Three stories this week popped out at me in the Disaster Resource Continuity e-GUIDE weekly email:

First, a company in Newark, CA (Risk Management System) has come up with a new earthquake simulation that is radically changing damage estimates for California and other prone areas (including the northwest). LA Bizjournal covered the story. This could affect insurance rates.

Second, The Washington Post reports that, thanks to the National Commission on Children and Disasters, FEMA is now looking into the effects of disasters on children. We knew about animals thanks to our association with Muttshack, but this report sheds new light on how adult-centric many plans are.

And third, the danger of using a cell phone to call 911. Twelve people called in about a fire in Stratford, CT that killed two people last week. Inquiries now show that the fire department didn't have an address because the couldn't track the calls made from cell phones back. To the department's credit, they still responded within a reasonable time.