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October 26, 2023

NCDP 20th Anniversary Reflections and Impacts

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax exposures, centers throughout the United States were set up to prepare for and make our nation more resilient. In 2003, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), Columbia University, was founded to provide an academically based, interdisciplinary center focused on the capacity to prevent, respond to, and …

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The Beginnings of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP)

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax exposures, centers throughout the United States were set up to prepare for and make our nation more resilient. In 2003, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), Columbia University, was founded to provide an academically based, interdisciplinary center focused on the capacity to prevent, respond to, and …

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A 102-Year-Old Lesson for Fighting COVID-19: How Soon We Forget

In 1918, when the so-called Spanish Flu was raging (it was only first reported by Spanish journalists, although it likely began elsewhere), an incredibly powerful lesson was learned through a natural experiment that involved two major American cities. Remember that this deadly virus killed at least 50 million people worldwide and nearly 700,000 Americans. Although …

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Commentary: This Year’s Hurricane Season Was the Costliest Ever. Now What?

This post was originally published on November 30, 2017 in Fortune. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria have created the costliest hurricane season to date, but this is also part of a trend of increasing frequency of billion-dollar weather disasters. And it’s creating a stark reality for American companies today. As large-scale disasters become more common, businesses must do …

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The Biggest Test Trump Faces With Hurricane Harvey

This post was originally published on August 28, 2017 in Fortune. All presidents face disasters at some point in their tenure, and how they lead the nation through the response and recovery has a direct impact on the lives of those affected by the event. Hurricane Harvey is the first major natural disaster to test the …

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Superstorm Sandy at the One-Year Mark

The one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy serves as a critical checkpoint for residents and communities affected by the storm. The question most often posed is, “Have we recovered?” Have residents and neighborhoods rebounded from the effects of storm surge, flooding, evacuation, and displacement? Have neighborhoods been rebuilt? Are all the critical lifelines and services restored? …

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Moving Forward After a Disaster (English)

CHILDREN AND DISASTER RECOVERY Most children can and do successfully recover from disaster, especially when they are in healthy, supportive environments. Here are some tips that can help children cope with disasters: Keep familiar routines to the extent possible. Take care of yourself: children do better when their caretakers are not stressed. Talk about the …

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