Can You Hear Me Now?
This FEMA program provides an "all-hazards" signal via radio, TV, and cable, and is often tested with the phrase, "This is only a test."
In her book The Unthinkable, Amanda Ripley notes that in sudden disasters, most people don't panic or run; rather, they freeze, delay, or keep doing routine tasks. This first stage of response is often called what?
What is denial (or freezing / delaying before acting)?
After a disaster, FEMA may provide financial help to households for things like temporary housing, repairs, or personal needs.
What is Individual Assistance?
This 1997 film featured Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet aboard a doomed luxury liner that struck an iceberg.
What is Titanic?
On September 8, 1900, this Texas city was struck by a hurricane that killed an estimated 8,000 people.
What is Galveston?
In ICS, this annex of the Incident Action Plan details how radios, cell phones, and digital platforms will be used to support operations.
What is the Communications Plan (ICS Form 205)?
Ripley explains that people are more likely to survive when they do this ahead of time... whether practicing fire drills, rehearsing exits, or simply imagining how they'd respond in an emergency.
What is mental rehearsal (or practicing in advance)?
FEMA requires states and communities to have these hazard-focused plans in place to qualify for certain mitigation funds.
What are Hazard Mitigation Plans?
In this 1996 film, storm chasers raced to deploy sensors inside violent tornadoes... while a flying cow stole the show.
What is Twister?
On May 31, 1889, a dam failure sent a wall of water through this Pennsylvania town, killing more than 2,000 people.
What is the Johnstown Flood?
Authorized under FEMA's IPAWS program, these geo-targeted alerts (up to 360 characters) can override silent settings on cell phones to warn the public of emergencies like floods, AMBER alerts, or presidential messages.
What are Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs)?
Ripley describes how in plane crashes, many survivors don't use the nearest exit, they follow others or head for the door they used to board. What is this tendancy?
What is following familiar routines?
When FEMA helps cover projects after disasters, the federal share is usually this percentage.
What is 75%?
In this 2012 film, John Cusack races against earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis after the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world.
What is 2012?
On April 26, 1986, a nuclear reactor exploded in this Soviet city, spreading radiation across Eurpope.
What is Chernobyl?
As part of rumor control, Joint Information System staff often use this practice to track trending posts and hashtags, correct misinformation quickly, and amplify verified sources.
What is social media monitoring?
After disasters, groups that already trust each other, like coworkers or teammates, tend to escape more effectively because of this kind of bond.
What is social connection (or trust in groups)?
Before receiving certain types of federal disaster aid, communities must agree to adopt and enforce these local rules that guide safe land use and contrustion.
What are building codes and land use regulations?
This 1997 thriller set in New York pitted Tommy Lee Jones against a river of molten rock erupting in the middle of Los Angeles.
A gas leak in this Indian city in 1984 became one of the world's worst industrial disasters, killing thousands overnight.
What is the Bhopal disaster?
This is the digital accessibility standard localities should meet when posting content online especially to comply with the ADA.
What is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA?
Ripley notes that the brain under stress can slow down, making time feel distorted, sometimes events seem to move in slow motion. This is an example of what kind of effect?
What is time distortion (or slow-motion effect under stress)?
To receive federal reimbursement, applicants must document labor, equipment, and material costs for disaster work on these official FEMA forms.
What are Public Assistance Project Worksheets?
In Outbreak, tensions rise when the Army sets up this type of large-scale restriction - preventing anyone from entering of leaving Cedar Creek - in an attempt to contain the Motaba virus.
What is a military-enforced quarantine?
The deadliest pandemic in recorded history, this flu killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920.
What is the Spanish Flu?
Bonus: Why was it called the Spanish Flu?
Bonus: What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?