DISASTER RESEARCH 267

September 1, 1998

TABLE OF CONTENTS:


  1. For [Limited] Free Seismic Advice . . .

  2. On-Line Subscription Available to AEMI's Publications and Information

  3. NDM Now Seeking Contributions

  4. New Stuff on the Internet . . .

  5. A Recently Awarded Grant

  6. FEMA Offers Independent Study Course on Pets and Disasters

  7. ASCE and FEMA to Host Project Impact Video Conference

  8. IBHS Seeking Commendable Communities

  9. EIIP Virtual Forum Schedule for September 1998

  10. Conferences and Training


1)----------
For [Limited] Free Seismic Advice . . .

To help raise the standards of seismic design in developing countries, the Earthquake Hazard Centre (EHC) at Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand (the host of the Commonwealth Network for Earthquake- Resistant Construction in Developing Countries - see DR #232) has recently introduced the "EHC Partnering Scheme" - a program that offers a modest amount of free advice from experienced earthquake engineers and architects on design or construction-related matters for projects in developing countries. The EHC acts as a link between designers and builders and appropriate consultants; it has no financial or other involvement except to monitor the success of this networking scheme. The centre's aim is simply to promote engineering assistance that will result in seismically safer buildings. For more information, contact the EHC, School or Architecture, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand; tel: +64-4-802 6200; fax: +64-4-802 6204; e-mail: quake@arch.vuw.ac.nz; WWW: http://www.ehc.arch.vuw.ac.nz.


2)----------
On-Line Subscription Available to AEMI's Publications and Information

The Australia Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) Information Centre is pleased to announce a listserve facility for four of its services: the Australian Journal of Emergency Management, INFOrecent, Journal Abstracts, and seminars and conferences updates. At present all services are available on the EMA World Wide Web home page - http://www.ema.gov.au.

Instead of sending an e-mail message to initiate these services, subscribers should go to: http://www.ema.gov.au/seminarsframe.htm There, they will find a subscription form in which they should indicate their full name, location, and e-mail address.

The journal and INFOrecent are distributed quarterly and the other material on a monthly basis.

The Australian Journal of Emergency Management will be distributed in pdf format. The journal provides an information-sharing forum for everyone involved in emergency management. It has a large and steadily growing national and international audience.

INFOrecent is a bulletin produced quarterly by the centre to provide clients with current information on new material received. It provides a subject listing with a short description of each item. INFOrecent is a vital tool for people wishing to keep abreast of the current disaster management literature. The material included in it is only a selection of some of the matter received by centre staff in the previous three months.

Journal Abstracts is an annotated list of a selection of journals received and abstracted by the centre. It is produced monthly and assists researchers and practitioners in keeping up-to-date with the most current literature. These abstracts are not included in INFOrecent.

The journal and INFOrecent will continue to be distributed in hard copy.

The updates of emergency management seminars and conferences are produced monthly and incorporated into the larger data base located on the AEMI home page, which includes a search engine.


3)----------
NDM Now Seeking Contributions

To document the accomplishments of the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), the U.N. IDNDR Secretariat is working with Natural Disaster Management (NDM) Ltd. of Leicester, England, to publish a comprehensive volume on the Decade (see DR #241). NDM recently announced its first call for papers to be included in the document, along with a tentative outline of the volume's contents. Proposals are due right now. For details, contact NDM, 18 Talbot Lane, Leicester, LE1 4LR, England; tel: +44 116 251 5123; fax: +44 116 251 7123.


4)----------
New Stuff on the Internet . . .

[These are a few of the latest Internet resources we've come across. For a list of selected Internet/Web sites dealing with disaster management, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html.]

http://www.wildfiremagazine.com
The "Wildfire Magazine" Web site includes individual articles and a complete downloadable issue of the magazine, as well as the Wildfire On-Line Bookstore with nearly 900 books, videos, and software on wildland fire.

