NewzIntel.com

Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:33PM by PIB Delhi

    An Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between India and Colombia will be signed on 15.10.2024 at 4PM at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. 

    The signatories representing India and Colombia will be Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and His Excellency Mr. Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia respectively.

    ***

    Dharmendra Tewari/Kshitij Singha

    (Release ID: 2064830) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU aid to curb the decline in fruit production in Guadeloupe – E-001962/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001962/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    André Rougé (PfE), Rody Tolassy (PfE)

    Fruit production in Guadeloupe has slumped since 2013, by about 50 %, according to a study published by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Statistical Service on 1 October 2024. Production volumes have been particularly poor since 2020: the number of producers has fallen 18% and crop areas 23% in the last three years.

    Several factors are at play here: crop areas have shrunk, diseases such as yellow dragon (also known as ‘citrus greening’) have been circulating and producers have aged. As a result, Guadeloupe has become largely dependent on imports to meet its own demands: 75 % of the fruit consumed there has been produced elsewhere.

    This state of affairs undermines Guadeloupe’s food sovereignty and the very survival of many farms. Generational renewal is insufficient to compensate for ageing producers’ departure from the industry, and climate events and diseases affect most crops except export bananas.

    Against that backdrop, is the Commission planning to take specific steps to support Guadeloupe’s farming sectors, specifically, stronger action to tackle the problem of yellow dragon disease and measures to encourage young farmers to join the industry?

    Submitted: 4.10.2024

    Last updated: 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: AUSA 2024 is HERE! | U.S. Army

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    About the U.S. Army:

    The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant:  To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

    Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
    Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

    Connect with the U.S. Army online:
    Web: https://www.army.milFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #AUSA2024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwmwpzx4mlQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Macrofinancial Stability Amid High Global Economic Uncertainty

    Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

    A panel discussion on Chapter 2 of our latest Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) with:

    – Mario Catalan, Deputy Division Chief, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF
    – Andrea Deghi, Financial Sector Expert, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, IMF
    – José de Gregorio, Dean of the School of Economics and Business at the University of Chile, and former Governor of the Central Bank of Chile and former Minister of Economy, Mining, and Energy in Chile
    – Moderator: Jeanna Smialek, Reporter, New York Times

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eOFJAy4scU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermex to Release Third Quarter 2024 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI), also known as Intermex, will release its Third Quarter 2024 earnings before the start of trading on Friday, November 8, 2024. The Intermex management team will be hosting a conference call on the same day at 9:00 am ET.

    Interested parties are invited to join the conference and gain firsthand knowledge about Intermex’s financial performance and operational achievements through the following channels:

    • A live broadcast of the conference call may be accessed via the Investor Relations section of Intermex’s website at https://investors.intermexonline.com/.
    • To participate in the live conference call via telephone, please register HERE. Upon registering, a dial-in number and unique PIN will be provided to join the conference call.
    • Following the conference call, an archived webcast of the call will be available for one year on Intermex’s website at https://investors.intermexonline.com/.

    About International Money Express, Inc.        
    Founded in 1994, Intermex applies proprietary technology enabling consumers to send money from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany to more than 60 countries. The Company provides the digital movement of money through a network of agent retailers in the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany; Company-operated stores; our mobile app; and the Company’s websites. Transactions are fulfilled and paid through thousands of retail and bank locations around the world. Intermex is headquartered in Miami, Florida, with international offices in Puebla, Mexico, Guatemala City, Guatemala, London, England, and Madrid, Spain. For more information about Intermex, please visit http://www.intermexonline.com.

    Investor Relations:
    Alex Sadowski
    Investor Relations Coordinator
    Tel: 305-671-8000
    IR@intermexusa.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs on the RCMP’s findings regarding criminal activity in Canada with connections to agents of the Government of India

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the following statement:

    Ottawa – October 14, 2024

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the following statement:

    “Earlier today, Commissioner Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Gauvin of the RCMP released findings with respect to the involvement of agents of the Government of India in serious criminal activity on Canadian soil. The RCMP took this unprecedented step in response to the fact that despite law enforcement action, the activities have continued, which pose an ongoing and significant threat to public safety, particularly to members of the Sikh and broader South Asian community in Canada.  

    I want to thank all those involved in this deeply complex investigation, including the many municipal police services with whom the RCMP has worked closely to mitigate threats to public safety throughout Canada.

    In addition to the actions taken by our independent law enforcement agencies, I am working closely with my colleague, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has taken additional actions to reduce this threat and together, we are employing every possible action to address these criminal activities, which must stop now.

    For many Canadians, particularly Indo-Canadians, this news will come as a shock.

    The actions that are alleged to have taken place on Canadian soil are a grave violation of our sovereignty and our rule of law.

    But I also hope that Canadians can find relief in knowing that our law enforcement and national security agencies are working to keep you safe and hold to account those who seek to harm our communities. I strongly encourage all Canadians and in particular, leaders in the South Asian community, to continue to work with law enforcement officials.

    For generations, people from every corner of the globe have come to Canada seeking a better life, precisely because they felt that the Canadian government would duly fulfill one their most fundamental duties – keep them safe.

    Our law enforcement and national security agencies work every day to uphold that promise, and I once again want to thank them for their work on this file.

    The Government of Canada takes the issue of foreign interference extremely seriously. We will continue to take all necessary actions to keep Canadians and those on Canadian soil safe.” 

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    343-574-8116
    Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Reminds North Carolinians to Beware of Hurricane-Related Scams

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Reminds North Carolinians to Beware of Hurricane-Related Scams

    Governor Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Reminds North Carolinians to Beware of Hurricane-Related Scams
    mseets

    Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina to recognize the ongoing importance of online safety, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which brought historic devastation to the state.

    “Storms like Helene offer prime opportunities for cybercriminals looking to take advantage of others during a crisis situation when they may have their guard down,” Governor Cooper said. “Every North Carolinian must remain vigilant about staying safe online and protecting their personal information.”

    Scammers can pose as official representatives of disaster aid organizations or charities and use phishing emails, social media messages, texts and phone calls to obtain personal and financial information and access devices and networks that hold sensitive data. Be careful with any messages that include hurricane-related subject lines, attachments or hyperlinks.

    “Our department continues to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity education and awareness,” said N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver. “We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access the internet safely and guard against cyberthreats, which can happen to anyone at any time.”

    Here are some ways you can protect yourself, your family and your workplace from online threats: 

    • Recognize, resist and delete phishing attempts. Do not click links or open attachments in suspicious messages. Always double check web and email addresses to make sure they are legitimate. If you think the message could be real, look up another way to contact the company or person directly to verify.
    • Avoid sharing personal information. Don’t send sensitive information such as passwords, account numbers and Social Security Numbers over email, text or chat.
    • Make passwords long, random and unique. Strong passwords should be at least 16 characters and include a random string of mixed-case letters, numbers and symbols. Use a different strong password for each account. Password managers can generate strong passwords and remember them for you.
    • Enable multifactor authentication for every account or app that offers it. Multifactor authentication requires you to enter more information than just a password, such as a text code or fingerprint.
    • Update software. Make sure your devices are running the latest version of operating systems, software and web browsers. When notified about updates, be sure to install them as soon as possible or turn on automatic updates to install updates without any input as soon as they are available.

    The N.C. Department of Information Technology, along with other state, local and federal partners, works to protect North Carolina’s government IT systems, data and assets against cyberthreats.

    In addition, NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity has launched a series of grant programs that have awarded $44 million to date to ensure North Carolinians can access and afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and safely and effectively navigate today’s digital world.

    NCDIT will share tips and information on social media using hashtags #SecureOurWorld and #CyberSecureNC throughout the month. More information about online safety is available at it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC.

    Read the proclamation.

    ###

    Oct 14, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Individual Assistance Now Available for Virginians in Scott County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    strong>BRISTOL, Va. — Residents of Scott County, Virginia are now eligible to apply for assistance from FEMA under the Individual Assistance Program. FEMA assistance can help with costs from damage and losses due to Tropical Storm Helene.  

    Residents of the cities of Galax and Radford, as well as Bedford, Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties, remain eligible for assistance. 

    FEMA may be able to help you pay for essential items, temporary housing, home repairs and other needs due to the disaster, including:

    • Essential items such as water, food, first aid, prescriptions, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, diapers, medical supplies and equipment, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation;
    • Financial assistance to help pay for hotel stays, stays with family and friends, or other options while you look for a rental unit as well as rental assistance if you are displaced because of the disaster;
    • Repair or replacement of a vehicle, appliances, room furnishings, personal or family computer;
    • Books, uniforms, tools, computers and other items required for school or work, including self-employment; and
    • Moving and storage fees, medical expenses, childcare and funeral expenses.

    For more information about the types of FEMA assistance available under the Individual Assistance Program, visit: fema.gov/ia.

    You can apply for disaster assistance today: 

    To watch an accessible video about how to apply, visit FEMA Accessible: Registering for Individual Assistance – YouTube.

    FEMA has set up a rumor response webpage to clarify our role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response | FEMA.gov. 

    For more information on Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit vaemergency.gov,  the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Facebook page , fema.gov/disaster/4831 and facebook.com/FEMA.  

    ###

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3.

