Back to the Home Page.The 26th Annual Conference of the International Institute ofCommunication, will be held in Osaka, Japan September 12-14, 1995, andaddress the theme "The Changing Media Environment."
Technological developments in communications have improved our ability todeliver health care and education, to share and have access toinformation; they have minimized the effects of time and distance, andchanged the way we do business. These developments have also raisedcomplicated issues about who will have access to what, at what price, withwhose standards, and whether indeed there is a need for regulation, andwhat promises are being held out to us. During three days in Osaka, the26th Annual Conference will explore advances in the industry and theissues they raise for all. The sessions include:
The special session on "Communicating in a Disaster" will focus on "Whatrole should the media play? and What can the media do?" Six speakers andpanelists will focus on a program divided into three sessions, "What wasthe role of media in recent disasters," "The potential of new media in adisaster," and "Ensuring the reliability of media in disasters." Thespeakers are requested specifically to address the following issues: 1)The great Hanshin Earthquake, 2) Role of mass media, 3) To whom and what,4) Allocation of responsibilities to different types of media, 5)Assessing the reliability of media, 6) What the new media (includingcomputer networks) can do, 7) Use of new developments in communicationstechnology for disaster mitigation, and 8) Personal thoughts on disastersand communications.
The organizers of the session "Communicating in a Disaster" request theinternet community to send in thoughts, questions, or share experiencesrelated to the above, in a short e-mail note addressed to
herath@incede.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
NHK, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, would broadcast the sessions livein the normal TV, satellite channel, as well in the HDTV. Some of themessages received will be read during the sessions and will also be usedin the discussions. Please include a brief (two line) description aboutyourself (name, work, background and interests) with your message. Thedetails of the session are available through the web page:
http://incede.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/iic/iic.html
Dr. S. Herath, Visiting Professor
INCEDE, Institute of Industrial Science
University of Tokyo
7-22-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku
Tokyo 106, Japan
Phone: (+81-3)3402-6231 ext.2662; Fax: (+81-3)3402-4165
E-mail: herath@incede.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
I am heading a project to put the U.S. Broadcast Emergency Alert System onthe Internet (EAS-I, pronounced "easy"). This would provide a centralalerting system for local, regional, national and internationalemergencies to Internet users using the criteria for, and mirroring, thepresent EBS and forthcoming EAS broadcast system.
EAS-I would permit specific areas (designated EAS areas) to receiveemergency and alert type traffic via general subscription and restrictedInternet listservers. The data will be submitted to and filter through theEAS Web site to the appropriate e-mail lists. In addition to the broadcastEAS traffic, the site will provide interagency private and publiccoordination and provide mass dissemination of coordination information tothe media.
The site is up, in a very generic form, at this time at
The beta test is for the Houston/Galveston EAS area, but will eventuallyencompass the entire US. The initial response, from governmental agenciesin this area, is very positive for use as a wide-area mass informationdissemination and disaster/emergency coordination medium.
We are soliciting comments and suggestions on how this Web site can bemost effectively used. Your input is welcomed.
Dave Biondi
System Administrator, eas.net
dbiondi@eas.net
[We seem to be getting a lot of these sorts of questions lately]
The General Manager of our city transit facility was wondering if anyonehas a disaster plan specifically addressing the use of transit busesduring a major emergency or disaster. It seems that everyone takes forgranted the accessibility of buses without considering the routineoperational considerations such as dispatch operating procedures,availability of drivers, vehicles, etc.
He is especially interested in any organization that has adapted a regulartransit bus to secure hospital stretchers.
Any information would be appreciated.
Dave
Dave Colvin
Systems & Communications Officer
University of Western Ontario
Physical Plant and Capital Planning Services Division
UWO Emergency Response Team
Services Building, Room 120, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B9
Work: (519) 679-2111 ext. 8873; Fax: (519) 661-3801
E-mail: dave.colvin@uwoadmin.uwo.ca
I am looking for statistics on medical casualties incurred during anearthquake and am particularly interested in any numbers associated withhigh rise environments. This is for a regional event such as Loma Prieta,Northridge or Kobe. I am specifically looking for a breakdown of injuriesby type (i.e., cuts and bruises, orthopedic, burns, shock, etc.)
