Mission
The Mercury News was launched in 2016 as a rebranding of theSan Jose Mercury News.
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Evacuating zoo animals can sometimes be complicated, but officials make sure to monitor disaster warning signs so they have a good head start. Considering California's history of fires and other disasters, many zoos already have evacuation plans to ensure all types of animals are found if they go missing and are securely relocated, monitored, and tamed.
Even as fires rage across California, thousands of new homes are being built deeper into flammable foothills and forests. Fires themselves are not changing, but more people are putting themselves at risk by continuing to occupy fire-prone areas, thereby also increasing the odds of human-caused fires, impeding mitigation options, and contributing to disaster costs.
The Mexico earthquake and California Wine Country wildfires demonstrate how socioeconomic structures create disasters, as poor and vulnerable populations are hit the hardest. Though early warning systems and forest management contribute to decreased disaster risk, in the end it is social resilience among Mexicans and Californians that has enabled recovery.
Mobile applications are being developed for future disaster events. The MyShakeApp, launched in 2016, allows smartphones to detect earthquakes using built-in sensors and send warning alerts to users near the shaking. Another app, FireChat, maintains its chat function without a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
Voluntary Commitments
The organization has no registered commitments.
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.