DISASTER RESEARCH 276

1. Hurricane Mitch on the Internet


2. Seeking Information and Collaborators for Studies of Hurricane Mitch Impacts, Honduras


3. Seeking Input on the Development of a Community Recovery Assistance Team Program


4. Seeking Information About Tsunami Preparedness and Loss Mitigation


5. Seeking Information on Property Acquisition to Mitigate Natural Hazards


6. Seeking Information on Emergency Planning for Mental Health Facilities


7. Seeking Information on Volcano/Climate Interactions


8. Seeking Recommendations About Relational Databases


9. The Mid-America Earthquake Center
10. Global Fire Monitoring Center Established in Germany
11. New Graduate-Level Disaster Courses
12. ADPC Launches Extreme Climate Event Project
13. Help Wanted: ADPC Seeks Executive Director
14. New Watershed Assistance Grants Available
15. On WEBEX - A Successful Experiment in Emergency Management
16. Maple Leaf Sites
17. Some Interesting Numbers
18. A Recent Grant of Note
19. Conferences and Training

1)----------
Hurricane Mitch on the Internet

Beyond the many sources of news on the World Wide Web about this unprecedented catastrophe, the following sites offer additional country-specific details, as well as information about relief and recovery needs and operations:

General

http://wwwnotes.reliefweb.int/
Official updates, requests, and background information from the United Nations ReliefWeb site.

http://www.paho.org/english/ped/pedhome.htm
http://www.paho.org/english/media.htm
Information on recovery and media updates from the Pan American Health Organization.

disasterinfo@paho.org
PAHO's DisasterInfo e-mail list, providing subscribers with current information about disasters and disaster management in Latin America and the Caribbean.

http://www.hurricanemitch.org
A site created to facilitate response and recovery to this disaster.

http://cindi.usgs.gov/events/index.html
The U.S. Geological Survey's Center for Integration of Natural Disaster Information's "Hurricane Mitch Atlas," with maps of the hurricane path, consolidated regional infrastructure, roads, streams and reservoirs, the regional electrical network, utility lines, airports and cities, land use, volcanoes, and various dimensions of potential flood risk.

Honduras

http://www.un.hn/mitch
The site for the United Nations Hurricane Mitch Information Center Honduras - offers situations reports, needs assessments, accounts of U.N. and other international response operations, and a list of other useful Web sites.

http://www.mitch.hn
The Honduras Hurricane Mitch Web site - with official information about the disaster and contact information regarding institutions authorized to accept donations.

http://www.gbm.hn/
Data on the devastation and requests for aid from the government of Honduras, Office of the President.

http://www.honduras.com/weather
News, including local information, about the disaster, discussion, and a means for contributing to the relief effort.

http://www.copeco.hondunet.net/index.html
The site of COPECO, the Permanent Emergency Commission of Honduras - the agency within the country in charge of coordinating international response. The site includes an extensive list of needed supplies.

http://www.hondudata.com/
http://www.hondudata.com/mitch/mapas/division.htm
Extensive summary data on Hurricane Mitch, maps, lists of needs, and information about donating money and supplies.

http://www.soshonduras.hn
A plea for aid and information on how to help.

Nicaragua

http://www.ops.org.ni/desastre/indexnew.htm
Information from the Pan American Health Organization Office in Nicaragua on the consequences for that country.

Costa Rica

http://www.cne.go.cr
Information from Costa Rica's Comision Nacional de Emergencias.

2)----------
Seeking Information and Collaborators for Studies of Hurricane Mitch Impacts, Honduras

I am initiating research on the preparedness, response, and long-term recovery issues for Honduras in Hurricane Mitch, with emphasis on risk analysis and hazard mitigation. The purpose is learning and application of lessons in Honduras to preparedness throughout the Central American/Caribbean region and the rest of Latin America, as well as to the U.S. and developed nations as appropriate. Specific topics to be addressed include:

1. Flood alerting, warning, and evacuation in high-risk areas, especially river basins and urban areas which experienced intense rainfall. Focus is on documenting those evacuations that went well rather than examining all evacuations (i.e., learning from successes). Especially critical is information on how storm data was used in flood response operations, how evacuations proceeded once begun, and how communications could be improved.

2. Use of the World Wide Web and e-mail as tools for disaster relief solicitation and coordination. Honduras' national Web page began posting relief requests and information on impacts as soon as the scope of disaster was known. Special site *soshonduras.hn* contains links to major international relief orgs, relief drop sites in the U.S., and Honduran national newspaper accounts including "real time" video feeds. Proximity and cultural ties to the U.S. will make this an especially important study for future disaster communication among first-, second- and, third-world countries.

