Business continuity briefs:
11th August 2009

'Business continuity briefs' provides a summary of new product and services press releases and other useful resources published in the last 24 hours.

NOAA lowers Atlantic hurricane season outlook
According to its August Atlantic hurricane season outlook, NOAA now expects a near- to below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, as the calming effects of El Niño continue to develop. But scientists say the season’s quiet start does not guarantee quiet times ahead. The season, which began June 1, is entering its historical peak period of August through October, when most storms form. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, now predicts a 50 percent probability of a near-normal season, a 40 percent probability of a below-normal season, and a 10 percent probability of an above-normal season. Forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance of seven to 11 named storms, of which three to six could become hurricanes, including one to two major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5).

Webinar: Business Continuity & The Internal Auditor: What’s Changed, What You Need To Know & How It Affects You
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
Avalution Consulting has announced that registration is now open for their third quarter webinar, which has the above title. This 60-minute webinar will explore the role of the Internal Auditor and its increasing importance regarding business continuity initiatives. http://www.avalution.com/webinar/Pages/default.aspx

Fall World 2009
September 13-16 2009, San Diego.
The theme for this year’s Fall World is ‘Strategies for a Successful Business Continuity Program’. Pandemic planning will also be on the agenda. More details.

Connecticut rolls out emergency notification system
Everbridge (formerly 3n Global) has announced that the State of Connecticut has selected the Everbridge Aware emergency notification system to help protect lives and property by providing critical information to residents during emergencies and dangerous situations. By September 1, Connecticut will be the first in the US to have a statewide ENS that allows officials to ensure continuity of communications across the state, spanning all municipalities, counties, cities, and towns. More details.

European forest fire damage in 2009 already higher than in 2008
Estimates from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) show that 200,000 hectares of land in the EU have already burnt in 2009, compared to a total of 180,000 in 2008. EFFIS continuously monitors the forest fire risk, which at present is still high, and has just released the 'Forest Fires in Europe 2008' report providing a comprehensive overview of the forest fire danger conditions and impact of forest fires in Europe for 2008.

Current environmental stories with business continuity implications:

FEMA daily SITREP

World weather impacts

Typhoon Morakot

•Date: 11th August 2009• Region: Various