We will be using this information to update our projected medicalcasualties data. In turn, this will be used to test our first aid suppliesand basic medical training program for Emergency Response Team members.
"Downtown's a great place to work but it has it's faults." Anyinformation you can provide is greatly appreciated. :-)
Barbara Edlund
Los Angeles,CA
BEDLUND@is.Arco.com
[ Note: If this information should turn up, the British ColumbiaProvincial Emergency Program is also anxious to have it for an upcomingearthquake simulation exercise and for future contingency planning. Pleasecc replies to:
David Gronbeck-Jones, Municipal/Provincial Planner
British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program (PEP)
Victoria, B.C., Canada
(604) 387-5956
E-mail: dgronbec@sfu.ca ]
The National Institute for Urban Search & Rescue now has its own Home Pageon the World Wide Web:
The site includes, among other items, the September issue of NI/USRelectronic newsletter PRESS ON!; a compendium of seismic informationlocations on the net, courtesy of Frank Lucier, San Francisco FireDepartment and the USGS; earthquake preparedness information for childsafety from Joyce Harris and the Los Angeles County Emergency PreparednessOffice. There is also information on Who and What NI/USR is. We hopeyou'll let us have your comments - both Good and Bad are acceptable!
We try to pick out the news and information that comes across our deskthat would be of special interest and (perhaps) not otherwise available tonet readers. Please let us know if you are already seeing this informationin paper form.
Lois Clark McCoy, President
National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue
P.O. Box 91648, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
1-800-767-0093
E-mail: 3090usar@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu or usar@niusr.org
We are pleased to announce that the Earth Sciences Directorate of the NASAGoddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, has assembled and madeavailable via the WWW, a bibliographic database on research, programs, andresults related to the use of satellite remote sensing for disastermitigation. You can visit our new web page at the following URL:
http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/ndrd.html
Our database was created since there is at present no single source fromwhich the scientific or disaster management communities can obtaininformation on the accomplishments and capabilities of remote sensing fordisaster reduction. The database was compiled and abstracted from articlespublished since 1981. We would appreciate any comments or suggestions youmay have concerning our web page.
Tom Hood
Web Site Administrator
E-mail: ndrd@ltpsun.gsfc.nasa.gov
- and -
Dr. Louis Walter
Associate Director
Earth Sciences Directorate
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
E-mail: lwalter@esd.gsfc.nasa.gov
[Taken from "Disasters - Preparedness and Mitigation in the Americas," anewsletter of the Pan American Health Organization]
In 1993 the Central American presidents mandated the Center for theCoordination of Natural Disaster Prevention in Central America(CEPREDENAC) to develop a regional disaster reduction plan. Since thattime, CEPREDENAC has brought together ministries, emergency managementorganizations, universities, and scientific institutions to draft disasterreduction plans for the energy, communications, agriculture, and educationsectors, among others. By the end of May 1995, the congresses of CostaRica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama had ratifiedagreements with CEPREDENAC. In addition to the support given by thesecountries, the organization enjoys the backing of Sweden, Norway, andDenmark. A newsletter on CEPREDENAC activities is available in Spanishfrom Luis Diego Morales, Executive Secretary, CEPREDENAC, 7 av. 14-57,Zona 13, Guatemala City, Guatemala; tel: (502-2) 348318; fax; (502-2)348317; e-mail: cprednac@uvg.edu.gt.
Some time ago a preliminary notice went out concerning the upcomingconference in Vancouver (July 29-August 2, 1996) on Earthquakes,Volcanoes, and Tsunamis focusing on the Pan Pacific Region. I would liketo encourage you to join us in Vancouver and to participate in theconference. I believe this forum will provide a great opportunity forbringing colleagues together to exchange ideas and discuss networkingissues and strategies from a broad regional perspective.
The Program Committee is in the final stages of preparing the masterprogram structure. A segment of the program will deal with emergencycommunication, information networking, and related topics. I would begrateful for any suggestions concerning break-out, panel, and workshopsession topics. Please note that the deadline for filing abstracts isNOVEMBER 1, 1995.
