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Friday, March 29, 2024

State and Local Governments Seek Disaster Warning Aid

Their volcanoes lack seismic monitors and their earthquake centers don’t have backup power, Alaska, Colorado and Washington state officials told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, according to a Jan. 31 Route Fifty report.

The hearing came a week after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake hit the Gulf of Alaska on Jan. 23. At the time, the Alaska Earthquake Center was partly offline due to a power outage, center seismologist Mike West told legislators.

“The reason is very simple,” West said. “Over the last half-dozen years every one of our federal and state funding lines has been cut back.”

Witnesses voiced support for the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act sponsored by Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), which is pending Senate floor consideration.

The bill directs the U.S. Geological Survey to create a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System to monitor, issue warnings of, and protect against undue and avoidable harm from volcanic activity.

Read more at Route Fifty.

 

State and Local Governments Seek Disaster Warning Aid Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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