Multihazard Mitigation Saves Essays

Multihazard Mitigation Saves Essays Multihazard Mitigation Saves Essay Multihazard Mitigation Saves Essay Multihazard Mitigation Saves Name: Institution: Lecturer: Course: Date: Multihazard Mitigation Saves The issue concerned is presented from a report conducted by The National Institute of Building Sciences, through its branch – the Multihazard Mitigation Council. The report itself was aimed at presenting the credibility, authenticity and effectiveness of harnessing future savings from hazard mitigating activities. The Multihazard Mitigation Council, otherwise known as MMC conducted this research in order to quantify forecasted savings from mitigation activities responding to a mandate by an appropriations committee. This particular study was carried out based on work plans in a detailed manner by established and qualified experts. This project was funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), though the study itself was conducted independently. The research was carried out to investigate on the on the credibility on the future savings (with regard to losses avoided), from natural calamities such as earthquakes, wind disasters such as tornadoes as well as floods. The project mainly focused on three crucial grant programs on hazard mitigation: project impact, the hazard mitigation grant program and the flood mitigation assistance program. The study also assessed two types of mitigation activities: project mitigations, including physical measures to reduce or to avoid damage from natural calamities, and process mitigations, leading to practices, projects and policies that reduce risk or eliminate loss. This included assessing the vulnerability and material risk, informing the decision makers on the concerned issues, and vouching for employment of reliable building codes. In addition, the study entailed two interrelated models. The first model was employed to calculate an estimate in the forecasted savings hailing from the FEMA mitigation grant expenses. This was enabled by the use of a sample statistic representative from FEMA funded mitigation. The results were to be generalized for the whole population under FEMA’S jurisdiction. The other study component was aimed at studying the projected future savings hailing from mitigation endeavors. This model study was to be conducted through a research on mitigation activities that were FEMA funded. The studies on community were both qualitative and quantitative, examining the organization’s mitigation activities in adequate community samples that could serve the purpose. The research study estimated the effects of grants provided by FEMA on the federal treasury, from the basis of reducing the amount of federal funds that would have been spent when responding to disaster rescues and recovery. The research was able to find that the analysis of the sample FEMA grants awarded on throughout the service would indicate that a single dollar spent on mitigation activities, would go on to save the entire society an average of four dollars. The MMC research found that benefits to the society from FEMA mitigation grants from the study period would eventually yield a discount value of fourteen billion dollars, compared to the three billion values of resources that would be employed in the mitigation programs in hazards that were studied. The research also discovered that funds utilized on reducing risks on natural hazards, is an effective investment. Averagely, on every dollar that FEMA spends on activities to reduce losses from disasters, it consequently provide s the entire nation four-dollar benefits in the future. On my opinion, I do agree with the parties related with the findings of this study. It is proven that mitigation is a cost effective project, which warrants federal funding on a basis that is on going before a disaster strikes and even in the disaster recovery period. Any nation will always be at risk to natural disasters. Hence, it would only be prudent to engage in mitigation investments. Secondly, mitigation is deemed most effective when it is undertaken in a community wide basis, comprehensive and is carried out on a long-term basis. Single oriented projects are also helpful. Nevertheless, engaging in slates of coordinated activities in mitigation over times is the most efficient method. It will most certainly ensure communities’ resilience while coping socially and physically with impacts of future calamities. Therefore, I totally agree with the findings of the study project.

Blue Jay Bird Facts (Cyanocitta cristata)

Blue Jay Bird Facts (Cyanocitta cristata) The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a talkative, colorful bird commonly seen at North American feeders. The species name aptly translates as crested blue chattering bird. Fast Facts: Blue Jay Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristataCommon Names: Blue jay, jaybirdBasic Animal Group: BirdSize: 9-12 inchesWeight: 2.5-3.5 ouncesLifespan: 7 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Central and eastern North AmericaPopulation: StableConservation Status: Least Concern Description Male and female blue jays have similar coloration. The blue jay has black eyes and legs and a black bill. The bird has a white face with blue crest, back, wings, and tail. A U-shaped collar of black feathers runs around the neck to the sides of the head. Wing and tail feathers are barred with black, light blue, and white. As with peacocks, blue jay feathers are actually brown, but appear blue because of light interference from the feather structure. If the feather is crushed, the blue color disappears. Blue jay feathers are brown but appear blue due to light interference. epantha, Getty Images Adult males are slightly larger than females. On average, a blue jay is a medium-size bird measuring 9 to 12 inches in length and weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. Habitat and Distribution Blue jays live from southern Canada south into Florida and northern Texas. They are found from the East Coast west to the Rocky Mountains. In the western portion of their range, blue jays sometimes hybridize with Stellers jay. Blue jays prefer a forested habitat, but they are highly adaptable. In deforested regions, they continue to thrive in residential areas. Diet Blue jays are omnivorous birds. While they will eat small invertebrates, pet food, meat, and sometimes other bird nestlings and eggs, they usually use their strong bills to crack acorns and other nuts. They also eat seeds, berries, and grains. About 75% of a jays diet consists of vegetable matter. Sometimes blue jays cache their food. Behavior Like crows and other corvids, blue jays are highly intelligent. Captive blue jays can use tools to get food and work latch mechanisms to open their cages. Jays raise and lower their crest feathers as a form of nonverbal communication. They vocalize using a wide range of calls and can mimic the calls of hawks and other birds. Blue jays may mimic hawks to warn of the predators presence or to trick other species, driving them away from food or the nest. Some blue jays migrate, but how they decide when or whether to move south for the winter is not yet understood. Reproduction and Offspring Blue jays are monogamous birds that build nests and rear young together. The birds typically mate between mid-April and July and produce one clutch of eggs per year. Jays build a cup-shaped nest of twigs, feathers, plant matter, and sometimes mud. Near human habitation, they may incorporate cloth, string, and paper. The female lays between 3 and 6 gray- or brown-speckled eggs. The eggs may be buff, pale green, or blue. Both parents may incubate the eggs, but mainly the female broods the eggs while the male brings her food. The eggs hatch after about 16 to 18 days. Both parents feed the young until they fledge, which occurs between 17 and 21 days after hatching. Captive blue jays may live over 26 years. In the wild, they usually live around 7 years. Blue jay eggs are speckled with brown or gray. David Tran, Getty Images Conservation Status The IUCN categorizes the blue jays conservation status as least concern. While deforestation in eastern North America temporarily decreased the species population, blue jays have adapted to urban habitats. Their population has remained stable over the past 40 years. Sources BirdLife International 2016. Cyanocitta cristata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22705611A94027257. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22705611A94027257.enGeorge, Philip Brandt. In: Baughman, Mel M. (ed.) Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America. National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., p. 279, 2003. ISBN 978-0-7922-3373-2.Jones, Thony B. and Alan C. Kamil. Tool-Making and Tool-Using in the Northern Blue Jay. Science. 180 (4090): 1076–1078, 1973. doi:10.1126/science.180.4090.1076Madge, Steve and Hilary Burn. Crows and jays: a guide to the crows, jays and magpies of the world. London: AC Black, 1994. ISBN 978-0-7136-3999-5.Tarvin, K.A. and G.E. Woolfenden. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). In: Poole, A. Gill, F. (eds.): The Birds of North America. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA American Ornithologists Union, Washington, DC, 1999.