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rachel tolbert kimbro on life and community in a flood zone.

This paper studies the evolution of hurricane insurance in Florida over the last decades. Hurricanes (and other natural catastrophes) are typically referred to as uninsurable" risks. The more exposed property owners find it difficult to obtain insurance cover from the private market and/or can do so only at premiums that substantially exceed their expected claims costs. The state of Florida has reacted to the incapacity of the private sector to insure hurricane risks at reasonable premium levels with the creation of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (an insurer of last resort) and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Their existence has resulted in substantial premium reductions for the Florida property owners. Both institutions have the possibility of spreading the costs of a major hurricane over a (very) large number of policy holders through after the event compulsory assessments. The risk borne by each individual property owner is thus reasonably small, with substantial benefits for consumers as a group. Looking forward the challenge to the policy maker will be to fine-tune the operation (premium structure) of these two institutions so as to increase their political acceptance. To this end it will be necessary to limit the implicit subsidy of the bad risks" through the good risks".

This paper examines the effectiveness of hurricane watch and warning graphics currently used by television stations during a hurricane threat and new, enhanced graphics developed by the first author The participants were 378 persons (91 men, 287 women) in Charleston, South Carolina—an area that has had recent and repeated experience with hurricane threats. The hypothesis that participants viewing the enhanced graphics would have a better understanding of the time-frame associated with hurricane watch and warning advisories and of the actions to take, and would perceive the situation more seriously compared to those viewing the currently used graphics was supported. The new graphics may help increase preparedness and minimize property loss and exposure to life threat.

Researchers have conducted sample surveys following at least twelve hurricanes from 1961 through 1989 in almost every state from Texas through Massachutts. The resulting database is larger than that for any other hazard, and many generalizations are feasible concerning factors accounting for variation in response to hurricane threats. Risk area and actions by public officials are the most important variables affecting public response. When public officials are aggressive in issuing evacuation notices and disseminate the messages effectively. over 90 percent of the residents of high-risk barrier islands and open coasts evacuate. People hearing, or believing they hear, official evacuation advisories or orders are more than twice as likely to leave in most locations. A greater percentage of mobile home dwellers evacuate than occupants of other housing, especially in modelate-risk and low-risk areas. General knowledge about hurricanes and hurricane safety is weakly related or unrelated to evacuation, but belief that one's own home is subject to flooding is strongly associated with whether the occupant leaves. Length of residence in hurricane prone areas and hurricane experience are not good predictors of response. The great majority of people who evacuate unnecessarily in one hurricane will still leave in future threats.

Hurricanes are increasing in frequency and intensity, bringing massive destruction in their wake. This resource provides readers with insight into the nature of hurricanes and the solutions engineers are using to prepare for hurricanes and protect people and property when they occur. It explains the technological tools such as NASA satellites, computer modeling, and aircraft and field missions that scientists and engineers are using to predict when and where hurricanes will occur. It also describes how engineers are creating improved building codes and innovative structures and redesigning cities to withstand hurricanes' violence and save lives when disaster strikes.

Different cultural strata respond differently to a natural disaster threatening – or destroying – their livelihood; because of these responses, certain patterns become associated (justly or not) with the respective strata. In the wake of Hurricane Gilbert hitting Jamaica in 1988 and causing widespread destruction, several response patterns emerged from the state/government sector and general public. Responses varied from fear and despair to pride and humour; these responses were associated with a particular knowledge archive of the hurricane and its emotional effect on the island's population and infrastructure. This study examines how hurricane Gilbert was described in the state and public discourses. We will begin with the statements by the government officials and newspaper coverage of the effects the hurricane had on the island immediately after the landfall and within the first three months of the aftermath. We will then proceed to the analysis of two songs written shortly after the hurricane – "Wild Gilbert" by Lloyd Lovindeer and "Gilbert Attack Us" by Bananaman – with the aim to determine whether the way these songs depict Gilbert is similar to that presented in the state discourse or whether there are significant variations between the two. We will focus in particular on the relationship between the knowledge archive of Gilbert hitting Jamaica and the emotions associated with it. ; 18m embargo from pub date when known

Intro -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter 1 -- Natural Disasters of 2017: Congressional Considerations Related to FEMA Assistance( -- Abstract -- Stafford Act Declarations and Response -- Federal Financial Assistance -- Funding -- Chapter 2 -- 2017 Hurricane Season: Federal Support for Electricity Grid Restoration in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico( -- Abbreviations -- Why GAO Did This Study -- What GAO Found -- Background -- Puerto Rico -- U.S. Virgin Islands -- FEMA's Public Assistance Program -- FEMA's Community Disaster Loan Program -- the Federal Role in Electricity Grid Restoration Was Unprecedented in Puerto Rico, and Various Factors Affected the Support Provided in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- Federal Support Provided to Restore Electricity in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in Response to the 2017 Hurricanes Included an Unprecedented Role for the Federal Government -- Grants, Direct Federal Assistance, and Loans from FEMA -- Coordination and Technical Assistance from DOE -- Temporary Power from USACE -- Unprecedented Roles by FEMA and USACE in Puerto Rico -- Logistical Challenges and Other Factors Affected Federal Support to Restore Electricity -- Agency Comments -- List of Requesters -- Appendix I: Timelines of Federal and Other Efforts to Support Electricity Grid Restoration -- Appendix II: Comments from the Department of Homeland Security -- Chapter 3 -- Puerto Rico Hurricanes: -- Status of FEMA Funding, Oversight, -- and Recovery Challenges( -- Abbreviations -- Why GAO Did This Study -- What GAO Found -- Background -- FEMA's Public Assistance Program -- The Use of Alternative Procedures for Public Assistance Projects in Puerto Rico -- Puerto Rico's Central Recovery Office Oversees Federal Recovery Spending.