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/depts/geo/sahelrep.html
This site contains a summary of the presentations, discussion, and findings of a conference held by the Royal Geographical Society in London, May 13-14, 1998, entitled "The African Sahel: 25 Years After the Great Drought - Assessing Progress, Setting a New Agenda." It is now 25 years since the major droughts of the 1970s struck the Sahel region of West Africa. Their impacts were not uniform, for the region has a great diversity of soils, climates, livelihood systems, and ethnic groups. For many, these droughts are an especially grim historical marker, given their disturbing effects on food supply and human welfare in this semi-arid region so dependent on rainfall. They also marked the beginning of profound post-colonial economic and political reforms, as well as widespread international development assistance to the Sahelian nation states. This conference examined and assessed the developments of the last quarter-century in the Sahel and resulted in realistic assessments of the challenges facing Sahelian peoples in the 21st century.

http://www.storm98.com
Lowe's Home Improvement Stores, in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, maintains this site with information about storms of the current hurricane season. It includes the latest weather reports, satellite and radar information, warnings, marine reports, preparedness information, background information about hurricanes and El Nino, an on-line bookstore, a chat room, and other resources. From this site, one can also sign up for an e-mail list that sends out updated information about developing and existing storms.

http://cnn.com/WEATHER
Similarly, CNN hosts this Web site and another e-mail service with breaking news about weather events (Storm.Watch@CNN.COM). To subscribe, see http://cnn.com/EMAIL.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/
A colleague sites this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page, assembled and maintained by Chris Landsea of NOAA's Hurricane Research Division, as "Without a doubt, the best resource for general questions on hurricanes."

http://k2.space.swri.edu/clark/hr.html
This Web page contains a statement on "The Threat of Impact by Near-Earth Asteroids" by astronomer Clark Chapman of the Southwest Research Institute to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the Committee on Science of the U.S. House of Representatives at its hearings on "Asteroids: Perils and Opportunities" held May 21, 1998. The statement contains much information about the asteroid hazard, as well as some fascinating statistics concerning the relative severity of various hazards - from automobiles to tornadoes to botulism to asteroids.

http://wwwdwatcm.wr.usgs.gov/reports/floodgis/
This Web report - entitled "Updating Flood Inundation Maps Efficiently" (USGS Open-File Report 98-200) - details a new geographical information system (GIS)-based mapping method, developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, that can be used to produce updated flood inundation maps with greater detail at a much lower cost than traditional hand-drawn flood maps.

PRIMAtalk - majordomo@atlantech.net
The Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) has initiated an unmoderated e-mail discussion list to promote discussion of risk management in the public sector. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to majordomo@atlantech.net, and in the body of the message type, "subscribe prima-talk." The server will send a confirmation of your subscription and information about list usage.


5)----------
A Recently Awarded Grant

[This is the latest grant announcement we've received. For a list of other grants recently awarded, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/grants.html]

Post-Disaster Redevelopment: Lessons from Kobe and Northridge. Funding agency: National Science Foundation, $225,201. Principal Investigators: Robert B. Olshansky, University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign; Laurie Johnson, Risk Management Solutions, Inc., Menlo Park, California; Ken Topping, Cambria Institute for Sustainability Studies, Cambria, California. Contact: Robert Olshansky, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, 111 Temple Hoyne Buell Hall, 611 East Lorado Taft Drive, Champaign, IL 61820; (217) 333-8703; fax: (217) 244-1717; e-mail: robo@uiuc.edu.


6)----------
FEMA Offers Independent Study Course on Pets and Disasters

Pet owners, farmers, veterinarians, and anyone else who loves or cares for animals can learn how to safeguard their animals during disasters through two new independent study courses developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The first course, IS-010, discusses how disasters affect people and their animals, while the second, IS-011, focuses on incorporating animals into community's disaster planning and is aimed primarily at emergency management officials and animal-care industries. The courses, offered through FEMA's Emergency Management Institute, were developed with assistance from a number of organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Humane Society of the United States, American Academy on Disaster Veterinary Medicine, as well as local emergency management and animal control agencies.

