and make sure that it was decided with all the available information.

LACONIA CITIZEN: Emergency services head steps down

Meredith's emergency management director for the past 25 years is stepping down and will be replaced by the chief of police.

The selectmen accepted Steve Bennett's resignation at its meeting Monday evening. Bennett had submitted his intent to resign on Dec. 17.

Bennett had served in the position for the past 25 years, starting as the civil defense director and then as emergency management director. On Dec. 17, the town received a letter from Bennett resigning his position effective Jan. 1, 2009.

The emergency management director coordinates emergency management preparation and gives direction in a widespread emergency. Bennett helped compile the town's first emergency plan and has helped revise the plan, with the latest update in 2002.

Co-interim Town Manager John Edgar said he discussed the matter with the members of the hazard mitigation committee, including several department heads involved in emergency management issues.

"We concur with Steve Bennett's observation that the position of emergency management director is far different from what it was 25 years ago and that a new director must be able to make the time commitments required of this position," Edgar said in a staff report to the board. "We believe this appointment should be internal and come from the safety services/emergency management services professions."

Edgar said the matter was discussed by Police Chief Kevin Morrow and Fire Chief Ken Jones, resulting in the agreement that Morrow should fill the position. The respective chiefs are already involved in emergency management planning and it was viewed to be more efficient for the director to be directly involved in emergency services.

"Police and fire, we're first responders," Morrow said. "It doesn't matter what department you're in, we work as a team."

Selectman Colette Worsman expressed concern about how much the position would add to Morrow's work load.

Edgar said the position would "add a level of management" for Morrow, though he is already fully involved in the emergency planning process.

"I think it's pretty typical that the police chief and fire chief is involved," Edgar said. "I don't think that this is outside the norm."

Worsman said another option might be to have a separate individual take the position to provide a wider view of emergency management. Selectman and Deputy Fire Chief Chuck Palm said he worked for a town with a similar system and "that did not work well at all."

Edgar said members of any department and the public can give feedback as part of meetings of the hazard mitigation planning committee and the chiefs are available to the public.

The board unanimously approved Morrow as the emergency management director. The board also expressed its appreciation to Bennett for his work and will discuss how best to show that appreciation.

DAILY GAZETTE: Editorial: Is public safety training center ever going to happen?

In the past, we have supported the idea of a public safety training center in Schenectady. But after five years of talk, the project doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. And it isn’t clear that it should, given the price tag, location and at least one of the intended uses.

NEW TIMES: Devil Winds

The breeze is critical in planning for Diablo Canyon emergencies, but scientists doubt PG&E's model is good at tracking it.

GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY: Fifty-Eight Agencies Collaborate on Inauguration Safety Planning

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, District of Columbia Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine met on Dec. 23 at Secret Service headquarters to discuss security planning and implementation for the 56th Presidential Inauguration.

Officials joined Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett Beliveau to discuss topics ranging from law enforcement and incident management to transportation, medical and fire safety planning.

AP: Police officer deaths drop in 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer police officers died in the line of duty in 2008 compared to last year, reflecting better training and tactics, two law enforcement support groups reported Sunday.

The findings reversed the trend for 2007 when there was a spike in police deaths, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and another group, Concerns of Police Survivors.

The groups reported fatalities through Sunday.

Officer deaths this year totaled 140, compared to 181 in 2007.

VIRGINIAN-PILOT: Portsmouth makes a smart investment in public safety

Despite tough times, Portsmouth's City Council is moving toward implementing a long-promised - and long-overdue - plan to boost salaries for police and firefighters.

A $2.3 million retention plan, endorsed by the council in a recent special session, would establish a new, more predictable pay scale for public safety officers in the upcoming budget year. Although new hires would see some benefit, the changes are primarily geared to help experienced personnel.

O'REILLY: Hawaii Power Blackout Emergency Preparedness Tech Grades: Is There an F-?