More information and updates on the conference are posted on EPIX:
http://hoshi.cic.sfu.ca/epix/hazards96/call.html
Regards,
Peter S. Anderson
Associate Director
Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology
Simon Fraser University-Harbour Centre Campus
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6B 5K3
anderson@sfu.ca
Emergency Management Australia (EMA) is involved in the development ofprevention, preparedness, and response and recovery strategies for allhazards posing a significant risk to Australian communities. EMA sponsorsa national studies program consisting of workshops, seminars, and studyperiods conducted annually at the Australian Emergency ManagementInstitute at Mt. Macedon, Victoria. The program addresses multi-disciplinary aspects of emergency management to enhance capabilities or tofurther community understanding.
Nominations are invited for topics to be considered during the period July1996-June 1997. Submissions must identify the type of event proposed, itsaims and outcomes, the target audience, and how the event will strengthenemergency management capabilities. Preference will be given tomultidisciplinary topics. Proposals for jointly funded events may also beviewed favourably. Application forms and selection criteria can beobtained from Chris Hunter, Director, Australian Emergency ManagementInstitute, Mt. Macedon, Victoria 3441, Australia; tel: (054) 261 205; fax:(054) 262 479. Applications close October 31, 1995.
Experimental Investigation of Wind Loads on Open Frame PetrochemicalStructures, Louisiana Energy Enhancement Program, $30,000, one year. Principal Investigators: Marc L. Levitan and Timothy J. Garrison,Department of Civil Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,Louisiana 70803-6405; (504) 388-4445; e-mail: celevi@lsuvax.sncc.lsu.edu
The 1996 Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association willinclude a full regular session on disasters. A formal call for papers willbe issued soon, with the deadline for submission being January 10, 1996.Interested persons should contact Joanne Nigg, Disaster Research Center,University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716; (302) 831-6618; e-mail:joanne.nigg@mvs.udel.edu.
In a special issue to come out next year, the "Journal of UrbanTechnology" will address the public policy, economic, social, and physicaldimensions of residential technology. [Seems like an appropriate venue forarticles on disaster-resistent construction/technology and the socialdimensions thereof - ed.] Papers should be submitted no later than October1995. Questions and submissions should be directed to the guest editor:Dr. C. Theodore Koebel, Director, Center for Housing Research, VirginiaTech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0451; tel: (540) 231-3993; fax: (540) 231-7157;e-mail: tkoebel@vt.edu.
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) recently announcedits Annual Student Paper Competition to promote active involvement ofstudents in earthquake engineering and the earthquake hazards researchcommunity. Guidelines and instructions for preparing manuscripts can beobtained from Prof. Sharon Wood, Civil Engineering Department, Universityof Illinois, 2118 Newmark Laboratory, 205 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL61801. Papers must be received by December 1. Up to four student authorswill be invited to the EERI Annual Meeting next February in Los Angeles;the winning papers will be considered for publication in the EERI journal,"Spectra"; and the top paper will be presented at the annual meeting.
The Training Associates Program (TAP) is a new program of the FederalEmergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Theobjective of this program is to promote federal, state, and localpartnerships in emergency management training by providing opportunitiesfor state and local emergency management trainers to work on specialtraining and research projects at EMI in Emmitsburg, Maryland. To beeligible, candidates for TAP must be actively involved in emergencymanagement training; have demonstrated the potential for leadership inthis area; be recommended for the program by their supervisors, theappropriate state emergency services director, the appropriate FEMARegional Director; and be available for a 4-12 month assignment at EMI. ***Applications are due September 15.*** To obtain guidelines forapplying, contact Susan Hernandez, EMI, National Emergency TrainingCenter, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727; (301) 447-1240.
These are the latest announcements we've received. Most previous issues ofDR contain additional notices. Alternatively, the Hazards Center's World Wide Web site:http://adder.colorado.edu/~hazctr/Home.html contains a comprehensive list of upcoming disaster-related meetings:
Economic Consequences of Earthquakes: Preparing for the Unexpected.Sponsor: National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER). NewYork City: September 12-13, 1995. Contact Deborah O'Rourke, NCEER, StateUniversity of New York at Buffalo, Red Jacket Quadrangle, Box 610025,Buffalo, NY 14261-0025; (716) 645-3391; fax: (716) 645-3399.
