National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS)      

February 4, 2023 --- Hazard Monitoring:
•  Heavy Snow – Sierra Nevada, CA

February 4, 2023 -- There are two areas of occurring flooding in southwest LA and central west MS.
The disastercenter.com has uploaded copies of the January 6th Committee Transcripts 

The disastercenter.com is making available black and white print copies of the January 6th Reports on Amazon.  These are the Executive Summary and the Final Report in two Volumes One and Two.  Had the attack on the Capitol succeeded our Democratic-Republic would have fallen.  What took almost three million casualties, to create and maintain, would have been lost to a violent attack inspired and led by a sitting President, who is now advocating that the Constitution be abolished.  Most of the House January 6th Committee's report is based on testimony of individuals who are members of the Republican Party.  Not all chose to testify.  Many took advantage of their fifth amendment right, granted by the Constitution, not to testify.  Some of these individuals are members of the Congress. 

Ronald Wilson Reagan 40th President--- "To a few of us here today this is a solemn and most momentous occasion, and yet in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. The orderly transfer of authority as called for in the Constitution routinely takes place, as it has for almost two centuries, and few of us stop to think how unique we really are. In the eyes of many in the world, this every-4-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle."

December 19, 2022
-FBI and Partners Issue National Public Safety Alert on Financial Sextortion Schemes
-Over 3,000 minor victims targeted in the past year across the United States 
The FBI, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), is issuing a national public safety alert regarding an explosion in incidents of children and teens being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money—a crime known as financial sextortion.

Over the past year, law enforcement has received over 7,000 reports related to the online financial sextortion of minors, resulting in at least 3,000 victims, primarily boys, and more than a dozen suicides. A large percentage of these sextortion schemes originate outside of the United States and primarily in West African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast. As many children enter winter break this holiday season, the FBI and our partners implore parents and caregivers to engage with their kids about financial sextortion schemes so we can prevent them in the first place.  

“The FBI has seen a horrific increase in reports of financial sextortion schemes targeting minor boys—and the fact is that the many victims who are afraid to come forward are not even included in those numbers,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI is here for victims, but we also need parents and caregivers to work with us to prevent this crime before it happens and help children come forward if it does. Victims may feel like there is no way out—it is up to all of us to reassure them that they are not in trouble, there is hope, and they are not alone.”

“The protection of children is a society’s most sacred duty,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It calls on each of us to do everything we can to keep kids from harm, including ensuring the threats they face are brought into the light and confronted. Armed with the information in this alert message, parents, caregivers, and children themselves should feel empowered to detect fake identities, take steps to reject any attempt to obtain private material, and, if targeted, have a plan to seek help from a trusted adult.”

Financial sextortion schemes occur in online environments where young people feel most comfortable—using common social media sites, gaming sites, or video chat applications that feel familiar and safe. On these platforms, online predators often use fake female accounts and target minor males between 14 to 17 years old, but the FBI has interviewed victims as young as 10 years old.

“The sexual exploitation of children is a deplorable crime. HSI special agents will continue to exhaust every resource to identify, locate, and apprehend predators to ensure they face justice,” said Steve K. Francis, HSI acting executive associate director. “Criminals who lurk in platforms on the internet are not as anonymous as they think. HSI will continue to leverage cutting-edge technology to end these heinous acts.”

Through deception, predators convince the young person to produce an explicit video or photo. Once predators acquire the images, they threaten to release the compromising material unless the victim sends money or gift cards. Often the predators demand payment through a variety of peer-to-peer payment applications. In many cases, however, predators release the images even if payments are made. The shame, fear, and confusion that victims feel when they are caught in this cycle often prevents them from asking for help or reporting the abuse.

“This is a growing crisis and we've seen sextortion completely devastate children and families,” said Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “As the leading nonprofit focused on child protection, we've seen first-hand the rise in these cases worldwide. The best defense against this crime is to talk to your children about what to do if they're targeted online. We want everyone to know help is out there and they're not alone.”

What if you or your child is a victim?

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has outlined steps parents and young people can take if they or their child are a victim of sextortion, including: 

-Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.
-Get help before deciding whether to pay money or otherwise comply with the predator. -Cooperating or paying rarely stops the blackmail and continued harassment.
-Report the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
-Block the predator and do not delete the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.

Let NCMEC help get explicit images of you off the internet.

Visit missingkids.org/IsYourExplicitContentOutThere to learn how to notify companies yourself or visit cybertipline.org to report to us for help with the process.

Ask for help. This can be a very complex problem and may require help from adults or law enforcement.