3. Development of a National Disaster Mitigation Program and a mitigation strategy for Honduras during the long-term recovery phase. Much effort at all levels (public, private, corporate, international) will be directed at recovery during the coming year and beyond; the concern is how the various efforts will be coordinated under national leadership to shape a mitigation program for future weather-related disasters and for ongoing emergencies in flood-prone areas. This part of the study may also include reference to lessons and applications from Hurricane Fifi, on which this writer worked under OAS auspices during 1975-76.

This P.I. seeks travel support if readers have any contacts in this area and would like to assemble or join in an existing team for a site visit in January/February 1999 once relief/rehab phase is well underway. Direct inquiries to Bruce Baird, faculty member, California Specialized Training Institute, USA; e-mail: Bruce_Baird@oes.ca.gov; tel: (805) 549-3539; fax: (805) 544-7103.

3)----------
Seeking Input on the Development of a Community Recovery Assistance Team Program

The Natural Hazards Center, with financial support from the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), is currently preparing a report and related products regarding the need, feasibility, form, content, timing, and operation of a Community Recovery Assistance Team Program to help local officials successfully manage the complexities of post- disaster recovery. The project will explore the need for outside expert advice to help community officials avoid being overwhelmed by complex disaster recovery processes, effectively address community impacts, and capitalize on rebuilding opportunities. Among other possible benefits, such assistance could enable community officials to: 1) take decisive, informed action to restore key services and coordinate outside funding and other assistance; and/or 2) guide recovery activities to ensure consistency with their community's vision and objectives for long-term growth and disaster resiliency.

This project proposes the development of a framework for creating teams of well-organized, experienced disaster professionals who could be easily mobilized to work directly with and for a recovering community.

While such support might appear to be an obvious need, to our knowledge, technical assistance teams have been used only in a few instances. The initial phase of this project is a planning year that provides an opportunity to discuss the technical assistance needs of communities after disasters. To successfully explore the Community Recovery Assistance Team concept, we need your input on the following questions:

1. What are the biggest problems facing communities during recovery from a catastrophic disaster?

2. In what areas could such teams be of most help to communities in managing postdisaster recovery?

3. What types of persons should comprise the teams: e.g. discipline, experience, etc.?

4. Do you know of any instances in which outside technical assistance has been provided to communities during postdisaster recovery?

5. Do you know of others who might have useful information and be willing to respond these questions?

Finally, please share additional comments on the Community Recovery Assistance Team program with us. For further information on this project and/or to provide us with responses to these questions, please contact Jeanine Stevens, Natural Hazards Center; e-mail: Jeanine.Stevens@Colorado.Edu; phone: (303) 492-2149; fax: (303) 492-2151.

4)----------
Seeking Information About Tsunami Preparedness and Loss Mitigation

I am seeking information about the ways coastal communities can avoid injury, loss of life, and property damage from tsunamis. We're especially interested in studies of the effectiveness of public education, evacuation drills, escape towers, and other emergency strategies.
Thanks for your help,
Connie J. Manson
Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources
P.O. Box 47007
Olympia, WA 98504-7007
Tel: (360) 902-1472
Fax: (360) 902-1785
E-mail: connie.manson@wadnr.gov -or- cjmanson@u.washington.edu

5)----------
Seeking Information on Property Acquisition to Mitigate Natural Hazards

I am a Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am conducting research on state and local land acquisition programs: type of programs (open space, recreation, wildlife habitat, etc.) and funding mechanisms (bonds, taxes, etc.). In particular, I am looking for information on state and local efforts to acquire property as a means of mitigating natural hazards; that is, to move buildings out of harm's way and/or to prevent people from building there in the first place. Can you suggest any publications or databases that may have information about land acquisition programs?
Thanks,
David Salvesen
E-mail: kcds@bellsouth.net

6)----------
Seeking Information on Emergency Planning for Mental Health Facilities

[Taken from the "City & County Emergency Management Coordinators' Discussion List" - emergency-management@listserv.aol.com]

Does anyone know of documents that address the issue of planning for a mental health facility? I'm working with a group that has a plan for fire, bomb threat, hurricane, etc. We are looking for hazmat situation, evacuation or shelter in place. The facility houses both locked down and walk-in clients. Any help would be appreciated.

Robert Smith
Assist Coordinator
Beaumont E.M.
Beaumont, TX 77701
Tel: (409) 880-3830
Fax: (409) 880-3895
E-mail: smithr@IH2000.NET

7)----------
Seeking Information on Volcano/Climate Interactions

I am currently working on a project looking into and critically assessing present views regarding the interactions of volcanic activity and climatic change. This study is part of a final year earth sciences degree, and I would be grateful for any input DR readers put forward.

So far, I have collected significant amounts of literature on the subject, covering the beliefs of some that volcanoes influence climate and others who see the role of climate change as very significant during periods of exaggerated activity.