Crisis Management: Emergency Response and Risk Communication. Sponsor:American Petroleum Institute (API). Houston, Texas: September 25-27, 1995.Contact: API, (202) 682-8096.
Workshop on Cyclones and Floods. Sponsors: Bureau of Meteorology,Queensland Emergency Services. Mackay, Queensland, Australia: October11-12, 1995. Contacts: Tony Charles, Bureau of Metrology, tel: (07)3 8648761; Sue Dargie, Bureau of Meteorology, tel: (07)3 864 8775; LeeannFarmer, Queensland Emergency Services, tel: (07)3 247 4231. Registration:Trevor Millican, Australian Institute of Emergency Services, P.O. Box 590,Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia.
Business Recovery Managers Symposium. Organizer: MIS Training Institute.San Diego, California: October 24-26, 1995. Contact: MIS TrainingInstitute, 498 Concord Street, Framingham, MA 01701-2357; (508) 879-7999;fax: (508) 872-1153; e-mail: mis@misti.ccmail.compuserve.com; WWW: http://www.misti.com/misti
Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) Annual Conference: "Towards anEffective Strategy for Response and Recovery." St. Louis, Missouri:November 13-15, 1995. Contact: CUSEC, 2630 East Holmes Road, Memphis, TN38118-8001; (901) 345-0932; fax: (901) 345-0098.
NOTE REVISED VENUE:Disaster Mitigation in Hospitals and Health Care Facilities: Formulationof Guidelines for Latin America and the Caribbean. Sponsors: Pan AmericanHealth Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and others.Mexico City: February 26-March 1, 1996. Contact: Conference Coordinator,Emergency Preparedness Program, PAHO/WHO, 525 23rd Street, N.W.,Washington DC 20037; (202) 861-4325; fax; (202) 775-4578; e-mail:disaster@paho.org.
NOTE REVISED DATES:Tsunami 1996 - A U.S.-Japan Natural Resources (UJNR) Earthquake andHurricane and Tsunami Panel. Sponsors: Tsunami Society, University ofHawaii-Hilo, and the U.S. and Japan National Science Foundations. BigIsland of Hawaii: April 1-4, 1996. Contact the Tsunami Society, Box 25218,Honolulu, HI 96825; or e-mail the International Tsunami InformationCenter: itic@ptwc.noaa.gov.
HydroGIS '96: International Conference on Application of GeographicInformation Systems in Hydrology and Water Resources Management. Vienna,Austria: April 16-19, 1996. Contact: HydroGIS '96, c/- AustropaInterconvention, P.O. Box 30, A-1043 Vienna, Austria; tel: +43-1-588 00110; fax: +43-1-585 71 2.
First National Conference and Exhibition of the National HydrologicWarning Council. Sponsor: Alert Users Group and others. Baltimore,Maryland: June 8-9, 1996. Contact: Chris Compton, (714) 567-6360.
Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) 1996 Annual Meeting:"Coast to Coast: 20 Years of Progress." San Diego, California: June 10-14,1996. Contact: Conference Co-Director Michael Parker, (805) 568-3449; orAndy Lee, (916) 327-1590.
Second Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters. Kingston,Jamaica: October 9-12, 1996. A call for posters and papers has beenissued. Contact: Dr. B. Carby, Coordinator, Second Caribbean Conference onNatural Hazards and Disasters, Department of Geology, University of theWest Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, W.I.; tel: 809-929-2781, 809-927-2253; 809-927-2728; fax: 809-927-2156.
Second International Conference on Dam Safety Evaluation. Trivandrum,India: November 26-30, 1996. Contact: C.V.J. Varma, Central Board ofIrrigation and Power, Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021, India;tel: 91-11-3015984, 91-11-3016567; fax: 91-11-3016347; e-mail:cbip@cbipdel.uunet.in.
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