If you don’t feel that you have adults in your corner, you can reach out to NCMEC for support at gethelp@ncmec.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Take a moment to learn how sextortion works and how to talk to your children about it. Information, resources, and conversation guides are available at fbi.gov/sextortion. 

November 3, 2022 -- State's Flood Risk Disclosure Practices

Several states have mandated multiple flood risk disclosures as part of their laws and/or disclosure forms. As illustrated in dark blue five states (Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Delaware) have the most flood risk disclosure requirements. According to FEMA, fifteen States, including Florida, do not have any state mandated flood disclosure requirement.

We are thinking about providing FEMA Flood maps to homeowners, prospective home buyers and others for a fee of $20 including with location maps and other hazards specific documentation.  If this is something you might be interested in, send of an email to: host@disastercenter.com

Model State Requirements for Disclosing Flood Risk During Real Estate Transactions

To provide information and resources to Hurricane Ian survivors, FEMA published a Hurricane Ian webpage that includes information on how to donate, volunteer, dispel rumors and find assistance.

    After a disaster, there often are many rumors and misunderstandings. Do your part to the stop the spread of rumors by finding and sharing information from trusted sources and discouraging others from sharing information from unverified sources. Find facts about common disaster related rumors at Common Disaster-Related Rumors | FEMA.gov.
    Call your insurance company right away. Take photos to document damage and keep receipts from all clean-up and repair related purchases. These steps may help maximize insurance and federal disaster assistance and payments. If you’ve evacuated, you can still start a claim now and provide specifics later.

Safety Considerations for Residents

    Beware of frauds and scams. All FEMA employees carry an official badge. Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. Don’t trust anyone who offers financial help and then asks for money or personal information. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 right away if an inspector comes to your house but you haven’t applied for assistance because this might be a sign of identity theft.
    Stay out of floodwater. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as human and livestock waste, contaminants that can lead to illness, sharp debris, or wild or stray animals. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.
    Be careful when cleaning up. Wear protective clothing, including work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes. Do not try to remove heavy debris by yourself. Use an appropriate mask if cleaning mold or other debris. People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled.
    Be safe using generators. Generators can help during a power outage but can present serious health and safety concerns. Only use a generator outdoors and far from open doors and windows. Visit ready.gov/power-outages to learn how to use a generator safely.
    Avoid downed power or utility lines. They may be live with deadly voltage. Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.
    Stay off the roads. Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas, restoring electricity, or cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying out of the way and off the roads. If you evacuated, do not return home until local officials tell you the area is safe.
    Place debris wisely. Never place debris near trees, structures, or downed powerlines. This makes removal difficult.
    Keep paying attention to local officials. If you evacuated because of Ian, keep in mind that flooding is still happening in many locations. Roads may be blocked and power is still being restored. Only return once local officials say it’s safe and you have access to food and water.

By Gema de las Heras
Consumer Education Specialist
October 4, 2022
Nobody knows how long it’ll take to recover from the destruction Hurricane Ian left behind. But we do know it won’t be long before scammers start trying to cash in on the deadly storm. Whether you’re getting back on your feet or looking for ways to help people in areas hit hardest, learn how scammers operate — and how to avoid them.
Here are a few ways that scammers might try to take your money or personal information after a weather emergency:

▪ Spot imposter scams. Scammers might pretend to be safety inspectors, government officials trying to help you, or utility workers who say immediate work is required. Don’t give them money, and ask for identification to verify who you are dealing with — before sharing personal information like your Social Security or account numbers.

▪ Spot FEMA impersonators charging application fees. If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, it’s a scam. Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information.

▪ Spot home improvement and debris removal scams. Unlicensed contractors and scammers may appear in recovery zones with promises of quick repairs or clean-up services. Walk away if they demand cash payments up front, or refuse to give you copies of their license, insurance, and a contract in writing.

▪ Spot rental listing scams. Scammers know people need a place to live while they rebuild. They’ll advertise rentals that don’t exist to get your money and run. The scammers are the ones who tell you to wire money, or who ask for security deposits or rent before you’ve met or signed a lease.

▪ Spot charity scams. Scammers will often try to profit from the misfortune of others, sometimes using familiar-sounding names or logos. Check Donating Wisely and Avoiding Charity Scams before opening up your wallet.

Learn more at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies and report weather-related scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Here’s advice on donating wisely and avoiding charity scams:


If you get a request to donate on social media, research the organization yourself before you give. Don’t assume that charity messages posted on social media are legitimate. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or Candid. If the message was from a friend, ask them if they know the organization themselves.