    To apply for FEMA assistance, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, or download and apply on the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages). Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Announce $37 Million in Federal Funds for Oregon to Replace Unsafe Drinking Water Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    October 14, 2024
    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $37 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace lead and copper water pipes across Oregon that have been known to cause serious health issues.
    “The science is clear – there is no safe level of lead in drinking water,” Wyden said. “I am very grateful to see more than $37 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law ensure that Oregonians always have access to clean drinking water in our schools, homes, and places of work. This funding proves that investing in infrastructure means investing in the health and wellbeing of Oregonians for generations to come.”
    “Oregonians in every corner of the state should be able to turn on their tap without fear of lead contamination in their drinking water,” Merkley said. “These federal funds will allow for the replacement of lead pipes around the state and improve our water infrastructure systems—a top concern I hear about in the town halls I hold in every county in Oregon. I’ll continue to do all I can ensure every community in Oregon and across the U.S. has reliable access to safe, clean drinking water.”
    The federal investment is through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and is intended to help replace all lead water pipes from Oregon’s water supply within the next 10 years.
    Wyden and Merkley have long been champions for more resources to address aging water infrastructure. In May, Wyden and Merkley announced $5.5 million to replace aging water delivery infrastructure in communities across Oregon. In addition, the senators have supported water pollution monitoring and wastewater upgrade projects for communities and tribes across Oregon. As chair of the Energy and Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water and Power, Wyden helped lead a coordinated set of hearings last year on drinking water issues to identify the federal and state jurisdictional areas that prevent addressing aging water infrastructure.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Watauga County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Watauga County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Watauga County

    RALEIGH, N.C. –  A Disaster Recovery Center is opening Tuesday, Oct. 15 in Boone (Watauga County) to assist North Carolina survivors who experienced loss from Helene. 

    The Watauga County DRC is located at:  

    Appalachian Enterprise Center
    130 Poplar Grove Connector 
    Boone, N.C. 28607
    Open: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday

    A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a one-stop shop where survivors can meet face-to-face with FEMA representatives, apply for FEMA assistance, receive referrals to local assistance in their area, apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans and much more.  

    FEMA financial assistance may include money for basic home repairs, personal property losses or other uninsured, disaster-related needs, such as childcare, transportation, medical needs, funeral or dental expenses. 

    Centers are already open in Asheville, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva. To find those center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Additional recovery centers will be opening soon. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology.   

    Homeowners and renters in 27 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can visit any open center, including locations in other states. No appointment is needed.  

    It is not necessary to go to a center to apply for FEMA assistance. The fastest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA app. You may also call 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service, such as video relay, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. 

    For the latest information about North Carolina recovery, visit Hurricane Helene | NC DPS or fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    barbara.murien…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ron DeSantis Awards $9.5 Million and Other State Assistance to SeaPort Manatee for Repairs After Hurricane Damage

    Source: US State of Florida

    PALMETTO, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of $9.5 million to SeaPort Manatee to jumpstart its recovery and help repair impacted infrastructure following significant damage caused by Hurricane Milton. SeaPort Manatee is the primary deep-water seaport in Southwest Florida. It receives fuel, fruits and vegetables, appliances, construction materials, and wood for distribution across Southwest Florida and the Southeast.

    Following Hurricane Milton, initial damage assessments indicated potential losses of $225 million at SeaPort Manatee. While many of the port’s losses are insured, some components are not. Damage to the port includes the loss of 10 out of 13 on-site warehouses, 3 of the ten port-owned docking facilities, and widespread damage to port offices.

    “This action to get SeaPort Manatee back to full operations will benefit the people of Florida, ensure the hardening of our infrastructure for future disasters, and ensure normal life is resumed for Floridians as soon as possible,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Taking action to address these impacts now is imperative to keep Florida on the road to recovery.”

    This investment will include:

    • $5.5 million for emergency berth repairs and dredging in state waters;
    • $3.5 million for immediate security needs and access control; and,
    • $500,000 to support planning activities for fortifying port infrastructure.

    In addition to this funding, Governor DeSantis directed several state agencies to step in and assist the port to expedite recovery efforts. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will provide subject matter experts and skilled workers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will expedite all permits for the immediate rebuild of port infrastructure, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) will provide support in navigating the FEMA award process. The Florida National Guard will also provide personnel to reestablish perimeter security and assist in repairing the port fence.

    “With the major impact that seaports have on our state’s economy and the quality of life for our residents, it’s critical that we ensure our seaports are open and fully operational, particularly SeaPort Manatee given the significant damage they sustained following Hurricane Milton,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “Thank you to Governor Ron DeSantis, our state agency partners, and all our seaport partners as we work together to ensure Florida’s seaports stay open for business.”

    For every state dollar invested in seaport infrastructure, the expected return on investment for the state is seven dollars in state and local taxes. In 2023, SeaPort Manatee supported 42,094 U.S. jobs, generated $275 million in state and local taxes, and contributed $7.3 billion in economic value to the U.S. economy.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Vice President Harris Travels to the U.S. Border

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    In September, Vice President Harris traveled to Arizona for official briefings on the latest work to secure the southern border and operations to stop the flow of illegal fentanyl into our country.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymt9z4QnqKs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Houchin and Congressman Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Financial Abuse

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Erin Houchin (Indiana 09)

    Washington, D.C. — Recently, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-9) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) introduced the Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act, a bipartisan effort to address the growing issue of coerced debt and financial exploitation. The proposed task force aims to develop a comprehensive approach to combat financial abuse, protect victims, and prevent future incidents.

    Coerced debt occurs when one individual in an abusive relationship accumulates debt in their partner’s name without their knowledge or consent. This form of financial abuse can leave victims trapped with ruined credit, overwhelming debt, and limited financial options, even after escaping an abusive situation.

    “Addressing coerced debt requires a coordinated effort that goes beyond just tackling financial exploitation; it touches on abuse, consumer protection, and the ability to live free from financial control,” said Congresswoman Houchin. “The Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act will provide a roadmap to better understand the scope of this problem and develop real solutions to help victims break free and rebuild their lives.”

    “Far too many survivors are trapped in abusive relationships where their spouse or significant other has run up the bills on credit cards or auto loans – often without their knowledge. As a result, they face destroyed credit, substantial payment expectations, debt collection, and even, bankruptcy. Financial abuse is often the last chain that binds a survivor to their abuser. This new Interagency Task Force on Financial Abuse will bring together relevant federal agencies and external stakeholders to address this crisis head on,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “When we protect survivors from financial abuse, we don’t just restore their credit — we restore their freedom and their future.”

    The Task Force to End Financial Abuse Act represents a critical step toward breaking the cycle of financial control that affects so many victims of domestic abuse. Congresswoman Houchin and Congressman Gottheimer are committed to advancing this legislation, ensuring that survivors have the support they need and preventing future financial abuse.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Tillis, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reform FEMA Individual Assistance Programs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –?Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Gary Peters (D-MI)?introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance program. This bill would improve how FEMA provides assistance to individuals to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a disaster. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there were 28 weather and climate disasters in 2023, surpassing the previous record of 22 in 2020, and with a price tag of at least $92.9 billion in recovery costs.   
    “It’s past time we end the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to disaster relief and cut the red tape that prevents many communities from accessing the relief they desperately need,” said Senator Tillis.“This common-sense legislation provides greater flexibility for communities in need, saves tax-payer dollars, and helps communities recover faster.” 
    “Severe weather and natural disasters are becoming more frequent, more catastrophic and more costly, leaving people across the country in need of swift federal resources to help assist their recovery,” said Senator Peters. “My commonsense bipartisan legislation would reform the FEMA disaster assistance process and improve how the agency provides assistance to individuals for home repairs, disaster housing, and mitigation activities.” 
    BACKGROUND
    The bipartisan Disaster Survivors Fairness Act would reform individual federal disaster assistance programs to best support survivors. The bill would provide FEMA with new authorities to increase its ability to fund disaster mitigation projects and expand support to homeowners. The bill would also enable FEMA to reimburse states that implement their own innovative post-disaster housing solutions and bolster development of post-disaster solutions for renters. The bill requires FEMA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to complete a series of reports and studies that would identify additional challenges regarding the administration of post-disaster assistance for survivors and boost transparency. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kaltura to Announce Financial Results for Third Quarter 2024 on Wednesday, November 6, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kaltura, Inc. (Nasdaq: KLTR), the video experience cloud, today announced it will release its third quarter financial results for the period ended September 30, 2024, before market open on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

    Kaltura will host a conference call to review its third quarter 2024 financial results and discuss its financial outlook.

    Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
    Time: 8:00 a.m. ET
    United States/Canada Toll Free: 1-877-407-0789
    International Toll: +1- 201-689-8562
       

    A live and archived webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of Kaltura’s website at: https://investors.kaltura.com/news-and-events/events

    About Kaltura
    Kaltura’s mission is to power any video experience for any organization. Our Video Experience Cloud offers live, real-time, and on-demand video products for enterprises of all industries, as well as specialized industry solutions, currently for educational institutions and for media and telecom companies. Underlying our products and solutions is a broad set of Media Services that are also used by other cloud platforms and companies to power video experiences and workflows for their own products. Kaltura’s Video Experience Cloud is used by leading brands reaching millions of users, at home, at school and at work, for communication, collaboration, training, marketing, sales, customer care, teaching, learning, virtual events, and entertainment experiences. For more information, visit http://www.corp.kaltura.com.

