ISSUE 1
AUGUST
Brought to you by
2020
APRIL 21 & 2 2 2 0 2 1 / M IA M I BE A CH CON V EN T I O N C EN T ER
Welcome to the August 2020 Edition of The Lookout Post! We have tons of informative content for all those following the current state of affairs in natural disaster management and emergency response. We aim for the launching of this newsletter to help inform professionals in the industry about the latest happenings and innovations that are transforming how communities prepare and respond to natural disasters.
ISSUE 1 /August 2020
SITUATION OF THE MONTH
Tracking Hurricane Laura’s Movement Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Texas as Hurricane Laura is expected to make landfall. According to a CNN report, Hurricane Laura is in the process of “rapid intensification” which could take Hurricane Laura further from its latest Category 3 classification to a major Category 4. Rapid intensification is considered a rare process in tropical storms, which is causing concern for those in the potentially affected areas spanning from Eastern Texas to Louisiana and further north to Southern Missouri. According to the Hurricane Central report by The Weather Channel, Hurricane Laura is predicted to develop an inland flood risk that will stretch from the Gulf coast to as far north as Arkansas or southern Missouri as well as potentially causing isolated tornadoes. As of August 27th, ABC News reported that Hurricane Laura continues to move inland across the southerneastern United States. The National Hurricane Center expects areas to be impacted by “unsurvivable storm surges.” The Category 4 major hurricane currently has sustained a maximum wind speed of 150 mph.
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ISSUE 1 /August 2020
COVID-19 REMINDER Remember to check reporting by your local and state government about the requirements to protect the health and safety of you and your family during COVID-19. Be sure to wear a mask when possible and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet. Avoid going out if possible to ensure the spread of COVID-19 is minimized until instructed otherwise by your local and state governments. Stay safe and wash your hands!
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ISSUE 1 /August 2020
THE 2020 BILLION DOLLAR WEATHER DISASTER REPORT
The NOAA has released the 6 month
According to this report by NOAA: “The U.S. has
report for weather and climate disasters
sustained 273 weather and climate disasters
that cost over one billion dollars each.
since 1980 where overall damages/costs
For the year of 2020 (as of July 8), there are currently 10 instances of billion dollar
reached or exceeded $1 billion.... The total cost of these 273 events exceeds $1.790 trillion.”
costs in weather and climate disasters.
For a full report of these weather
Check out the full list below:
disasters and methodology of research,
• Jan 10-12 | Southeast Tornadoes and
check out the NOAA report here.
Northern Storms and Flooding • Feb 5-8 | South, East and Northeast Severe Weather Storms • March 2-4 | Tennessee Tornadoes and Southeast Severe Weather • March 27-28 | Midwest and Ohio Valley Severe Weather • April 7-8 | North Central and Ohio Valley Hail Storms and Severe Weather • April 12-13 | Southeast and Eastern Tornado Outbreak • April 21-23 | Southern Severe Weather • May 3-5 | Central and Eastern Severe Weather • May 20-23 | South, Central and Eastern Severe Weather • May 27 | South Texas Hail Storms
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ISSUE 1 /August 2020
Peace River K9 SAR Bahamas Mission of 2019
Innovative Tech of The Month Quick Dam’s indoor flood protection
The Peace River K9 SAR, a partner of the Natural
services have provided incredible ways to
Disaster Expo, continually offers support to
act fast and protect your home and your
communities and emergency response in need
family during a flood. Products like the
of service dogs for search and rescue missions.
Insta-Dam, drip mats, and water dams are
Hurricane Dorian had left a wake of devastation throughout the Caribbean in early September 2019. One of the hardest hit areas, the Bahamas, had suffered from 250-300 kph winds
designed to soak up liquid and stop the flow of water from entering unwanted areas and rooms. Check out Quick Dam for more information on their flood prevention tech.
with a storm surge that tore through multiple communities and the surrounding wildlife. After the impact of Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas, PRSAR had been contacted by Global Response Management for a mission to the local areas most affected by the hurricane. A group of 14 PRSAR volunteers came to an area near Freeport on Grand Bahama Island with the help of the Bahama Relief Cruise-ship missions on September 29, 2019. Read more about the Bahamas Mission on the event website here.
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ISSUE 1 /August 2020
MEET THE HEROES
Check out these highlights for the heroes of the The Lookout Post - August edition! Need help before or after the disaster hits? These companies and people are at the forefront of providing those needs to the community.
The Survival MOM
Doug Quinn
Hi there! I’m Lisa, the Survival Mom!
Executive Director of the American
I help moms learn how to prepare and equip their families for those critical moments when life hits you hard and there’s no time to figure out what to do. I give you training and resources I’m the mom of two home-schooled kids and the wife of a very patient man! I’m also by nature a fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants kind of person. I love spontaneity, having fun, and, “No worries!” has always been my motto! In 2009, though, the Great Recession hit my family hard, and I realized that our lifestyle
Policyholder Association APA Executive Director Doug Quinn is a Marine Corps veteran who was living a comfortable life as an investment advisor on the
Disaster America
Jersey Shore until he lost his home in Superstorm Sandy.
“We Equate Our Success
Although he had the maximum legal amount of flood coverage,
By Your Recovery.”
Doug’s Insurance Company only offered him 37 cents on the dollar. In the process of fighting this injustice, Doug found out that many of his friends & neighbors were also being shortchanged. His eyes were opened to rampant fraud perpetrated against the American insurance consumer by some
Disaster America is a catastrophic restoration services company specializing in fire, water, mold, trauma, explosion,
was a lot more vulnerable than I realized.
unscrupulous actors who seek to profit from their hardship.
Our family business came close to shutting
Doug volunteers his time collecting & delivering donated
natural disasters. We
supplies to disaster zones across America, rescuing animals,
pride ourselves in
distributing hot food & winter clothing to the homeless, &
being a technology
guitar lessons — the money just wasn’t
mentoring children in his community as a Lacrosse coach.
driven company that
there — it really hit home that we could
See Doug Quinn speak live at the Natural
down, and we had to cut every expense possible. When I had to cancel my son’s
lose more than just those lessons.
Disaster Expo - Miami 2021!
and nationwide
is truly “Redefining Disaster Recovery”.
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Looking to be included in an upcoming edition of The Lookout Post? Contact Edward Martin at edward.martin@prysmgroup.com for more information. SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!