Here’s some important info for anyone living in a co-op building that was affected by Hurricane Sandy.  On the whole, co-ops are barred from receiving federal disaster aid, according to an article in the NYT.  Even though co-op buildings are basically not-for-profits set up by the owners, FEMA considers them to be businesses and are they ineligible for aid.

NYC’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations estimates that approximately 120 co-op buildings were affected during Sandy, most sustaining flooding and ground floor damage.

Before buying a co-op unit, it would be prudent to consult past flood levels and the potential for damage.  You can check out the highest extent of the Sandy storm surge in our February post.

If you’ve ever heard the intercom call for a doctor aboard an airplane, it can be a scary moment.  In a captivating article from The Atlantic, Dr. Celine Gounder discusses the five -- yes, five -- times she has responded to in-flight medical events.

Flying can place undue stress upon the human body, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.  While airline flight crews are trained in basic first aid, airlines often rely on assistance from doctors on board.  Dr. Gounder presents some suggestions on how airlines could better respond to such medical emergencies.

You can also check out audio from an NPR interview with Dr. Gounder.

The National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University (NCDPCU) posted a worthwhile YouTube video today highlighting some personal stories from survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

http://youtu.be/GwnKlFm8ALM

NCDPCU’s theory is that telling one’s story can help accelerate recovery from a disaster.

Lisa Bedford, who runs the popular blog The Survival Mom, posted today about an email she received from a Boston mother. The mom decided to address family preparedness concerns back in the fall, with a new baby in the house and Hurricane Sandy on the way.

She was able to use her stored food and supplies again during a winter blizzard...and again this past Friday, when her family was locked down for 15 hours during the Boston manhunt.  Great example of how preparing for something relatively minor can help during an outlier emergency situation like the Boston lockdown.

The manhunt for the Boston Marathon bomber is over, and as in most other scenarios, it was the participation of ordinary citizens that brought it to closure.  Law enforcement officials did an amazing job here and we have nothing but praise for their hard work and the sacrifices of those who were injured and killed in the hunt for the brothers who appear to have been behind all of this.

But it wasn't the massive manhunt that found Dzhokar Tsarnaev.  It was a guy searching his own backyard who called in the cavalry for help.  We've seen it time and time again, and thank god our public officials have embraced the incredible power of crowdsourcing in the fight against terror.

"If you see something, say something" requires a cooperative effort from both sides.  We need to have a high level of situation awareness and vigilance at all times, and law enforcement must be comfortable listening to us.  The Boston Marathon bombing demonstrated how effective this can be and should give all of us an increased sense of hope about the indomitable American spirit and how hard it is to intrude on our way of life and the freedom that defines us.