    Investor Contacts:
    Kaltura, Inc.
    John Doherty
    Chief Financial Officer
    IR@Kaltura.com

    Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
    Erica Mannion and Michael Funari
    IR@Kaltura.com
    +1 617 542 6180

    Media Contacts:
    Kaltura, Inc.
    Lisa Bennett
    pr.team@kaltura.com

    Headline Media
    Raanan Loew
    raanan@headline.media
    +1 347 897 9276

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Gaza: Medical care under fire UPCOMING EVENT Oct 15, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    Palestinian Territories 2023 © Pierre Fromentin/MSF

    UPCOMING EVENT

    Palestinian Territories 2023 © Pierre Fromentin/MSF

    October 15, 2024

    1:00PM-1:45PM ET

    Event type: Live online

    October 15, 2024 | 1:00PM-1:45PM ET

    Gaza: Medical care under fire

    We invite you to join us for a live online event on Tuesday, October 15, from 1:00-1:45 pm ET, with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) aid workers reflecting on the catastrophic health impacts of the war in Gaza.

    MSF teams were already active providing medical care in Gaza when conflict escalated following the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7. In response, the Israeli government launched a ferocious military offensive on Gaza. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been injured, and some 1.9 million people have been displaced–often multiple times. Much of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble.

    MSF staff are providing urgent medical care even while facing the personal impacts of the war themselves–the deaths of loved ones, destruction of their homes, and constant dangers everywhere. Hospitals and health facilities have repeatedly come under fire or been forced to evacuate. The medical needs are exploding, including the spread of infectious diseases and the risk of starvation.

    Join us for a conversation with Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, emergency physician and former medical team leader in Gaza, and Dr. Amber Alayyan, pediatrician and medical program manager for MSF in Palestine, Afghanistan and Haiti. Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, MSF deputy medical coordinator in Gaza, will share testimony directly from Khan Younis, and Avril Benoît, MSF USA chief executive officer, will moderate the live discussion. Together they will bear witness to this unfolding emergency and reflect on the medical challenges ahead.

    Meet the speakers

    Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim

    Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim is an emergency physician and was president of MSF UK from 2017-2021. Born and raised in the UK to Sudanese Iranian parents, Javid volunteered with MSF as a medical student, and later joined MSF as an aid worker for his first assignment to Iraq. Since then, he has worked for MSF in conflict zones, crises and disease outbreaks around the world. He has completed assignments in Ukraine, Haiti, Lebanon/Syria, South Sudan, Sierra Leone (for Ebola), and on the Mediterranean Sea on one of MSF’s search and rescue vessels. Most recently, he worked as an emergency medical team leader in Gaza. 

    Dr. Amber Alayyan

    Dr. Amber Alayyan is a pediatrician and international public health consultant with over 20 years of experience in health care in conflict and post-conflict zones particularly in the Middle East, as well as malnutrition and environmental health in conflict settings. She currently works as MSF’s medical program manager for Afghanistan, Palestine, and Haiti and previously managed medical programs for Peru, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq. In her current role, she manages the medical operational strategy and activities in the West Bank and Gaza. These activities include burn and trauma surgery and multi-disciplinary pre/post-operative care, pediatric inpatient care, antibiotic resistance management, primary health care, mental health, and sexual and gender-based violence. Her work with MSF over the past 13 years includes assignments in the Central African Republic, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan/Syria, Turkey/Syria, Lebanon, Croatia and Greece.

    Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib

    Dr. Mohammed (Abu Abed) Abu Mughaisib is the deputy medical coordinator for MSF’s operations in Palestine. He holds degrees in both medicine and mental health and has worked with MSF for nearly 23 years. Last fall, he was forced to flee his home in Gaza City, and was displaced multiple times thereafter. While his wife and children managed to cross the border into Egypt, Abu Abed continues to provide lifesaving care as a critical member of our project team in Palestine. 

    Avril Benoît

    Avril Benoît is the chief executive officer of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States (MSF USA). She has worked with the international medical humanitarian organization since 2006 in various operational management and executive leadership roles, most recently as the director of communications and development at MSF’s operational center in Geneva, a position she held from November 2015 until June 2019. Throughout her career with MSF, Avril has contributed to major movement-wide initiatives, including the global mobilization to end attacks on hospitals and health workers. She has worked as a country director and project coordinator for MSF, leading operations to provide aid to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Mauritania, South Sudan, and South Africa. Avril’s strategic analysis and communications assignments have taken her to countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Haiti, Iraq, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. From 2006 to 2012, Avril served as director of communications with MSF Canada. Prior to joining MSF, Avril had a distinguished 20-year career as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in Canada. She was a documentary producer and radio host with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), reporting from Kenya, Burundi, India, and Brazil on HIV stigma, rapid urbanization, sexual violence in conflict, and political inclusion of women, among numerous other assignments and topics. Recent articles: Surge of humanity needed for migrants and refugees  

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    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Selin, Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University

    President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the effects of Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    Rumors and lies about government responses to natural disasters are not new. Politics, misinformation and blame-shifting have long surrounded government response efforts.

    When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, for example, rumors and misinformation both originated from and were spread by government, news and individual user accounts on social media. And after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, rumors about the storm were so widespread that even CNN’s live coverage of the event was inaccurate.

    Those rumors don’t usually come from former presidents. Yet in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, former President Donald Trump spread falsehoods about the federal government’s response to the disaster. Misinformation on the topic became so widespread that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, set up a webpage to debunk the rumors spawned by Trump.

    President Joe Biden responded angrily, calling the falsehoods that Trump and his followers spread “reckless, irresponsible” and “disturbing.” He also suggested Trump’s claims undermined the rescue and recovery work being done by local, state and federal authorities.

    Disaster relief often becomes political because so many people are affected – and because there is a lot of media coverage surrounding hurricanes, floods and other major weather events. Additionally, relief requires a lot of money and coordination by high-profile elected officials.

    The rhetoric around federal emergency management is made only more complicated because most people do not know that much about the federal law that governs disaster relief. Indeed, even state and local officials find navigating the details of the law and accompanying regulations difficult.

    And finally, the law’s design and the timing of hurricane season can lead to politicization. Elected officials – politicians – are always involved in coordinating government response efforts, adding a layer of politics to disaster relief. The fact that hurricane and election seasons coincide only heightens the politics of such relief.

    Former President Donald Trump saying falsely that the Biden administration “stole a billion dollars” meant for disaster relief and used it to help immigrants.

    Explaining government responses to natural disasters

    The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended and now known as the Stafford Act, is the law that governs how the federal government responds to natural disasters and other emergencies.

    But the act does not guarantee federal assistance to the communities affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters.

    Instead, the governor of an affected state or the chief executive of an affected tribal government must ask the president for a disaster declaration. The request can be made before or after a storm hits but must show that the disaster is of such a severity and magnitude that the state, local or tribal governments cannot respond on their own.

    Responding to such requests, Biden issued declarations covering eight states before and after Helene. He also issued a declaration for the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida in response to Milton.

    After the president issues a declaration, the federal government can begin to assist state, local and tribal governments. This includes coordinating all disaster relief assistance – from evacuations to recovery – provided by federal agencies, private organizations such as the Red Cross, and state and local governments.

    Federal assistance can be financial or logistical. It covers everything from help repairing roads and restoring utility services to providing assistance and services, such as temporary housing, legal services and crisis counseling, to the people who have been affected by the disaster.

    The number of federal agencies and employees involved in disaster relief is astounding. For example, thousands of federal personnel from FEMA, the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation are helping respond to Helene and Milton.

    Several state and local officials also play key roles after a disaster declaration. Each state’s governor or tribe’s chief executive serves as the leading official for coordination of state and federal efforts. That person also designates an officer to serve as a liaison between the federal government and the state or tribe. And in each affected community, a local elected official leads the response on the ground. This is usually a city or town’s mayor.

    Federalism in action

    Implementation of the Stafford Act requires cooperative, healthy relationships between the president, federal agencies and state, local and tribal governments.

    When done well, government disaster response is a prime example of what’s called “federalism” in action. Federalism involves the sharing of power between the national and state governments. The framers of the United States Constitution created this system of shared power so that the national government could solve coordination and capacity problems among the states, and the state governments could respond to the nuances of local circumstances.

    In response to state government requests in the wake of Hurricane Helene, for example, Biden directed federal efforts to help those most affected. The federal government’s response has so far included working with over 450 state and local officials to ensure that those affected by the hurricane have everything from housing assistance to financial support for medical and funeral expenses.

    Politics in the mix

    The very things that the framers designed the federalist constitutional system to do, however, can create opportunities for political manipulation. The Stafford Act creates a system of emergency management that is highly decentralized and responsive to local needs.

    But that decentralization also means that, because of their different perspectives, the officials involved in disaster response prioritize different things, which can lead to conflict.

    For example, various officials involved in the response to Hurricane Helene have advocated for federal resources such as money and personnel to go toward restoring utilities, law enforcement, fire, health, communications and transportation services. How can the national government possibly choose between all of these necessary services?

    Everything is made more complicated because, as studies have shown, on average, the officials in charge of making such decisions – elected officials and their appointees – have less experience in government than the career civil servants who work on a daily basis with the people affected by natural disasters.

    As a result, the Stafford Act’s decision to place elected officials and their appointees in charge of emergency management could reduce the quality of government response.

