NewzIntel.com

Category: Climate Change

  • MIL-OSI Global: Florida and North Carolina are making it easier for people to vote after the hurricanes – but some risks remain

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael T. Morley, Assistant Professor of Law, Florida State University

    People walk into an early voting site in Hendersonville, N.C., on Oct. 17, 2024. Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images

    Polls opened in North Carolina on Oct. 17, 2024, as about 14,000 people in Asheville and surrounding areas remain without power in their homes following Hurricane Helene. In Florida, which started early voting in some counties on Oct. 21, about 400,000 residents are still without power after Hurricane Milton.

    Some experts have said that the hurricanes could cause voter numbers to drop – and impacts of Helene have already prompted a few early polling stations in western North Carolina to close. But more North Carolina residents turned out to vote on the first day of early voting than they did in 2020.

    Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with Michael T. Morley, who studies natural disasters and election law, to understand how these recent storms could complicate voting in the presidential election.

    A home in Manasota Key, Fla., that was damaged by Hurricane Milton is seen on Oct. 13, 2024.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    What are the major issues that hurricanes can create ahead of an election?

    A hurricane or natural disaster makes an election tremendously more challenging for both election officials and voters on various practical levels.

    Election administrators might have been injured, or their homes could be flooded or destroyed. State officials need to ensure, especially in areas that have been hardest hit, that enough local administrators remain in place to continue distributing absentee ballots and to staff early voting locations.

    Still, I have not seen empirical evidence that the results of any federal elections in recent decades have changed as a result of hurricanes.

    What could these major hurricanes mean for voters in North Carolina and Florida?

    Florida has one of the most comprehensive laws to deal with election emergencies of this sort because it faces them frequently.

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order on Oct. 3, 2024, in response to Hurricane Helene. Among other things, Florida law says that in a state of emergency the governor can suspend state statutes or regulations governing state business when complying with them can interfere with disaster response.

    Florida, like other states, has deadlines for when election officials must designate polling locations. DeSantis waived this deadline to authorize county officials to designate new ones. DeSantis’ order also gives election officials more discretion about where new polling locations may be located. And he made it easier for state employees to step in and serve as poll workers, particularly on Election Day.

    DeSantis suspended a state requirement so a person who cannot return to their home can ask by phone to have a vote-by-mail ballot sent to wherever they are staying – not just their registered home address. Making it easier for ballots to be sent to people, wherever they are, is one of the most effective measures that Florida has implemented to help make voting easier.

    In North Carolina, meanwhile, state officials have authorized different changes that will apply to the 25 counties in the western part of the state that are under emergency orders because of the hurricane. These changes are mostly focused on voting by mail and polling place workers. They also allow county boards of elections to change Election Day voting locations and permit voters to drop off absentee ballots at any county board of election office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

    Western North Carolina voters now also have until Nov. 4 to request a mail-in ballot, as opposed to the original deadline of Oct. 29.

    Overall, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper authorized US$5 million for the state’s board of elections in order to make it easier for western North Carolina residents to vote.

    What sort of legal issues, if any, do these changes open up?

    Disputes have already arisen about potential extension of the voter registration deadlines in states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Courts in Florida and Georgia have already declined emergency motions to extend the voter registration deadline.

    A South Carolina state court, in contrast, held in October that the deadline had to be extended for 10 additional days.

    Similar disputes are likely to arise over such election rules as photo identification requirements at polling places and the deadlines for requesting and returning absentee ballots.

    Occasionally, challenges also arise alleging that certain measures to address an emergency have gone too far.

    During the height of the pandemic, for example, the Trump presidential campaign filed lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged state decisions to automatically mail absentee ballots to people registered to vote.

    A U.S. post offic, damaged by flooding from Hurricane Helen, is pictured on Oct. 3, 2024, in Marshall, N.C., showing one of the complications for people who planned to vote by mail.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    What are you most concerned about heading into the election?

    My biggest concern is that, particularly if the election is close, a losing candidate might attempt to use the hurricane as a way of trying to challenge the election results or call them into question.

    Courts will almost certainly reject that. Once the election has happened, a court generally will not set aside the results or order additional voting, even if voters faced substantial burdens and people think there is more that election officials could have done. This is especially true in the context of a presidential election, since the U.S. Constitution and federal law establish several important postelection deadlines involving the Electoral College.

    Some people already have unwarranted skepticism about the electoral process. It would be bad for our democracy if the recent hurricanes are exploited as a basis for refusing to accept the election’s results.

    Michael T. Morley is Sheila M. McDevitt Professor of Law at FSU College of Law. He serves as Faculty Director of the FSU Center for Election Law established by the Florida State Legislature and Vice Chair of the Florida Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission for Civil Rights. He is a member of the National Task Force on Election Crises and Election Officials Legal Defense Network.

    – ref. Florida and North Carolina are making it easier for people to vote after the hurricanes – but some risks remain – https://theconversation.com/florida-and-north-carolina-are-making-it-easier-for-people-to-vote-after-the-hurricanes-but-some-risks-remain-240961

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colonialism’s legacy has left Caribbean nations much more vulnerable to hurricanes

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Farah Nibbs, Assistant Professor of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Hillside streets can quickly become muddy rivers during hurricane rains in the islands. Estailove St-Val/AFP via Getty Images

    Long before colonialism brought slavery to the Caribbean, the native islanders saw hurricanes and storms as part of the normal cycle of life.

    The Taino of the Greater Antilles and the Kalinago, or Caribs, of the Lesser Antilles developed systems that enabled them to live with storms and limit their exposure to damage.

    On the larger islands, such as Jamaica and Cuba, the Taino practiced crop selection with storms in mind, preferring to plant root crops such as cassava or yucca with high resistance to damage from hurricane and storm winds, as Stuart Schwartz describes in his 2016 book “Sea of Storms.”

    The Kalinago avoided building their settlements along the coast to limit storm surges and wind damage. The Calusa of southwest Florida used trees as windbreaks against storm winds.

    In fact, it was the Kalinago and Taino who first taught the Europeans – primarily the British, Dutch, French and Spanish – about hurricanes and storms. Even the word ‘hurricane’ comes from Huracán, a Taino and Mayan word denoting the god of wind.

    But then colonialism changed everything.

    A French advertising card from around 1900 depicts colonial power in Guadeloupe, with a trader sitting comfortably among sacks of cotton, cocoa and coffee while islanders work in the field.
    Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    I study natural disasters in the Caribbean, including how history molded responses to disasters today.

    The current disaster crisis that the Caribbean’s small islands are experiencing as hurricanes intensify did not start a few decades ago. Rather, the islands’ vulnerability is a direct result of the exploitative systems forced upon the region by colonialism, its legacies of slave-based land policies and ill-suited construction and development practices, and its environmental injustices.

    Forcing people into harm’s way

    The colonial powers changed how Caribbean people interacted with the land, where they lived and how they recovered from natural hazard events.

    Rather than growing crops that could sustain the local food supply, the Europeans who began arriving in the 1600s focused on exploitative extractive economic models and export cash crops through the plantation economy.

    They forced Indigenous people off their lands and built settlements along the coast, which made it easier to import enslaved peoples and goods and to export cash crops such as sugar and tobacco to Europe – and also left communities vulnerable to storms. They also developed settlements in low-lying areas, often near rivers and streams, which could provide transportation for agricultural produce but which became flood risks during heavy rains.

    Homes built to the water’s edge in Saint-Martin, an overseas collectivity of France, were devastated when Hurricane Irma hit in 2017.
    Helene Valenzuela/AFP via Getty Images

    Today, more than 70% of the Caribbean’s population lives along the coast, often less than a mile from the shore. These coastlines are not only highly exposed to hurricanes but also to sea-level rise fueled by climate change.

    Legacies of slave-based land policies

    Colonialism’s legacy of land policies has also made recovery from disasters much harder today.

    When colonial powers took over, a few landowners were given control of most of the land, while the majority of the population was forced onto marginal and small areas. The local population had no legal right to the land, as the people did not possess land certificate titles or deeds and were often forced to pay rent to landlords.

    After independence, most island governments tried to acquire land from former plantations or estates and to redistribute it to the working class. But these efforts, mainly in the 1960s and ’70s, largely failed to transform land ownership, improve economic development or reduce vulnerability.

    One colonial legacy perpetuating vulnerability to this day is known as crown land, or state land. In the English-speaking Caribbean, all land for which there was no land grant was considered property of the British crown. Crown land can be found in every English-speaking island to this day.

    How colonial powers controlled the Caribbean over time.

    For example, in Barbuda, all land is vested in the “crown in perpetuity” on behalf of Barbudans. This means that an individual born on the island of Barbuda cannot individually own land.

    Instead, land is communally owned, which limits access to the credit and development opportunities that were sorely needed to reconstruct the island after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Most Barbudans were unable to insure their homes because they had no title deeds to their property.

    This and other collective land tenure systems created by colonialism places Caribbean residents at greater risk from a variety of natural hazards and limits their ability to seek financial credit for disaster recovery today.

    The roots of poor construction

    Vulnerability to disasters in the Caribbean also has roots in post-slavery housing construction and subsequent failures to institute proper building codes.

    After emancipation from slavery, freed people had no right nor access to land. To build houses, they were forced to lease land from the former enslavers who at a whim could terminate their employment or kick them off the land.

    This led to the development of a particular type of housing structure known as chattel houses in countries such as Barbados. These houses are tiny and were constructed in a way in which they could be easily taken apart and loaded onto carts, should the residents be forced out by their former enslavers. Many Bajans still live in these houses today, although quite a few have been converted to restaurants or shops.

    Chattel houses are still used as homes in Barbados.
    Shardalow via Wikimedia, CC BY

    In Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, owned by the Dutch, slave huts were built along the coast, on land not suitable for agriculture and easily damaged by storms. These former slave huts are now tourist attractions, but the colonial patterns of settling along the coast has left many coastal communities exposed to hurricane damage and rising seas.

    The vulnerability of such houses is not only a result of their exposure to natural hazards but also the underlying social structures.

    Slave huts were built on the coast in Bonaire, where they were vulnerable to storm surge.
    Leslie Ket via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    In many islands today, poorer residents can’t afford protective measures, such as installing storm shutters or purchasing solar-powered generators.

    They often live in marginal and disaster-prone areas, such as steep hillsides, where housing tends to be cheaper. Houses in these areas are also often poorly constructed with low-grade materials, such as galvanized sheeting for roofs and walls.

    This situation is made worse by the informal and unregulated nature of residential housing construction in the region and the poor enforcement of building codes.

    Due to the legacy of colonialism, most housing or building standards or codes in the Commonwealth Caribbean are relics from the United Kingdom and in the French Antilles from France. Building standards across the region lack uniformity and are generally subjective and uncontrolled. Financial limitations and staffing constraints mean that codes and standards more often than not remain unenforced.

