We live in a fallen world. Romans 8 reveals that all creation is groaning under sin and waiting for the redemption that will only occur at the final advent of Christ. In the meantime, humans do all we can to prevent emergencies and disasters. When we can’t prevent them, we try to minimize the suffering and destruction that they cause.
Jesus also calls His people to fight for justice. Many people worldwide have been unjustly imprisoned for holding different political views from those in power. More troubling to Christians, many brother and sisters in Christ are imprisoned for their faith in Him. Anyone, from groups to individuals, can write letters to prisoners to encourage them in righteousness and push for their release, knowing that their captors will undoubtedly see the letters as well.
Part of the fight for justice is electing people to positions of power who believe in a standard of truth outside themselves. God the embodiment of truth, and His followers are not swayed into falsehood by the shouts of those who hate Him. Christians never put their trust in man (Psalms 118), but do all they can to elect the right people and promote the right policies in their area and nation.
Global Action Research
Disaster and Emergency Operations Center
- Global monitoring – air traffic, marine traffic, satellite, weather, disaster
- Emergency and Disaster education
- Coordination between national and international partners, especially churches, and local organizations in affected areas, for emergency and disaster relief.
- Firefighter and disaster relief services
- Wise direction of prayer and resources.
The team at MDHI plays a role in emergency and disaster preparedness and response. We work with the Beaver Volunteer Fire Department and the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists. In addition to normal fire and disaster duties, we provide chaplaincy services, including preaching, teaching, counseling, and music.
Pick up a copy of the Firefighter 1 and 2 Study Guide. It will help you pass your FF 1 and 2 classes. The book is also a terrific resource of department training officers and a great review for more experienced firefighters. Also, the Weapons of Mass Destruction, CBRN, and HAZMAT Incident Management guide is a great resource.
Disaster and Emergency Resource Links
Aircraft Incidents
- Air Traffic (Flight Radar 24)
- Aircraft accidents
- FAA Accident and Incident Data
Animal Incidents
Crime and Law Enforcement
- Community Crime Map – LexisNexis
- CityProtect – US and Canadian crime information by locality
- Global Law and Order Report – Gallup
- Mapping Police Violence – USA
Disease Outbreak and Mortality Operations
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC)
- HealthMap – Disease outbreak mapping worldwide
- CDC Current Outbreak Maps
- US General Mortality Database (CDC)
Disaster Operations
- Emergency Events Database (EMDAT – UN and Belgium)
- Environmental Emergencies Center (WHO, OCHA)
- Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (United Nations and European Commission)
- Pacific Disaster Center
- Relief Web – Global disaster management information
- RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service
International Organizations
- European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid
- European Commission Public Health
- International SOS (ISOS) – Medical and Travel Security and Medical Evacuation
- Internet Mapping to Aid Humanitarian Operations – Humanitarian Open Street Map
- Pan American Health Organization (UN)
- World Health Organization (UN)
Air and Space Internet Tracking Station
The MDHI Air and Space Internet Tracking Station tracks air- and spacecraft. We focus on the the Zarya International Space Station, the Otter Pup (Starfish Space), and STF-1 (the IV and V of NASA West Virginia). Additionally, the MDHI Tracking Station follows other objects as needed for information, safety, and security reasons. For example, the Otter Pup had a thruster failure, and though it can still change its orientation it can no longer change its orbit. While still conducting valuable experiments, Otter Pup can no longer dock with other satellites.
- Air Traffic (Flight Radar 24)
- Open Source Space technologies (LibreSpace)
- Satellite Ground Stations (SatNOGS)
- Satellite Tracker (GITHUB)
- Spacecraft Tracking (N2YO)
- SpyMeSat – satellites overhead from a given location
General Resource Links
General Information
- Data USA – Publicly available US data
- Elevation Map – elevation and directions all over the world
- Google Earth
- Google Translate – Online translator
- ITranslate – App translator
- Mapcarta – World Maps
- National Geographic Maps
- Omniglot – World languages and phrases
- Operation World – a Daily Prayer Guide to Every Nation
- Our World in Data – global data and analysis
- Statista – global business data and analysis
- Time and Date – date calculator, time zone converters, perpetual calendar, international dialing codes and meeting planners
- US Data and Statistics – US Government
- US Nation’s Report Card – education
- US traffic and road closure information – traffic alerts, cameras, and other information from the Federal Highway Administration
- World Clock – time anywhere in the world
- US Central Intelligence Agency World Fact Book – Maps and statistics on every country
- World Mapper – maps highlighting different aspects of the world
News
- Al Jazeera (Arab World)
- Associated Press (AP – International)
- BBC News (British Broadcasting Company – UK)
- China Daily News (US Edition)
- CNN (Cable News Network – US)
- Der Spiegel (German News Magazine)
- Deutsche Welle (German News)
- El Mundo (Spanish language News Magazine)
- Fox News (US)
- International Newspapers Online
- Jerusalem Post (Israel)
- People’s Daily News (China Communist Party)
- Reporters without Borders (Media freedom advocates)
- Reuters News Agency (International)
- Times of India
- Wall Street Journal
- World News Group
Prison Involvement
- Prison Fellowship
- Prisoners of Faith
- US Government – interacting with prisoners
- Without Just Cause political prisoners campaign
Response Organizations
- American Red Cross
- Brethren Disaster Ministries – Christian disaster relief
- Business Executives for National Security – Partnership of businesses for security, including disaster preparation and response.
