Disaster Research 178

October 12, 1995

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

Table of contents

  1. Seeking Casualty/Injury Statistics on Various Disasters
  2. Seeking Information on Community Disaster Preparedness Projects (DPPs) in Third World Countries
  3. Seeking GOES Digital Images for Researching Hydrologic Hazards in the Northern Argentine
  4. Seeking a Good ICS Introduction
  5. Seeking Oil Spill Data
  6. Seeking Software for Regional Animal Disaster Coalition
  7. FEMA Seeks Floodproofing Information
  8. FEMA Seeks Disaster Temps
  9. NEHRP Coalition Seeks Project Information
  10. A Brief Request from Zimbabwe via NCCEM
  11. A Quick Note from India Re: Landslide Hazard Assessment
  12. Mitigation Speakers Needed for State Conference
  13. How Do We Connect DR and Private Enterprise?
  14. ERRI Announces ENNFAX Internet Daily Reports
  15. Some More New Web Sites


Seeking Casualty/Injury Statistics on Various Disasters

An Australian group of health professionals is seeking any statisticaldata on the various types/categories of injury, correlated if possible toparts of the body, e.g. head injuries, thoracic injuries, cuts-lacerations-contusions, limb fractures, multiple injuries, burns etc.,that have been recorded in civilian mass casualty situations, for a rangeof disasters, that have occurred anywhere around the world.

Particular disasters that come to mind include fire, flood, hurricane/cyclone, earthquake, volcano, building collapse, bomb blast, transport(aircraft, train, road, fast ferry), marine, toxic chemicals, radiationaccidents etc.

The doctors wish to develop from the data special documentation to assistin the preparation of mobile medical teams prior to departure to adisaster site. Some value might also result in ensuring that medicalkittage, to accompany such teams, is relevant and adequate.

Contributions from any source and however small would be very muchappreciated.

Many thanks,
Don J. Withers
Director
Counter Disaster Unit
Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health
GPO Box 9848 (MDP 41)
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia
Tel: +61 6 289 7777; fax: +61 6 289 1290
E-mail can be directed to Rob Fleming at the Australian EmergencyManagement Institute: robf@vifp.monash.edu.au.


Seeking Information on Community Disaster Preparedness Projects (DPPs) in Third World Countries

I am a consultant for the German Red Cross working on a small-scale DPP inBangladesh and India. I have a special interest in the use of "rapid ruralappraisal" techniques in disaster preparedness or disaster relief. If anyDR readers have such information and are willing to share please contactme, thank you.

Sebastian Boestel
Economist
Master of Humanitarian Assistance (University of Bochum)
Annaplatz 5
79100 Freiburg
Germany
Tel: +49-761-706553
boestel@ibm.net


Seeking GOES Digital Images for Researching Hydrologic Hazards in the Northern Argentine

I am working on climatic and hydrologic hazards in the northern Argentine.For studying thunderstorms which have destroyed houses and producedfloods, I need some GOES-8 digital images from the southern hemispherefrom the following days: 24.01.1993 0:00 UTC / 25.01.1993 6:00 UTC /02.02.1994 6:00 UTC / 28.12.1994 5:45, 11:45, 17:45, 23:45 Z SE IR04 /05.01.1995 11:45, 17:45 Z SE IR03 / 23.01.1995 5:45, 11:45 Z SE IR04.Therefore I need information where I could find these images and how toget them. If any DR readers know something please contact me, thank you.

Harald Hunzinger
Fachbereich Geographie der
Philipps-Universitat Marburg
Deutschhausstr. 10
35032 Marburg, Germany
Fax: 0049-6421-288950
E-mail: hunzinge@mailer.uni-marburg.de


Seeking a Good ICS Introduction

I am looking for any information concerning the Incident Command System. Iam a member of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District's Readiness Branch. OurMarine Safety Branch is switching to the Incident Command System to fallmore in line with local emergency management organizations. As such wehave been tasked to prepare a brief on the Incident Command System for ourCommander. We will probably be incorporating it throughout all ouremergency plans, but would like to better understand the structure andit's implementation. Any assistance you could give us in obtaining thisinformation would be greatly appreciated . . .

FT2 Nichols
dist_re@dist_re.seanet.com


Seeking Oil Spill Data

I am back with another question regarding oil spill information. I wouldlike to inquire if anyone could direct me to a database(s) that recordsoil spill information, training, etc.

Thank you much !! Again !