    Progress, but still a lot of work to do

    The Caribbean has made progress in developing wind-related building codes to try to increase resilience in recent years. And while damage from torrential rain is still not properly addressed in most Caribbean building standards, scientific guidance is available through the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology in Barbados.

    Individual islands, including Dominica and Saint Lucia, have new minimum building standards for recovery after disasters. The island of Grenada is hoping to guide new construction as it recovers from Hurricane Beryl. Trinidad and Tobago has developed a national land use strategy but has struggled to use it.

    Construction standards can help the islands build resilience. But work remains to be done to overcome the legacy of colonial-era land policies and development that have left island towns vulnerable to increasing storm risks.

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

    – ref. Colonialism’s legacy has left Caribbean nations much more vulnerable to hurricanes – https://theconversation.com/colonialisms-legacy-has-left-caribbean-nations-much-more-vulnerable-to-hurricanes-231913

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA is Hiring: Help with Hurricane Helene and Milton

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA is Hiring: Help with Hurricane Helene and Milton

    FEMA is Hiring: Help with Hurricane Helene and Milton

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Come to work for FEMA and help your community recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.FEMA is conducting local hiring for more than 600 jobs in Gainesville, Melbourne Beach, Sarasota and Tallahassee, Florida. Local Hire employees are typically local residents who aid in the recovery of their community and help fellow neighbors in the recovery process. Many FEMA employees began their careers in emergency management by helping their own communities recover from a disaster.These positions are full-time 120-day appointments that may be extended depending on operational needs.FEMA Local Hire employees are eligible for the following benefits:Health insurance for individual or family coverage. Employer contribution is 75% of premium. Local Hire employees are eligible for enrollment for health insurance coverage as of the official hire date/employment date with FEMA.Flexible spending accountsFederal long-term care insuranceAbility to earn 4 hours of paid sick leave per pay periodHoliday payWorker’s compensationFEMA is accepting applications for the following positions:Accepting by 11:59 p.m. ET Saturday, October 26:IT Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementManufactured Housing Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementAccountable Property Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementOrdering Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementLogistics Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementEnvironmental Floodplain Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementEnvironmental Compliance Review Specialist: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementAccepting by 11:59 p.m. ET Monday, October 28:Emergency Management 2: USAJOBS – Job AnnouncementAll positions will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on the closing date or when the maximum number of applications are received. More positions may be added later. To see all open roles, visit USAJobs.gov, type “Local Hire” in the keywords section and “Florida” for location.For tips, including how to prepare your resume and navigate the website, visit USAJOBS Help Center – Application Process. All applicants must be U.S. citizens, 18 years of age or older, and possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma. Individuals will be required to pass a background investigation that includes fingerprinting and a credit check. Employees are also required to participate in direct deposit or electronic funds transfer for salary payment. If you are found qualified, you may be called for an interview. For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene recovery information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
    kirsten.chambers
    Tue, 10/22/2024 – 13:06

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Open in Franklin County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Open in Franklin County

    Mobile Disaster Recovery Center Open in Franklin County

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – FEMA has opened a mobile Disaster Recovery Center in Franklin County to provide one-on-one help to Floridians affected by Hurricane Helene. Survivors of any of the storms can visit any center. Survivors do not need to visit a center to apply for assistance. Survivors are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by downloading the FEMA App. FEMA does not distribute cash at Disaster Recovery Centers. Center location:Franklin County (Mobile)Alligator Point Fire Department101 Tom Roberts RoadAlligator Point, FL 32346Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday through Oct. 23, 2024.When this center moves to a new location, details will be provided to the public.To find other center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology.Homeowners and renters are encouraged to apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by using the FEMA App. You may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362. If you choose to apply by phone, please understand wait times may be longer because of increased volume for multiple recent disasters. Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to FEMA Accessible: Applying for Individual Assistance – YouTube.For the latest information about Hurricane Milton recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4834. For Hurricane Helene recovery information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4828. For Hurricane Debby recovery information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4806. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
    kirsten.chambers
    Tue, 10/22/2024 – 13:16

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bonnie Dundee receives Silver Gilt at Britain in Bloom Award finals

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Finalist Bonnie Dundee entry to this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom awards has received a Silver Gilt in the City category following an awards ceremony on Monday evening.

    The Dundee entry reached the final of the UK-wide, Royal Horticultural Society-administered competition which looks to celebrate and support communities who have come together to make positive and lasting changes to their local environment.

    Bonnie Dundee is a partnership of many groups and organisations who have taken forward Dundee’s entry for the past nineteen years.

    The city-wide network of community groups, organisations, the Council, businesses, schools, and individuals work together to make the city cleaner, greener, brighter and healthier.

    Ninewells Community Garden were also recognised as they picked up the RHS Health & Wellbeing Award.

    Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Convener Heather Anderson said: “This is great news and serves as recognition of the tremendous work that so many people in our city put in while making a real difference.

    “To be recognised in this way in the final of a UK-wide competition is an exceptional achievement.

    “Everyone who has played a part, and through the extensive Bonnie Dundee network there any many people, deserves a large amount of praise and credit for this. I congratulate everyone involved for their hard work and enthusiasm.

    “It was also heartening to see Ninewells Community Garden be awarded the first-ever RHS Health and Wellbeing Award.”

    Chair of Bonnie Dundee Trudy Cunningham said: “In Dundee we are very fortunate to have a passionate group of volunteers who work closely in partnership with DCC.

    “We are very pleased to have been finalists in RHS Britain in Bloom 2024 and to have received a Silver Gilt Certificate. Judges highlighted the strong sense of community in Dundee, both between all of the many gardening and friends groups and the council.

    “Everyone who has helped (and are still helping, the gardening never stops!), both volunteers and council workers, should feel very proud of their work and of our beautiful city.”

    The Bonnie Dundee entry was included as one of the three finalists within the City category competing with London Borough of Havering (London in Bloom) and eventual winners Wrexham in Bloom (Wales in Bloom).

    The news comes after Britain in Bloom judges visited Dundee in August following Bonnie Dundee’s entry reaching the final of the UK-wide competition.

    The full breakdown of the awards and winners for each category can be found in the Royal Horticultural Society’s website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Santa Clara County Reps Announce $50M in Federal Funding for Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

    SAN JOSE, CA – Today, U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Anna Eshoo (CA-16), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that Valley Water has been selected to receive approximately $50,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support flood protection efforts along Coyote Creek.

    Valley Water completed nearly all construction of the Phase 1 project for Coyote Creek flood protection. This funding will help enable the construction of Phase 2, which will finish the project and help enable the seismic retrofit of Anderson Dam.

    “Seven years ago, our San Jose community experienced significant flooding during a series of winter storms, forcing more than 14,000 residents to evacuate. As the threat of natural disasters becomes more disruptive because of climate change, it is vital to make investments that reduce the risk of flooding. Thanks to this federal funding, Valley Water will be able to continue to improve flood mitigation infrastructure along Coyote Creek. We will keep working together to ensure that communities have the resources they need to prepare for and remain safe during natural disasters,” said Reps. Lofgren, Eshoo, Khanna, and Panetta.

    This funding comes from FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program, which provides communities that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program with funding to reduce flooding risk and build community resilience.

    Funding for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program typically comes from revenue collected on policies offered by the National Flood Insurance Program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Reps. Lofgren, Eshoo, Khanna, and Panetta voted in favor of, additionally provided $3.5 billion for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program over five years.

    In January 2024, Reps. Lofgren, Eshoo, and Khanna sent a letter to FEMA Administrator Criswell in support of the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Piloting New Ways to Make Homes More Energy-Efficient and Affordable

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 22, 2024                                            Ottawa, Ontario           Natural Resources Canada

    Canada’s buildings sector is the third-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions across the country.  We must increase the scale and pace of retrofitting buildings across the country to make them more energy-efficient, increasing savings and reducing emissions.

    Today, Parliamentary Secretary Julie Dabrusin, on behalf of the honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a federal investment totalling $4.3 million for five projects , funded under the Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP) and the Energy Innovation Program (EIP), to support and inform deep energy retrofits.  

    The announcement was hosted with EnviroCentre at Gloucester’s Carver Place neighbourhood. EnviroCentre received over $2 million from NRCan’s programs for its project, which will develop the local building sector’s capacity to perform deep retrofits faster, saving time and money for retrofits in social housing across eastern Ontario. By customizing renovations for homes in eastern Ontario, this project will help save money for the families who need it most while also increasing the energy efficiency of their homes.

    Gloucester’s Carver Place neighbourhood showcases how deep energy retrofits can deliver economic and environmental benefits for affordable housing, leading the way for future work that will create better and more affordable homes. Retrofits through the federally funded project will include:

    • replacement of traditional furnaces with electric heat pumps
    • upgrades to attic insulation and air sealing
    • installation of new heat recovery ventilation systems to improve indoor air quality

    Other projects announced today include:

    • $1 million for the ReCover Initiative to develop a practical approach to deep energy retrofits for the most common types of residential buildings in Atlantic Canada.
    • $1 million for the First Nations Power Authority of Saskatchewan to support the adoption of community-scale deep energy retrofits in Indigenous communities.
    • $602,836 for Sustainable Buildings Canada to accelerate deep energy retrofits for Ontario’s social housing.  
    • $775,897 for Retrofit Canada Society for development of a National Retrofit Repository of case studies and solutions to inform on deep energy retrofits across Canada.

    These projects will save money for building owners while reducing emissions that contribute to climate change.

    Quotes

    “By retrofitting buildings across the country, we can make communities more resilient to climate-related impacts while reducing emissions and utility bills for Canadians, increasing energy efficiency and creating good-paying jobs in construction and maintenance.”

    Julie Dabrusin

    Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change and Natural Resources

    “Energy efficiency means cost savings for Canadians. At a time when we are facing challenges with affordability and climate change, affordable energy efficiency projects like the ones announced today meet Canadians where they are at and delivers the action they need, at the pace and scale they are demanding. Programs like the GNPP help deliver on the commitments announced recently in Canada’s first-ever Green Buildings Strategy, which is a plan to save Canadians money, create jobs and seize the economic opportunities that a clean and sustainable economy presents.”

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

    Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

    Quick facts

    • A deep energy retrofit is an extensive overhaul of a building’s systems that can generate large savings in energy costs, improve comfort and help decarbonize buildings. Measures may include:

      o   replacing the roof

      o   adding insulation in exterior walls

      o   replacing the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system with a more efficient system like an electric heat pump

    • Deep energy retrofits typically save at least 50 percent in energy consumption, reduce emissions by 80 percent, reduce utility costs and may in some circumstances improve resiliency and adaptation to climate change.

