storm mitigation News

Conn. Officials Reject $18M Aid Request for Elevating Shoreline Homes

Connecticut officials have rejected $18 million in requests for the latest round of Superstorm Sandy aid from shoreline homeowners who want to use the emergency funding to elevate their homes to avoid future storm damage. The state sent rejection letters …

Biden, Cuomo Team Up to Promote Smarter Rebuilding

Vice President Joe Biden and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that New York and the nation’s other coastal states have to rebuild against severe storms and flooding that are likely in the future. “Extreme weather is the new …

Mississippi City Nixes Storm Shelter Plans

The Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen has dropped plans to pursue a $3.4 million grant to build a city storm shelter which would have doubled as a gymnasium. Citing budget concerns, aldermen voted 5-1 this week to abandon the project. …

FM Global Advises Property Owners to Be Proactive, Address Vulnerabilities

Business property insurer FM Global is urging property owners to take active measures now to help prevent potential storm losses as the peak of hurricane season approaches. “A big lesson from Hurricane Sandy is that remaining resilient during natural disasters …

Report Urges Pressure on Utilities to Protect Electric Grid From Storms

Power companies should be pressed by government to install technologies including smart meters and energy-storage devices to shield the electric grid from more frequent disruptions tied to weather, according to a study. Severe weather, the primary cause of power failures …

New York Gov. Cuomo Proposes $9B for Storm Damage Prevention

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants huge electrical transformers in commercial buildings hauled to upper floors and wants the ability to shutter key tunnels, airports and subways from floodwaters as part of a $9 billion plan to safeguard New York …

Country’s First Fortified Medical Office Opens in South Carolina

The first medical office in the nation to earn the Fortified for Safer Business designation is opening in Florence. The Pee Dee Nephrology building has earned the designation from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. A news conference …

Hurricane Sandy Doesn’t Worry Safety-Conscious ‘Preppers’ Homeowners

Hurricane Sandy is charging up the East Coast as a cold front is tearing across the U.S. from the west and an arctic blast is barreling down from the north. The resulting “Frankenstorm” could cause gale-force winds, heavy rains and …

Demand High in Joplin Region for Storm Shelters

Carter Henson uses an overhead crane to position a bucket containing one yard of cement over a metal form that, when removed, will create a new safe room. With the release of a lever, the cement pours from the bucket …

Kentucky Tornado Tax Relief Bill Gets Final Passage

Tornado victims in 21 Kentucky counties that were declared disaster areas by President Obama after the March 2 tornadoes would get a sales tax break on materials they purchase for rebuilding their houses or other structures. The emergency measure received …