    Members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task force search a flood-damaged area in Asheville, N.C., in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 4, 2024.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Debating size and role of government

    Elected officials’ different political leanings add another wrinkle. Debates over disaster response often reflect larger political debates such as those over the size and role of government.

    The history of the Stafford Act provides an illustrative example. Traditionally, disaster relief was the responsibility of state and local government. But a series of natural disasters, including the Alaska earthquake in 1964 and hurricanes Betsy in 1965 and Camille in 1969, were so large in scale that the federal government had to step in and help.

    In the aftermath of Camille, accusations of racial discrimination in the relief process and partisan squabbling over who was to blame for the ineffectiveness of the government’s response to the disaster mounted. Media and congressional attention on government mismanagement of the relief effort created a window for the expansion of the federal government’s role in the process and ultimately led to the passage of the first version of the Stafford Act.

    Fast-forward 35 years and many of the same issues – racial discrimination, government mismanagement and politicization of relief – arose in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Media and congressional attention led to legislation that amended the Stafford Act and restructured FEMA and how the federal government responds to state and tribal requests for assistance.

    Trump’s lies are from the same playbook – false claims about money being diverted to migrants and that relief efforts are being used only to help areas where Democrats live.

    Yet the devastation left by Helene and Milton do raise questions about local and federal coordination in preparation for and response to natural disasters and has led to calls for Congress to pass reforms to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness in government responses to natural disasters. Whether this reform is possible in such a contentious political climate remains an open question.

    Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government.

    – ref. Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide – https://theconversation.com/why-femas-disaster-relief-gets-political-especially-when-hurricane-season-and-election-season-collide-241092

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This year’s Nobel prize in economics awarded to team that examined what makes some countries rich and others poor

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

    Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson Nobel Prize Outreach

    The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to three US-based economists who examined the advantages of democracy and the rule of law, and why they are strong in some countries and not others.

    Daron Acemoglu is a Turkish-American economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Simon Johnson is a British economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and James Robinson is a British-American economist at the University of Chicago.

    The citation awards the prize “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity”, making it an award for research into politics and sociology as much as economics.

    At a time when democracy appears to be losing support, the Nobel committee has rewarded work that demonstrates that, on average, democratic countries governed by the rule of law have wealthier citizens.


    Johan Jarnestad/Nobel Prize Outreach

    The committee says the richest 20% of the world’s countries are now around 30 times richer than the poorest 20%. Moreover, the income gap is persistent; although the poorest countries have become richer, they are not catching up with the most prosperous.

    Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson have connected this difference to differences in institutions, and they find this derives from differences in the behaviour of European colonisers in different parts of the world centuries ago.

    The denser the indigenous population, the greater the resistance that could be expected and the fewer European settlers moved there. On the other hand, the large indigenous population – once defeated – ofered lucrative opportunities for cheap labour.

    This meant the institutions focused on benefiting a small elite at the expense of the wider population. There were no elections and limited political rights.



    Read more:
    Sidelined no longer, Claudia Goldin wins the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for examining why gender pay gaps persist

    In the places that were more sparsely populated and offered less resistance, more colonisers settled and established inclusive institutions that incentivised hard work and led to demands for political rights.

    The committee says, paradoxically, this means the parts of the colonised world that were the most prosperous around 500 years ago are now relatively poor. Prosperity was greater in Mexico under the Aztecs than it was at the same time in the part of North America that is now called Canada and the United States.


    Johan Jarnestad/Nobel Prize Outreach

    More so than in previous years, this year’s winners have written for the public as well as the profession. Acemoglu and Robinson are probably best known for their 2013 best-seller Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty.(It has pictures and no equations.)

    Last year Acemoglu and Johnson published Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity.

    In May this year Acemoglu wrote about artificial intelligence, putting forward the controversial position that its effects on productivity would be “nontrivial but modest”, which is another way of saying “tiny”. Its effect on wellbeing might be even smaller and it was unlikely to reduce inequality.

    Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

    This year’s award makes the cohort of Nobel winners a little less US-dominated.

    Although all three are currently working at American universities, Acemoglu is from Turkey and the others are British. There is even an Australian link. Robinson taught economics at The University of Melbourne between 1992 and 1995.

    Winning the prize is life-changing for more reasons than the 11 million Swedish kroner (about $A 1.5 million) the winners share. As Nobel winners, they will have a higher profile. Their opinions will be accorded more respect by most but not all.

    Sixteen former winners recently issued a widely reported statement saying they were “deeply concerned about the risks of a second Trump administration for the US economy”. Rather than address their arguments, the Trump campaign called them “worthless out-of-touch Nobel prize winners”.

    The new winners might get the same treatment. Johnson has critiqued Trump’s proposal to raise tariffs. Acemoglu has called Trump “a threat to democracy”.

    John Hawkins does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. This year’s Nobel prize in economics awarded to team that examined what makes some countries rich and others poor – https://theconversation.com/this-years-nobel-prize-in-economics-awarded-to-team-that-examined-what-makes-some-countries-rich-and-others-poor-240890

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina

    Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
    mseets

    An unprecedented response to damage caused by Hurricane Helene continues in Western North Carolina. State, federal and local response workers are working around the clock to surge assistance into the region.

    Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and will resume door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.

    “State, federal and local response workers, including FEMA, are working around the clock to bring assistance to western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that significant misinformation online contributes to threats against response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be a priority. At my direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is helping partners like FEMA to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure their safety and security as they continue their important work.”

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    Approximately 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $96 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 160,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 4,600 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

    1,000+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 135 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Shelters

    A total of 13 shelters are open in Western North Carolina supporting over 560 people.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, approximately 19,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region.

    NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for those traveling in the region. North Carolinians can visit DriveNC.Gov for the latest roadway conditions. NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.

    Volunteers and Donations

    Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is difficult. Consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    • If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
    • For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 14, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Justice visits New River Gorge National Park & Preserve to celebrate continued growth and investment

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    LANSING, WV — Gov. Jim Justice visited New River Gorge National Park & Preserve to celebrate continued growth and investment. Additionally, Gov. Justice announced that this year’s Bridge Day attendance is expected to reach record numbers.

    As West Virginia’s largest single-day festival, Bridge Day attracts thousands to the New River Gorge Bridge each third Saturday in October for thrilling base-jumping, rappelling, and various festivities.

    To accommodate the growing visitation numbers of Bridge Day and the New River Gorge National Park, Gov. Justice cut the ribbon on an expanded parking facility for the Endless Wall Trail. This new parking lot will enhance safety and accessibility for visitors, allowing for a smoother experience as they explore one of the park’s most popular hiking destinations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center to Open Oct. 15 in Unicoi County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center to Open Oct. 15 in Unicoi County

    Disaster Recovery Center to Open Oct. 15 in Unicoi County

    A Disaster Recovery Center will open Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Unicoi County to help Tennessee survivors who had damage or losses from Tropical Storm Helene.

    The center is located at:

    National Guard Armory/Unicoi Emergency Operations Center 
    615 South Main Ave. 
    Erwin, TN 37650
    Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday to Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. ET Sunday

    Additional centers are opening soon. To find one near you, go to fema.gov/drc.

    The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is Monday, Dec. 2. Here are the ways to apply:

    • Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
    • Use the FEMA mobile app
    • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to midnight ET seven days a week, and specialists speak many languages. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.

    To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance – YouTube.

    FEMA programs are accessible to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

    Help Also Available at Multi-Agency Resource Centers

    The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, or TEMA, has opened three Multi-Agency Resource Centers, where you can speak with representatives from TEMA; FEMA; the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Department of Safety and Homeland Security-Driver Services; the American Red Cross; the U.S. Small Business Administration; Veterans Services and other organizations.

    These centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday-Friday and noon to 5 p.m. ET Sunday in:

    • Elizabethton: 1749 Hwy 19 East, Elizabethton, TN 37643
    • Jonesborough: 306 Forest Drive, Jonesborough, TN 37659
    • * Newport: 466 Learning Road, Newport, TN 37821
      • * Depending on the navigation service you are using, the address may show up as 466 Learning Way.

    kwei.nwaogu

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement from President Joe  Biden on the Passing of Lilly  Ledbetter

    Source: The White House

    Lilly Ledbetter was a fearless leader and advocate for equal pay. Her fight began on the factory floor and reached the Supreme Court and Congress, and she never stopped fighting for all Americans to be paid what they deserve. Before she was a household name, Lilly was like so many other women in the workforce: she worked hard, with dignity, only to find out she was being paid less than a man for the same work.

    Because of Lilly’s tireless efforts, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act—a critical step forward in the fight to close the gender and racial wage gaps—became the first bill signed in the Obama-Biden Administration. It was an honor to stand with Lilly as the bill that bears her name was made law.

    Lilly’s decades of relentless advocacy inspired us all and have brought us closer to living up to our Nation’s core values of equality and fairness. Vice President Harris and I remain committed to building on Lilly’s legacy and to strengthening equal pay protections for all workers.

    Jill and I send our love and condolences to Lilly’s family and all of the women she empowered and continues to inspire.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement by President Joe  Biden Marking One Year Since the Killing of Wadee  Alfayoumi

    Source: The White House

    On October 14th, one year ago today, six-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, a bright and cheerful American Muslim boy of Palestinian descent, was brutally killed in his family’s home in Plainfield, Illinois. The attacker also repeatedly stabbed and seriously wounded Wadee’s mother, Hanan Shaheen, resulting in murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges in Illinois. After this heinous attack, Jill and I spoke with their family, as did Vice President Harris. We joined Americans from across the country in expressing our horror and offering our condolences and prayers.