    • Results from Carver Place neighbourhood test cases are promising, demonstrating an average annual energy reduction of 42 percent — approximately 35.5 gigajoules — and 2.4 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, an 82-percent improvement

    • EnviroCentre received $1 million in funding through GNPP, through today’s announcement, and an additional $1 million dollars in funding through the Toward Net-Zero Homes and Communities (TNZ) funding program to retrofit over 80 townhomes for low-income residents. This TNZ funding was previously announced in July during the release of the Canada Green Building Strategy. 

    • Since 2016, the federal government has dedicated more than $10 billion toward decarbonizing homes and buildings through energy-efficient retrofits. 

    • With $35.5 million in total funding over five years, GNPP is piloting the Energiesprong deep energy retrofit model in the Canadian market, which accelerates the pace and scale of retrofits by aggregating similar homes and buildings in a neighbourhood to create mass demand for deep energy retrofits. 

    • NRCan’s Energy Innovation Program advances clean energy technologies that will help Canada meet its climate change targets while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. It funds research, development and demonstration projects and other related scientific activities.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Natural Resources Canada
    Media Relations
    343-292-6096
    media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Cindy Caturao
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    Cindy.caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

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    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Milwaukee Woman Indicted for Multimillion Dollar Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on October 16, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Lakia Jackson (age: 34) for perpetrating a $3.7 million health care fraud and kickback scheme that involved Jackson lying about having provided prenatal care coordination services and childcare coordination services to at-risk and low-income pregnant women and new mothers in Milwaukee.

    According to the indictment, from June 2020 through December 2021, Jackson owned We Care Services, which was a Prenatal Care Coordination (PNCC) agency operating in Milwaukee. PNCC agencies are reimbursed by Medicaid when they provide services intended to address Wisconsin’s historically high rate of infant mortality among at-risk populations. Specifically, PNCC services are supposed to ensure that women at high risk are identified as early as possible in their pregnancies, receive psychosocial support, prenatal care services, and health and nutrition education, and are referred to available community services that they need to help them achieve positive birth and parenting outcomes.

    The indictment alleges that Jackson offered and provided kickbacks to induce women to sign up for prenatal care coordination services with We Care Services, and then allegedly submitted millions of dollars of fraudulent claims for services never actually provided to those women. Jackson also allegedly submitted claims for services she contended were provided to her clients before she or anyone from her agency had ever met the client.

    The indictment charges Jackson with multiple counts of Health Care Fraud and False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347 and 18 U.S.C. § 1035, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b, Money Laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957, and Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. If convicted, Jackson faces a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each count of Aggravated Identity Theft, up to twenty years in prison for each count of Health Care Fraud, up to ten years in prison for each count of Anti-Kickback Statute violations and Money Laundering, and up to five years in prison for each count of False Statements. 

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel will prosecute.

    An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    ###

    For further information contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    (414) 297-1700

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Mission Recognizes Latvia’s Commitment to Improve Nuclear and Radiation Safety, Encourages Continued Improvements

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Flag of the Republic of Latvia. (Photo: Ronny K/Pixabay)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Latvia has made clear improvements to its regulatory infrastructure, making it more efficient and effective. The team also encouraged Latvia to continue efforts to complete its work programme to further align regulatory framework with the IAEA safety standards.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) follow-up mission, 13 to 18 October, was conducted at the request of the Government of Latvia and hosted by the country’s regulatory body, the Radiation Safety Centre of State Environmental Service (RSC SES). Its purpose was to review the progress made against the recommendations and suggestions identified in the initial IRRS mission in 2019.

    IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national nuclear and radiation safety regulatory infrastructure, based on IAEA safety standards and international good practices, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

    The IRRS team – comprised of five senior safety experts from five IAEA Member States, in addition to two IAEA staff members – conducted interviews and discussions with RSC SES staff and representatives from the Ministry of Climate and Energy.

    Latvia does not have any nuclear power plants. Latvia uses radiation sources in medical, scientific and industrial applications, as well as in science and research. The country’s research reactor has been permanently closed since 1998 and is currently in the early stage of decommissioning. All spent highly enriched uranium fuel was sent back to the country of origin. Latvia operates a disposal site for low and intermediate level radioactive waste, which is located 30 km from the capital Riga. 

    The team reviewed the regulatory oversight of all facilities and activities using nuclear material and radiation sources, as well as emergency preparedness and response, transport, decommissioning, and occupational, medical and public exposure control. The IRRS team determined that of the 23 recommendations and 12 suggestions made in 2019, 17 recommendations and 10 suggestions have been adequately addressed and are therefore closed. The Government of Latvia and RSC SES have an action plan to address the remaining recommendations and suggestions in the coming years.

    “We found that the RSC SES has made significant progress in addressing the recommendations made in 2019” said Paul Dale, Team Leader for the mission, from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency of the United Kingdom. “The work undertaken by RSC SES to date should be applauded, and we welcome the well laid plans set out by RSC SES to address the remaining recommendations in the next few years. The IRRS team welcome the commitment of RSC SES to continue to progress its regulatory systems and to continually improve.”

    The mission team identified an area of good performance – the Long Term Training Plan developed by RSC SES to deliver and maintain competency of its staff – and highlighted notable achievements since 2019, including:

    • The revised legal and regulatory framework, which provides an improved safety framework for regulating all facilities and activities in Latvia;
    • The national policy and strategy for radiation safety, along with policies and strategies for radioactive waste management, which are now addressed in the Environmental Policy Guidelines for 2021 to 2027;
    • Significant improvements throughout the RSC SES integrated management system, including the development of a programme for the promotion of leadership and safety culture; and
    • Strengthened emergency and preparedness response, through the coordination of an interinstitutional working group, training seminars and exercises.

    “The IRRS follow-up mission has provided an opportunity to qualitatively assess the tasks set by international experts in 2019 for the improvement of the radiation safety infrastructure in accordance with IAEA standards,” said Dace Satrovska, Director of the RSC SES. “Since 2019, our team has significantly improved the quality management system, also strengthening the radiation safety culture in Latvia. We are ready to continue working on areas that need improvement, especially on radioactive waste management and emergency preparedness.”

    “The IRRS is an internationally recognized process that strengthens regulatory effectiveness. Countries that invite missions – including Latvia – demonstrate openness and transparency,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Head of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety. “By disseminating and sharing good practices and lessons learned, IRRS missions contribute to a stronger global nuclear safety regime.”

    The final mission report will be provided to the Government in about three months.

    IAEA Safety Standards

    The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New IAEA Report on Climate Change and Nuclear Power Focuses on Financing

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The 2024 edition of the IAEA’s Climate Change and Nuclear Power report has been released, highlighting the need for a significant increase in investment to achieve goals for expanding nuclear power. The new report was launched last week on the margins of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Brazil. 

    Nuclear power is enjoying increasing interest around the world as countries seek to strengthen energy security and decarbonize their economies. A rapid expansion of clean energy technologies is required to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and nuclear power is expected to play a key role, with the IAEA projecting a capacity increase of 2.5 times the current level by mid-century in its high case scenario. 

    According to the report, global investment in nuclear energy must increase to 125 billion USD annually, up from the around 50 billion USD invested each year from 2017-2023, to meet the IAEA’s high case projection for nuclear capacity in 2050. The more aspirational goal of tripling of capacity, which more than 20 countries pledged to work towards at COP28 last year, would require upwards of USD 150 billion in annual investment. 

    “Across its near century-long lifetime, a nuclear power plant is affordable and cost competitive. Financing the upfront costs can be a challenge however, especially in market driven economies and developing countries,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “The private sector will increasingly need to contribute to financing, but so too will other institutions. The IAEA is engaging multilateral development banks to highlight their potential role in making sure that developing countries have more and better financing options when it comes to investing in nuclear energy.” 

    The new report also examines ways to unlock private sector finance, a topic that is gaining increasing attention worldwide. Last month, 14 major financial institutions including some of the world’s largest banks came together during a New York Climate Week event to signal a willingness to help finance nuclear newbuild projects. 

    The report was presented at a side event jointly organized by the Agency and the CEM’s Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future (NICE) initiative on the margins of the 15th CEM in Brazil. The CEM is a high-level global forum that promotes policies and programmes to advance clean energy technology, and share lessons learned and best practices. 

    “The CEM is bringing together key stakeholders to discuss concrete steps to make clean energy—including nuclear power—affordable, attractive and accessible for all and accelerate clean energy transitions around the world,” said Jean-Francois Garnier, Head of the CEM Secretariat. “Financing the necessary expansion of nuclear power to help integrate other sources of clean electricity is key to this success and I am happy to see the IAEA and CEM/NICE Future partnering to launch this report which highlights some innovative approaches to attract investments from both the public and private sectors.” 

    The side event featured speakers from Brazil, the IAEA, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the United States of America sharing their thoughts on how best to secure capital for nuclear power projects and looking ahead to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where financing the clean energy transition is set to be a major topic of discussion. 

    “IAEA energy system modelling and planning tools and publications are fundamental to decision-making processes for nuclear power plants,” said Giovani Machado, Advisor to the President of Brazil’s Energy Research Office (EPE). “IAEA publications on full cost analyses for electricity provision and financing of nuclear power plants were very useful to an EPE study on the Angra-3 nuclear power reactor for the National Energy Policy Council of Brazil.” 

    Nuclear power’s inclusion in sustainable financing frameworks, including the European Union (EU) taxonomy for sustainable activities, is having a tangible impact. In the EU, the first green bonds have been issued for nuclear power in Finland and France in 2023. Electricité de France (EDF) was one of the first recipients, with the award of €4 billion in green bonds and around €7 billion in green loans between 2022 and 2024. 

    To achieve climate change goals, global nuclear capacity needs to increase rapidly, increasing by a factor of 1.8 by 2035, said Sylvia Beyer, a Senior Energy Policy Analyst at the IEA. “Financing mechanisms that support scale, work force and supply chain development are going to be needed,” she added. 

    The report makes the case for policy reform and international partnerships to help bridge the financing gap and accelerate nuclear power expansion into emerging markets and developing economies, including for small modular reactors. Robust regulatory frameworks, new delivery models, skilled labour development and stakeholder engagement can unlock new avenues for sustainable energy investments towards development goals. 