A little over two years ago we had an earthquake in these parts that resulted in a statewide power outage and a demonstration of the inability of the electric company on Oahu, the State government and the City&County government to provide timely information to a public literally in the dark.

We had an island wide (Oahu only) blackout starting at 6:30pm Friday evening. About 50% of the people were back on the grid about 12 hours later. For me it was 21.5 hours off of the power grid. So, what was the result of 2 years and 2 months of learning and preparing from a tech perspective? I provide my 2006 grades and comments along with 2008 commentary below.

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Teen held in Oak Park police officer slaying

Officer Mason Samborski, 28, of Howell died from a gunshot wound to his head during a struggle at an apartment complex about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Samborski had taken 16-year-old Jonathan Belton of Detroit to the Rue Versailles apartment complex at 10 Mile and Greenfield roads to turn Belton over to an adult relative following the traffic stop, police said.

Several police departments joined Oak Park police in searching for Belton most of Sunday before Belton turned himself in, accompanied by his father and pastor, at a police station in northwest Detroit about 4 p.m. He was later taken to the Oak Park Public Safety offices.

Oak Park Public Safety Director John McNeilance said Belton could face murder charges as early as today.

CELSIAS: Twittering Our Way Out of Disaster

Who was the first to report on the China earthquake of May, 2008? I will give you a hint: it wasn't the mainstream media.

Twitter users in China began reporting the devastation on Twitter at least a half-hour before the Chinese government prepared its semi-official (and largely incorrect) report. While the media was still scrambling, and even before the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) - the world's premier earthquake monitoring system - had a handle on the problem, Twitterers in China were delivering text, maps, graphs and even video over the Internet in real time.

OAHU STAR-BULLETIN: Power gradually comes back on

Power was gradually being restored to Oahu this morning after most of the island was sunk into darkness for 12 hours or more, apparently due to a lightning storm.

As of 8:40 a.m., Hawaiian Electric Co. officials said about 182,000 out of 295,000 customers were back online as the company brought the island back on methodically to avoid overloading the system.

The blackout thrust Hawaii’s electrical generation problems into the international spotlight as the state’s most famous native son, President-elect Barack Obama, and his family were affected in their Kailua vacation compound. The home had emergency power and Heco officials said they sent a backup generator to the home last night.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said at about 10:10 p.m. that Honolulu police had talked to Obama. “He said he is fine and he and his family are going to bed,” the mayor said on KSSK.

NEWS CHIEF: Combining fire, EMS services must be considered carefully

In its Saturday issue, the News Chief reported in detail on the proposed merger plan for Polk County Fire Services and Polk Emergency Medical Services. The proposed merger will be studied in a pilot program in a station near Lake Wales, according to the article, but the criteria for studying the program were not stated.

EMS programs in the United States were mostly developed within the fire services from the 1960s. However, there are an increasing number of independent EMS services to the extent that public safety is often expressed as a combination of police, fire and EMS. The question of program quality is important to the consideration and is difficult to assess.

The public calls for EMS services far more than for fire services. The EMS service carries far more potential for legal recourse by the residents served because of the close personal interaction at the scene. Fire service personnel are more prone to consider it as a career decision, whereas EMS personnel more commonly work for a number of years and then move into other health-care channels. In EMS, it is often called "burnout" and is a definite problem in personnel selection and training.

The point is that "cross training" may look simple, but is often difficult in practice because the personnel are, in fact, quite different. Complicating the picture further are present attitudes of the area hospitals, which quite commonly either accept certain patients only or temporarily close their emergency departments to further emergency patients. This further stresses the EMS system.

Serving as an ex-officio member of the EMS medical committee, I can sympathize with the Polk County commissioners and their desire to seek efficiencies in operation of county services. In this situation, I think that basing a decision on a pilot program may or may not help in making a wise decision - unless the evaluation criteria are carefully selected and analyzed.