As with all FEMA's Independent Study Courses, there are no prerequisites or enrollment fees. The average course completion time is 10 to 12 hours. Course materials can be downloaded from FEMA's Web site: http://www.fema.gov/EMI/Ishome.htm. Materials can also be ordered by writing to the Independent Study Office, Emergency Management Institute, National Emergency Training Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.


7)----------
ASCE and FEMA to Host Project Impact Video Conference

A free, interactive satellite videoconference entitled "Project Impact: Building a Disaster Resistant Community" will be presented by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Thursday, October 29, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern time.

The goal of Project Impact is to bring together community leaders, citizens, and businesses to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters before they happen. This videoconference will examine the many benefits of Project Impact and discuss the role that design professionals can play in building disaster resistant communities.

The program will feature:

A portion of the program will be set aside to give viewers an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers. They can call in their questions via a toll-free number.

The program will be broadcast live via FEMA's Emergency Education Network (EENET). The FEMA downlink sites include local colleges and universities, libraries, police and fire stations, National Guard sites, and emergency management offices. Please contact the local emergency manager in your community for information on the site closest to your home or office.

For more information contact John Casazza at ASCE: 1-800-548-2723; e-mail: jcasazza@asce.org -or- James Cohen, FEMA Partner In Mitigation Fellow: e-mail: jccpc@classic.msn.com -or- James.Cohen@fema.gov.


8)----------
IBHS Seeking Commendable Communities

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) is seeking nominations for its 1998 Community Spotlight Award - an honor bestowed on a town or city that has undertaken exemplary actions to make their citizens safer in the face of natural hazards. IBHS particularly wants to recognize innovative, practical, cost-effective natural hazard mitigation activities that other communities can adapt. Key to winning this award is how well a community has identified its needs, mapped a strategy, put that strategy into action, and involved citizens in the process. The award will presented October 22 at the IBHS Annual Congress in Orlando, Florida. Applications are available from IBHS, 175 Federal Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02110; att: Margaret L. Sheehan; tel: (617) 292-2003, ext. 205; e-mail: msheehan@ibhs.org. The application form can also be downloaded from the IBHS Web site: http://www.ibhs.org.

9)----------
EIIP Virtual Forum Schedule for September 1998

In September, the Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) offers the following World Wide Web-based services:
"Round Table" discussions led by a Guest Host are held, Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time.
"Mutual Aid" sessions in which participants dictate the topic, are held Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.

September 2, Wednesday, 12:00 Noon EDT:
The Virtual Library hosts John C. Pine, Ed.D., Louisiana State University as he presents "An Assessment of the Transportation of Extremely Hazardous Substances for the Southern Mississippi River Corridor." Background information is available from: http://www.emforum.org/vlibrary/980902.htm

September 9, Wednesday, 12:00 Noon EDT:
The Virtual Classroom features Dr. Mary Ann Rollans, University of Arkansas, discussing the university's Emergency Management Degree program.

September 16, Wednesday, 12:00 Noon EDT:
The Virtual Forum is "Live! from" the Tenth International Disaster Recovery Symposium and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida (tentative)

September 23, Wednesday, 12:00 Noon EDT:
The EIIP Panel Room features a panel discussion on Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams.

September 30, Wednesday, 12:00 Noon EDT:
The Technology Arena - presenter TBA upon confirmation.

To participate, login to http://www.emforum.org. See the Virtual Forum Home Page to create a "New User Account" and password if you have not previously done so.


10)----------
Conferences and Training

[Below are some recent conference announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of upcoming disaster- related meetings and training is available from our World Wide Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html]

Regional Workshop on Disasters and Social Communication. Sponsors: United Nations IDNDR Secretariat, National Directorate of Civil Defense of Ecuador, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and others. Quito, Ecuador: September 29-October 1, 1998. The workshop will be conducted in Spanish. Contact: IDNDR Secretariat, Apartado Postal 37451000 San Jose, Costa Rica; e-mail: hmolin@undpcos.nu.or.cr; fax: (506) 257-2139: WWW: http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/PED-Ecuador/desastre/trcsyd.html.