    “Accelerating the transition process is a multifaceted challenge that needs to be addressed within the broader framework of energy transition plans,” said Celso Cunha, President of the Brazilian Association for the Development of Nuclear Activities. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leading Federal Response to Hurricane Helene in Georgia, Senator Reverend Warnock Pushes President Biden to Kickstart Bipartisan Disaster Funding Effort

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Leading Federal Response to Hurricane Helene in Georgia, Senator Reverend Warnock Pushes President Biden to Kickstart Bipartisan Disaster Funding Effort

    Senator Reverend Warnock is urging the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit a request for supplemental appropriations to Congress to support Hurricane Helene and Milton recovery efforts
    Senator Reverend Warnock to President Biden: “Congress stands ready to ensure the federal government and our communities have what they need to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and future natural disasters”
    Separately, Senator Reverend Warnock also urged senior Biden Administration officials to prioritize investigating and sharing information about disaster-related frauds and scams, monitoring incidents of price gouging and other unfair or illegal pricing following natural disasters, and addressing intravenous (IV) fluids supply challenges impacting frontline health workers and patients
    ICYMI from Politico: Senators Want A Supp
    ICYMI from Capitol Beat News Service: Southeastern senators urge passage of disaster relief for Helene victims
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities can begin to heal. In a new bipartisan letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Senator Warnock, joined by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Ted Budd (R-NC), highlighted the heartbreak facing southern communities recovering from the destruction of these hurricanes, and requested the White House to rapidly submit a detailed supplemental government funding request to Congress that considers the full cost of recovering from these storms so Congress can quickly pass aid for American families. Senator Warnock has called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation, despite opposition from U.S. House leadership.
    “We urgently request the White House’s Office of Management and Budget rapidly submit to Congress a detailed supplemental appropriations request that considers the full cost of recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as other devastating natural disasters, so Congress can quickly consider supplemental appropriations this year, and affected communities can begin to heal,” wrote the Senators.
    “Given the immense need, we respectfully ask that the Office of Management and Budget work quickly to determine the costs of recovering from Hurricane Helene and Milton and immediately submit a supplemental appropriations request to Congress that includes this full cost. Congress stands ready to ensure the federal government and our communities have what they need to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and future natural disasters,” concluded the lawmakers.
    In three additional, separate letters to regulators and agencies across the federal government responsible for consumer protection and more, Senator Warnock urged federal officials to prioritize investigating and sharing information about disaster-related frauds and scams, monitoring incidents of price gouging and other unfair or illegal pricing following natural disasters, and addressing intravenous (IV) fluids supply challenges impacting frontline workers and patients, including successfully pushing President Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to ramp up production of needed supplies.
    Read the Senator’s letter on price gouging HERE, on banking difficulties HERE, on scams and frauds HERE, and on addressing IV fluids shortage HERE.
    Read his letter to President Biden HERE and below:
    Dear President Biden,
    As the Southeastern United States continues to respond to life-threatening conditions in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the sheer scope of the destruction from these hurricanes is heartbreaking. We urgently request the White House’s Office of Management and Budget rapidly submit to Congress a detailed supplemental appropriations request that considers the full cost of recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as other devastating natural disasters, so Congress can quickly consider supplemental appropriations this year, and affected communities can begin to heal.
    Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s coast as a Category 4 storm on September 27 before devastating communities across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Tragically, the death toll continues to rise, with 228 being confirmed to date. Hurricane Milton struck Florida on October 9, bringing life-threatening storm surges and wind gusts and causing 24 deaths to date.
    We are immensely grateful to first responders and federal workers as they perform life-saving work. However, the task of recovering from these storms has overwhelmed state and local governments. Federal support will be needed to restore and rebuild our communities.
    While the recovery costs are still being determined, estimates of Hurricane Helene’s damage range from $34 billion to $47 billion. Hurricane Milton is likewise expected to cost billions more in damages.
    The Federal Emergency Management Agency will require significant additional funding to ensure it has the resources it needs for Hurricane Helene and Milton recovery, and additional federal funding will be required to support states and federal agencies’ emergency response efforts. Likewise, as communities begin to rebuild, uninterrupted access to key disaster assistance loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration is imperative. Agricultural producers will also need financial assistance to help them recover from yet another natural disaster that is further compounding their already tenuous economic situation, and small businesses will need support to help cover the damage to their livelihoods and rebuild, so they can reopen their doors to communities.
    Given the immense need, we respectfully ask that the Office of Management and Budget work quickly to determine the costs of recovering from Hurricane Helene and Milton and immediately submit a supplemental appropriations request to Congress that includes this full cost.
    Congress stands ready to ensure the federal government and our communities have what they need to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and future natural disasters.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steil Leads WI Delegation in Urging Biden-Harris Administration to Address IV Fluid Shortage

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

    Janesville, WI (October 18, 2024) – Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) today led the Wisconsin delegation in urging the Biden-Harris administration to take immediate action to address the nationwide IV fluid shortage due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. In a letter to the administration, the members are seeking a clear plan from the Biden-Harris administration on how they will address this national crisis. 

    Excerpts and highlights from the letter below: 

    “As you may be aware, Baxter International’s North Cove site, located less than an hour from Asheville, North Carolina, is the largest manufacturer of IV fluids and dialysis solutions in the U.S.  

    “According to the company, their site was “significantly impacted by the rain and storm surge” from Hurricane Helene and is temporarily closed. Baxter supplies roughly 60% of the IV fluids to hospitals in the U.S. 

    “Our offices have heard from Wisconsin hospitals and health systems who have already begun postponing and canceling elective procedures for patients due to the impending shortage.

    “With more disruptions anticipated from Hurricane Milton, we ask your administration to take all available action to minimize the impact of this shortage on patient care and increase the supply of IV solutions.” 

    CLICK HERE to read the full letter.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Three WA Grid Enhancement Projects Get $208M from Cantwell-Authored Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    10.18.24

    Three WA Grid Enhancement Projects Get $208M from Cantwell-Authored Program

    Federal grants covering about half of project costs include $85M for Avista, $45M for Puget Sound Energy, $77M for coalition of PNW/Mountain utilities Funds will help make Washington state electric grid more efficient and resistant to wildfires and extreme weather

    SEATTLE, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced three new federal grants totaling $208.4 million that will help utility providers in Washington state modernize their electricity grids and ensure homes and businesses can count on affordable and reliable electricity service, particularly during natural disasters.

    The funds come from the Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, a $10.5 billion dollar program authored in part by Cantwell in 2007, which was subsequently expanded and funded with Sen. Cantwell’s assistance in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

    “A smarter grid is a more efficient and reliable grid, and key to meeting our region’s need for 30% more affordable electricity over the next decade,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Upgrading transmission lines with technologies like sensors and advanced controls will not only help prevent wildfires but also keep the lights on during extreme weather and natural disasters.”

    The following Washington state organizations received funding:

    • Puget Sound Energy (PSE) received $45,781,599 for the Skagit River Valley Transformation for Climate Resiliency Project: This funding will allow PSE to underground approximately 32 miles of power lines, as well as deploy cameras and sensing technologies for real-time monitoring that can help prevent forest fires. It will also enable PSE to make grid updates that ensure power delivery from the Baker River Hydroelectric Project to communities in Skagit County and help quickly restore power after major outages. Sen. Cantwell wrote a letter in support of the project to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm in April 2024. This federal grant will cover 50% of the total cost of the project.
    • Avista Utilities received $85,664,781 for the Lolo-Oxbow Transmission Upgrade and Optimization Project: This funding will allow Avista Utilities and Idaho Power Company to reconstruct a vital power line connecting the Pacific Northwest and Mountain regions, using designs and materials that make the line more resistant to wildfires and make outages exceedingly rare – projected to be fewer than one per year. Avista Utilities plans to use drones to string the new lines, which will limit outages during construction. Additionally, the project will deploy advanced technology that controls and optimizes the flow of power and increases capacity for the whole region, enabling the Nez Perce Tribe to increase their capacity for renewable energy generation on their reservation. This federal grant will cover 49.5% of the total cost of the project.
    • E Source received $77,021,741 for the Increasing Energy Resilience Via Technology Investment Acceleration (INERTIA) Project: The INERTIA project brings together a diverse coalition of grid operators, technology providers, and community partners in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain regions to enhance grid resilience and safeguard high-risk communities from natural disasters like wildfires, windstorms, ice storms, and extreme heat. This funding will help the coalition deploy microgrids across the region to provide backup power technology for high-risk areas, reducing the frequency and duration of power shutoffs by approximately 85%.  The funding will also integrate advanced sensing technologies and AI-driven analytics to detect faults in the grid in less than half the previous time and identify dangerous vegetation before it causes an outage. This federal grant will cover 46.5% of the total cost of the project.

    A full list of project recipients is HERE.

    Sen. Cantwell has long championed investments in smart grid technologies that can improve the efficiency and resiliency of our nation’s electricity grid. She authored the Smart Grid Title of the 2007 Energy Bill, pioneering smart grid legislation that created the smart grid R&D program at the Department of Energy (which was expanded in the BIL); required the development of an interoperability framework; established a federal matching grant program; created a Smart Grid Advisory Committee to advise the federal government on the deployment of smart grid technologies; initiated a Smart Grid Task Force to coordinate the federal government’s smart grid policies; and encouraged state utility regulatory commissions to allow for rate recovery for smart grid investments.

    This July, Sen. Cantwell joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and regional energy stakeholders to discuss technological and policy solutions that will ensure NW ratepayers and our regional economy continue to benefit from abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy. More than 200 business, government, and non-profit energy professionals attended the event, including BPA Administrator John Hairston. On the day of the event, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the key energy technology areas that the Pacific Northwest is poised to lead.

    In 2009, Sen. Cantwell pushed to include $4.5 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for smart grid investments, funding which was authorized by Sen. Cantwell’s Smart Grid Title in the 2007 Energy Bill. In February 2009, Sen. Cantwell organized a Smart Grid Conference in Spokane attended by around 300 regional stakeholders to help coordinate a regional bid for a Smart Grid Demonstration Project. In November 2009, the Energy Department awarded $88 million, the largest award in the country, to launch the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project which was used to install a smart grid framework including a digital telecommunications network, substation automation, and a robust distribution system infrastructure.

    In July 2021, Sen. Cantwell authored and fought for passage of a bipartisan amendment that eventually resulted in a $10 billion increase in the Bonneville Power Administration’s borrowing authority being included in the BIL. The measure allowed BPA to continue to borrow at low-interest rates at no ultimate cost to the taxpayer. Sen. Cantwell’s amendment also linked expanded borrowing authority to new financial oversight requirements and opportunities for increased stakeholder engagement. Since then, BPA has announced investments totaling more than $5 billion in the nation’s electricity grid (a more than $2 billion investment in July 2023 and a $3 billion investment in October 2024), made possible by their expanded borrowing authority.

    The GRIP Program, managed by the Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office, funds activities to modernize the electric grid to reduce impacts of natural disasters and extreme weather worsened by climate change; increase the flexibility, efficiency, and reliability of the electric power system with a particular focus on unlocking more solar, wind, and other clean energy and reducing faults that may lead to wildfires; and improve reliability by deploying innovative approaches to electricity transmission, storage, and distribution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Warnock Lead Bipartisan Push for President Biden to Kickstart Disaster Funding Effort

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led a bipartisan group of senators in urging the White House to rapidly submit a government funding request to Congress that will fully cover costs associated with clean-up and recovery following Hurricanes Helene and Milton so that affected communities can begin to heal. The Senators have previously called for Congress to return to Washington from the October in-state work period to approve federal disaster relief legislation.