I believe that an expert consultant's analysis of fire and EMS services over the past several years might offer better information on which a decision might be based. In the end, the decision should be made on the basis of the best service for the least cost, and combining the services may reduce costs by a fraction but also could reduce EMS efficiency by an even greater amount.

BONNER COUNTY DAILY BEE: Questions raised over fatal crash response

SANDPOINT - Public safety officials in Bonner County concede emergency response to a deadly head-on crash on U.S. Highway 95 earlier this month could have gone more smoothly, but they don't believe the tragic outcome could have been avoided.

"There may have been a slight delay, but I don't think the outcome would have been different," said Sagle Fire Chief Rob Goodyear. "The patients ultimately were all transported with appropriate care given the nature of the injuries."

Goodyear's observation comes after a post-incident critique with agencies which responded to the collision and amid lingering questions from witnesses at the scene who said there appeared to be confusion over who was going to transport patients and in what order.

Kimberlee R. Dingman, a 44-year-old from Sandpoint, died as a result of the Dec. 3 crash in Careywood.

THE HOUR: Norwalk hands out emergency kits

The Norwalk Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management are hoping that if they build it, Norwalk residents will use it.

The Fire Department put together 230 disaster kits to distribute to residents of the city in January. The kits, funded through two grants by State Farm Insurance and the United Way of Norwalk and Wilton, include an emergency blanket, poncho, flashlight, radio, whistle, medication container, first aid kit, batteries and a folder with a disaster plan template and preparedness information..

The emergency supply kits will be given to residents deemed as "vulnerable." The city will work with community partners Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. and Christian Community Action to determine who these residents are.

"We know that with this kind of economy, it's especially hard for people to have the resources to put these disaster kits together," said Michele DeLuca, deputy director of emergency management. "We hope that we can eliminate some of the obstacles by giving these basic starter supplies."

VOICE OF AMERICA: Tsunami Victims Recovering 4 Years After Disaster

Four years after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reports tremendous progress has been made in rebuilding the structures that were destroyed and in rehabilitating shattered communities. Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives were the countries most seriously affected by the disaster.

TAIPEI TIMES: EDITORIAL: No such thing as a local disaster

The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday reported that Indonesia and Australia are cooperating at the highest levels in preparation for “mega-disasters” with a view to developing policies of preventive action and response.

This is splendid news, and a welcome sign of cooperation in a region frequently beset by diplomatic tension and suspicion.

These inevitable catastrophes will affect not only the country or countries where they occur, but also entire regions and the interconnected economies they sustain.

Once again proving that we are more alike than different, especially when it comes to disasters.

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I took the time off to spend with family and friends. Here's to a great new year, and to keeping the momentum on improving emergency management in this country, especially at the local level where the rubber meets the road.

CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS: Tennessee Valley Authority boosts estimate from coal ash spill

HARRIMAN, Tenn. — A coal ash spill that blanketed more than 300 acres of the Emory River and surrounding properties is more than three times bigger than originally estimated, officials of the Tennessee Valley Authority said Friday.

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN: Fire destroys home of former FEMA director Joe Allbaugh

The Southwest Austin home where Joe Allbaugh was living burned down on Christmas day. Allbaugh is the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and one-time aide to President Bush.

BUFFALO NEWS: Who will handle homeland security for the county?

LOCKPORT — The Niagara County Legislature cut a homeland defense director job out of the 2009 budget last week, but the question of who will handle homeland security chores for the county remains unsettled.

The homeland security post, which would have cost $51,608 in salary and nearly $23,000 in benefits, fell victim to a 13-6 vote to delete it at the Dec. 16 budget adoption meeting.

Legislature Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove, R-Lockport, said at the time, “We’re going to work on finding a more efficient way of providing these services. . . . We’re not committed to eliminating this position.”

Updegrove later elaborated on that. “We’re looking for a way to fulfill those duties within our existing structure,” he said.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Russian hackers target U.S., Europe for profit and politics

MOSCOW—Not long ago, the simple, anonymous thrill of exposing chinks in American software was enough of a payoff for a Russian hacker.

