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His Aunt Saw Red Flags. Police Say That May Have Prevented A Mass Shooting

Ryan Lindsay

October 08, 2019 |

Connecticut Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Connecticut

Connecticut has had Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or “red flag” laws, in effect since 1999. These laws allow citizens to provide tips to law enforcement if they suspect danger or violence, in which case law enforcement can then temporarily remove firearms from the suspects homes. While these have gained bipartisan popularity and have shown to decrease suicide attempts, proof of homicide or mass shooting preventions remains to be seen.

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Fill, Build and Flood: Dangerous Development in Flood-Prone Areas

Laurie Mazur

October 08, 2019 |

U.S. News & World Report |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

To combat excessive flooding in low-plain areas, cities like Charlotte are passing critical legislation that regulates fill-and-build development, a type of construction that leads to more intense flooding in vulnerable neighborhoods. Charlotte bases flood control plans off future conditions rather than current or past flooding areas, and the city charges a fee for homeowners that, in turn, provides dedicated funding for stormwater management

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After Hurricane Dorian, The 'Wikipedia Of Maps' Came To The Rescue

Joanne Lu

October 03, 2019 |

NPR |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Humanitarian, crowdsourced street mapping has become a crucial part of disaster relief efforts. Initiatives like Missing Maps and OpenStreetMaps call on volunteer cartographers – professional or not – to fill in maps and data gaps so that emergency humanitarian efforts can help as many people as possible. Such platforms became necessary after Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas in September 2019, with over 100 people coming through to map previously unidentified roads and buildings.

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After a Mass Shooting, Who Cares for the Coroners?

Ann Givens

September 30, 2019 |

The Trace |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Las Vegas, Nevada

Following the Las Vegas mass shooting in October 2017, employees at the Clark County coroner’s office found themselves grappling with the psychological effects. The head of the department recognized this struggle and took action: bringing in counselors, offering yoga, meditation, and massages, and having staff and family parties and get-togethers. With a work culture that often emphasizes working alone, this moment allowed for people to come together and create a sense of community.

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Sprawling Las Animas County, like many rural areas, badly needs emergency responders. But it's a teachable moment.

Kevin Simpson

September 24, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hoehne, Colorado

Las Animas County in Colorado is a large rural and remote area which makes it difficult for emergency responders to access people in a timely manner. To address this, emergency medical responder (EMR) classes are being taught in high schools in order to relieve the burden and offer a possibility for a career path to students in the area.

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Step by Powerful Step, Citizens Lead Puerto Rico into Its Solar Future

Melanie La Rosa

September 19, 2019 |

NACLA |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Puerto Rico

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, knocking out power across the country, solar energy has stepped in to be a sustainable possibility. Such efforts have included lobbying local legislatures to incentivize communities to create their own solar project and training residents to install solar panels on their own. Many of the solar initiatives that have started have been community-led and hyper-local, meaning that what many deem a basic right – access to energy and electricity – are more accessible than ever.

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Meteorology authority improves climate forecast systems

Esther Nakkazi

September 18, 2019 |

The Observer |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Kampala

Early warning systems allow communities to implement effective disaster preparedness. The Uganda National Integrated Early Warning System (U-NIEWS), disseminates forecasts—ranging from weather patterns to market prices for crops—in a bulletin. Data is collected across the country and bulletins go out on a national level, disseminated by local stakeholders through WhatsApp, radio, and other media.

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CT's small solutions to climate change: when flood control spurs economic development

Jan Ellen Spiegel

September 18, 2019 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Meriden, Connecticut

Climate change adaptation efforts and economic development can go hand in hand, according to one Connecticut town. Meriden transformed a former mall into a large park, a natural solution that helps mitigate the town's routine flooding and has encouraged housing and retail development in the surrounding area.

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Ideas from Oklahoma can help NC plan for future of increased flooding

Richard Adkins

September 17, 2019 |

WRAL-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Eastern North Carolina -- an area increasingly affected by flooding from hurricanes -- looks to Tulsa for long-term, financially sustainable solutions to routine flooding. Tulsa's comprehensive approach includes regulating building in floodplains as well as building vast drainage systems in all high-risk flood areas. The city implemented a storm water mitigation fee to residents' water bills in order to make flood insurance among the cheapest in the country.

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CT's small solutions to climate change: creating salt marsh in Stonington

Jan Ellen Spiegel

September 17, 2019 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Stonington, Connecticut

To address increased tidal flooding on its shoreline, Stonington, Connecticut, is sticking to a simple principle: "Where possible, work with nature not against it.” Volunteers plant native plants, helping to restore and expand the former salt marsh, which naturally absorbs water.

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