    In a new bipartisan letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Senators Tillis and Warnock, joined by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Ted Budd (R-NC), highlighted the heartbreak facing southern communities recovering from the destruction of these hurricanes, and requested the White House to rapidly submit a detailed supplemental government funding request to Congress that considers the full cost of recovering from these storms so Congress can quickly pass aid for American families. 

    “We urgently request the White House’s Office of Management and Budget rapidly submit to Congress a detailed supplemental appropriations request that considers the full cost of recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as other devastating natural disasters, so Congress can quickly consider supplemental appropriations this year, and affected communities can begin to heal,” wrote the senators.

    “Given the immense need, we respectfully ask that the Office of Management and Budget work quickly to determine the costs of recovering from Hurricane Helene and Milton and immediately submit a supplemental appropriations request to Congress that includes this full cost. Congress stands ready to ensure the federal government and our communities have what they need to recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton and future natural disasters,” the senators concluded. 

    Text of the full letter is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Providing Financial Support for Survivors and Communities as Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts Continue

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Providing Financial Support for Survivors and Communities as Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts Continue

    FEMA Providing Financial Support for Survivors and Communities as Hurricane Response and Recovery Efforts Continue

    The Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $1.8 billion in federal assistance for individuals and communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell continues to lead the federal response, working in coordination with state and local partners to ensure that survivors receive the resources they need to jumpstart their recovery.

    Currently, FEMA has deployed more than 4,800 personnel to the affected areas, contributing to a total of over 7,500 federal responders who are working together to support state and local governments in their recovery efforts. FEMA personnel on the ground are actively coordinating with local officials, conducting damage assessments, and helping individuals apply for disaster assistance programs.

    Federal assistance for those affected by the hurricanes includes $722 million to support survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $1.1 billion has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property.

    Applying for assistance is a critical first step towards recovery. Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida (Helene), Florida (Milton), North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. Individuals affected by the hurricanes are encouraged to apply as soon as they are able to by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, which is the fastest way to get an application started. Individuals can also apply using the FEMA App, calling 1-800-621-3362 or in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center. Disaster Recovery Centers in the affected communities can provide survivors with in-person help on their applications and answer questions. Center locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC. FEMA also has Disaster Survivor Assistance team members in the field supporting survivors and helping them with the application process. 

    Federal assistance for individuals may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for other federally declared disasters.

    FEMA also works with private sector vendors to fulfill critical disaster response needs. The agency contracts with local businesses in affected areas when practical and feasible. Companies interested in doing business with FEMA should follow the steps outlined on the agency’s Doing Business with FEMA webpage. FEMA will only engage with businesses through the formal federal procurement process and solicitations sent directly to individual FEMA staff will not be processed.

    Recovery Update

    For those affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA has approved over $1.1 billion in assistance. This includes $655 million in assistance for individuals and families, along with more than $518 million for debris removal and efforts to protect public health and safety. In response to Hurricane Milton, FEMA has approved more than $671 million in assistance, with $67 million allocated for individuals and families and over $604 million for debris removal and safety measures.

    To support response and recovery efforts, FEMA delivered over 12.6 million meals and 13.1 million liters of water to states impacted by Helene. For Milton, FEMA delivered more than 2.8 million meals and 1.8 million liters of water to Florida.

    FEMA continues to open Disaster Recovery Centers in affected communities, offering in-person assistance, information on available resources and help with FEMA assistance applications. Disaster Survivor Assistance Teams are also on the ground in all affected states, helping survivors apply for aid and connect with additional resources from state, local, federal, and voluntary agencies. As of today, FEMA now has 40 Disaster Recovery Centers open and 850 Disaster Survivor Assistance team members on the ground supporting community members. 

    Support for North Carolina

    As ongoing response efforts continue in western North Carolina, FEMA has approved over $108 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 82,000 households.

    More than 3,500 applicants who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Shelter numbers remain steady, with 13 shelters housing just over 520 occupants. 

    Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations remain in areas of western North Carolina. Voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft. 

    • Residents can visit: ncdps.gov/Helene to get information and additional assistance.  
    • Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.  

    There are over 402 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also 10 Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Brevard, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Marion, Sylva and Waynesville where survivors can speak directly with FEMA and state personnel for assistance with their recovery. To find the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Support for Florida

    In response to Helene, FEMA has approved over $253 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 81,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $330 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work. In response to Milton, FEMA has approved over $67 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 84,000 households. Additionally, FEMA has approved more than $604 million in Public Assistance for debris removal and emergency work. There are 46 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities to provide support. There are also 14 Disaster Recovery Centers now open supporting survivors from Debby, Helene and Milton where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Centers are in Bradenton, Branford (2), Brooksville, Glen Saint Mary, Homosassa, Lake City, Largo, Live Oak, Madison, Old Town, Perry, Punta Gorda, Sarasota and Tampa. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC. 

    Residents in need of information or resources should call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. English, Spanish and Creole speakers are available to answer questions.  

    Support for South Carolina

    FEMA has approved over $146 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 151,000 households. 

    There are 99 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also four Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Anderson, Easley, Greenville and North Augusta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents with questions on Helene can call the state’s toll-free hotline, open 24 hours a day, at 1-866-246-0133. Residents who are dependent on medical equipment at home and who are without power due to Helene may be eligible for a medical needs shelter. Call the state’s Department of Public Health Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information. 

    Support for Georgia

    FEMA has approved over $131 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 125,000 households.

    There are 185 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also six Disaster Recovery Centers now open in Augusta, Douglas, Lyons, Midway, Sandersville and Valdosta where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at gema.georgia.gov/hurricane-helene. 

    Support for Virginia

    To date, FEMA has approved over $5.3 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 1,700 households.

    There are about 73 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There are also five Disaster Recovery Centers open in Damascus, Dublin, Independence, Marion and Tazewell where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Residents can find resources like shelters and feeding sites at: Recover – Hurricane Helene | VDEM (vaemergency.gov).

    Support for Tennessee

    FEMA has approved more than $12.3 million in housing and other types of assistance for more than 2,600 households. 

    There are more than 47 Disaster Survivor Assistance members in communities providing support. There is now one Disaster Recovery Center open in Erwin where survivors can speak to state and federal personnel to help with their recovery. Survivors may find their closest center by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

    Counties continue to establish donation centers. For the evolving list, visit TEMA’s website.

    FEMA remains steadfast in its mission to support survivors as they begin their recovery from these historic storms. The agency will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of those impacted by Milton and Helene.

    mashana.davis

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: VALUE LINE, INC. DECLARES A QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND OF $0.30 PER COMMON SHARE

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Value Line, Inc. (NASDAQ: VALU) announced today that its Board of Directors declared on October 18, 2024 a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per common share, payable on November 12, 2024, to stockholders of record on October 28, 2024. The Company has 9,418,074 shares of common stock outstanding as of October 18, 2024.

    Value Line, Inc. is a leading New York based provider of investment research. The Value Line Investment Survey is one of the most widely used sources of independent equity investment research. Value Line also publishes a range of proprietary investment research in both print and digital formats including research in the areas of Mutual Funds, ETFs and Options. Value Line’s acclaimed research also enables the Company to provide specialized products such as Value Line Select, The Value Line Special Situations Service, Value Line Select ETFs, Value Line Select: Dividend Income & Growth, The New Value Line ETFs Service, The Value Line M&A Service, Information You Should Know Wealth Newsletter, The Value Line Climate Change Investing Service and certain Value Line copyrights, distributed under agreements including certain proprietary ranking system information and other proprietary information used in third party products. Value Line’s products are available to individual investors by mail, at http://www.valueline.com or by calling 1-800-VALUELINE or 1-800-825-8354, while institutional-level services for professional investors, advisers, corporate, academic, and municipal libraries are offered at http://www.ValueLinePro.com, http://www.ValueLineLibrary.com and by calling 1-800-531-1425.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    In this report, “Value Line,” “we,” “us,” “our” refers to Value Line, Inc. and “the Company” refers to Value Line and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

    This report contains statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions (including certain projections and business trends) accompanied by such phrases as “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar or negative expressions, that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Actual results for Value Line, Inc. (“Value Line” or “the Company”) may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following:

    • maintaining revenue from subscriptions for the Company’s digital and print published products;
    • changes in investment trends and economic conditions, including global financial issues;
    • changes in Federal Reserve policies affecting interest rates and liquidity along with resulting effects on equity markets;
    • stability of the banking system, including the success of U.S. government policies and actions in regard to banks with liquidity or capital issues, along with the associated impact on equity markets;
    • continuation of orderly markets for equities and corporate and governmental debt securities;
    • problems protecting intellectual property rights in Company methods and trademarks;
    • protecting confidential information including customer confidential or personal information that we may possess;
    • dependence on non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EULAV Asset Management, a Delaware statutory trust (“EAM” or “EAM Trust”), which serves as the investment advisor to the Value Line Funds and engages in related distribution, marketing and administrative services;
    • fluctuations in EAM’s and third party copyright assets under management due to broadly based changes in the values of equity and debt securities, sectoral variations, redemptions by investors and other factors;
    • possible changes in the valuation of EAM’s intangible assets from time to time;
    • possible changes in future revenues or collection of receivables from significant customers;
    • dependence on key executive and specialist personnel;
    • risks associated with the outsourcing of certain functions, technical facilities, and operations, including in some instances outside the U.S.;
    • competition in the fields of publishing, copyright and investment management, along with associated effects on the level and structure of prices and fees, and the mix of services delivered;
    • the impact of government regulation on the Company’s and EAM’s businesses;
    • federal and/or state legislative changes that might affect Value Line’s business;
    • the availability of free or low cost investment information through discount brokers or generally over the internet;
    • the economic and other impacts of global political and military conflicts;
    • continued availability of generally dependable energy supplies and transportation facilities in the geographic areas in which the company and certain suppliers operate;
    • terrorist attacks, cyber attacks and natural disasters;
    • insufficiency in our business continuity plans or systems in the event of anticipated or unpredictable disruption;
    • widespread illnesses which may drastically affect markets, employment, and other economic conditions, and may have additional unpredictable impacts on employees, suppliers, customers, and operations;
    • changes in prices and availability of materials and other inputs and services, such as freight and postage, required by the Company;
    • other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2024 and in Part II, Item 1A of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2024; and other risks and uncertainties arising from time to time.

    These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors which may involve external factors over which we may have no control or changes in our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations or intentions, which may happen at any time at our discretion, could also have material adverse effects on future results. Except as otherwise required to be disclosed in periodic reports required to be filed by public companies with the SEC pursuant to the SEC’s rules, we have no duty to update these statements, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, current plans, anticipated actions, and future financial conditions and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking information contained herein.

    http://www.valueline.com
    http://www.ValueLinePro.com, http://www.ValueLineLibrary.com
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    Complimentary Value Line® Reports on Dow 30 Stocks

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Cree Nation Government and Parks Canada successfully complete Feasibility Assessment and announce an agreement to formally work toward establishing an offshore Indigenous Protected Area and national marine conservation area in the Eeyou Marine Region

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The proposed national marine conservation area spans more than 26,000 km2 and is home to the Crees and to abundant wildlife.