Today it's cash. And almost all the targets are in the United States and Europe, where Russia's notorious hackers pilfer online bank accounts, swipe social security numbers, steal credit card data and peek at e-mail log-ins and passwords as part of what some estimate to be a $100 billion-a-year global cyber-crime business.

And when it's not money that drives Russian hackers, it's politics—with the aim of accessing or disabling the computers, Web sites and security systems of governments opposed to Russian interests. That may have been the motive behind a recent attack on Pentagon computers.

ARS TECHNICA: DHS report surveys fusion center privacy concerns

In a Privacy Impact Assessment released publicly this week, the Department of Homeland Security's Privacy Office outlines the measures in place to ensure that "fusion centers" created to facilitate information sharing between law enforcement and intelligence agencies respect privacy rights. "Despite these efforts," the report concludes, "the Privacy Office has identified a number of risks to privacy presented by the fusion center program."

OREGON LIVE: Flat roofs = disaster

From where I live in Old Town I can see many flat roofs - it is part of the Old Town architecture. So what - you say?

Well, it will most likely lead to disaster for many businesses because of recent snow, rain, snow, rain and of course warmer weather. How so?

Neither the property owners nor the businesses they house are doing anything to reduce the extra load on the flat roofs. No one is making any attempt to remove the snow - while it is or was still snow - off the roofs.

NY TIMES: Prius: It’s Not Just a Car, It’s an Emergency Generator

The Prius has a new use, and it does not involve driving. The Harvard Press — which serves the Massachusetts town of Harvard as opposed to the university — reported that the car’s battery helped keep the lights on for some locals during the recent ice storms.

AP: Officials: 17 dead in Ukraine apartment gas blast

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — An explosion tore through an apartment building in southern Ukraine, killing at least 17 people and leaving dozens more trapped under the rubble, emergency officials said Thursday.

Up to 700 rescuers were searching for survivors in the wreckage of the collapsed five-story building in the Crimea peninsula resort of Yevpatoriya after a blast Wednesday caused by a suspected gas leak, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.

LAKESUN: Expanding Emergency Management

Camden County, Mo. - If all goes as planned, commissioners hope to close a 30-year lease purchase agreement in February to take over the existing Laclede Electric building on south State Highway 5.

The land and building is costing the county in the neighborhood of $420,000. Financing for the deal is being handled by Central Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the county is not required to put any money down.

The building will become the future home of the Camden County Emergency Management Department. It will also serve as an emergency shelter for residents.

Where is the real problem?

Several stories in the news lately talk about changes and reorganizations involving emergency management agencies. Reasons for the changes run from problems with the EMA to funding to more efficient government, and everything in between. The question is - where is the real problem?

Emergency management, especially at the local level, is a little understood and vastly overlooked profession, as we all know. Comments made by well-intentioned but uninformed people continue to spread the inaccuracies. Depending on who you talk to, the sheriff, fire chief, police chief, public works director, or anyone else doing a good job at the moment are the best person to run the emergency management program. Arguments are made that the EMA costs too much, even though the change in organization brings no difference in costs. If the prior EMA management did not cut the mustard (either real or perceived), the answer becomes move the EMA under someone else. Sometimes the thinking is whoever has lights on the vehicles or guns on their side are the answer.

When you dig deeper, however, the real strengths and skills a good emergency manager are overlooked. The ability to coordinate disaster reimbursements, the knowledge of federal grant regulations, or the skill to bring together vastly disparate needs are not part of the equation of who can best do the job. While sometimes the underlying reason for changes or reorganization are uncontrolled politics or poor leadership, many times it is simply a lack of understanding. The first question should be - were the decision makers and leaders properly and fully educated on what is emergency management? If we as the emergency management profession are not educating, and are willing to stand by while these situations go on without providing comment or input, then we should not be surprised at the results.

