Devoted to the critical and contemporary topic of disasters and emergencies, the December 2009 issue of Nursing & Health Sciences has released a special issue entitled “Disasters and Emergencies: Preparing, Managing and Experiencing”. Published by Wiley-Blackwell, this collection of papers provides valuable insights from personal experiences and disaster reports as well as discussions of research findings aimed at improving the management of disasters and emergencies.

A recent survey by Medical College of Wisconsin researchers of over 1,800 patients seen in the Froedtert Hospital Emergency Department revealed that Metro Milwaukee residents may not personally be as well prepared for disasters as the rest of the country.

Disaster relief scams are likely in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, warn FBI.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) researchers successfully demonstrated a prototype approach to maintain two-way communications with first responders as they make their way in building fires, and mine and tunnel collapses.

In an unprecedented initiative, US and Canadian experts have developed a comprehensive framework to optimize and manage critical care resources during times of pandemic outbreaks or other mass critical care disasters.

China is building up a national natural disaster evaluation mechanism to strengthen its prevention and reduction capacity in the aftermath of recent blizzards, a senior official said.

At least eight people were killed and hundreds more were forced to leave their snowbound villages. Avalanches brought tonnes of snow in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.

Caterpillar Inc. reported that plant in Oxford, Mississippi, was damaged and collapsed as a result of severe weather. Tornadoes swept through the South on Tuesday.

U.S. law enforcement officials say at least 11 people have been killed and dozens injured as tornadoes and thunderstorms tore through parts of the U.S. south.

China's transportation system, which has been paralyzed by the worst snowy weather in half a century, glimpsed an encouraging sign on Sunday with the reports of less cancelled flights and more resumed trains and buses.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing on Monday that China is confident and capable in achieving the final victory in combating disasters incurred by low temperature, ice and heavy snow.

Amid China's worst snow disaster in decades, the Chinese leaders have shown the public a hands-on approach by visiting people working on the front lines of the weather crisis.