    The proposed national marine conservation area spans more than 26,000 km2 and is home to the Crees and to abundant wildlife

    October 18, 2024                        Beaupré, Quebec                      Parks Canada

    Today, the Cree Nation Government and Parks Canada announced the successful completion of the Feasibility Assessment and signed an agreement to formally work toward establishing a proposed Indigenous Protected Area and national marine conservation area in the offshore waters of the Eeyou Marine Region. This is a major step toward achieving official protection for this rich marine environment.

    The announcement was made in Beaupré, Quebec, by Grand Chief and Chairperson Mandy Gull-Masty of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) / Cree Nation Government, and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

    The proposed Wiinipaakw (James Bay) Protected Area would receive protection as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) through mechanisms determined by the Crees and would be established as a national marine conservation (NMCA) area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Area Act and in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement. A proposed IPA – NMCA in the Eeyou Marine Region would be adjacent to but not in Quebec and would not include any portion under the administration of the Government of Nunavut.

    The Eeyou Marine Region is rich in biodiversity and history. It is essential to Cree culture and Eeyou pimaatisiiwin (the Cree way of life). Many rivers flow out into Wiinipaakw (James Bay) bringing large amounts of freshwater to the Bay. This creates a unique marine environment with a salt concentration much lower than that of Chiwiinipaakw (Hudson Bay) and of oceans.

    As a part of the larger Chiwiinipaakw (Hudson Bay) inland sea, Wiinipaakw (James Bay) is also a hub for migrating geese, ducks, shore birds, and marine mammals. The Wiinipaakw Indigenous Protected Area and national marine conservation area will contribute to the protection of offshore water ecosystems and help mitigate climate change. Large scale conservation aligns with the treaties and rights of the Eeyouch (Crees) of Eeyou Istchee and their determination to maintain their culture, pimaastisiiwin (way of life), and support food security. The Eeyouch have been stewards to these lands, waters, and ice since time immemorial.  

    Engagement and consultation will continue with Indigenous and local communities, other relevant jurisdictions and federal departments, stakeholders, and the public during the next stages toward establishment. Once protected, the new national marine conservation area will also contribute 0.45 per cent to the Government of Canada’s target of protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters in Canada by 2030.

                                                                                                           -30-

    • The Eeyou Marine Region is rich in biodiversity, history and is essential to Cree culture and Eeyou pimaatisiiwin (the Cree way of life). The Eeyouch have been stewards of these lands and waters since time immemorial. 

    • In 2010, following the signing of the Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement, the Cree Nation Government approached Parks Canada with the suggestion of collaborating on an Indigenous-led project. This built upon years of work (the Tawich Marine Protected Area project) already completed by the Cree Nation of Wemindji and researchers to extend the terrestrial protected areas network into the offshore.

    • In May 2019, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) / Cree Nation Government formalized this collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Parks Canada. The MOU initiated a feasibility assessment to explore the establishment of a national marine conservation area, defining the terms and conditions under which it could be established. It also created a Steering Committee, comprising two representatives from the Cree Nation Government and two from Parks Canada, tasked with guiding the feasibility assessment process and with preparing a feasibility assessment report.

    • The Steering Committee compiled and summarized existing ecological and environmental data to highlight areas of rich biodiversity within the Study Area defined in the 2019 MOU. The Committee conducted engagement activities with the five coastal Cree First Nations (Waskaganish, Eastmain, Wemindji, Chisasibi, and Whapmagoostui), with Cree entities, and with stakeholders. Through these sessions, the Committee gathered insights on Cree interests, concerns, and ideas about potential opportunities associated with a national marine conservation area.

    • The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation and renewed relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on a recognition of rights, respect, collaboration, and partnership.

    Hermine Landry
    Press Secretary     
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    873-455-3714
    hermine.landry@ec.gc.ca

    Kristen Moar
    Political Attachée – Office of the Grand Chief / Attachée politique – Bureau de la Grande Cheffe
    Cree Nation Government / Gouvernement de la Nation Crie
    819-895-4451
    kristen.moar@cngov.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 26th Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) Meeting Discusses Accelerating Industry-Academia Partnership for Research and Innovation in India

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 6:49PM by PIB Delhi

    The 26th Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) meeting was chaired by Professor Ajay Kumar Sood today (October 18, 2024) at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe in New Delhi.

    Along with the PM-STIAC members, the meeting brought together leaders from the government officials, academic institutions and industry bodies to discuss and gain a deeper understanding of the current state-of-play, plausible partnership models, their local contextualisation and effective implementation modalities.

    The meeting was joined by key government officials including by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member S&T, NITI Aayog, Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Mrs Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; Dr. S. Somnath, Secretary, Department of Space; Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research, and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, and Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research; Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO; Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy; Mr. S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; and Dr. Pawan Goenka, Chairman, IN-SPACe.

    Leaders from academic institutions included Prof. Govindan Rangarajan, Director, IISc Bengaluru; Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay; Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani Campuses; and Prof. Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar.

    Industry bodies including NASSCOM (Ms. Debjani Ghosh, President, and Mr. Rajesh Nambiar, President-designate); Biocon (Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson and Founder), Invest India (Ms. Nivruti Rai, CEO & MD), FICCI (Mrs. Anandi Iyer, Co Chair, FICCI Innovation Committee), Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology (Mr. Ashish Dhawan, Founder) and Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research (Mr. Janak Nabar, CEO) shared their insights on the topic.

    Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, former Director General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Dr Naushad Forbes, former Chairman, CII, sent their insights which were circulated and duly discussed.

    In his opening address, Prof. Sood highlighted the need for strengthening industry-academia partnerships for advancing research and innovation (R&I) in general, and through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), in particular. For this goal, he emphasized that the stakeholders – industry, academia and government – have to play a complementary role to get increased socio-economic benefits from the efforts made in the country for R&I activities.

    Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member S&T, NITI Aayog, called for identifying priority areas where industry and academia can collaborate to accelerate research and innovation in the country. He advocated for prioritizing design and advancing academic research to make India a product-driven nation. He stressed on building expertise in frontier technologies, fostering collaboration between academia and industry, building trust in indigenous R&D and increasing exposure in academia to the industry as vital steps to enhance the R&D ecosystem in the country.

    Presentations were made by the experts to highlight the triple helix model of industry-academia partnerships for research and innovation, facilitated by the government. The discussions centred on sector-specific models, challenges and recommendations for enabling and leveraging such partnerships in various domains like ICT, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, space and electronics. They aligned on identifying certain mission-critical priority areas where industry-academia partnerships can drive significant multiplier effects in the country’s growth. The importance of goal alignment between government, industry and academia to deliver impactful outcomes was also discussed.

    After the presentations, the Chair invited interventions from special invitees and PM-STIAC members. They discussed expanding the triple-helix model to also include startups, accelerators and venture capital funds to drive industry-academia partnerships. They highlighted the government’s role as both a customer and facilitator, advocating for multidisciplinary approaches and increased mobility between academic research and industry. They suggested policies that support seamless movement between academia and industry, including research translation offices, and highlighted the significance of long-term government investment in both basic research and cutting-edge technologies.

    In his concluding remarks, Prof. Sood emphasized the importance of aligning incentives across stakeholders to bring R&D capabilities to the forefront. He echoed the recommendations made by earlier speakers on the need to bridge the gap between existing resources and future demands, ensuring that research and innovation address the critical needs of the nation.

    ***

    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2066178) Visitor Counter : 7

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open in Liberty, Toombs Counties

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open in Liberty, Toombs Counties

    Additional Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open in Liberty, Toombs Counties

    ATLANTA — FEMA opened two additional Disaster Recovery Centers in Liberty and Toombs counties to provide one-on-one help for Georgians affected by Hurricane Helene. The centers are open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. 

    Center locations:

    Liberty County
    Miller Park/HQ Fire Station 
    6944 E. Oglethorpe Highway
    Midway, GA 31320

    Toombs County
    Georgia Department of Human Services
    162 Oxley Drive 
    Lyons, GA 30436

    Additional centers are open in Coffee, Lowndes, Richmond and Washington Counties: 

    Coffee County

    The Atrium

    114 N. Peterson Ave. Douglas, GA 31533

    Lowndes County

    City of Valdosta

    4434 North Forrest Street Extension Valdosta, GA 31605

    Richmond County

    Hub for Community Innovation

    631 Chafee Ave. Augusta, GA 30904

    Washington County

    Sandersville School Building Authority

    514 North Harris St. Sandersville, GA 31082

    To find center locations in the state, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Helene Georgia Page, FEMA’s DRC Locator or text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362. All centers are accessible to people with disabilities or access and functional needs and are equipped with assistive technology. 

    Homeowners and renters in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, Fulton, Glascock, Glynn, Hancock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, McDuffie, McIntosh, Montgomery, Newton, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wheeler counties can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the State of Georgia and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed.

    If you are in an affected county, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. The quickest way to apply is online at DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.

    Disaster Assistance Teams are also on the ground in affected counties going door-to-door to help survivors register for assistance.

    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

    ###

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.

    larissa.hale

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Police travel advice issued ahead of Storm Ashley

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued by Police Scotland

    The Met Office has issued an Amber warning for wind across parts of western and northern Scotland. The warning is in place between 9am on Sunday, 20 October, and 11.59pm on Sunday, 20 October, 2024.

    The following areas are expected to be affected by the Amber warning:

    • Highlands and Eilean Siar (Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar)
    • Strathclyde (Argyll and Bute)

    A Yellow warning for wind affecting much of Scotland is also in place between 3am on Sunday, 20 October, and 11.59pm on Sunday, 20 October, 2024.

    The following areas are expected to be affected by the Yellow warning:

    • Central, Tayside & Fife (Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling)
    • Grampian (Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray)
    • Highlands & Eilean Siar (Highland, Na h-Eileanan Siar)
    • Orkney & Shetland (Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands)
    • SW Scotland, Lothian Borders (Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian Council, Scottish Borders, West Lothian)
    • Strathclyde (Argyll and Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire)

    Further information about the weather warnings and flood information is available on the Met Office and SEPA websites.

    Those in amber alert areas may experience power outtages. For advice, visit Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks – https://www.ssen.co.uk/news-views/2024/SSEN-Weather-Warning-ahead-of-strong-winds-forecast-for-the-north-of-Scotland/

    Chief Superintendent Hilary Sloan, Police Scotland’s Head of Road Policing, said: “The amber warning for high winds means that there is a strong likelihood of disruption on the road network and as such, motorists are advised to plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel where possible.