Contingency Planners of Ohio (CPO) Annual Meeting and Seminar. Columbus, Ohio: October 1, 1998. Contact: Contingency Planners of Ohio, P.O. Box 340825, Columbus, OH 43234; tel: Cal Taylor, (614) 799-3688.

Intensive Lightning Safety Workshop. Presented by: National Lightning Safety Institute. Louisville, Colorado: October 22-23, 1998. Contact; National Lightning Safety Institute, 891 North Hoover Avenue, Louisville CO 80027; (303) 666-8817; fax: (303) 666-8786; WWW: http://www.lightningsafety.com.

Disaster Asia '99: Asia-Pacific Conference and Exhibition on Disaster Management. Hosted by: Philippine Futuristics Society in cooperation with the United Nations International Decade for Natural Hazards Reduction Secretariat. Manila, Philippines: February 8-10, 1999. Abstracts are currently being accepted. Contact: Disaster Asia '99, c/o Infinity Plus, Inc., Penthouse B, Windsor Tower, 163 Legaspi Street, Legaspi Village, Makati Central Post Office, 1200 Makati City, Philippines; tel: (632) 8106751; fax: (632) 8127739; e-mail: infinity@snap.portalinc.com.

International Erosion Control Association (IECA) Annual Conference. Nashville, Tennessee: February 22-26, 1999. Contact: IECA, P.O. Box 774904, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477-4904; 1-800-455-4322 -or- (970) 879-3010; fax: (970) 879-8563; e-mail: ecinfo@ieca.org; WWW: http://www.ieca.org.

Fifth World Congress on Stress, Trauma, and Coping in the Emergency Services Professions. Sponsor: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Baltimore, Maryland: April 21-25, 1999. Contact: ICISF, 10176 Baltimore National Pike, Unit 201, Ellicott City, MD 21042; (410) 750-9600; fax: (410) 750-9601; e-mail: wcong5@icisf.org: WWW: http://www.icisf.org.

Seismological Society of America (SSA) Annual Conference. Seattle, Washington: May 3-5, 1999. Abstracts due February 5, 1999. Contact: S. Malone, Geophysics Program, Box 351650, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1650; (206) 685-3811; fax: (206) 543-0489; e-mail: ssa99@geophys.washington.edu; WWW: http://www.geophys.washington.edu/SEIS/SSA99/.

Sixth National Watershed Conference. Sponsors: National Watershed Coalition and others. Austin, Texas: May 16-19, 1999. Abstract deadline October 1, 1998. Contact: John W. Peterson, Executive Director, National Watershed Coalition, 9304 Lundy Court, Burke, VA 22015-3431; (703) 455-6886/4387: fax: (703) 455-6888: e-mail: jwpeterson@erols.com.

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, International Association of Hydrological Sciences Symposium 1: "Hydrological Extremes: Understanding, Predicting, Mitigating." Birmingham, U.K.: July 19-30, 1999. Convenor: Lars Gottschalk, Department of Geophysics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1022, Blindern, N-0315, Oslo, Norway; tel: +47 22855809; fax: +47 22855269; e-mail: lars.gottschalk@geofysikk.uio.no.

American Society of Civil Engineers/Canadian Society of Civil Engineers 1999 National Conference on Environmental Engineering - including session on "Risk Assessment in Environmental Engineering." Norfolk, Virginia: July 25-28, 1999. Abstracts, due September 11, 1998, should be submitted to James D. Englehardt, Session Chair and Associate Professor, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248294, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0630; (305) 284-5557; e-mail: jenglehardt@miami.edu. Detailed conference and abstract submission information is available from http://www.asce.org/confconted/ee99.html.


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