Be cautious about giving to individuals on crowdfunding sites. If considering crowdfunding, it’s safest to give to someone you personally know and trust, and to review the platform’s policies and procedures. Keep in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take measures to vet postings for help after a disaster, others don’t.

If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, by wiring money or cryptocurrency, don’t do it. Pay by credit card, which offers more protections.

When texting to donate, confirm the number with the source before you donate. The charge will show up on your mobile phone bill, but donations are not immediate.

You can find this information and more at ftc.gov/charity. Looking for information to help prepare for, deal with, and recover from a natural disaster or severe weather event? Visit ftc.gov/weatheremergencies.

August 21, 2022 ---Digital money movement fraud on the rise. A scammer can contact you requesting payment through a Wire Transfer --these methods allow money to be sent quickly, and the funds are often hard to trace and recover.     
You should never wire money or send money to:           
    * Anyone who claims to be from a government agency
    * Any stranger, no matter what reason they give
    * A telemarketer trying to sell you something
    * Anyone claiming your account is compromised
    * Unauthorized, unverified cryptocurrency sites or salespeople
    * Anyone asking you to send money to yourself

A kindle version of the Supreme Court Ruling in: “NY RIFLE & PISTOL Assoc. Inc v. BRUEN, of NY State Police” is available as an Amazon Kindle Book and as a paperback.

A kindle version of the Supreme Court Ruling in Supreme Court in: 'DOBBS,. v. JACKSON: The ruling overturning Roe V Wade" is available as an Amazon Kindle Book a paperback version and a hardcover edition are also available.  The justices cite legal precedent that was developed when almost all people were serfs or slaves, and when all women were treated as the property of their father or husband, instead of a class of people who vote and make the law.
If you want to understand the operation of the legal process at its highest level, this Supreme Court opinion will do the job.

July 8, 2022 --FTC.

When your credit is pulled for your home loan, credit bureaus could share your personal information!

Put an end to unsolicited credit offers. It's far too easy for identity thieves to steal your mail or your garbage and use a pre-screened credit card offer to obtain credit in your name. Opt-out so this won’t happen to you.

Put an end to telemarketing. Once your credit has been pulled, the credit agencies actually sell this information to "trigger lead" companies. As a result, you can find your phone ringing regularly even if you're on the "Do Not Call" list. Worse still, the companies that resort to purchasing these leads have been known to misrepresent themselves or engage in bait and switch tactics.

Put an end to fraud. Trigger leads get re-sold many times over. Shady characters might contact you under the guise of being your lender and try to extract important personal information. NEVER provide SS #, mother's maiden name, etc., over the phone. Want to do more? Tell your Congressional representatives at (202) 224-3121 to stop the credit agencies from selling your information.

Assure your security and peace of mind. Fraud and identity theft are not things you want to face at any time. Opting Out is free and takes only a couple of minutes. That's far less than the time you could spend shredding unwanted mail or dealing with unwanted calls.

Go to www.OptOutPrescreen.com to opt out today. OptOutPrescreen.com. is the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website to accept and process requests from consumers to Opt-In or Opt-Out of firm ...

If you believe you may have already been targeted or defrauded, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1 (877) 382-4357.

To join the National Do Not Call Registry, go to www.donotcall.gov or call 1 (888) 382-1222. 

May 24, 2022 ---NOAA predicts above-normal 2022 in its Atlantic Hurricane Season
Outlook.  An ongoing La Niña and above-average Atlantic temperatures set the stage for busy season ahead. Three to six major hurricanes are forecast.  Up to ten hurricanes of all types and 14 to 21 named storms.
The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane names are: Alex - Bonnie - Colin - Danielle - Earl - Fiona - Gaston - Hermine - Ian - Julia - Karl - Lisa - Martin - Nicole - Owen - Paula - Richard - Shary - Tobias - Virginie - Walter
FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2022 --    FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2021 --    FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2020 --    FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2019 --   FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2018 -- FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2017 --  FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2016 -- FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2015 --  FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2014  --  FEMA Daily Situation Report Archive 2013
Volunteer with Mennonite Disaster Service -- it is a volunteer network.

 Crime Reports pages.  The new pages integrate crime and imprisonment by year and States.

