Catastrophes Kill 220,000, Cost $200 Billion in 2008

More than 220,000 people lost their lives in natural catastrophes in 2008. Economic losses totaled $200 billion. Contributing factors included China's earthquake; severe winter storms in Europe and China; 1,700 tornadoes and six named storms in the US.

Asia was the hardest hit region in loss of life. Cyclone Nargis, which struck Myanmar, claimed 135,000 lives. Another 88,000 were killed in the Chinese province earthquake.

Hurricanes Ike and Gustav were the most expensive events for insurers in 2008, according to figures in a Munich Re Group report. Insurers paid out $20 billion, which is estimated to be half of the price tag in total losses. Ike accounted for $15 billion in damages while Gustav racked up $5 billion.

Stumble It!

Half of States Ill-Prepared

Half of the healthcare systems are ill-prepared for a major disaster, according to a recent report titled “Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism.”

The annual report examines and scores healthcare systems’ ability to effectively handle mass casualties following natural and man-made disasters. Scores are based on ten key factors on a state-by-state basis.

Best and Worst

Five states achieved a 10 of 10:

• Louisiana
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• Virginia, and
• Wisconsin

Six states scored five out of 10:

• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Maryland
• Montana, and
• Nebraska

The report identifies several reasons for the lack of preparedness. Budget cuts, lack of modernization in key areas, gaps in disease detection, poor vaccine and medication distribution, and lacking surge capacity contribute to poor performance in many states.

Key Recommendations

The authors offered several recommendations to close the gaps:

• Restore funding to fiscal year 2005 levels
• Improve leadership and accountability at the federal level
• Enhance surge capacity
• Modernize equipment and technology
• Encourage community engagement
• Incorporate preparedness into healthcare reform

The report authors argue that “prevention, preparedness, and public health are vital to the well-being of families, communities, workplace productivity, U.S. competitiveness, and national security. The incoming Obama administration and the 111th Congress should make protecting the health of all Americans a priority.”

What's Your Experience

Although my state, Louisiana, earned a 10 out of 10 score, I would beg to differ on the state’s healtcare preparedness. Hurricane Gustav knocked out several of the major hospitals in Baton Rouge for at least a few days. One such institution remained closed for more than a month due to a destroyed power grid. Fortunately, it was not a mass casualty event that required a large surge capacity. But what if it had?

How did your state rank? Read the report and comment here.

Winter Virus Wreaking Havoc

A winter vomiting bug called Norovirus is sweeping through Britain at an alarming rate. According to a BBC news report, victims with diarrhea and vomiting are going to hospitals and infecting the staff and other patients with the highly contagious virus.

Hospital wards are being shut down because of the impact. With only a few exceptions, authorities are telling victims to stay away until they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours in an effort to control the spread. Schools and businesses are also being affected by the bug.

The virus has been confirmed in the United States as well. Kalamazoo, MI officials said lab tests confirmed the norovirus was responsible for closing the Washington Writer's Academy for two days this month. Cases have also been reported in Maryland, Indiana, Montana and elsewhere.

Authorities say washing hands goes a long way to prevent the disease. However, once infected, the illness runs its course in 1-2 days.


Disaster Preparedness Consulting, LLC

8 Suspicious Letters Sent to Governors

The FBI is investigating suspicious letters with white powder sent to at least eight governors around the country. The substance has been field screened and preliminarily judged harmless in seven of the eight mailings. Alaska had not yet finished it's preliminary screening. Further tests are being conducted on all eight letters.

Postmarked from Dallas, Texas, the letters were mailed to governors in Rhode Island, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, and Alaska. Apparently, the culprit does not follow politics closely. It was addressed to Sarah Palin's predecessor, Frank Murkowski. Mr. Murkowski left office two years ago.

UPDATE: As of December 12, more than 30 governor's offices around the country had received letters containing the suspicious white powder. To date, all have proven harmless. Authorities say the letters have all originated from central Texas.

74 Declared Disasters in 2008

As 2008 draws to a close, many people might be inclined to bid the year good riddance. At the time of this writing, we have experienced 74 federally declared disasters. Since 1953, only 1996 was a busier year with 75.

Severe storms topped the list with 52 events across multiple states. Storms were usually accompanied by flooding, tornadoes, and high winds.

Hurricanes and tropical storms followed with 14 declared disasters. Winter storms prompted 7 declarations. River flooding and wildfires comprise the rest.

Sources:
FEMA Declaration Process Fact Sheet
2008 Federal Disaster Declarations

Business Continuity and Data

There seems to be a growing misconception about business continuity that is coming from the technology sector. The phrase “business continuity” is becoming synonymous with data protection.

A recent press release touts that technology company X has issued a white paper on business continuity. The firm helps companies maintain business continuity by protecting, recovering and restoring data in the event of an interruption.

Two IT-related publications also recently ran articles on the importance of data preservation. Both emphasized data. One article focused on the impact hurricanes can have on the IT department. The second article examines business continuity standards, but only from the IT perspective.

This is all well and good, but it is a very narrow view of continuity. Since the growth of IT departments throughout the 1980s and 1990s, focus has justifiably been on protecting data and the network. But, there is much more to running a business than what resides on a server.

Business Continuity should focus on all critical processes, including, but not limited to data. After all, would data be of much use if the building that housed your sales and billing department was destroyed in a fire?

Continuity planning should start with protecting your most precious asset, the workforce. Having a place for them to work would be second. Then the ability to interface with and serve customers or clients would follow.

Surely, data can be a critical component to survival, but it is not the only one. Nor is it the most important.