Colleen P. Newton
pbs_newton@emuvax.emich.edu


Seeking Software for Regional Animal Disaster Coalition

[Received the following brief message from runi@aol.com]

Objective: To track (individual) domestic animals at the following pointswhen owners must participate in evacuations--

Please contact: Cecily Westermann, Systems Coordinator-Humane Society ofMissouri, 210 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110-1481; fax: (314)647-6917; e-mail: runi@aol.com


FEMA Seeks Floodproofing Information

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is undertaking a study todetermine whether wet floodproofing (allowing flood waters to permeate astructure while still protecting the integrity of the structure and itscontents) will adequately protect agricultural structures and accessorystructures located in Special Flood Hazard Areas. Both agriculturalstructures and accessory structures are included under the NFIP definitionof "structure" and consequently are subject to the NFIP elevation and dryfloodproofing requirements regarding new or substantially improvedstructures and substantially damaged structures that are to be restored.

Recognizing the difficulty and expense associated with elevating or dryfloodproofing agricultural structures, FEMA allowed, under the varianceprocess, the use of wet floodproofing as an alternative following the 1993Midwest floods. However, because wet floodproofing is not a proven floodprotection technique for agricultural structures, the new policy limitedthe use of wet floodproofing to lower-valued insurable structures. Inaddition, the types of structures were limited because of the extensivedamage to agricultural structures and their contents that occurred in the1993 floods.

Because wet floodproofing is only allowed based on this interim policy,FEMA needs to determine whether such floodproofing is a feasibleprotection technique that can be incorporated into the NFIP FloodplainManagement Regulations and recognized through the NFIP's flood insurancerate structure.

The goal of FEMA's study is to identify the types of agricultural andaccessory structures for which wet floodproofing is technically andeconomically feasible, to define the flooding conditions under which wetfloodproofing can be successfully employed, and to develop recommendationsregarding specific wet floodproofing techniques and their application toagricultural and accessory structures and their contents.

To start this work, the researchers are looking for background informationregarding:

This study is being conducted by Greenhorne & O'Mara under contract withFEMA. Any information you believe would be helpful can be sent to:

Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc.
9001 Edmonston Road
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Fax: (301) 220-2595


FEMA Seeks Disaster Temps

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking applicants fortemporary, full-time positions on an intermittent basis as DisasterAssistance Employees (DAEs). DAEs fill a variety of positions immediatelyafter a presidential disaster declaration, often working several weeks ormonths. As a result, applicants must be able to leave an existing job,family, and home with little notice for an extended period of time.Administrative, clerical, flood insurance and floodplain management,hazard mitigation, outreach and community services, and public affairspositions are available. For more information, contact your regional FEMAoffice.


NEHRP Coalition Seeks Project Information

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Coalition isundertaking a program to publish and widely distribute a continuing seriesof "NEHRP Project Briefs" that will trace the course of NEHRP researchfrom an initial project through to practical inclusion in maps, predictivecapability, building codes, design practice, construction application,etc. These briefs are intended to raise overall awareness of earthquakeresearch and ensure continued support from key decision makers. Thecoalition welcomes contributions of no more than 2-3 pages. Preliminarydrafts should be sent to Bob Swain, The Coalition of Professional andScientific Associations in Support of NEHRP, 16271 Typhoon Lane,Huntington Beach, CA 92649; (714) 846-5578; fax: (714) 846-5668.


A Brief Request from Zimbabwe via NCCEM

[Spotted the following item in the September issue of the "NCCEM Bulletin" - the newsletter of the National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management]

NCCEM has received a request for help from the newly established ZimbabweInstitute of Civil Defence and Disaster Studies. They are seeking both newand old printed materials and information technology to create a centralclearinghouse for data. Contact Kenneth Runyowa, Zimbabwe DistanceEducation College, 2 Hellet Street, Masuingo, Zimbabwe.


A Quick Note from India Re: Landslide Hazard Assessment

We are working on the landslide hazard zonation and evaluation of risk toexisting settlement and developmental projects on the west coast of India.For this purpose remotely sensed and other thematic information are beingused. Anybody who wants to know more about this project may contact me.

Dr.R.Nagarajan
Centre of Studies in Resources Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
nagar@powai.cc.iitb.ernet.in
India tel: 022 5790972


Mitigation Speakers Needed for State Conference

The Illinois Emergency Services Management Association (IESMA) is lookingfor speakers for it's state conference next April in Rockford, Illinois.The two-day conference will focus on multihazard mitigation on the localand state levels. The following topics indicate what we are looking for,but speakers are certainly not limited to these subjects.

Interested persons should reply to:
Kay Harmon, ESDA Director
City of Peoria
(309) 686-3521
email: xxesda@heartland.bradley.edu


How Do We Connect DR and Private Enterprise?

The purpose of this message is to invite comment on legitimate and properways of expanding communications and relationships among three groups: 1)academic and governmental analysts of disaster issues - who appear to bethe principal contributors to Disaster Research; 2) those principallyresponsible for disaster preparedness and response programs, around theworld, at the national, state/province, and local levels - perhaps themost important consumers of the information on DR; and 3) those in theprivate sector who develop and provide technologies, services, andproducts that facilitate disaster preparedness and response.