    One year later, we continue to think about them. We are grateful for Hanan’s recovery and her powerful voice for peace. But we know the hole in their heart that remains without their beloved son. Days like this are hard because it brings it all back. We keep them in our hearts.

    On this day, let us all take steps that honor Wadee’s memory and reaffirm together that there is no place for hate in America, including hatred of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims. We can all reject hatred and expose misinformation and disinformation that is cynically aimed at turning us against one another. We can all reach across divides of background and belief to create greater understanding and unity in our country. No one in this country should be subjected to violence or hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric simply because of who they are. No one of any background in this country should be made to feel unsafe in America.  

    Today, we also reaffirm our commitment to mobilize government to counter hate in all its forms. In May 2021, I signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which includes the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act, to enhance hate crime data collection and provide community-centered solutions to assist hate crime victims and their communities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has elevated hate crimes and criminal civil rights violations to its highest-level national threat priority, which has increased the resources for hate crimes prevention and investigations and made hate crimes a focus for all of the Bureau’s field offices. My Administration will continue to spare no effort in countering hate in all its forms.

    Together, we must work to end acts of senseless violence and stand united in support of all of our fellow Americans, no matter their race, ethnicity, or creed. May we summon the courage and the strength to do so. 

    May God bless Wadee Alfayoumi and his family.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Takes New Actions to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab  Hate

    Source: The White House

    Over the past year, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to take action to fight hatred and violence against Muslim and Arab communities. Members of these communities, including Palestinian Americans, have been murdered or wounded in hate-fueled attacks; shot and subjected to other assaults as they simply walked down streets; bullied at schools, including by having their religious head coverings ripped off; and denied jobs, harassed, or demoted at work merely because of their faith or ethnicity.

    President Biden and Vice President Harris are leading efforts to bring about much-needed change and have repeatedly condemned such violence, discrimination, and bias. These efforts are part of a larger Administration initiative to counter hate in all its forms, to keep every community safe, to promote equal justice, and to afford all Americans a fair shot at success. For generations, Muslim and Arab Americans have contributed to the enrichment and prosperity of our nation through their public, military, and community service, in addition to many other invaluable contributions. And like all Americans, they are entitled to the promise and opportunities of our great nation.

    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is highlighting some actions taken as part of its forthcoming National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Hatred Against Arabs in the United States, including important steps to address daily concerns regarding safety and discrimination, as well as issues related to travel. The Administration will continue to lead a whole-of-government and a whole-of society effort to counter hate.

    Completed executive branch actions that are part of the forthcoming Strategy include:

    Improving Safety and Security

    • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) have completed an unclassified assessment on violent threats facing Muslim and Arab communities in the United States. The assessment will be published this week, and is the first of what will be an annual assessment by these agencies regarding threats facing these communities.
    • Since 2021, DOJ has awarded over $100 million in grants to law enforcement and prosecution agencies, community-based organizations, and civil rights groups to address hate crimes through outreach, investigations, prosecutions, community awareness and preparedness, reporting, hotlines, and victim services. This figure includes nearly $30 million in grants announced last month.
    • DOJ continues to support law enforcement agencies’ transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Beginning in January 2021, NIBRS became the national standard for law enforcement crime data reporting in the United States and the transition to NIBRS represented a significant improvement in how reported crime is measured and estimated by the federal government. Since 2015, DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the FBI have provided more than $150 million to law enforcement agencies and state Uniform Crime Programs to support their transitions to NIBRS.
    • The DOJ Civil Rights Division continues to prosecute Islamophobic and other hate crimes, including hate crimes directed at students on campus. Last week, a New Jersey man pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday and damaging and destroying religious artifacts because of the Islamic faith of those associated with the facility.
    • DOJ’s United Against Hate initiative, led by all 94 United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs), combats unlawful acts of hate by teaching community members how to identify, report, and help prevent hate crimes and by building trust between law enforcement and communities. To date, at least 45 USAOs have engaged directly with Muslim communities.
    • Attorney General Garand directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and all 94 USAOs across the country to work with local law enforcement and community leaders to protect communities from hate-fueled violence in the last year and recently reaffirmed DOJ’s commitment to combat the disturbing rise in the volume and frequency of threats against Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian as well as Jewish communities here in the United States. DOJ created a webpage aimed at raising awareness of resources for addressing these threats, and it will continue to publicize its efforts.
    • During the September 2024 Protecting Places of Worship Week of Action, the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships hosted workshops to encourage partnerships to take collective action against hate-based violence, including Islamophobic violence and hate crimes against Arabs. This emphasis included promotion of a guide to applying for Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding.
    • DHS has announced that it will distribute $210 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds as the second tranche of additional funding the Biden-Harris Administration secured to protect faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations against targeted attacks. This funding opportunity will be made available in late October.

    Tackling Discrimination and Bias

    • The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has published the Workplace Rights Federal Toolkit, a compilation of resources for employees of the federal government regarding their workplace rights, including information about their rights to nondiscrimination and religious accommodation.
    • The Department of Labor sent a letter to American Job Centers and other public workforce entities reminding them about their legal obligations to enforce prohibitions on discrimination based on actual or perceived religion, shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics — including Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and related forms of discrimination – in federally funded activities and programs. The letter also included a fact sheet with examples of these forms of discrimination in the workforce development system.
    • DOJ issued a fact sheet titled Confronting Discrimination Based on Religion in Schools: A Resource for Students and Families, which discusses scenarios involving students’ rights to pray and wear religious attire in schools.
    • ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Fact Sheet on Harassment based on Race, Color, or National Origin on School Campuses, reminding schools of their federal civil rights obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to take prompt and effective action to respond to harassment that creates a hostile environment. ED OCR continues to investigate and resolve claims of shared ancestry discrimination under Title VI at schools. For example, ED OCR recently entered into a resolution agreement with the Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan to address concerns about a hostile environment for students based on shared Muslim/Arab Palestinian ancestry.
    • The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a letter to the over 200 federally-funded Fair Housing Initiatives Programs and Fair Housing Assistance Programs on how to identify and counter Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and related forms of bias and discrimination in housing. Also, HUD created a webpage on protections against housing discrimination on the basis of religion, shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics, which include the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    • The Department of Transportation (DOT) provided a number of resources related to travelers’ rights and opportunities to file a complaint when there may be an instance of discrimination by airlines or recipients of federal funding, including discrimination on the basis of religion or national origin. The Passengers’ Right to Fly Free from Discrimination is a guide designed to explain DOT’s role in protecting aviation passengers from unlawful discrimination. Similarly, the Guidance for Airline Personnel on Non-discrimination in Air Travel assists airline personnel in understanding their legal obligations not to discriminate against passengers. For example, this guidance notes that it is impermissible to remove a passenger from a flight simply because he is holding a book that appears to be a Quran.
    • DOJ sent a letter to state, county, and municipal officials reminding them of the obligation of public officials to comply with the land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and to inform them about documents issued by DOJ that may be of assistance to them in applying this federal civil rights law. RLUIPA is a federal law that protects people and religious institutions from discriminatory and overly burdensome land use regulations. For example, DOJ recently filed a complaint and consent decree in United States v. Hendricks County, settling allegations that Hendricks County violated RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act by twice unlawfully denying zoning approval to an Islamic educational organization that sought to develop a religious seminary, school, and housing on land in Hendricks County.
    • Some Americans, including many Muslims and Arabs, have documented how financial institutions use de-risking, a practice to terminate or restrict business relationships indiscriminately with broad categories of clients rather than analyzing and managing the risks of clients in a targeted manner. To help address de-risking, the U.S. Treasury Department has published its National De-Risking Strategy. The Treasury Department also has issued a proposed rule to improve the effectiveness of how banks manage potential risks associated with anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism in a risk-based manner, while avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches that can lead to financial institutions declining to provide financial services to entire categories of customers.

    Addressing Issues Related to Travel

    • On January 20, 2021, President Biden rescinded the previous administration’s discriminatory Muslim Ban, which included many Arab countries and was inconsistent with our nation’s foundation of religious freedom for all. At President Biden’s direction, the U.S. Department of State conducted a review of visa applications and has taken various corrective actions to process applications that were impacted by the prior travel ban, including reconsidering previously denied applications and implementing a one-time fee credit for certain applicants.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, discussed recent developments related to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India.

    The leaders discussed the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. Prime Minister Trudeau underscored Canada’s continued interest in co-operation with India to address this serious matter.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Starmer agreed to remain in close and regular contact.

    Associated Links

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene

    Residents in Western North Carolina Can Apply for Help Buying Food Following Hurricane Helene
    hejones1

    Residents in 25 western counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians impacted by Hurricane Helene can apply for help buying food through the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) which will begin on Oct. 18, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today. D-SNAP is open to individuals and households not currently receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. NCDHHS estimates more than 150,000 people will apply for up to $120 million in D-SNAP benefits. 

    “We are making up to $120 million available to more than 150,000 individuals to buy food for their families — an essential step on the road to recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Helene,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We are committed to using every tool to support the recovery of our friends, families, and fellow North Carolinians in western NC — now and for the long haul.”

