http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09811.pdf

Subtitled: Experiences from Past Disasters Offer Insights for Effective Collaboration after Catastrophic Events. Reviews 5 disasters (the Loma Prieta earthquake in California, 1989; Hurricane Andrew, Florida, 1992; the Northridge earthquake, California, 1994; the Kobe earthquake, Japan, 1995; and the Grand Forks Red River Flood, North Dakota, 1997) to identify recovery lessons. From the Government Accountability Office.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_02.pdf

Reports that the total number of births in 14 affected counties decreased 19% in the 12 months after Hurricane Katrina. Also includes demographic and socio-economic characteristics of post-Katrina births. From the National Center for Health Statistics.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml

Now predicts a 90% chance of a normal or below normal Atlantic hurricane season. From the National Weather Service

http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_09-89_Jul09.pdf

Presents the consolidated results of reviews of various component agencies within the Homeland Security Department and their handling of mission assignments for the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes disaster relief efforts. Identifes five areas of control weakness in the agency responses. From the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml

Calls for a 50% chance of a near normal season with 4-7 hurricanes and 1-3 major hurricanes in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and/or Gulf of Mexico. Includes a section which discusses the science behind the 2009 prediction. From the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12647

Says that levees and flood walls cannot provide absolute protection for New Orleans against failure in extreme events, and that voluntary relocation of people from areas vulnerable to flooding or the elevation of the first floor of buildings to the 100 year flood level should be considered. From the National Research Council.

http://www.dhs.gov/xoig/assets/mgmtrpts/OIG_09-49_Apr09.pdf

Provides an inventory of 240 federal programs from 22 agencies that provide assistance to individuals, states, localities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses that are struck by a disaster. Covers financial and nonfinancial forms of assistance. From the Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.weather.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/super_tuesday.pdf

On February 5-6, 2008 87 tornadoes struck in 9 states with 57 fatalities. This service assessment evaluates the warning and forecast services provided and looks at why many people did not take adequate shelter from the storms. The high death toll resulted from the early time of year when people weren't expecting bad storms, the high number of victims living in manufactured homes, and the heavily forested area of the storm center. From the National Weather Service.

http://www.crrc.unh.edu/workshops/arctic_spill_summit/arctic_summit_report_final.pdf

Provides a qualitative analysis of risk factors for five potential types of disasters involving shipping, tourism, and exploitation of natural resources in the Arctic area as ice cover retreats. From the Natiional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of New Hampshire.

http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2009/ndhs.pdf

Describes how emergency housing is currently provided for victims of disasters and the organizations that participate in managing the program. Also presents a new direction that disaster housing efforts must take to better meet emerging needs. From the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/ann/ann08.html

Reports that 2008 tied with 2001 as the eighth warmest year on record for the Earth. Covers global and U.S. highlights for temperature, precipitation, and severe storms. From the National Climatic Data Center.