To volunteer or donate to a National VOAD member organization

by Bridget Small
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
Every year, people report fraud, identity theft, and bad business practices to the FTC and its law enforcement partners. In 2021, 5.7 million people filed reports and described losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud — a $2.4 billion jump in losses in one year. You can learn about the types of fraud, identity theft, and marketplace issues people reported by state, and how scammers took payment — including $750 million in cryptocurrency — in the FTC’s new Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. Here are some of the highlights:

More than 2.8 million people reported spotting a fraud, and one in four said they also lost money. Their combined losses were over $5.8 billion. Imposter scams, when someone pretended to be a trusted person or business, led to losses of $2.3 billion.
Almost 600,000 people filed reports about credit bureaus in 2021, an increase of more than 80 percent over the previous year. This jump in reports made credit bureaus, information furnishers, and report users the #3 most-reported category of 2021, behind imposter scams (#2) and identity theft (#1).
People ages 20-29 reported losing money to fraud more often than people ages 80 and over. While younger people lost money 41 percent of the time they experienced fraud, older adults lost money only 17 percent of the time. But when older people did lose money, they lost a median amount of $1,500, or three times the median amount younger people lost.
If you spot a scam, please report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
We've been working on updating the State disaster pages.  Here they are, a work in progress:
Alabama -- Alaska -- Arizona -- Arkansas -- California -- Colorado -- Connecticut -- Delaware -- Florida -- Georgia -- Hawaii -- Idaho -- Illinois -- Indiana -- Iowa -- Kansas -- Kentucky -- Louisiana -- Maine -- Maryland -- Massachusetts -- Michigan -- Minnesota -- Mississippi -- Missouri -- Montana -- Nebraska -- Nevada -- New Hampshire -- New Jersey -- New Mexico -- New York -- North Carolina -- North Dakota -- Ohio -- Oklahoma -- Oregon -- Pennsylvania -- Rhode Island -- South Carolina -- South Dakota -- Tennessee -- Texas -- Utah -- Vermont -- Virginia -- Washington -- West Virginia -- Wisconsin -- Wyoming
If you have any suggestions about how it can be improved, please send an email to host@disastercenter.com
 
Ready Rating: A FREE Service from the American Red Cross
The Red Cross, Salvation Army and other volunteer organizations move resources into position so as to be able to respond to disasters. Please consider a donation to the Red Cross  You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation or call 1-800 RED CROSS     
There are several ways you can donate to the Salvation Army .  By phone: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY   By text: Text “GIVE” to 80888.  Also, consider volunteering or donating with  Disaster Relief Agencies and Nongovernment Organizations. 
Red Cross -- After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. This website is designed to help make that communication easier.

FBI's "Tips on Avoiding Fraudulent Charitable Contribution Schemes"

If you want to suggest a link, please post to host@disastercenter.com

The people affected will not lack clothing for long and more will be donated than will ever be used.  It will end up in the local landfill, because there is no place to store it.  If you are going to collect clothing have a garage sale with the proceeds going to the victims.  Be responsible, if you collect money get proof that it was donated and make evidence available to those who gave.  Consider volunteering or donating with  Disaster Relief Agencies and Nongovernment Organizations. 
WHO's CRED is reporting that in 2010 a total of 385 natural disasters killed more than 297,000 people worldwide, affected over 217.0 million others and caused US$ 123.9 billion of economic damages. Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2010: (PDF 4.2 MB) The Numbers and Trends. Brussels: CRED; 2011-Guha-Sapir D, Vos F, Below R, with Ponserre S.   

There is only one weather authority in the United States, and that's the National Weather Service  For emergency information consult with your local NWS office or your local emergency management agency.  If you want to suggest a link, please post to host@disastercenter.com
SaferProducts.gov: A New World for Consumers, Businesses, and Researchers -- This is a site that the US Chamber of Commerce wants the government to shut down.  Take a Look...

States: 10 Leading Causes of Death
Vital Records: Locate your States' sources for Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Records

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September 19, 2011 -- We have added the FBI's 2010 State Uniform Crime Reports to our State data which now covers from 1960 to 2010, 50 years of crime statistics.

The National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) has replaced the color codes of the Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). The new alert system is currently active, active alerts are also available on Twitter and Facebook

 Established 14 years ago, the Disaster Center site has gone through a number of evolutions.  A big part of this work has provided coverage for disasters affecting the United States.  Big stories were Hurricane Dennis, Rita, Katrina, Wilma, Floyd, Mitch, Bret and many others.  One of the most linked to areas on the web site has been our graphics. The most popular of these Hurricane Floyd as it approached the US coast. Current and Historic Atlantic Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

 Our work of mitigating disasters involves the preparation for them, responding to them, and recovering from them.  In an ideal world we would be working on ways to mitigate risk

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