NEWS : north america,
July 2010

Post-flood safety and recovery tips
Useful checklist from the Institute for Business & Home Safety.
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•Date: 30th July 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Salvage / restoration
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US major disaster declarations

• President Declares Major Disaster For South Dakota
• President Declares Major Disaster For Iowa
• President Declares Major Disaster for Idaho
• President Declares Major Disaster For Oklahoma

•Date: 30th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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Sign up for 2010 National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month in the US and FEMA is urging organizations to pledge their support.
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•Date: 29th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Cloud computing attitudes
51 percent of IT departments now use cloud-based applications, with users reporting better security and lower costs.
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•Date: 23rd July 2010 • Region: US/UK •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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IBHS releases hurricane roof performance research study
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has released its latest research study, ‘Surviving Nature’s Fury: Performance of Asphalt Shingle Roofs in the Real World,’ which investigated damage from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. Roof cover damage continues to be the most frequent source of hurricane-related insurance claims not related to storm surge. The multi-variant IBHS findings offer compelling evidence of how well asphalt shingle roofs would perform during a hurricane. The full version of the study is available here (PDF).
•Date: 23rd July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: BC facilities & buildings
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NIST publishes draft cloud computing and virtualization security guidance
Comment period runs until August 13th.
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•Date: 22nd July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: ISM news
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Twelve Chicago southland education institutions sign mutual aid agreement
Agreement aims to enhance business continuity and crisis management.
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•Date: 22nd July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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Future US water supply risks examined
14 states face an extreme or high risk to water sustainability.
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•Date: 22nd July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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DHS’s long range strategic plans criticised
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman says that DHS plans are too broad and unspecific.
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•Date: 22nd July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Emergency planning
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Hurricane season 2100
Fewer, but marginally stronger, hurricanes expected in the future.
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•Date: 21st July 2010 • Region: Various •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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Award for Butler County Disaster Recovery Coalition
The Rebuild Iowa Award for Service has been presented to the Butler County Disaster Recovery Coalition. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond the call of duty in Iowa’s 2008 disaster recovery efforts. The Butler County Disaster Recovery Coalition was created by concerned citizens, business leaders, government officials and clergy to meet long-term recovery needs following the 2008 floods and tornadoes. Although the Coalition’s work on the 2008 disasters is winding down, the Coalition will continue, with members meeting on a regular basis so they are ready for the next disaster.
•Date: 21st July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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IBM and the Texas Department of Information Resources in dispute over backup & recovery, security and disaster recovery, amongst other areas
The Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) has issued a ‘Notice to Cure’ in response to a series of alleged contractual failures by IBM, the primary vendor for the state’s data center services program. The Notice to Cure asserts that IBM is in breach of its seven year service contract signed with the state in 2006 for $863 million dollars. The notice highlights ‘material breaches’ of the data center services contract in the areas of consolidation, backup and recovery, security, disaster recovery, service level attainment, and staffing, and multiple other breaches that ‘collectively constitute an additional material breach’. Read the Notice to Cure and DIR press release.
•Date: 21st July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: BC markets
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CFTC issues proposed business continuity and disaster recovery regulation for DCMs and DCOs
Requires same-day recovery time objectives for trading and clearing as well as geographic dispersal of infrastructure
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•Date: 16th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Financial sector BC
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Winners of US National Cybersecurity Awareness Challenge announced
The Challenge, announced in March, received more than 80 proposals.
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•Date: 16th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: ISM news
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Napolitano announces more than $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2010 preparedness grants
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced more than $1.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit organizations enhance their protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for risks associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards. Read press release.
•Date: 16th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing
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Major disaster declared for Nebraska
FEMA has announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Nebraska to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on June 1, 2010, and continuing. Stephen R. Thompson has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=52148
•Date: 16th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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RMS reviews US terrorism trends
The success of terrorist plots in US is directly correlated with the number of operatives involved in the planning; larger groups are more likely to be caught.
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•Date: 14th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Terrorism
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PIA urges House to pass 5-year flood insurance extension bill
The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) has sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner urging that the House quickly pass H.R. 5114, the Flood Insurance Reform and Priorities Act of 2010. The bill by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), which would reform the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and extend it for a full five years, is expected to be considered on the House floor this Thursday, July 15. More details.
•Date: 14th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing
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Major disaster declared for Montana
FEMA has announced today that federal disaster aid has been made available for the State of Montana to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on June 15, 2010, and continuing. Steven S. Ward has been named the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=52107
•Date: 14th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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Researchers focus on cloud computing availability
New research helps providers spot cloud computing problems before they start.
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•Date: 13th July 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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Practitioners’ ethics
John Glenn, MBCI, gives his reactions to a recent webinar.
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•Date: 9th July 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: BC general
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In-crisis decision making: five steps to wow!
The final instalment of Dennis Hamilton’s series about crisis management.
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•Date: 9th July 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: Crisis management
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CAPS Shelton CT data center and work recovery facility successfully completes SAS 70 Type II 2010 audit
Computer Alternative Processing Sites (CAPS), Inc., has announced the successful completion of its 2010 service auditor’s review, commonly known as a SAS 70 audit, of its general controls supporting the remote backup and recovery hosting solutions. The 2010 SAS 70 Type II audit is part of an ongoing audit agreement, begun in 2009 with its service auditor, guaranteeing that CAPS secure Shelton, Connecticut facility will undergo an annual Type II audit. The CAPS Shelton CT SAS 70 Type II data center serves the northeast states forming the Boston-New York metro business corridor. CAPS supports clients, from SMB to large enterprises, with colocation, managed services, data backup, workstation facilities, failover and notification communication systems, mobile disaster recovery and DR / BC services. www.capsbrs.com
•Date: 9th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: BC companies
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New US Federal web portal launched to provide Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and recovery information and resources
Designed to serve as a one-stop repository for news, data and operational updates.
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•Date: 8th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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Updated computer security NIST guidelines focus on security assessment plans
Revised Guide for Assessing Security Controls in Federal Information Systems and Organizations.
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•Date: 8th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: ISM news
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Compushare enhances Critical Systems Recovery solution
New Chicago data center will allow Compushare to offer a highly available redundant computing environment.
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•Date: 8th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: BC markets & companies
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‘Impact of New Madrid Seismic Zone Earthquakes on the Central USA’
The impacts of a destructive earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone are greater than previous worst-case scenarios have predicted, according to a study released in June by the University of Illinois. The study, ‘Impact of New Madrid Seismic Zone Earthquakes on the Central USA’, commissioned by FEMA, found that a 7.7 magnitude earthquake could leave at least seven million people temporarily homeless. Particularly hard hit would be St. Louis and Memphis — the two largest cities near the fault.
https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/handle/2142/14810
•Date: 7th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing
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US major disaster declarations
- Minnesota
- Maine
•Date: 7th July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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International operational sustainability standard for data center operations published by Uptime Institute
Addresses the management behaviors and risks that affect long-term data center uptime.
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•Date: 2nd July 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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US National Flood Insurance Program reinstated through to September 30, 2010
The US Congress has reinstated the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), ending a period of hiatus. The bill is retroactive to June 1, the day the program was halted, and is now set to expire on September 30, 2010. Source: Marsh
•Date: 2nd July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing
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Double-Take Software named 2010 Support Department of the Year by The American Business Awards
Double-Take Software has received the 8th Annual American Business Awards' Stevie Award as the 2010 Support Department of the Year. The Stevie Award was presented on June 21, 2010 and recognizes the company's dedication to providing its customers with outstanding support and customer service. More than 200 executives across the country participated in the judging process to determine the finalists and Stevie Award winners. www.doubletake.com
•Date: 2nd July 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Briefing •Topic: BC markets
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Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants reauthorization passes Senate
The US Senate has passed legislation to renew a grant program to help prevent disaster-related damage before it happens.
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•Date: 1st July 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Public sector
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Government of Canada assists Alberta with damage caused by rainstorm
Jim Prentice, minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for Southern Alberta, has announced federal support for the Province of Alberta under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program for response and recovery costs incurred following a severe rainstorm in May 2008. The Government of Alberta has indicated that the initial estimate of damage caused by the rainstorm is approximately $9.4 million. The federal share will be determined in accordance with the DFAA Guidelines, which list eligible expenses and include the cost sharing formula. www.gov.ab.ca
•Date: 30th June 2010 • Region: Canada •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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2010 Hurricane Season resource page
This page will be updated through the 2010 Hurricane Season with news, information and useful resources related to hurricane preparedness and response.
Latest updates:
- President declares emergency for Texas
- UK Met Office: 2010 could be one of the most active tropical storm seasons on record
- iJET outlines heightened risk factors and areas of impact for a unique 2010 Hurricane Season
• Last update: 30th June 2010 • Region: Various •Topic: 2010 Hurricane Season
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I've changed my mind about tape...
Jerome M. Wendt explains why he is no longer a ‘tape hater’.
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•Date: 25th June 2010 • Region: US/World •Type: Article •Topic: IT continuity
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New blast resistance standards published in US
Specialists at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have helped create two new standards designed to increase safety in public spaces.
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•Date: 25th June 2010 • Region: US •Type: Article •Topic: Terrorism
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New AHRQ guides offer us hospitals advice on emergency evacuation, assessment and recovery
Two new guides are now available to help hospital planners and administrators make important decisions about how to protect patients and health care workers and assess the physical components of a hospital when a natural or manmade disaster, terrorist attack, or other catastrophic event threatens the soundness of a facility. The Hospital Evacuation Decision Guide and the Hospital Assessment and Recovery Guide are intended to supplement hospital emergency plans, augment guidance on determining how long a decision to evacuate may be safely deferred and provide guidance on how to organize an initial assessment of a hospital to determine when it is safe to return after an evacuation.
•Date: 25th June 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing
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Major disaster declared for the State Of West Virginia
A major disaster exists in the State of West Virginia in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, mudslides, and landslides beginning on June 12, 2010, and continuing. FEMA has named Donald L. Keldsen as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=51965
•Date: 25th June 2010 • Region: US •Type: Briefing •Topic: DR general
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MORE JUNE NEWS

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