Disaster Research 152

1. USGS On the Way Out?

[The following was adapted from the Volcano list - VOLCANO@ASUACAD.BITNET]

U.S. Representatives John Kacich (R-Ohio), Henry Hyde (R-Illinois), and Nancy Johnson (R-Connecticut) were guests on CNN's Late Edition Dec. 4, 1994. These persons will have leadership positions in the incoming Congress. Kacich announced that the House Republicans would propose elimination of the U.S. Geological Survey. White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta pointed out that the USGS has an earthquake hazard assessment responsibility in California, a state he formerly represented in the House. It is clear that the new House leadership wants the Federal government to divest itself of its role in geologic hazard assessment, but it is not clear if it wants to pass this responsibility along to the states (California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, etc.) with or without Federal funding.

2. EAS Replaces EBS

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it is replacing the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) with a new Emergency Alert System (EAS). This digital system will work with both new and established communications technologies, including satellite, broadcast, and cable systems, to make the disaster warning system more effective by emphasizing speed, reliability, and efficiency. The FCC says the new system should reduce property damage, injuries, and deaths resulting from natural and human-caused disasters.

As with the EBS, broadcasters will be required to participate in the EAS. In addition, cable operators will participate, as mandated in the Cable Act of 1992. Participation by satellite and public service providers will be voluntary.

Major features of the EAS include:

• A digital system that will allow broadcast, cable, satellite, and other services to send and receive alerting information;
• Multiple source monitoring for emergency alerts;
• A shortened (minimum of eight seconds) alerting tone;
• Automated and remote-control operations;
• A weekly test that is unobtrusive to viewers and listeners, as well as monthly on-air tests;
• The capability of issuing alerts in languages other than English;
• Provisions for hearing and visually impaired persons;
• Prohibition of the false use of the codes and the alert signal;
• A mandated standard protocol for sending messages.

A free report on the new warning system, "Amendment of Part 73, Subpart G, of the Commissioners' Rules Regarding the Emergency Broadcast System" (#FCC 94-288, 1994) is now available. To obtain a copy, contact:

Helena Mitchell
Federal Communications Commission
Field Operations Bureau
Emergency Broadcast System
1919 M Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20554
(202) 418-1220
fax: (202) 632-1148

3. Earthquake Research Opportunities

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is one of four federal agencies responsible for supporting research under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). Through its External Grants program, the USGS annually solicits proposals from nonfederal institutions to conduct studies relevant to the program's objectives. Proposals are typically funded for one to two years; announcements describing the program and application procedures will be available on February 1, 1995.

Investigations funded by the USGS's program fall into five categories: National and Regional Hazard and Risk Reduction; Urban Hazard and Risk Reduction; Earthquake Processes; Real-Time Hazard and Risk Assessment; and Geologic Hazards Information Services. Historically, NEHRP studies supported by the USGS have strongly emphasized providing basic and applied earth-science data that contributes to understanding earthquake hazards in various parts of the country. In recent years, the USGS has placed progressively more emphasis on transferring information to users, and the agency is particularly interested in research in this area.

The closing date for proposals to the FY 1996 External Grants Program is April 1, 1995. Proposals will be evaluated by peer-review panels, and decisions on funding will be made in July. Funded projects may start as early as October 1995.

For further information on the program or a copy of the FY 1996 Prospectus, contact:

John D. Sims
USGS
MS 905, National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, Virginia 22092
(703) 648-6722
fax: (703) 648-6642
e-mail: jsims@usgs.gov

4. Grants

We gleaned most of the following information from the National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Information System (STIS). For more information about this on-line service, contact:

National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230
(703) 306-0124 (voice mail)
e-mail: stis@nsf.gov
The data base can be accessed on the Internet via e-mail, anonymous FTP, gopher, and WAIS.

Northridge Studies

The Sloshing of the Los Angeles Dam During the Northridge January 17, 1994 Earthquake, $50,155, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Costas E. Synolakis, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1147, (213) 740-0613; e-mail: costas@mizar.usc.edu.

Directionality of a Near Field Seismic Pulse and Response to the January 17, 1994, Northridge Earthquake, $49,900, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Glen Borchardt, David Snyder, and Sigmund Freeman, Rogers/Pacific, Inc., 396 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, (510) 682-7601; fax: (510) 682-7605.