    “Make sure your vehicle has sufficient fuel and is completely roadworthy, with tyre pressure and tread meeting legal requirements. Ensure your mobile phone is fully charged in the event you need to call for assistance and if it is likely you may be within your vehicle for long periods of time, take additional clothing and water with you.

    “Please do not ignore any road signage advising of changes to speed or closures to routes. These are in place for your safety and the safety of other road users and listen out for media broadcasts about the weather and how it may be impacting travel.

    “Further information of the weather and road closures can be found by visiting the Met Office, Ready Scotland and Traffic Scotland websites and social media accounts.”

    General advice for road users:

    • Plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel
    • All road users should consider if they really need to travel during adverse weather
    • Consider delaying travel until conditions improve
    • If you are travelling on the roads, prepare yourself and your vehicle for the conditions
    • Ensure your mobile phone is charged and plan your journey, including an alternative route
    • Have sufficient fuel, warm clothing, food and water in case you’re delayed
    • Do not ignore road closure signs – they are for your safety
    • Congestion caused by vehicles may restrict emergency services and recovery vehicles from providing essential assistance
    • Listen to media broadcasts, including radio, for updates Traffic Scotland radio player | Traffic Scotland or visit Traffic Scotland | Trunk road traffic updates & route planner
    • Follow your local authority for the latest updates in your area via Facebook, X or their website
    • Other information can be found on the Met Office and Ready Scotland websites. For public transport information visit http://www.travelinescotland.com
    • Follow @trafficscotland on X for up-to-date travel information.

    Wind

    HGV and bus drivers should drive with extreme caution and be aware you may be asked to park at a suitable position by the police.

    Drivers of vehicles vulnerable to being blown over should plan their route to avoid exposed areas or consider cancelling your journey until conditions improve.

    Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians should consider the risk of being blown over or into the path of other road users.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pressley, Randolph Leaders, Students Cut Ribbon on Turner Free Mobile Library

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Last Year, Pressley Secured $524K to Create New Mobile Library and Support STEM Programming

    In Congress, Pressley Has Led Charge Against Book Bans and Promoted Culturally Relevant Learning in K-12 Schools

    Video (YouTube) | Photo (Dropbox)

    RANDOLPH – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) visited Randolph for a ribbon cutting for the Turner Free Mobile Library, which was made possible after she delivered $524,000 in federal funding for the new library and STEM programming. The new mobile library, also known as the “Page Turner” bookmobile, carries books, movies, Wi-Fi, and other resources to students, elders, and other residents across the Randolph community. In Congress, Rep. Pressley has led the charge against book bans and has championed policies that promote culturally relevant learning in K-12 schools.

    Congresswoman Pressley was joined at the ribbon-cutting by Randolph Town Manager Brian Howard, Randolph Public Schools Superintendent Thea Stovell, Turner Free Library Director Sharon Parrington-Wright, and Randolph students, librarians, and city officials.

    “When we say books save lives, we mean that. The Turner Free Mobile Library will support students without access to high-speed internet at home, bring books and resources to learners of every age in Randolph, and focus on increasing critical literacy rates and critical thinking,” said Rep. Pressley. “Thank you to the educators, librarians, legislators, and students for being part of building strong learning communities and fostering a love of learning for all ages. With book bans on the rise in Massachusetts and across the country, I am proud to have delivered federal funding to make this effort a reality and help Randolph residents access the learning resources they deserve.”

    “The arrival of the Turner Free Library’s bookmobile is a proud moment for the Town of Randolph, as it reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for learning and community connection, said Brian Howard, Randolph Town Manager. “This innovative resource will serve as a bridge, bringing essential library services directly to our residents and enriching the lives of all who engage with it. We are grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s tremendous support and excited to see how this mobile library will strengthen Randolph’s dedication to literacy, education, and accessibility for everyone.”

    “The Turner Free Library’s bookmobile is the latest in our long-standing efforts to reduce barriers and make library services accessible to all members of the Randolph community,” said Sharon Parrington-Wright, Turner Free Library Director. “We’re excited to use the bookmobile to support literacy, equitable access to information, and lifelong learning by bringing library services outside of the library’s walls and into our community—when and where they are!”

    “I’m so enthusiastic about the new bookmobile and its potential impact on Randolph Public Schools. This transformative resource is a game-changer that is not only a mobile library but also a catalyst for bringing the joy of reading directly to students and fostering a vibrant community of literacy,” said Thea Stovell, Randolph Public Schools Superintendent. “By enhancing access to diverse literature and creating engaging learning opportunities, The Page Turner creates dynamic learning experiences that inspire a lifelong love of reading and foster a strong sense of community.”

    Footage of the event can be found here, and photos are here.

    In Congress, Rep. Pressley unveiled the Books Save Lives Act to help ensure an inclusive learning environment and counteract the harm of book bans across the country.

    Rep. Pressley secured the federal funding for Turner Free Library in the government spending package that passed Congress and was signed into law by President Biden in December 2022. Rep. Pressley secured millions for 15 community projects across the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District in this major Congressional appropriations bill, capping off nearly a year of advocacy by Rep. Pressley and local leaders.

    In April, 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to celebrate the $524,000 in federal funding she secured for Turner Free Library to support a mobile library and STEM programming. Rep. Pressley held a roundtable discussion and press conference on how the project will serve elementary and middle school students across Randolph Public Schools who lack regular access to school librarians or library services. In August 2022, Rep. Pressley delivered $275,000 in federal community project funding for culturally responsive resources and digital literacy tools for Randolph Public Schools.

    In October 2023, during Banned Books Week, Rep. Pressley visited the Turner Free Library in Randolph to discuss the growing threat of book bans across the country and the need for accessible, representative literature. Rep. Pressley was joined at the roundtable by librarians, educators, and community members from Randolph and Milton.

    • On October 10, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Just A Start, elected officials and community advocates and members for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons, a 70,000-square-foot facility designed to address the evolving needs of the community.
    • On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Boston Medical Center (BMC) to celebrate $370,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program. 
    • On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea HealthCare Center to celebrate $1,150,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) efforts to address the statewide shortage of bilingual, culturally diverse mental health providers for immigrant and limited English proficiency communities.
    • On April 22, 2204, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) visited Nubian Square in Roxbury for a roundtable discussion to celebrate the $1,000,000 million in federal funding they secured for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
    • On March 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
    • In February 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea City Hall for a roundtable and press conference to celebrate the $750,000 in federal funding she secured for the City of Chelsea’s and City of Everett’s Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project.
    • In January 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Somerville to celebrate the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood.
    • In December 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Brighton to celebrate $400,000 she delivered for Amplify Latinx’s ALX Small Business Program.
    • In November 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury Community College (RCC) to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured for Northeastern University’s Roxbury Associate’s to Master’s Workforce Accelerator (RA2MWA).
    • In June 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea to celebrate $2,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to improve the Broadway Corridor—home to an array of BIPOC-owned small businesses, vibrant public spaces, high frequency public transit routes, and dense residential housing.
    • In April 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to celebrate $524,000 she secured for Randolph Public Schools to support a mobile library and STEM programming.
    • In March 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Dorchester to celebrate $250,000 in new Community Project Funding she secured for Big Sister Association of Greater Boston’s one-to-one mentoring and enrichment programs for girls.
    • In February 2023, Rep. Pressley visited the African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE) to celebrate the $643,003 in community project funding she secured for ACEDONE to support small businesses in predominately Black, brown and African immigrant communities.
    • In October 2022, Rep. Pressley visited The Dimock Center in Roxbury to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured to support substance use treatment and programming at the health center. 
    • In August 2022, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to deliver $275,000 in federal community project funding for culturally responsive resources and digital literacy tools for Randolph Public Schools.
    • In June 2022, Rep. Pressley visited the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to deliver $300,000 in direct federal funding for the development of a Clean Energy Building Automation Systems certificate and associate degree program.
    • In May 2022, she visited Bunker Hill Community College to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to expand the City of Boston’s Tuition-Free Community College program.
    • In April 2022, she visited Randolph to deliver $1,000,000 in federal community project funding for a new school-based community health center at Randolph High School. 
    • In March 2022, she visited La Colaborativa in Chelsea to celebrate the $300,000 in federal community project funding that she delivered for La Colaborativa’s COVID Employment Recovery Program.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – European Parliament resolution on COP29 in Baku – Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

    Source: European Parliament

    COP29.jpeg © COP29

    On 21 October, ENVI members will put to vote the adoption of a motion for a resolution to the UN Climate Change Conference 2024.

    The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Monday, 11 November to Friday, 22 November 2024. The main issues at stake are the establishment of a new climate finance goal and the preparatory work for new nationally determined contributions that will be in the focus at the COP30 in Brazil. In view of the COP29, ENVI coordinators decided to prepare a draft motion for a resolution to. The draft resolution includes a set of recommendations to shape the EU strategic objectives for the COP29. It incorporates inputs from the ENVI Members, as well as the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on Development (DEVE) opinions. The European Parliament resolution, once adopted in plenary, will serve as the mandate for the parliamentary delegation to the COP29, taking place in Baku from 18 to 22 November 2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Oregon State Fire Marshal sends team to help with North Carolina storm recovery

    Source: US State of Oregon

    he Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal deployed an incident management team to North Carolina Thursday morning to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The storm caused catastrophic flooding to the western side of the state and cut off many communities from vital services. The North Carolina Emergency Operations Center says 90 people are still missing and many communities remain inaccessible.

    The team is led by Incident Commander Ian Yocum and includes an operations section chief, plans section chief, and three logistics section chiefs. The six-person team will be working in Yancey County, northeast of Asheville.

    “I want to thank those who are headed to North Carolina to help in their time of need. We certainly understand how critical help can be when communities are devastated by a disaster on such a wide scale,” Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said. “I’ve been in contact with North Carolina State Fire Marshal Bryan Taylor who is appreciative of Oregon’s support. We can all be proud to work alongside those who continue to answer the call for assistance, especially after the many wildfire deployments our teams were on this summer.

    The Oregon State Fire Marshal incident management teams are no stranger to helping with hurricane recovery efforts. In 2022, a team, also led by Yocum, was deployed to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

    The team will be deployed to North Carolina until October 30 and will return to Oregon the next day. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has three all-hazard incident management teams trained in emergency response and recovery. The teams typically respond to wildfire and are equipped to handle a wide range of disasters. Learn more about the teams here.

    The team was ordered through the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the nation’s all hazard national mutual aid system. The compact provides help during governor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to quickly send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recovery efforts in other states.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis and Department of Revenue to Announce Relief for Hurricanes Helene, Milton

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Colorado has also provided emergency management and response support to states impacted by both hurricanes

    DENVER – Today, Governor Jared Polis Colorado Department of Revenue announced today that taxpayers impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton now have until May 1, 2025, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

    This decision mirrors the IRS decision to provide similar relief at the federal level.