    NCDHHS received federal approval to begin phase one of the program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture beginning on Oct. 18, 2024. People can start applying for assistance three days before the program starts during online pre-registration beginning Oct. 15 and will have seven days from the start of the program to apply. The application period will close on Oct. 24, 2024.

    Eligible households will be notified within three days of completing the application and receive a one-time benefit on a special debit card (called an Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT card) to help buy food. The exact amount will depend on household size, income and disaster losses. While there are income eligibility standards, a number of considerations are taken into account. Individuals above these limits may still be eligible dependent on disaster expenses, so we encourage everyone who needs support to purchase food to begin their application by calling the DSNAP Virtual Call Center at 1-844-453-1117.

    The benefits are good for up to nine months. Benefit cards will be available for pick up at the D-SNAP locations in each county or you can get the EBT card mailed to you overnight at the address you specify on your application.

    To be eligible, a person must: 

    • Live in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties.
    • Be a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians living in zip code 28719
    • Have suffered losses/damages related to Hurricane Helene, such as damage to property or loss of income.
    • Have proof of identity and proof of residency (if available).
    • Have income and resources below certain levels.
    • Not currently be receiving benefits through the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program. People receiving FNS can also get extra help buying food, but do not need to fill out a D-SNAP application. They can get more information about how to get the extra help on the FNS webpage. 

    Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone, when possible, by calling the D-SNAP call center at 1-844-453-1117. The D-SNAP call center will be open at the following hours: 

    • Weekdays (Friday, Oct. 18; Monday, Oct. 21; Tuesday, Oct. 22; Wednesday, Oct. 23; and Thursday, Oct. 24) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon.

    Residents are encouraged to apply for D-SNAP by phone on their assigned day by last name but will not be turned away if they apply any time during the application period.

    • Oct. 18 – A-G
    • Oct. 19 – H-M
    • Oct. 20 – N-S
    • Oct. 21 – T-Z
    • Oct. 22 – Open to all
    • Oct. 23 – Open to all
    • Oct. 24 – Open to all

    Residents can also use the online ePASS Pre-Registration Tool, which will open on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and close on Thursday, Oct. 24. Once the pre-registration is completed, applicants will be issued a confirmation number and will need to call 1-844-453-1117 between Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 to complete the interview part of the application. 

    Residents can also apply for D-SNAP in-person at any of the following locations listed below. The D-SNAP sites listed below will be open at the following hours: 

    • Weekdays (Friday, Oct. 18; Monday, Oct. 21; Tuesday, Oct. 22; Wednesday, Oct. 23; and Thursday, Oct. 24) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    Alexander County Department of Social Services
    Alexander County DSS Office
    604 7th St. SW 
    Taylorsville, NC 28681

    Alleghany County
    Emerson Black Building
    1375 US Hwy 21 N
    Sparta, NC 28675

    Ashe County Department of Social Services
    Main Ashe DSS Office 
    150 Government Circle, Suite 1400
    Jefferson, NC  28640

    Avery County
    Avery County Library (Basement)
    150 Library Road 
    Newland, NC 28657

    Buncombe County Department of Social Services
    Main Buncombe County DSS Office
    40 Coxe Ave. 
    Asheville, NC, 28801

    Burke County Department of Social Services 
    Burke County DSS Office
    700 E Parker Road 
    Morganton, NC 28655

    Caldwell County  
    Former Walgreens Building
    621 Harper Ave.
    Lenoir, NC 28645

    Catawba County Department of Social Services 
    Catawba County DSS Office
    3030 11th Ave Drive 
    Hickory, NC 28602

    Clay County Department of Social Services 
    Clay County DSS Office
    119 Courthouse Drive 
    Hayesville, NC 28904

    Cleveland County
    Cleveland County Schools Bus Garage
    300 Kemper Road
    Shelby, NC 28152

    Gaston County Department of Social Services 
    Main Gaston County DSS Office
    330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
    Gastonia, NC 28052

    Haywood County
    Haywood County DSS Office
    157 Paragon Pkwy #300
    Clyde, NC 28721

    Henderson County
    Living Waters Baptist Church
    1284 Sugarloaf Road 
    Hendersonville, NC 28792

    Jackson County
    Jackson County DSS Office
    15 Griffin St. 
    Sylva, NC 28779

    Lincoln County Department of Social Services 
    Lincoln County DSS Office
    1136 East Main St.
    Lincolnton, NC 28092

    Macon County Department of Social Services 
    183 Holly Springs Plaza
    Franklin, NC 28734

    Madison County Department of Social Services 
    Madison DSS Office
    5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1
    Marshall, NC 28753

    McDowell County
    McDowell County YMCA Gym: Bottom Level
    348 Grace Corpening Drive
    Marion, North Carolina 28752

    Mitchell County Department of Social Services 
    Mitchel County DSS Office
    347 Longview Drive
    Bakersville, NC 28705

    Polk County Department of Social Services 
    231 Wolverine Trail
    Mill Spring, NC 28756

    Rutherford County Department of Social Services 
    Isothermal Community College (ICC) Foundation Performing Arts Center 
    286 ICC Loop Road 
    Spindale, NC 288160

    Transylvania County Library
    212 South Gaston St., “Rogow Room” 
    Brevard, NC 28712

    Watauga County Department of Social Services 
    Watauga County DSS Office 
    132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C
    Boone, NC 28607

    Wilkes County Department of Social Services 
    Wilkes County DSS Office
    304 College St.
    Wilkesboro, NC 28697

    Yancey County  
    Burnsville Town Center
    6 South Main St.
    Burnsville, NC 28714

    Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Residing in 28719:

    Qualla Boundary
    Qualla Boundary
    1526 Acquoni Road
    Cherokee, NC

    Jackson
    Jackson County DSS Office
    15 Griffin St.  
    Sylva, NC 28779 

    While people in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey Counties and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in 28719 are encouraged to apply in their county of residence, they can also apply in person at any of the counties approved to implement D-SNAP. NCDHHS will post information on locations and hours of the sites in each county at www.ncdhhs.gov/dsnap. 

    Please know there may be long wait times. County officials will do everything they can to process applications as quickly as possible.

    People who may have a disability or are physically unable to go in-person appling for help can complete this form in English or Spanish and send an authorized representative in their place.

    NCDHHS is working with USDA on adding two additional counties through phase two of the D-SNAP implementation at a later date. Once approved, NCDHHS will share additional information.

    For information regarding Hurricane Helene and additional resources and flexibilities in place, please go to www.ncdps.gov/Helene and www.ncdhhs.gov/helene.

    ###

    In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

    Program information may be made available in languages other than English.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

    To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:

    1. mail: 
      Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
      1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
      Alexandria, VA 22314; or
    2. fax:
      (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
    3. email:
      FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

    Los habitantes de 25 condados del oeste y la Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee afectados por el huracán Helene pueden solicitar ayuda para comprar alimentos a través del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria para Desastres (D-SNAP, por sus siglas en inglés) que comenzará el 18 de octubre de 2024, anunció hoy el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés). D-SNAP está abierto a personas y hogares que actualmente no reciben beneficios de Servicios de Alimentación y Nutrición y que se vieron afectados por el huracán Helene. El NCDHHS estima que más de 150,000 personas solicitarán hasta $120 millones de dólares en beneficios de D-SNAP.

    “Haremos $120 millones de dólares disponibles a más de 150,000 individuos para comprar comida para sus familias — un paso esencial en el camino a la recuperación de la devastación del huracán Helene”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Kody H. Kinsley. “Estamos comprometidos a apoyar la salud y el bienestar de las personas afectadas en todos los rincones del oeste de Carolina del Norte, ahora y a largo plazo”.

    El NCDHHS recibió la aprobación federal para comenzar la fase uno del programa del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos a partir del 18 de octubre de 2024. Las personas pueden comenzar a solicitar asistencia tres días antes del inicio del programa durante la preinscripción en línea a partir del 15 de octubre y tendrán siete días desde el inicio del programa para aplicar. El plazo de la aplicación se cerrará el 24 de octubre de 2024.

    Los hogares elegibles serán notificados dentro de los tres días posteriores a completar la solicitud y recibirán un beneficio único en una tarjeta de débito especial (llamada transferencia electrónica de beneficios, o tarjeta EBT, por sus siglas en inglés) para ayudar a comprar alimentos. La cantidad exacta dependerá del tamaño del hogar, los ingresos y las pérdidas por desastres. Aunque existen requisitos de ingresos, se tomarán en cuenta varias consideraciones. Los individuos con límites de ingreso superiores podrían calificar dependiendo de sus gastos debido al desastre, así que animamos a todos los que necesiten ayuda para comprar alimentos a comenzar la aplicación por medio de llamar al centro de llamadas virtuales de D-SNAP al 1-844-453-1117.

    Los beneficios son válidos hasta por nueve meses. Las tarjetas de beneficios estarán disponibles para recogerse en las ubicaciones de D-SNAP en cada condado o puede recibir la tarjeta EBT por correo durante la noche en la dirección que especifique en su aplicación.