Implication of the Northridge Earthquake on 1994 NEHRP Provisions and Seismic Restraint Performance on Nonstructural Components, $80,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Tsu-Teh Soong, State University of New York (SUNY) - Buffalo, 345 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, (716) 645-2977.

Building Damage, Business Interruption and Recovery: The Northridge Fashion Center and Chamber of Commerce, $90,161, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Christopher Arnold, Building Systems Development, Inc., P.O. Box 51950, Palo Alto, CA 94303, (415) 462-1812; fax: (415) 462-1817.

Self-Organization in Disaster Response: The Northridge Earthquake of January 17, 1994, $4,998, nine months. Principal Investigator: Louise K. Comfort, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, 3E31 Forbes Quadrangle, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, (412) 648-7606; fax: (412) 648-2605; e-mail: louise@vms.cis.pitt.edu.

Assessment of Damage from the 1994 Northridge Earthquake Relative to Planning Since the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, $87,464, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Steven P. French and Arthur C. Nelson, City Planning Program, Georgia Technical Research Corporation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0155, (404) 894-2350; fax: (404) 894-1628; e-mail: steve.french@arch.gatech.edu.

Hazardous Materials in the Northridge Earthquake: Hazard Analysis, Mitigation and Preparedness, $99,638, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Michael K. Lindell, Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 135 Snyder Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824-1117, (517) 353-8855; fax: (517) 353-4873.

Emergency Response and Early Recovery Activities in the Northridge Earthquake, $92,560, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Joanne M. Nigg and Kathleen J. Tierney, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, (302) 831-6618; fax: (302) 831-2091; e-mail: joanne.nigg@mvs.udel.edu, or kathleen.tierney@mvs.udel.edu.

Community Response to the January 17, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, $49,753, 10 months. Linda B. Bourque, School of Public Health, University of California - Los Angeles, 10833 LeConte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1772, (310) 825-4053; fax: (310) 825-8440; e-mail: ibg0lbb@ac.mvs.oac.ucla.edu.

Integrated Emergency Management of Transportation Services After a Major Earthquake, $30,457, 14 months. Principal Investigator: Antoine G. Hobeika, Center for Transportation Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, (703) 231-7740.

The Business Interruption Effects of the Northridge Earthquake, $78,509, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Peter Gordon and Harry W. Richardson, School of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0042, (213) 740-2264.

Use of Real-Time Seismic Information by Government Agencies, Utilities, and Large Businesses After the Northridge Earthquake of January 17, 1994, $48,566, 12 months. Principal Investigator: James D. Goltz, EQE International, Inc., Lakeshore Towers, 18101 Von Karmon Drive, Fourth Floor, Irvine, CA 92715-1032; (714) 833-3303; fax: (714) 833-3391; e-mail: jdg@eqe.mhs.compuserve.com.

Organizational Responses and Household Recovery Following the Northridge Earthquake, $64,178, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Robert Bolin and Lois Stanford, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Box 30001, Department 3BV, Room 327, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, (505) 646-3821; fax: (505) 646-3725.

Comparative Study of the Patterns of Destruction, Casualties, Formal Organizational and Volunteer Search and Rescue Activities of the Northridge Earthquake, $46,710, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Dennis Wenger, Norris Stubbs, and Benigno Aguirre, Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3137, (409) 845-7813; fax: (409) 845-4491; e-mail: wenger@archone.tamu.edu.

Test of Model Housing Damage in Earthquakes and Resulting Mass Care Needs in Northridge Earthquake, $65,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Jeanne B. Perkins, Association of Bay Area Governments, P.O. Box 2050, Oakland, CA 94604-2050, (510) 464-7900; fax: (510) 464-7979; e-mail: jeannep@abag.ca.gov.

Economic Impact of the Northridge Earthquake, $48,893, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Adam Z. Rose, 222 Walker Building, Mineral Economics Department, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, (814) 863-0179 or 865-2549.

Neighborhood Retention Following the Northridge Earthquake, $80,906, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Robert A. Stallings and Elliott Mittler, School of Public Administration, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0041, (213) 740-6841; fax: (213) 740-0001; e-mail: rstallin@praetor.usc.edu.

Effects of the Northridge Earthquake on Small Business Survival: An Analysis of the Causes and Prevention of Small Business Failure Due to Earthquakes, $98,352, 11 months. Principal Investigators: Daniel J. Alesch, James Holly, Denise Scheberly, A. Sam Ghanty, and Robert Nagy, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Public and Environmental Affairs, Suite 324, Rose Hall, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311-7001, (414) 465-2045; fax: (414) 465-2791; e-mail: aleschd@uwgb.edu.

Hospital Evacuation in the Northridge, California Earthquake, $79,361, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Robert A. Olson and Eric Auf der Heide, VSP Associates, Inc., 455 University Avenue, Suite 340, Sacramento, CA 95825, (916) 648-9112; fax: (916) 648-9131; Kristi Koenig, Department of Emergency Medicine, Highland General Hospital, 1411 East 31st Street, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 437-8323; and Carl Schultz, Emergency Department, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 West Carson Street, P.O. Box 2910, Torrance, CA, 90509, (310) 222-3508.

Evaluation of Local Site Effects Using GIS, SCEC Geotechnical Database, and Nonlinear Site Response Model - 1994 Northridge Quake, $60,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Mladen Vucetic, Department of Civil Engineering, 3173 Engineering 1 Building, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1593, (310) 825-1346.

Evaluation of Los Angeles' Organization and Plan for Recovery and Reconstruction, $67,759, 12 months. Principal Investigators: George G. Mader and Martha Tyler, Spangle Associates, 3240 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028-7592; (415) 854-6001; fax: (415) 854-6070.

Analysis of Insured Losses in the Northridge Earthquake, $59,954, 11 months. Principal Investigator: Charles Scawthorn, EQE International, Inc., 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 3200, San Francisco, CA 94104, (415) 989-2000; fax: (415) 397-5209.

The Impact of Housing Losses in the Northridge Earthquake: Recovery and Reconstruction Issues, $49,058, 11 months. Principal Investigator: Mary C. Comerio, Department of Architecture, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-1800; (510) 642-2406.

Investigation of the Effects of the Northridge Earthquake of 17 January 1994 on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, $45,788, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Edward Kavazanjian, GeoSyntec Consultants, 16541 Gothard Street, Suite 211, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, (714) 843-6866; (714) 848-2407.

Doctoral Dissertation Research: Responses of Motorists and the Neighborhoods They Drive Through to the January, 1994 Los Angeles Earthquake, $7,001, 12 months. Principal Investigator: David M. Mark, Geography, State University of New York - Buffalo, 345 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-2308, (716) 645-2722, ext. 25.

Non-Northridge Grants

Assessing Planning and Implementation of Hazards Mitigation Under the Stafford Act, $245,286, 12 months. Principal Investigators: David R. Godschalk, David J. Brower, Edward J. Kaiser, and Timothy Beatley, Department of City and Regional Planning, Campus Box 3140, New East Building, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, (919) 962-3983; fax: (919) 962-5206.

"Standing Rubble" Again: Hazardous Structure Abatement in Oakland, California, 1989-1994, $144,192, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Richard S. Olson, Center for Public Affairs, Office of Hazards Studies, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, (602) 965-4505.

Coping with the Southern California Firestorms: Immediate Responses and Predictors of Adjustment, $49,434, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Roxane C. Silver, School of Social Ecology, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA 92717, (714) 824-2192; e-mail: rsilver@ uci.edu.

Erosion Hazard After the 1993 Southern California Fire, $30,003, 12 months. Principal Investigator: William E. Dietrich, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, (510) 642-2633 or 642-3993; fax: (510) 643-9980.

Compilation of Hydrometeorological Data for the 1993 Flood, $50,000, nine months. Principal Investigators: Stanley A. Changnon, Kenneth E. Kunkel, and Nani G. Bhowmik, Illinois State Water Survey, 801 South Wright Street, Urbana, IL 61801, (217) 244-5459; fax: 9217) 333-6540.

Some Non-NSF Grants

Clinical Care Provided by BVA Mobile Clinic Staff During Hurricane Andrew Relief Efforts, Grantor: United States Department of Veterans Affairs, $90,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Thomas W. Weiss, Health Services Research and Development Field Program, VA Medical Center (152), 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, (713) 794- 7610; fax: (713) 794-7103.

"Pennsylvania Seismic Vulnerability Study." Grantor: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. $87,000. 10 months. Principal Investigators: Charles Scharnberger, Department of Earth Sciences; Henry W. Fischer, III, Sociology Department; Charles Geiger, Geography Department; Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Millersville, PA 17551; (717) 872-3568; fax: (717) 871-2003; e-mail: hfischer@mu2.millersv.edu.

5. Two New Volumes and a Bunch of Reports from the Hazards Center

1993 was a big year for flooding in the U.S. Therefore, 1994 was a very big year for attendance at the Association of State Floodplain Managers annual conference, and the proceedings of that meeting are bigger than ever. This year's tome includes discussions on virtually all aspects of floodplain management, flood control, and human adaptation to floods. "NANIA - 'All Together': Comprehensive Watershed Management," the Proceedings of the Eighteenth Annual Conference of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, May 8-13, 1994, Tulsa, Oklahoma (Special Publication #30, 1994, 472 pp.) sells for $15.00.

From late October to early November 1993, wildfires burned over 175,000 acres in southern California, destroyed more than 700 buildings, and killed three people. The Hazard Center's latest working paper, "The Southern California Fires of 1993: Coping in Orange County," by Sandra Sutphen, (WP #89, 1994, 30 pp.) examines the public agency response to these events. "The Southern California Fires" sells for $4.50.

The Natural Hazards Center's Quick Response Program, funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health, provides funding for researchers to travel to sites to investigate short-term impacts immediately after a disaster. To ensure rapid dissemination, the Center publishes the preliminary findings of these researchers upon receipt and distributes them for the cost of reproduction and mailing. Our most recent reports are listed below.

QR65

Social Response to the Second "A" Alert of the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment, by Paul W. O'Brien. 1994. 20 pp. $2.50

QR66

Field Report: Investigation of September 2, 1992, Nicaragua Tsunami, by Jane Preuss. 1994. 14 pp. $2.00

QR67

Hurricane Iniki: Psychological Functioning Following Disaster, by David N. Sattler and Charles Kaiser. 1994. 14 pp. $2.00

QR68

Risk Factors for Death in the 27 March 1994 Georgia and Alabama Tornadoes, by Thomas W. Schmidlin and Paul S. King. 1994. 14 pp. $2.00

QR69

Social Response to the 1994 Northridge California Earthquake, by Paul W. O'Brien. 1994. 20 pp. $2.50

QR70

Children of Iniki: Effects of Evacuation and Intervention, by Roger S. Hamada. 1994. 22 pp. $2.50

All orders beyond the U.S., Canada, and Mexico require an additional $1.00 for shipping, or $3.00 per item for shipping via airmail. All orders must be prepaid, and checks should be payable to the University of Colorado. American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Diners Club are also accepted. To order, contact:

Publications Clerk
Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center
University of Colorado
Campus Box 482
Boulder, CO 80309-0482
(303) 492-6819
fax: (303) 492-2151
e-mail: jclark@colorado.edu

6. Training in Coastal Management

The Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island has announced its "Training Courses on Integrated Coastal Management," which include sections on coastal hazards, erosion, and sea level change.

Global

Summer Institute in Coastal Management. Organizer: Coastal Resources Center. University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA: June 3-28, 1996.

America Latina (en espanol)

Organizado por: Centro de Recursos Costeros, URI y ESPOL. Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral (ESPOL): 2-13 octubre (tentativo, 1995).

Asia and the Pacific (with emphasis on coral reefs)

Organizer: Coastal Resource Center; Silliman University, Marine Lab. Williman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines: October 23-November 3 (tentative, 1995).

For more information contact:

Training Coordinator
Coastal Resources Center
University of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay Campus
Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
(401) 792-6224
fax: (401) 789-4670
e-mail: markd@gsosun1.gso.uri.edu

7. ASDSO Scholarship Program

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials is now accepting applications for its 1994-1996 scholarships for undergraduate students interestested in careers in dam safety. Application deadline is January 17, 1995. To obtain more information, contact:

ASDSO
450 Old East Vine Street
Lexington, KY 40507
(606) 257-5140

8. EPA/ASFPM Preparing Guidebook on Watershed Management - Seeking Help

Under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Association of State Floodplain Managers is undertaking a project to synthesize lessons from multiobjective watershed management programs and transfer that knowledge to the local level. The work involves gathering data on existing projects, determining what lessons have been learned, what additional information is needed, and preparing a guidebook for local officials and interested citizens. The project will examine any program - structural or nonstructural - designed to accommodate the various interests and needs of groups or individuals using resources in a given watershed. If you have participated in or are aware of projects like these, please advise:

French Wetmore
153 Nanti
Park Forest, IL 60466
(708) 747-5273
fax: (708) 747-5279