Disaster Research 162

March 16, 1995

This newsletter is reprinted with the full knowledge and consent of the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center in Boulder, CO.

Table of contents

  1. An Information Request from Germany
  2. Information Sources Updated
  3. News of Latin America
  4. Help Wanted - CSTI
  5. Help Wanted II - OFDA/AID
  6. A Note on the CAEE
  7. Meetings and Training


An Information Request from Germany

I am working as an assistant at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany[where] we are preparing a collaborative research project about theearthquake situation in Romania. The German participants of this projectare fifteen institutes from the departments of geophysics, geology,geodesy and civil engineering. Our institute of construction managementis engaged in the disaster management portion. To avoid overlapping withother research projects . . . I am searching for information about thoseproblems in the field of disaster management on which we are working.What do you know about existing models (mathematical, OperationsResearch or expert systems) for:

  1. the prediction of damages (to buildings, the population, the infrastructure, the topography, lines, etc.) caused by earthquakes?
  2. the installation of depots for rescue materials in advance of an earthquake?
  3. the evacuation of the population?
  4. an optimized disposition of machines in search and rescue phase after earthquakes, with the aim to rescue or to save a maximum of lives?
  5. an optimized economic disposition of machines for the demolition and the reconstruction of buildings after earthquakes?

For any kind of information and help I would be very happy.Thank you very much in advance for your kindness.

Sincerely yours,
Uwe Rickers
University of Karlsruhe
Institut fuer Maschinenwesen im Baubetrieb
Dipl.-Ing. Uwe Rickers
Am Fasanengarten
76128 Karlsruhe
Germany
rickers@imbdc4.bau-verm.uni-karlsruhe.de


Information Sources Updated

The Natural Hazards Information Center maintains an extensive list ofdomestic organizations, academic institutions, U.S. government agencies,and international and overseas organizations that produce or disseminateinformation about hazards and disasters. That directory has recentlybeen updated and is available by e-mail. If you would like a copy, senda request to hazctr@colorado.edu.


News of Latin America

[The following items were purloined from "Disasters - Preparedness andMitigation in the Americas" - a newsletter of the Pan American HealthOrganization (PAHO)]

PAHO and NASA Networking Central America for Disasters

PAHO and NASA, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administrationare undertaking a joint project to establish a regional electroniccommunications network. The countries of Central America will serve asthe pilot for this project, which will link key civil defense, healthsector professionals, and legislators via the Internet, with otherdisaster management partners in their countires and throughout theworld. The network is intended to promote coordination among nationaland regional organizations, public as well as private. It will help topromote national disaster management planning and on-line exchange ofinformation both before and afer disasters, as well as the maintenanceof inventories of human, material, and institutional resources. For moreinformation, contact the Emergency Preparedness Program, PAHO, 525Twenty-Third Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037; fax: (202) 775-4578;e-mail: disaster@paho.org.
Andean Ministers Create Disaster Commission
At a recent meeting in Santiago, the Ministers of Health of Bolivia,Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela passed a resolutioncreating an Advisory Commission for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.The ministers recognized that technical expertise among Andean countriesregarding disaster preparedness is increasing and agreed to create amechanism to support intergovernmental cooperation in this field. Thecommission is currently working to establish a work plan and operationsbudget. For more information, contact Dr. Carlos Ivan Rodriguez, Carrera7 #32-74 (17th Floor), Santafe de Bogota, Colombia; fax: 571-336-0179.
Disaster Prevention Correspondence Course Available from Chile
The University of Antofagasta in Chile has initiated a new course onPrevention and Reduction of Effects of Natural Disasters that can becompleted entirely by correspondence. The course examines differentnatural hazards, the use of risk maps, mitigation measures, andpreparation of emergency plans at both national and local levels. Formore information, contact Sistema de Educacion a Distancia, Universidadde Antofagasta, Casilla 4, Correo 2, Antofagasta, Chile; fax: (56-55)247-889.
Speaking of University Disaster Courses in Latin America . . .
Because many universities in Latin America and Caribbean are nowincluding courses on disaster health management in their curricula, PAHOorganized a workshop to analyze progress being made at the undergraduatelevel in this specialty. The workshop, held in December in San Jose,Costa Rica, was attended by administrators from Central Americanuniversities, delegates from ministries for Health, PAHO disaster focalpoints, and representatives of the PAHO Collaborating Center inDisasters at the Universtiy of Antioquia, Colombia, which promotesteaching this specialty at the university level in the region. For moreinformation on this initiative, contact the Emergency PreparednessProgram, PAHO, Apartado 3745-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica.


Help Wanted - CSTI

Wanted:
Emergency Management Coordinator/Instructor I & II
California Specialized Training Institute
Governor's Office of Emergency Services
San Luis Obispo, CA

Duties: Perform a wide variety of tasks related to the planning,programing, organizing, scheduling, and conducting of training in themethods and manner of emergency management. Required to conductresearch, prepare manuscripts, present instruction, prepare trainingaids and coordinate the instruction of emergency management training.

Requirements: Experience in the development, administration andevaluation of emergency management training programs. Graduation fromcollege.

Final filing date: April 4, 1995.
Salary: I: $3892-$4695 per month. II: $4273-$5160 per month.

For further information call 916-262-1001.


Help Wanted II - OFDA/AID

Wanted:
Action Officer
Washington, DC

The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the U.S. Agency forInternational Development seeks an Action Officer who will be a memberof a fast-paced team managing BHR/OFDA's disaster response to countriesas assigned - a very rewarding position which often entails workingunder pressure with numerous and immediate deadlines as well as extendedhours.

REQUIRES: Bachelor's degree or graduate-level course work ininternational relations, program implementation or related subjects; andmore than one year's work experience related to humanitarian assistance.

QUALITY RANKING FACTORS: 1) evidence of strong writing and/or reportingand interpersonal skills; 2) management/organizational skills andexperience working as a team member with rapidly changing priorities;3) experience in international civil strife conflicts and disasterrelief; 4) knowledge of and/or experience with internationalorganizations, USG agencies and NGOs; and 5) computer skills.

U.S. citizenship required. Salary GS-9 equivalent with potential toGS-11; Closing date: April 1, 1995. One year personal services contract.Send resume/SF 171 to: Gail Carlson, BHR/OFDA/OS, Room 1262 A NS,Department of State, Washington, DC 20523-0008.


A Note on the CAEE

The Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering (CAEE), incorporatedin 1993 and housed in the Department of Civil Engineering at theUniversity of British Columbia, was formed to foster earthquakeengineering practice and research in Canada. The new association isplanning a communication network for earthquake engineering practice andresearch activities in Canada. It will also sponsor national earthquakeengineering conferences and technical meetings and will encourage theapplication of research into engineering practice. The association willrepresent Canada on the International Association of EarthquakeEngineering. CAEE is open to all interested engineers, geoscientists,architects, planners, economists, social scientists, public officials.For more information, contact Dr. Robert G. Sexsmith, Department ofCivil Engineering, University of British Columbia, 2324 Main Mall,Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.



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