Everyone (fire, EMS, law enforcement, public works, public health, business, etc.) has an important part in the big picture. We can not let the role of emergency management get lost in the shuffle again. We must keep telling people who we are and what we do, not just to ensure that we can do our job, but to ensure that the public gets the best out of their tax dollars.

FCW: FEMA releases guideline for first responder ID cards

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has released guidance for credentialing first responders that doesn’t mandate a federal technical standard for identification cards. Instead, the agency is asking state and local agencies to voluntarily follow the rules.

GREENWOOD COMMONWEALTH: County applying for $1M grant

T.W. Cooper hopes a long shot at a $1 million federal grant for a new emergency management center hits the mark.

Cooper, Leflore County’s emergency management director, said the new building would replace two small offices in the courthouse basement.

MSNBC: Statewide emergency declared by Governor Gregoire

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. - On Christmas Eve, Gov. Chris Gregoire proclaimed a state of emergency in Washington due to the state's ongoing series of winter weather and storms.

NY TIMES: Because of Old Mix-Up, New York Police Won't Be Working at Inauguration

Police officers from across the country are being mobilized to help Washington manage crowds for Barack Obama’s inauguration, but the New York Police Department, the biggest and one of the closest and most experienced, will not be among them.

CNN: Suspected Santa gunman takes life; 6 others dead

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Police said they recovered six bodies from a Los Angeles house where a man dressed as Santa Claus fired gunshots and started a fire Christmas Eve. Bruce Jeffery Pardo was sought for a Christmas party shooting before taking his own life, police said.

Police said the suspect, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, committed suicide after the attack. In addition to the six people killed, police said three others -- Pardo's mother-in-law, father-in-law and ex-wife -- are still unaccounted for.

KENNY'S SIDESHOW: TVA dike break - Tennessee's Exxon Valdez

An environmental rape of a beautiful part of Tennessee after an economic rape of electric customers in a record earnings year by the largest public utility in the country.

ANNISTON STAR: Last nerve agent destroyed: Milestone leaves only depot's far-less-lethal blister agent weapons to be destroyed

Anniston is out of the nerve agent storage business. The final VX chemical weapons at the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility were destroyed Wednesday, leaving only the far-less-lethal blister agent weapons to be disposed of from the stockpile here.

TIMES RECORD NEWS: City looks to fill attorney and emergency-preparedness positions

Wichita Falls is also working on filling another high-profile position.

Fire Chief Earl Foster had received about 45 applications as of Monday afternoon for the position of emergency preparedness coordinator.

Jamie Moore, who came to Wichita Falls in July 2007 to work in that position, left Dec. 5 for a similar job in Denton County, Foster said.

AP: Homeland Security forecasts 5-year threat picture

WASHINGTON – The terrorism threat to the United States over the next five years will be driven by instability in the Middle East and Africa, persistent challenges to border security and increasing Internet savvy, says a new intelligence assessment obtained by The Associated Press.

KNOX NEWS: TVA working to repair damage to area after pond breach

HARRIMAN - A pair of fishermen stood in a boat casting into the waters of Watts Bar Lake a few hundred feet from the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant the afternoon of Christmas Eve, seemingly oblivious to the massive environmental cleanup on the other side of the plant or the fly ash flowing in their direction.

On Wednesday, about 30 track hoes, bulldozers, dump trucks and tanker trucks swarmed over a 400-acre site where a retention pond blew out early Monday morning, sending 1.7 million cubic yards of fly ash and water into the surrounding environs.

TRIBUNE & GEORGIAN: Emergency operations center will withstand hurricane forces

Construction workers will begin the process in January of transforming the old Kingsland post office into the most structurally sound building in the county.

The county commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to proceed with construction on the post office, which will eventually open as the new Camden County Emergency Operations Center. Once completed, the center will be able to withstand hurricane-force winds and flooding.