Disaster Research 211

December 6, 1996

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 Information on Hazard Resistant Housing
  2. Seeking Ideas for World Telecommunication Day
  3. Seeking Information on Popocatepetl
  4. Seeking Information on GIS and Hazards
  5. Seeking Information on Protecting Documents from Hazards
  6. Seeking Information about Internet Access by Emergency Managers
  7. AAAS Offers Public Policy Fellowships for Scientists and Engineers
  8. A Listserv to Track Events in Central Africa
  9. Help Wanted - DHA
  10. Risk Abstracts Available
  11. 1996 North American Emergency Response Guidebook for Windows


Seeking Information on Hazard Resistant Housing

Having managed to get a connection to the Internet, I am now lookingfor some information on recent developments in hazard-resistanthousing. Would you kindly help me in locating any relevant Web sites[or other Internet resources] where I could get some relevantinformation on-line.

Regards,
Dr. Jamilur R. Choudhury
Prof. of Civil Engineering
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology
Dhaka-1000
Bangladesh
E-mail:
jrc@bangla.net


Seeking Ideas for World Telecommunication Day

For World Telecommunication Day 1997 (WDT-97, 17 May 1997) theInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU) has chosen the motto"Telecommunication in the Service of Humanitarian Assistance."

In order to give the WTD, and thereby its 1997 topic, a widevisibility, we are looking for good ideas and for cooperation from thedisaster management community world-wide. The basic concept so farincludes a central event in Geneva (day or days of open doors at acommunication center) and local/regional activities - if possible withlive communication links to Geneva - and we are open to allsuggestions.

WTD, annually on the date of the creation of the ITU, 17 May 1865, hastaken place since 1969. In recent years, its visibility has decreased,but for 1997 we would like to again make it a prominent event. Pleasesend your suggestions to the Secretariat of the Working Group onEmergency Telecommunications (WGET) at the Geneva Office of the UnitedNations, Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA), e-mail:hans.zimmermann@itu.ch, fax: +41 22 917-0023, phone: +41 22 917-3516,Palais des Nations, CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland.
Many thanks !


Seeking Information on Popocatepetl

Hello All,
I am a graduate student in the Environmental Ed. and Policy Program atNew York University. I am interested in gathering any and allinformation regarding the Popocatepetl volcano in South CentralMexico, and, more specifically, civil defense plans in place due toimminent eruption. Are there any plans over and above disasterassistance and last minute evacuation strategies - i.e., longer-termurban planning, relocation, etc.?

Due to the volcanoes' current activity, are there any grassrootseducation and outreach programs being conducted with/for the people inthe "danger zones"?

Thanks for your help,
Amanda J. Dates
ajd5313@is.nyu.edu


Seeking Information on GIS and Hazards

Hello,
I am a Master's student at the Institute of Environmental Studies atthe University of Toronto and am interested in the use of GIS in thestudy of natural hazards (e.g., GIS in emergency preparedness planningand management, GIS and one specific hazard - hurricanes, earthquakes,etc.). In particular, I am extremely interested in GIS and naturalhazards in the insurance industry.

It is extremely difficult to find any good references at our libraryon this topic, and I was hoping that you could point me in the rightdirection. Do you know of good Web sites, publication references,etc.?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Eric
eric.krause@utoronto.ca.


Seeking Information on Protecting Documents from Hazards

Ladies & Gentlemen:
Warren County, Virginia, population 29,100, is looking for a modelplan to handle the protection of county administrative records andcourt house legal records in the event of fire, flood, or otherdisaster. The County Administrator has requested help from us as theplanning district (regional council) serving the county. Please let meknow of any place we can obtain such a document.

To date we have received the Western New York Disaster Preparednessand Recovery Manual for Libraries and Archives through the NationalCenter for Earthquake Engineering Research Information Service atBuffalo (e-mail: nceeris@acsu.buffalo.edu). Also received was a paperentitled Disaster Planning and Preparedness for Libraries: A Synthesisof Existing Guidelines. These have been useful, but is there a modelspecific to the request?