    Para ser elegible, una persona debe: 

    • Vivir en los condados de Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transilvania, Watauga, Wilkes y Yancey.
    • Ser miembro de la Banda del Este de los indios Cherokee que viven en el código postal 28719.
    • Haber sufrido pérdidas o daños relacionados con el huracán Helene, como daños a la propiedad o pérdida de ingresos.
    • Tener prueba de identidad y prueba de domicilio (si está disponible).
    • Tener ingresos y recursos por debajo de ciertos niveles.
    • Actualmente no está recibiendo beneficios a través del programa de Servicios de Alimentos y Nutrición (FNS, por sus siglas en inglés). Las personas que reciben FNS también pueden obtener ayuda adicional para comprar alimentos, pero no necesitan completar una aplicación para D-SNAP. Puede obtener más información sobre cómo obtener ayuda adicional en la página web de FNS. 

    Se alienta a los habitantes a solicitar D-SNAP por teléfono, cuando sea posible, llamando al centro de llamadas de D-SNAP al 1-844-453-1117. El centro de llamadas de D-SNAP estará abierto las siguientes horas: 

    • Días laborables (viernes 18 de octubre , lunes 21 de octubre, martes 22 de octubre , miércoles 23 de octubre y jueves 24 de octubre ), a partir de las 8 de la mañana hasta las 4 de la tarde.
    • Sábado 19 de octubre y domingo 20 de octubre, a partir de las 9 de la mañana hasta el mediodía.

    Se alienta a los habitantes a solicitar D-SNAP por teléfono en su día asignado según la primera letra de su apellido, pero no serán rechazados si solicitan en cualquier momento durante el período de solicitud.

    • Octubre 18: A-G
    • Octubre 19: H-M     
    • Octubre 20: N-S
    • Octubre 21: T-Z
    • Octubre 22: Abierto para todos
    • Octubre 23: Abierto para todos
    • Octubre 24: Abierto para todos 

    Los habitantes también pueden utilizar la herramienta de preinscripción en línea ePASS, que se abrirá el martes 15 de octubre cerrará el martes 22 de octubre . Una vez que se complete la preinscripción, a los aplicantes se les emitirá un número de confirmación y deberán llamar entre el 18 y el 24 de octubre al 1-844-453-1117 para completar la entrevista que es parte de la solicitud.

    Los habitantes también pueden aplicar para D-SNAP en persona en cualquiera de los siguientes lugares que se enumeran a continuación. Los sitios D-SNAP que se enumeran a continuación estarán abiertos a las siguientes horas: 

    • Días laborables (viernes 18 de octubre , lunes 21 de octubre, , martes 22 de octubre , miércoles 23 de octubre y jueves 24 de octubre ), a partir de las 8 de la mañana hasta las 4 de la tarde.
    • Sábado 19 de octubre y domingo 20 de octubre, a partir de las 9 de la mañana a las 2 p.m.

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Alexander
    Oficina del DSS del condado Alexander
    604 7th St. SW 
    Taylorsville, NC 28681

    Condado Alleghany
    Edificio Emerson Black
    1375 US Hwy 21 N
    Sparta, NC 28675

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Ashe
    Oficina principal del DSS de Ashe 
    150 Government Circle, Suite 1400
    Jefferson, NC  28640

    Condado Avery
    Biblioteca del condado Avery (sótano)
    150 Library Road 
    Newland, NC 28657

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Buncombe
    Oficina principal del DSS del condado Buncombe
    40 Coxe Ave. 
    Asheville, NC 28801

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Burke 
    Oficina del DSS del condado Burke
    700 E Parker Road 
    Morganton, NC 28655

    Condado Caldwell
    El edificio que anteriormente era un Walgreens
    621 Harper Ave.
    Lenoir, NC 28645

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Catawba 
    Oficina del DSS del condado Catawba
    3030 11th Ave Drive 
    Hickory, NC 28602

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Clay 
    Oficina del DSS del condado Clay
    119 Courthouse Drive 
    Hayesville, NC 28904

    Condado Cleveland
    Estacionamiento de autobuses de las escuelas del condado Cleveland
    300 Kemper Road
    Shelby, NC 28152

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Gaston 
    Oficina principal del DSS del condado Gaston
    330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
    Gastonia, NC 28052

    Condado Haywood
    Oficina del DSS del condado Haywood
    157 Paragon Pkwy #300
    Clyde, NC 28721

    Condado Henderson
    Iglesia Bautista Living Waters
    1284 Sugarloaf Road 
    Hendersonville, NC 28792

    Condado Jackson
    Oficina del DSS del condado Jackson
    15 Griffin St. 
    Sylva, NC 28779

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Lincoln 
    Oficina del DSS del condado Lincoln
    1136 East Main St.
    Lincolnton, NC 28092

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Macon 
    183 Holly Springs Plaza
    Franklin, NC 28734

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Madison 
    Oficina del DSS de Madison
    5707 US Hwy 25-70, Suite 1
    Marshall, NC 28753

    Condado McDowell 
    Gimnasio de la YMCA del condado McDowell (Planta baja)
    348 Grace Corpening Drive
    Marion, North Carolina 28752

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Mitchell 
    Oficina del DSS del condado Mitchel
    347 Longview Drive
    Bakersville, NC 28705

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Polk 
    231 Wolverine Trail
    Mill Spring, NC 28756

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Rutherford 
    Centro de Artes Escénicas de la Fundación del Colegio Comunitario Isothermal 
    (ICC – Foundation Performing Arts Center) 
    286 ICC Loop Road 
    Spindale, NC 288160

    Biblioteca del condado Transilvania
    212 South Gaston St., “Cuarto Rogow” 
    Brevard, NC 28712

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Watauga 
    Oficina del DSS del Condado Watauga 
    132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite C
    Boone, NC 28607

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Wilkes 
    Oficina del DSS del condado Wilkes
    304 College St.
    Wilkesboro, NC 28697

    Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado Yancey 
    Centro de Burnsville (Burnsville Town Center)
    6 South Main Street
    Burnsville, NC 28714

    Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee habitantes del código postal 28719:

    Límite de Qualla
    Límite de Qualla
    1526 Acquoni Road
    Cherokee, NC

    Condado Jackson
    Oficina del DSS del condado Jackson
    15 Griffin St. 
    Sylva, NC 28779

    Si bien se alienta a las personas en los condados de Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transilvania, Watauga, Wilkes y Yancey y a los miembros de la Banda Oriental de Indios Cherokee que viven en el código postal 28719 a aplicar en el condado de su domicilio, también pueden aplicar en persona en cualquiera de los condados aprobados para implementar D-SNAP. El NCDHHS publicará información sobre las ubicaciones y horarios de los sitios en cada condado en http://www.ncdhhs.gov/fns.

    Tenga en cuenta que puede haber largos tiempos de espera. Los funcionarios del condado harán todo lo posible para procesar las solicitudes lo más rápido posible.

    Las personas que puedan tener una discapacidad o no puedan ir físicamente a solicitar ayuda en persona pueden completar este formulario en inglés o español y enviar un representante autorizado en su lugar.

    El NCDHHS está trabajando con el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés) para agregar dos condados adicionales a través de la fase dos de la implementación de D-SNAP en una fecha posterior. Una vez aprobado, NCDHHS compartirá información adicional.

    Para obtener información sobre el huracán Helene y los recursos y flexibilidades adicionales existentes, visite http://www.ncdps.gov/Helene y http://www.ncdhhs.gov/helene. 

    ###

    De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las regulaciones y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo la identidad de género y la orientación sexual), credo religioso, discapacidad, edad, creencias políticas o represalias o repercusiones por actividades anteriores en defensa de los derechos civiles.

    La información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés.  Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos de comunicación para obtener información sobre el programa (braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense, etc.) deben contactar a la agencia estatal o local en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas o con problemas de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA a través del Servicio de Retransmisión/Relé Federal al (800) 877-8339.

    Para presentar una queja por discriminación, el demandante debe completar un Formulario AD-3027, Formulario de queja de discriminación de programa del USDA, que se puede obtener en línea en: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, desde cualquier oficina del USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992 o escribiendo una carta dirigida al USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre, dirección y número de teléfono del demandante, así como una descripción escrita de la supuesta acción discriminatoria con el suficiente detalle para informar al subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre la naturaleza y la fecha de una supuesta violación de los derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completo o la carta debe enviarse a:

    1. Correo: 
      Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
      1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
      Alexandria, VA 22314
    2. Fax:
      (833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o
    3. Correo electrónico:
      FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov

    Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

    Oct 14, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grad Students, Postdocs, and Early-Career Staff Prepare To Carry Torch of International Research Collaboration

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    NREL Empowers Next Generation of Globally Minded Scientists To Solve Global Energy Challenges

    In the afterglow of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is worth remembering that athletic feats are not the only endeavors that resonate across international borders.

    Shifting to clean energy means addressing some of the most difficult technical challenges the world has faced—making collaboration key. It means investing in our future leaders and providing them opportunities to encounter new ideas, develop new skills, and become globally aware scientists.

    “Tackling the global threat of climate change will require a unified global effort, yet effective international collaboration remains as challenging as it is important,” said Steven Hayden, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) microscopist and postdoctoral-researcher liaison. “Diversity is a critical human strength. By exposing our postdocs—tomorrow’s leaders—to a variety of worldviews and collaborative methods, we foster the global community necessary to secure our collective future.”

    At NREL, investing in postdocs and early-career researchers as global leaders starts by supporting them in attending international convenings, conferences, and summer schools. These are venues where they build professional networks, discover job opportunities, exchange ideas, and act as NREL ambassadors to the global energy research community.

