Purpose
Use program summaries in this publication only as a guide to potential sources of disaster assistance. Obtain more complete information from the contact noted at the end of each summary. The purpose of this guide is to provide basic information about programs of assistance available to individuals, businesses, and public entities after a disaster incident. These programs help individuals cope with their losses, and affected businesses and public entities restore their structures and operations. The information is intended to serve as a starting point for disaster workers and local, State, and Federal officials to locate sources of help as they seek more definitive information, such as eligibility criteria and application processes. Included are programs that make financial assistance available, as well as those that provide technical assistance and/or goods and other services. For the entire plan, follow the link to view the document in it's entirety.
http://www.fema.gov/txt/rebuild/ltrc/recoveryprograms229.txt

Disaster Emergency Management in China

Natural disasters occur frequently in China, affecting more than 200 million people every year. In 1998, the direct economic loss exceeded 300 billion RMB. Natural disasters have become an important restricting factor for economic and social development. The Chinese government devotes great attention to disaster reduction and has achieved significant results through efforts over 40 years. In China, the study of disasters has entered a phase of rapid development since the mid to late 1980s and has resulted in some important achievements. To view the entire document, follow the link.

http://www.adrc.or.jp/publications/TDRM2005/TDRM_Good_Practices/PDF/PDF-2005e/Chapter3_3.3.3-2.pdf

UK disaster recovery planning activities examined

Although almost all UK companies back up their critical IT systems and data, more than a quarter of them still do not have a disaster recovery plan in place. Half of those that do have plans, fail to test them. Also, 15 percent of companies do not take their backups off-site. This is despite the fact that 92 percent of businesses now consider disaster recovery planning an important driver of their IT expenditure. To view the entire document, follow the link.
http://www.continuitycentral.com/news03841.htm

NATO's Role in Disaster Assistance

NATO’s involvement in international disaster assistance has a long history. Let’s trace its evolution. Since the creation of the Alliance in 1949, NATO has always placed great emphasis on protection of the population. Faced with potential threat of war which might involve nuclear weapons, the Alliance began to develop various measures in the field of civil protection. Accordingly, in 1951, NATO established the Civil Defence Committee to oversee efforts to provide for the protection of our populations. To read the full article, follow the link below.
http://www.nato.int/eadrcc/mcda-e.pdf

European Union Disaster Preparedness Plan

Disaster preparedness contributes to saving lives, speeds up recovery and reduces the impact of future hazards. Disaster preparedness is proof that people are far from helpless when facing hazards with the appropriate local knowledge, practice and response mechanisms. To read the full article, follow the link below.
http://ec.europa.eu/echo/policies/dipecho_en.htm