Sincerely,
Tom Christoffel, Executive Director
Lord Fairfax Planning District Commission
103 E. Sixth St., Front Royal VA 22630-3499 U.S.A.
E-mail: lfpdc@shentel.net; Phone: 540.636.8800; Fax: 540.635.4147


Seeking Information about Internet Access by Emergency Managers

Hello! I am looking for information regarding the likelihood ofemergency management offices having Internet access. Looking through old messages posted to NETS turned up a survey on utilization of theinternet that was sent out in January 1996, but I couldn't find theresults. Does anyone have this survey's results or statistics oninternet access at state/local depts. of emergency management? Anyresources you suggest would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Amy Schwarzenbach
IEM, Inc.
Baton Rouge, LA
(504) 952-8240
schwarzen@zeus.ieminc.com


AAAS Offers Public Policy Fellowships for Scientists and Engineers

The American Association for the Advancement of Science invitesapplications for one-year public policy fellowships, which bringscientists and engineers to Washington, D.C., to work in Congress, theU.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S.Department of Agriculture, and the RAND Critical TechnologiesInstitute. Additional fellowships at EPA are for 10 weeks in thesummer. [Note: These fellowships have been granted to hazardsresearchers in the past. - ed.]

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must have a Ph.D. or equivalentdoctoral-level degree at the time of application (January 1997) fromany physical, biological, or social science or any field ofengineering. Persons with a master's degree in engineering and atleast three years of post-degree experience may also apply. Federalemployees are not eligible for the fellowships. The programs aredesigned to provide each fellow with a unique public policy learningexperience and to make practical contributions to the more effectiveuse of scientific and technical knowledge in the U.S. government.Stipends vary by program. All applications must be postmarked byJanuary 15, 1997.

For further information and application instructions call: (202)326-6600; fax: (202) 289-4950; or e-mail: science_policy@aaas.org.


A Listserv to Track Events in Central Africa

Due to the increased interest in the Great Lakes regional crisis, theU.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has set up a GreatLakes Information Center (GLIC). Interested parties can receive GLICdocuments free via e-mail by registering with the USAID listserver.

The GLIC is a moderated distribution list for reports, information andother public documents that provide information on the currenthumanitarian crisis in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The reportsprovide summary information on the disaster based on reporting fromthe field and a compilation of other sources, and also provide adescription and financial accounting of the United States government'sresponse to this crisis. Subscription is automatic and open to allinterested parties by sending an internet e-mail to:
listproc@info.usaid.gov
with the message
Subscribe GLIC (your name here)
Please note that your e-mail address is not required in the message,only your name as it will appear in the list directory. Any comments,suggestions, information, etc., can be mailed to
glic%bhr.ofda%aidw@usaid.gov
Registration to the GLIC-L e-mail list will take the place of faxedsituation reports and other GLIC publications. If you would like tocontinue to receive these reports, please follow the instructionsabove to register with the GLIC.


Help Wanted - DHA

United Nations
Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Humanitarian Programme Officer (P-4)
Policy Analysis Division
Duty Station: New York

The Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations isseeking a humanitarian programme officer for its Policy AnalysisDivision. As a member of the Analysis and Policy Development Unit, theincumbent will assist with ongoing assessments, monitoring anddevelopment of instruments of advocacy and policies for humanitarianprogramming in areas affected by crises or emerging from complexemergencies. Specifically, the Analysis and Policy Development Unit iscurrently focusing upon such issues as improving the linkages betweenrelief and development through enhancing local capacities and copingmechanisms; strengthening both advocacy and coordination with respectto internally displaced persons; developing improved mechanisms forassessing and monitoring the humanitarian impacts of sanctions;developing strategies and best practices that will facilitate thedemobilization and reintegration of combatants; and addressing meansof enhancing and sustaining access to humanitarian space.

Qualifications:

Applications are especially welcome from female candidates. Commencement date is as soon as possible but no later than February 1,1997. Please send resume, in English, quoting the above position toThe Executive Officer, Department of Humanitarian Affairs, UnitedNations, One UN Plaza, New York, New York 10017, USA. Applicationsmust be received by December 20th, 1996. Acknowledgements will only bereceived by shortlisted candidates.


Risk Abstracts Available

RiskWorld has just posted on-line the abstracts and/or summaries of163 papers presented at the 1996 Annual Meeting of the Society forRisk Analysis-Europe held June 3-5 in Guildford, United Kingdom. Theabstracts and summaries reflect this year's themes: Food, Technology,and Risk; Industrial Risk and Insurance; Risk Communication; and NewTrends in Risk Management. To view this information, visit RiskWorldat http://www.riskworld.com and then go to the department page forlinks.

Mary Bryant
RiskWorld
E-mail: bryant@usit.net


1996 North American Emergency Response Guidebook for Windows

I would like to invite you to visit our site concerning 1996 NorthAmerican Emergency Response Guidebook for Windows. This Windowssoftware has been extremely popular and effective in planning,training, and managing hazardous materials in many local communities.More than just a guide, it is a management system designed to help youwith preparedness. Visit our site - http://www.testdepth.com/naerg.htm- for a full description and download a full featured demo.

Thank you,
John R. Therriault
bcounty@srv.net



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Last Modified: 12/09/96