    This summer, NREL postdocs and early-career staff participated in multiple events around the globe, including in Italy, Indonesia, Singapore, and stateside in Golden, Colorado, just down the road from NREL’s South Table Mountain Campus. In some cases, postdocs were competitively selected to attend.

    In Indonesia, RD20, an initiative among Group of 20 (G20) countries and regions to strengthen international collaborations among leading energy-research institutes, hosted its second annual summer school in summer 2024.

    Jacob Cordell (left) and Alex Hill (right) pose in front of an Indonesian presidential palace, Bogor Palace, at the Bogor Botanical Gardens, which they visited during the 2024 RD20 summer school. Photo from Alex Hill, NREL

    “This is an opportunity for graduate students, postdocs, and early-career researchers to get exposure to and even get involved with international research and development collaboration,” said NREL Associate Laboratory Director Bill Tumas, who sits on the RD20 action committee. “These events enable the next generation of our scientific workforce to gain an appreciation for the diversity of solutions and approaches for clean energy technologies.”

    Four NREL postdocs and early-career researchers participated in the RD20 organization’s summer school in 2024. The next summer school will be held at NREL in 2025.

    “We do world-class research, but going to the summer school made me realize that an integral piece of world-class research is interacting with the world,” said NREL postdoc Alex Hill, reflecting on his experience at the RD20 summer school. “I think that is something I want to try to take forward in my research: How can I engage community stakeholders more in the day-to-day operations of what I do?”

    Postdoc Diego Soetrisno, another RD20 summer school participant, said that the opportunity reinforced the value of contextualizing one’s own fundamental research amid an ongoing global exchange of ideas.

    “I did my Ph.D. doing really fundamental work, but there’s a gap between my fundamental work and context with the larger picture,” Soetrisno said. “This summer school experience has given me more understanding of the really large picture of decarbonization technology. But it is also trying to bring my work in context with other people’s work. Without that communication, my work would not be able to really influence other people.”

    Below are short descriptions and lists of participants in international convenings this summer. Congrats to this year’s participants!

    Barga, Italy—Electronic Processes in Organic Materials Gordon Research Conference

    The Electronic Processes in Organic Materials Gordon Research Conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science by having participants present cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk, and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.

    NREL participants:

    • Nick Hight-Huf, postdoctoral researcher
    • Bryon Larson, researcher
    • Max O’Connor, graduate student
    • Garry Rumbles, senior research fellow.

    South Tangerang, Indonesia—RD20 Summer School

    Photo from Alex Hill, NREL

    The 2024 RD20 summer school was titled “Diversity of Knowledge on Decarbonization in Just Energy Transition Mechanism,” providing an opportunity for young researchers from G20 countries to deepen their knowledge and skills in the field of decarbonization. Event themes were broad, ranging from life-cycle assessments, circular economy, and smart grids to biomass resources, energy storage, and hydrogen production and utilization.

    NREL participants:

    • Anthony Burrell, research advisor
    • Birdie Carpenter, researcher
    • Jacob Cordell, analyst
    • Randy Cortright, research advisor
    • Alex Hill, postdoctoral researcher
    • Prashant Saini, postdoctoral researcher
    • Diego Soetrisno, postdoctoral researcher
    • Bill Tumas, associate laboratory director.

    Golden, Colorado, USA—International School for Materials for Energy and Sustainability 2024

    Photo from Dave Ginley, NREL

    The International School for Materials for Energy and Sustainability 2024—another annual event—brought together Ph.D. students and postdocs to review and actively discuss/debate state-of-the-art and future perspectives for materials as they can be applied to energy generation and storage for a sustainable global energy infrastructure.

    NREL participants:

    • Zachary Binger, postdoctoral researcher
    • Sakshi Gautam, former NREL postdoctoral researcher
    • David Ginley, senior research fellow
    • Mukta Hardikar, postdoctoral researcher
    • Matthew Hautzinger, researcher
    • Jason Hirschey, postdoctoral researcher
    • Adarsh Kimar, postdoctoral researcher
    • Shubham Sundeep, postdoctoral researcher
    • Chenchao Xie, postdoctoral researcher
    • Adam Yonge, postdoctoral researcher.

    Learn about internships and postdoctoral positions at NREL.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Justice debuts Heritage Highway as newest route of West Virginia’s Mountain Rides Program

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    GHENT, WV — Gov. Justice held a celebration today to debut Heritage Highway, the newest route of the West Virginia Mountain Rides program. 

    Heritage Highway, a scenic loop that leads travelers throughout the southern region of the state, marks the fifth route of the West Virginia Mountain Rides program, a collaborative partnership between the West Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Department of Tourism to designate and promote the Mountain State’s most scenic country roads. 

    “Southern West Virginia holds a very special place in my heart, and I’m excited that our newest Mountain Ride route will give folks an opportunity to see its beauty firsthand,” Gov. Justice said. “Right now is the perfect time to get out and hit our country roads because the fall views are unlike any other. There’s nothing quite like taking the scenic route, and West Virginia has some of the most beautiful ones around.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Files Amicus Brief on Importance of Protecting California’s Waterways

    Source: US State of California

    Monday, October 14, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, today filed an amicus brief with the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, in support of the environmental plaintiffs in Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield. Last year, a coalition of environmental groups, led by Bring Back the Kern and Water Audit California, were granted their motion for a preliminary injunction requiring the City of Bakersfield to cease completely drying up the Kern River in violation of California Fish and Game Code section 5937. This critically important state environmental statute requires all dam owners and operators to release sufficient water below dams to keep fish below the dams in “good condition.” 

    However, certain agricultural water districts, served by the City’s diversions from the Kern River, appealed the trial court’s decision requiring some water to be left in the river, arguing that the trial court wrongly interpreted Section 5937 and that the City could continue to periodically completely drain sections of the river. The real-world impact of the City’s decisions was illustrated most recently the Friday before Labor Day of this year, when the City once again diverted all of the flows from the Kern River below the Calloway Weir to deliver to agricultural customers, leaving thousands of fish to die.

    “California’s waterways and ecosystems are the lifeblood of our state’s rich and diverse wildlife and natural habitats,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Yet, in Bakersfield, the sudden loss of Kern River flows due to the city officials’ decisions to divert all water away from the river, is leaving behind a dry wasteland where fish are dying in droves. With today’s amicus brief, we urge the Court to allow enough water to flow in the Kern River, as required by law, to preserve ecosystems and ensure sustainability and viability of our fish populations.”

    “Conserving and protecting our fish and wildlife, and the habitats they call home, is of vital importance to the people of California. Failing to provide enough water for fish downstream not only damages ecosystems and fish populations but also violates California law,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham. “This case could impact California’s ability to protect vulnerable fish and wildlife populations in the future. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stands in partnership with Attorney General Bonta to help protect these irreplaceable fish populations for generations to come.” 

    In the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta highlights the importance of Section 5937 to protecting California’s waterways and wildlife. The brief argues that the City of Bakersfield must comply with the plain language of California Fish and Game Code Section 5937 and release sufficient flows below the City’s six dams to keep fish in the Kern River in “good condition.”  The brief further argues that the water districts’ concerns regarding the available water supply can be addressed at the remedy stage of the injunctive proceedings, when the trial court will decide what specific amounts of flows are necessary to comply with Section 5937 pending entry of final judgment in the case.

    A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Staff in North Carolina Will Resume Normal Operations and Outreach, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Address Operational Updates

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Staff in North Carolina Will Resume Normal Operations and Outreach, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Address Operational Updates

    FEMA Staff in North Carolina Will Resume Normal Operations and Outreach, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell Address Operational Updates

    NORTH CAROLINA — The State of North Carolina and FEMA continue to work together to help communities recover from Hurricane Helene and provide assistance to survivors. 

    Over the past weekend, out of abundance of caution, FEMA made operational changes based on threat information. The changes did not impact ongoing search and rescue and life-safety operations, and Disaster Recovery Centers remained open. The threat was more limited than initially reported and mitigated by law enforcement. 

    Today, FEMA officials remain in communities and survivors are encouraged to continue to register for assistance. Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will resume normal operations in the field and housing inspectors will resume scheduling inspections to ensure survivors get the assistance they need and deserve. 

    “State, federal and local response workers, including FEMA, are working around the clock to bring assistance to western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that significant misinformation online contributes to threats against response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be a priority. At my direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is helping partners like FEMA to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure their safety and security as they continue their important work.”

    “Keeping FEMA staff safe while they are helping people in disaster impacted communities is always my top priority. I wanted to make sure we protected our staff on the ground while we worked diligently with local law enforcement to understand the full situation,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Thanks to our close partnership with Governor Roy Cooper and his team, as well as local law enforcement, FEMA teams will soon be back doing what they do best – meeting people where they are and going door to door to register survivors for assistance. FEMA and the entire federal family will be in North Carolina for as long as it takes to help these communities recover. Together, we will continue to reach as many North Carolinians as possible and get them the help they need, while ensuring the safety of our FEMA employees and state partners.”

    As of today, FEMA has provided more than $96 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 75,000 households and the agency continues to work closely with the State of North Carolina to reach as make people as possible where they are. Additionally, FEMA and the State continue to operate four Disaster Recovery Centers in Asheville, Lenoir, Marion and Sylva where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC. 

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –