Good Morning…

Welcome back to Disaster Discourse Monthly. In this issue, we’ll be touching on the California fires, earthquake early warning systems and Administrator Brock Long’s departure from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

What’s happening in California…

Following the unprecedented fires of 2018, California is trying to increase oversight of utility companies, who sparked 2,000 fires in three years.

If you thought the 2018 disaster season was bad…

New data reveals that 14 of the 2018 disasters cost more than $1 billion each, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

If you’re interested in ShakeAlert…

You may want to keep an eye on the Pacific Northwest who, following Japan’s example, are trying to create an offshore early warning system for the impending “Big One.”

If you need a smile…

Watch this cute animation about how beavers could prevent forest fires by transforming forested areas into wetland.

What’s on our minds…

FEMA Administrator Brock Long announced his resignation this month after serving the country for two years. According to reports, President Trump will nominate Jeffrey Byard, Associate Administrator at the Office of Response and Recovery (ORR), to replace him.

On a personal note…

We at Hagerty would like to thank FEMA Administrator Brock Long for his dedicated service to our nation. His tenure saw some of the worst disasters in this nation’s history, and we appreciate how he approached every disaster with compassion, strength and a fervent dedication to FEMA’s mission. Long leaves a legacy of resilience, founded on the passing of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act.

Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. See you next month!