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Food for the Hungry – Christian ministry addressing short and long term hunger
- Hands On Network – Volunteer organization including disaster relief
- Humanitarian Response
- International Committee of the Red Cross – Disaster relief
- International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
- Médecins Sans Frontières – International medical relief
- Mennonite Disaster Service
- National Disaster Interfaith Network
- National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster – Nonprofit, nonpartisan US disaster coalition
- Points of Light – Volunteer foundation
- Reliefweb – A clearinghouse of relief organizations
- Samaritan’s Purse – Christian disaster relief
- Send Relief – Christian disaster relief and development
- World Vision – Christian disaster relief
Security and Terrorism
- Cybersecurity – US Department of Homeland Security
- Economic security – US Department of Homeland Security
- FBI Counterterrorism
- National Counterterrorism Center
- Rand Terrorism Database (RAND)
- Transportation security – US Department of Homeland Security
- US State Department Bureau of Counterterrorism (Annual Country Reports)
Training and the US Government
- Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Readiness
- FEMA Incident Command System resource center
- FEMA Emergency Management Institute – Disaster Training
- FEMA National Risk Index
- National Interagency Fire Center
- Sphere Handbook
- Yale-Tulane-Sacred Heart ESF-8 University
Weather, Earth, and Climate
Political Center
Politics is not the most important thing in the world, though many people act like it is. No man or woman, no matter how much power they seem to have, can fix the multitude of troubles that we face. As the root problem of humanity is sin in the human heart, God alone can overcome this evil within us. No statute or regulation can make a perfectly just society.
Nonetheless, politics deals with people working together to make their community, nation, and world the best it can be. To that end, the MDHI includes resource links to help people get involved.
Political Resource Links
Political Almanac, Analysis and Commentary
- Ballotpedia
- The Center for Responsive Politics
- CQ Roll Call
- Democratic national committee
- Green Papers – Background and rules on the US political process
- Government (Congress) tracking
- Open Secrets – campaign finance tracking
- Politico – Political analysis and commentary
- Real Clear Politics
- Redstate – Conservative political commentary
- Republican national committee
- UVA Center for Politics
- VoteSmart
Polling and Marketing
- The Marketing Arm – Davies brown popularity index
- E poll market research
- Gallup Research
- Harris Interactive
- Nielsen Social
- Pew Research Center
- Quinnipiac Polls
- Rasmussen Reports
- Social media examiner – social media information and trends
Vendors and Training
- Aristotle – Campaign Software
- CallFire – Business and Political Tools
- Campaign Solutions
- Constant Contact – marketing
- ISP (Political) – Campaign Software
- Lincoln Strategy Group
- NationBuilder
- Online Candidate – websites and other digital campaign products
- Parade rentals – fire engines, parade floats, buses
- Veterans Campaign – helping veterans running for public office
- Will Milligan Events – specialists in political fundraisers
- WinRed – Republican fundraising site
State Election Information
- 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 – Public Access Project
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
West Virginia
WV County GOP
- Barbour
- Berkeley
- Boone
- Braxton
- Brooke
- Cabell
- Calhoun
- Clay
- Doddridge
- Fayette
- Gilmer
- Grant
- Greenbrier
- Hampshire
- Hancock
- Hardy
- Harrison
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Kanawha
- Lewis
- Lincoln
- Logan
- Marion
- Marshall
- Mason
- McDowell
- Mercer
- Mineral
- Mingo
- Monongalia
- Monroe
- Morgan
- Nicholas
- Ohio
- Pendleton
- Pleasants
- Pocahontas
- Preston
- Putnam
- Raleigh
- Randolph
- Ritchie
- Roane
- Summers
- Taylor
- Tucker
- Tyler
- Upshur
- Wayne
- Webster
- Wetzel
- Wirt
- Wood
- Wyoming