    “We want to ensure that Coloradans impacted by these terrible storms, who are part time Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and parts of Tennessee and Virginia residents or who have property or business there, have the support and relief they need during this challenging time. Tax deadlines should be the last thing that families impacted by these natural disasters are worried about. This relief will help allow families to prioritize their safety and recovery from these storms without being unnecessarily penalized for missing a deadline,” said Governor Polis.  

    Individuals and households affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton that reside or have a business anywhere in the state of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and parts of Tennessee and Virginia qualify for tax relief. The decision permits the Colorado Department of Revenue to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. Deadlines falling on or after September 23, 2022, and before February 15, 2023, are postponed through May 1, 2025 for impacted taxpayers.

    Impacted individuals who had an automatic extension to file their 2023 return, due on October 15, 2024, will now have until May 1, 2025, to file. This extension does not relieve the taxpayer from penalties and interest, as tax payments related to the 2023 return were due on April 15, 2024.  

    Colorado agrees to honor any waiver of interest granted by Florida for affected International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) motor carriers based in Florida if payments are received by the extension deadline.

    Affected Colorado sales tax licensees who file and pay by the extension deadline of May 1, 2025, will still be considered as “timely filing” and eligible for any vendor fee (discount) that applies.

    Department exemptions do not apply to home-rule jurisdictions who collect their own taxes. CDOR will not automatically apply this tax deadline waiver. Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located in the covered disaster area must call the tax information hotline at 303-238-SERV (7378) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to request the extended deadline after they receive a bill.

    Colorado has contributed to disaster preparation and response in many ways. Governor Polis directed the state of Colorado and the National Guard to send a Chinook Helicopter (1CH47) and its eight crew members to Florida to assist with Hurricane Milton preparation and relief. DHSEM continues to coordinate Colorado’s emergency response to hurricane Helene and Milton, under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). DHSEM’s Incident Management Team (IMT) coordinator coordinated national IMT response to Florida in Tallahassee, FL at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and a four member IMT in Columbia, SC supported the South Carolina State Emergency Operations Center. DHSEM’s Strategic Communications Director was in Raleigh supporting the North Carolina SEOC’s Joint Information Center. The IMT coordinator and DHSEM Communications Director have returned home. A Voluntary Agency Liaison is deployed to Chesterfield, VA. FEMA has also deployed Colorado Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force One, which has approximately 200 highly trained members, that include firefighters, paramedics, physicians, structural engineers, hazardous materials technicians, heavy rigging specialists and canine handlers. These team members have completed their mission and are headed home. Additionally, two incident management teams completed deployments with a six member team at the Columbia County EOC in Lake City, FL and a five member team in Conover, NC.

    DHSEM mobilized a nine-person Emergency Management Assistance Team to Tallahassee, FL to support evacuations as well as  Colorado National Guard aviation resources. That team later became two Emergency Management Assistance Teams, one in Sarasota County and one in Hillsborough County. Coloradans can view this map to see resources deployed through the Emergency Management Conference.

    The Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Coordinator was deployed for 11 days as an EOC deputy manager for a Colorado Incident Management Team that responded to Columbia County, Florida. The team supported five shelters and seven distribution points for water, ice, food, and sanitation stations.

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  • MIL-OSI Video: Partnerships Climate Expo

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    USDA leadership, governmental and non-governmental partners hosted an expo featuring Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, a historic $3 billion investment in approximately 140 projects nationwide through which the U.S. Department of Agriculture is delivering on the promise of positioning American agriculture as a global leader in delivering voluntary, incentives-driven, market-based climate solutions.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXTIERfZ0LQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA May Call from Unfamiliar Phone Numbers

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA May Call from Unfamiliar Phone Numbers

    FEMA May Call from Unfamiliar Phone Numbers

    South Carolina residents who have applied for disaster assistance following Hurricane Helene may get a telephone call from FEMA to schedule an inspection of the damaged home, or to obtain more information to process the application. These calls may come from unfamiliar area codes or phone numbers.

    It is important to answer the call. A FEMA inspection may be required to determine whether a home is safe and livable. If an inspection can’t be scheduled, that may cause a delay in FEMA’s review of the application.

    FEMA specialists may also call to get more information to process an application, or they may contact applicants who started an application and did not complete it.

    Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.

    The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. Survivors can also apply in person at a Disaster Recovery Center and meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find center locations, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. 

    You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.

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

    kwei.nwaogu

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Next Generation 911 Helps Save Lives in Wake of Hurricane Helene

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Next Generation 911 Helps Save Lives in Wake of Hurricane Helene

    Next Generation 911 Helps Save Lives in Wake of Hurricane Helene
    rxblatchford

    North Carolina’s Next Generation 911 system was put to an unprecedented test with the arrival of Hurricane Helene. This storm was like no other our state had experienced before, but North Carolina’s modernized 911 network kept working during even the worst moments of Helene’s wrath.

    Next Generation 911 technology connects all 124 public safety answering points, or PSAPs for short, that are funded by the N.C. 911 Board, which is part of the N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT). Next Generation 911 utilizes AT&T’s ESInet™, a digital emergency services internet protocol-based network that allows 911 calls to be rerouted from their local PSAP to other PSAPs across the state, along with other enhanced capabilities. 

    This rerouting capability ensured 911 calls to PSAPs affected by the storm in western North Carolina could be answered by PSAPs in non-impacted areas, providing resiliency during a time of uncertainty for residents in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

    “The statewide ESInet was a literal lifesaver during and after Hurricane Helene,” said L.V. Pokey Harris, executive director of the N.C. 911 Board. “Had the old technology and analog network still been in place, the infrastructure would have been destroyed and we would not have had the capability to route calls to other PSAPs and connect people to critical emergency services. Thanks to the resiliency and redundancy of this network, we had no reports of 911 calls not being delivered.”

    In the wake of Hurricane Helene, 19 PSAPs in western North Carolina impacted by the storm rerouted 911 calls to 23 partner PSAPs across the state. From Sept. 26 through Sept. 28, 911 telecommunicators across the state answered a total of nearly 90,000 calls, a 55% increase in call volume over the same timeframe last year.

    In addition, the state’s Network Monitoring and Assistance Center (NMAC) in Raleigh was vital throughout the storm. The first and only of its kind in the nation, the NMAC continuously monitors the service and performance of the statewide ESInet while coordinating efforts to ensure 911 calls are immediately and automatically rerouted based on predetermined route plans established by the PSAPs.

    “Events like Hurricane Helene demonstrate how 911 telecommunicators truly are the first, first responders,” said Jim Weaver, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer, who chairs the N.C. 911 Board. “They were the calm and reassuring voice on the other end of the phone during dire circumstances. I want to express my gratitude to them, the PSAP managers and the N.C. 911 Board staff. They have worked around-the-clock, many of them while facing their own challenges in the wake of the storm, to answer calls, ensure the network is operating smoothly and ultimately save lives.”

    “We hope we never experience a storm like Helene ever again,” said Harris. “But if we do, we have confidence in knowing that the N.C. 911 Board’s investment in ESInet produced substantial benefits for North Carolina.”

    Harris added, “I also want to thank our vendor partners AT&T, Intrado and Motorola who worked alongside us around-the-clock to ensure 911 call traffic was routed correctly, and the system and equipment worked exactly as designed.”

    Interested in helping others in times of critical need? Consider a rewarding career as a telecommunicator. Visit the N.C. 911 Board careers page to learn more about the benefits of working for 911 and view opportunities available in your community.

    About Next Generation 911 
    Utilizing AT&T ESInet™, North Carolina’s Next Generation 911 network allows for the secure routing of digital information—including landline calls, cell phone calls and text messages—to the appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP) based on geographic location. It also provides high-speed data network connections that allow every PSAP to serve as a backup for others on the system in the event of a natural disaster or an overload of emergency calls.

    North Carolina began the transition to NG911 in November 2018, when Durham 911 became the first PSAP in the nation to join AT&T ESInet, utilizing a hosted call solution and text messaging. North Carolina was the first state in the country to implement a Network Monitoring and Assistance Center (NMAC) in 2019 to continuously monitor the service and performance of the network statewide.

    About the N.C. 911 Board
    A unit of the N.C. Department of Information Technology, the N.C. 911 Board contracts for the Next Generation 911 network and administers funding to public safety answering points (PSAPs) to create an enhanced statewide 911 system. PSAPs are operated by and under the jurisdiction of counties and other local government entities.

    A single, statewide service charge per connection for any type of voice communication service provider goes to the 911 Fund, which the N.C. 911 Board manages and distributes funds from to support 124 PSAPs in the state. NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver serves as the N.C. 911 Board’s chair. 

    Oct 18, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: US State of North Carolina

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

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

    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: Disaster Assistance for Virginia Survivors Tops $5 Million

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Assistance for Virginia Survivors Tops $5 Million

    Disaster Assistance for Virginia Survivors Tops $5 Million

    BRISTOL, Va.— More than $5 million in federal disaster assistance has been approved for homeowners and renters in Virginia following the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. 

    This milestone is accompanied by other important moments in disaster assistance and recovery in the commonwealth. Over 1,200 people have visited one of the six DRCs located throughout southwest Virginia. And more than 6,200 Virginians have now registered with FEMA for assistance. 

    “As we pass another milestone in assistance to survivors, we are reminded that Tropical Storm Helene left behind significant devastation.” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy Pheil. “We are here to help and are grateful to work alongside our federal, commonwealth and local partners to continue assisting survivors.” 

    In addition to support for survivors including assistance towards disaster-related essential needs, home repairs and personal property losses, Disaster Unemployment Assistance is now available for Virginians whose work, including self-employment, was directly impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. This program provides unemployment assistance to those who do not otherwise qualify for Virginia’s unemployment insurance. More information on this program can be found on the Virginia Employment Commission website here: Disaster Unemployment Assistance | Virginia Employment Commission

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is also standing by to assist producers as they work to recover their operations in the wake of Hurricane Helene through a suite of programs. For more information, visit the USDA Disaster Resource Center website here: Hurricane Helene | USDA

    Impacted individuals in Bedford, Bland, Carroll, Giles, Grayson, Pittsylvania, Russell, Montgomery, Pulaski, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties and cities of Galax and Radford can apply today by visiting http://www.disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, calling 1-800-621-3362, or visiting a DRC.

    If you have already applied for FEMA assistance and have questions about the status of your application or any FEMA letters you have received, call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or visit a DRC. FEMA staff are ready to help answer your questions.

    SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) are now up and running to help businesses get back on their feet from damage they sustained during the storms. More information about BRCs can be found here: Recovery Center locations | U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov).

    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.  

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    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.

    erika.osullivan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manning Leads Members of NC Democratic Delegation to Call on Social Media Companies, TV Broadcasters to Combat Hurricane Helene Response Misinformation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06)


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