Our company, TechSolutions International (TSI), falls into the thirdcategory, representing a limited but expanding range of products andtechnologies that can mitigate the effects of disasters and otheremergencies around the world. We not only sell products and technologiesbut also work with manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, andinternational relief agencies to modify existing products and engage inresearch and development to create new ones to meet the needs of those onthe front line of emergency and disaster response. We believe that we,like other private sector solution providers, we can be and are importantpartners of governmental and nonprofit entities in the disasterpreparedness/response field. A local example: Disaster Educators of PugetSound (DEPS) is a dynamic western Washington organization which hasactively sought to include not only major government agencies andnonprofit organizations but also private companies in its deliberations. . . we believe, to the benefit of all concerned. Could this example bereplicated on a broader scale?

Bearing in mind the proper and necessary limitations on commercial use ofthe Internet, what Internet resources exist, or should be created, toallow agencies, PVOs, and NGOs most efficiently to access what the privatesector has to offer in the disaster response field? Would a joint public-private Web page on disaster preparedness/response be a sensible approach? Views of readers of Disaster Research on this point would be very welcome.

Lew Macfarlance, TSI;(206) 542-0972; fax: (206) 542-9340; e-mail:tsirlr@halcyon.com; WWW: http://www.halcyon.com/tsisrl/welcome.html


ERRI Announces ENNFAX Internet Daily Reports

The Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI) has announced thepublication of a new, exclusive Internet emergency services "DailyReport." These ENNFAX reports include up-to-the-minute national andinternational news and information about fire, police, EMS, rescue,disaster, military, medical, and terrorism-related topics.

The ENNFAX program integrates a variety of technologies and news gatheringresources to provide coverage of on-going emergency events, often as theyare happening. ENN welcomes and respects the perspective and viewpoint ofthose actually managing and participating in an incident. A special"Hot-Line" number is available for on-going incident reports: (312) 631-ERRI(3774); fax: (312) 631-4703.

Delivery of ENNFAX is accomplished in one of four ways. It can be sentdirectly to an Internet address at about 1700hrs(CDT) each day, and it canbe delivered via fax It is also immediately uploaded to the EMERGENCY BBS,ERRI's on-line service and made available for downloading, and it isavailable in a monthly multimedia format delivered on floppy disk by U.S.mail.

ENNFAX, in all of its formats, is a subscription service that requires anannual fee. The fee structure varies, based on the format that is chosen.Everyone is invited to receive a free two-week trial subscription toENNFAX to preview the service, and make an informed decision about itsfuture delivery. Special squad, media, and institutional subscriptions areavailable.

For a free two-week trial subscription, please send e-mail to firenet@emergency.com. For more information or subscription forms please call,write, fax, or e-mail:

Emergency Response & Research Institute
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave., #312
Chicago, IL 60646
(312) 631-ERRI - Voice/Voice Mail
(312) 631-4703 - Fax
(312) 631-3467 - Computer/Modem-EMERGENCY BBS-14,400bps
Internet: enn@emergency.com


Some More New Web Sites

A) The National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER) now hasits own home page:

http://nceer.eng.buffalo.edu

NCEER offers a variety of information resources, as well as links to otherInternet information on earthquake engineering and natural hazardsmitigation. The main menu features an interactive connection to NCEER'sQuakeline database, background information on NCEER, a list of NCEERtechnical reports with ordering information, a comprehensive list ofupcoming conferences, and the many information resources produced by thecenter. Persons with questions or comments concerning the NCEER Home Pageshould contact Michael Kukla; (716) 645-3377; fax: (716) 645-3379; e-mail:ncernceer@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu

B) EQE International is an internationally known company specializing inearthquake hazard research and mitigation. Their new web page address is:

http://www.eqe.com

They offer information on the company's services, earthquake reports, andarticles from EQE;s semiannual magazine "Review," as well as numerouslinks to other pertinent sites dealing with risk, safety, and insuranceissues.

C) From Japan:
I have started a new home page for the World Association of Disaster andEmergency Medicine (WADEM). It is a mirror image of the WADEM home page inPittsburgh, and you will find a lot of WADEM information there that willbe useful for all people interested in disaster medicine. Please visit ournew web site. The World Association for Disaster and Emergency MedicineJapan Web site:

http://hypnos.m.ehime-u.ac.jp/GHDNet/WADEM/index.html

With best regards,
Genro Ochi
Department of Emergency Medicine, Ehime University Hospital
Shigenobu-Cho, Onsen-gun, Ehime 791-02, Japan
tel: +81-899-64-5111, ext: 3474; fax: +81-899-64-7494

D) The American Rescue Team International now has its own home page and invites Netsurfers to take a look at ARTI's survival tips and training materials andfind out how to survive when a building collapses!

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<-- Back to the HRL Home Page.


Michael Scott / mscott@ecotopia.geog.sc.edu
Last Modified: 7/25/96