In the face of so many daunting near-term challenges, U.S. government and industry are letting the crucial strategic issues of U.S. competitiveness slip below the surface. Five years ago, the National Academies prepared Rising Above the Gathering Storm, a book that cautioned: "Without a renewed effort to bolster the foundations of our competitiveness, we can expect to lose our privileged position." Since that time we find ourselves in a country where much has changed-and a great deal has not changed. So where does America stand relative to its position of five years ago when the Gathering Storm book was prepared? The unanimous view of the authors is that our nation's outlook has worsened. The present volume, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited, explores the tipping point America now faces. Addressing America's competitiveness challenge will require many years if not decades; however, the requisite federal funding of much of that effort is about to terminate. Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited provides a snapshot of the work of the government and the private sector in the past five years, analyzing how the original recommendations have or have not been acted upon, what consequences this may have on future competitiveness, and priorities going forward. In addition, readers will find a series of thought- and discussion-provoking factoids-many of them alarming-about the state of science and innovation in America. Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited is a wake-up call. To reverse the foreboding outlook will require a sustained commitment by both individual citizens and government officials-at all levels. This book, together with the original Gathering Storm volume, provides the roadmap to meet that goal. While this book is essential for policy makers, anyone concerned with the future of innovation, competitiveness, and the standard of living in the United States will find this book an ideal tool for engaging their government representatives, peers, and community about this momentous issue.

This illustrated guide showcases some facts about weather-related events and suggests life-saving actions you can take, if you find yourself in an unexpected situation resulting from a weather-related event. The goal of this booklet is to present you with details on how to recognize severe weather, be aware of your surroundings, and to encourage you to develop a plan to be ready to act when threatening weather approaches. Here is a bird's eye-view of the weather-related events that are covered in this guide with a few short facts about each that are also presented in the guide. Lightning... ¦ Causes an average of 55-60 fatalities and 400 injuries each year ¦ Occurs with all thunderstorms ¦ Costs more than $1 billion in insured losses each year Tornadoes... ¦ Cause an average of 60-65 fatalities and 1,500 injuries each year ¦ Can produce wind speeds in excess of 200 mph ¦ Can be 1 mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles Straight-line Winds... ¦ Can exceed 125 mph ¦ Can cause destruction equal to a tornado ¦ Are extremely dangerous to aviation Flash Floods and Floods... ¦ Are the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms, more than 90 fatalities each year Hail... ¦ Can be larger than a softball (5 inches in diameter) ¦ Causes more than $1 billion in crop and property damage each year Some helpful tips included in this guide include how quickly these weather-events can result to a devastating situation. Therefore, it emphasizes that by having a plan in place prior to the event that is practiced from time to time, will allow response actions to be positive rather than stressful. This resource also provides guidance on the type of items that should be included in an Emergency Supply Kit for use at home, office, school, or place of business. There is also a special section dedicated to schools and working with children during an unexpected weather emergency. This school section also includes proper inspections and maintenance of buildings, and recommends emergency drills to practice the school safety plans with children including handling of disabled personnel and/or children.

Climate change poses many challenges that affect society and the natural world. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to respond. By taking steps to adapt to and mitigate climate change, the risks to society and the impacts of continued climate change can be lessened. The National Climate Assessment, coordinated by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is a mandated report intended to inform response decisions. Required to be developed every four years, these reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of climate change impacts available for the United States, making them a unique and important climate change document. The draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report reviewed here addresses a wide range of topics of high importance to the United States and society more broadly, extending from human health and community well-being, to the built environment, to businesses and economies, to ecosystems and natural resources. This report evaluates the draft NCA4 to determine if it meets the requirements of the federal mandate, whether it provides accurate information grounded in the scientific literature, and whether it effectively communicates climate science, impacts, and responses for general audiences including the public, decision makers, and other stakeholders.