In the United States, there is growing awareness of and attention to the tremendous, lasting damage and loss of life in communities affected by natural disasters. This attention brings the topics of preparedness, response, and recovery to the fore. Central to these discussions is resilience: how and why some individuals, […] Read more »
The American public wants money spent on disasters — cost be damned
Nearly six in 10 Americans believe that the federal government should provide funds to states affected by natural disasters without having to cut spending in other areas to do so, according to a new Washington Post-Pew Research Center poll. [cont.] Chris Cillizza & Sean Sullivan, Washington Post Maybe – but […] Read more »
Most Say Disaster Spending Does Not Require Offsetting Cuts
As Oklahoma recovers from severe damage caused by last week’s tornado, a majority of Americans (59%) say federal spending in response to natural disasters is emergency aid that does not need to be offset by cuts to other programs, while 29% say such spending must be offset by cuts to […] Read more »
The political fallout of natural disasters
… Politicians of all stripes react quickly to disasters, overseeing government responses and consoling the bereaved. And they often become known for those responses, from New York City Mayor John Lindsay’s (R) response to a 1969 blizzard to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) actions after Hurricane Sandy. Disaster response […] Read more »
How Exit-Polling Firm Withstood Hurricane Sandy
When Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast in late October, many businesses shut down operations, delayed projects and waited until the storm’s effects on their workplace and employees had dissipated. But Edison Research, a polling firm based in hard-hit Somerville, N.J., was working on one project with a firm deadline: […] Read more »
Was it hurricane Sandy that won it for President Obama?
Many forecasted that Mitt Romney would defeat President Obama in the 2012 presidential election. They were wrong. Some of those who were incorrect took it in stride and admitted as much. Others, such as Twitter sensation and National Review blogger Josh Jordan (aka NumbersMuncher), decided that their logic was sound, […] Read more »