Again, any input will be gratefully received,
Kirsty French
Earth Sciences, Plymouth University
124, Alexandra Road,
Mutley,
Plymouth,
PL4 7EQ
U.K.
E-mail: kfrench@plymouth.ac.uk or K.French@plymouth.ac.uk

8)----------
Seeking Recommendations About Relational Databases

I am seeking recommendations about appropriate relational database systems, structures, and tools to support an emergency and disaster management centre, Republic of South Africa.

To be able to act as a National Emergency and Disaster Management Centre (EDMC), our crucial and most critical needs are data and information: data retrieval, data analysis, data exchange, and information supply. Thus, we are interested in learning from the experience and recommendations of disaster and emergency managers and system providers worldwide regarding relational databases.

We have defined certain criteria that a relational database should satisfy:

1. Database should have its own case tools, or support third-party case tools.
2. Database should be platform independent. That means that, for example, data can be stored on Unix/NT server, and can be reached from Windows or Unix workstation.
3. Data should be updateable (maintained) through GUI itself (its own form tools), or through third-party GUI (Delphi, Visual Basic or Web).
4. Database should be able to store and operate time series data.
5. Database should be able to store and manipulate data other than alphanumerical (photos-graphics, movies).
6. Database should to be able "to talk" to GIS products.
7. Database should be easily deployed through Web (Internet or Intranet).
8. Reliable update/maintenance ability

As far as we know, the market today offers the following relational database systems: Oracle, Informix, Ingress, Sybase, SQL Server. We would like to have your opinion, recommendations, pros and contras.

On behalf of all EDMC staff thank you very much, in advance.
Sincerely.
Dusan Sakulski
EDMC
P.O.Box 3245, The Reeds 0154
Republic of South Africa
E-mail: asf@dwaf.pwv.gov.za
Tel: +27 12 338 8569
Fax: +27 12 323 2123

9)----------
The Three Centers, Part I . . .
The Mid-America Earthquake Center

[In 1997, in a major initiative to advance earthquake science, the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded three centers across the U.S. to conduct and coordinate earthquake research for the nation. The following is an update concerning one of those institutions - the Mid- America Earthquake Center. We will examine the other centers in future issues of Disaster Research.]

The Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center was the only one of the three NSF-funded centers that was entirely new and not established in conjunction with existing institutions. As a consortium of seven central- and eastern-U.S. academic institutions, the center's mission is to examine and mitigate problems associated with the less-frequent, but extremely hazardous, intraplate seismic events that might occur east of the Rocky Mountains. Incorporating a multidisciplinary approach, it conducts four types of projects: research, implementation of research findings, education, and outreach. The center's five-year plan defines numerous specific products to be developed, including seismic hazard maps of the region; software for evaluating retrofitted structures; guidelines for enhanced rehabilitation; manuals describing the application of various research results; as well as seminars, conferences, and workshops.

The center is now fully staffed, and programs have been initiated in three focus areas: essential facilities, transportation networks, and hazards evaluation. In all, the center now coordinates scores of research projects in the central U.S. The center is also developing plans for collaborating with the other two NSF-funded centers - the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center - on social science and economic studies. In addition, to enhance the links between itself and local businesses, industry, and communities, the MAE Center has established three regional offices in Atlanta, Memphis, and St. Louis.

In October, the MAE Center published the first issue of its newsletter; however the editors aver that the most complete source of information about the center, its goals, objectives, and intended products, is the center's Web site: http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu. Still, to subscribe to the printed newsletter, or to gain additional information, contact the MAE Center, 1241 Newmark Civil Engineering Lab, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 105 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 244-6302; fax: (217) 333-3821; WWW: http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu.

10)----------
Global Fire Monitoring Center Established in Germany

For most vegetation types, fire, biogeochemical, and atmospheric research of the last decade provides sufficient knowledge to support decision making regarding fire policy and management. However, in many developing countries this knowledge is not known or not accessible either for developing appropriate fire policies and management strategies or for responding to large fire emergencies. The fire and smoke disaster of 1997-98 in southeast Asia, for example, demonstrated that existing fire information and fire management expertise was used only to a limited extent. This inadequacy was responsible, in part, for confusion at national and international decision-making levels and led to delayed emergency response. This can be explained by the lack of a globally accessible information system.

Clearly, there is a need for a global information and monitoring system that national and international agencies involved in land-use planning, disaster management, or other fire-related tasks can use for planning and decision making.

Hence, in June 1998, a Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) was established at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany. In its first phase, the GFMC will archive information and provide real- time or near-real-time information related to fire. It will link with other national and international information systems, and in the future, expand to support operational aspects of international fire disaster management. The GFMC fire documentation, information, and monitoring system is now accessible through the Internet at http://www.uni-freiburg.de/fireglobe.

In this initial phase, the GFMC is sponsored by the government of Germany, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a German contribution to the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), and the center is currently cooperating with the IDNDR and other U.N. agencies in examining issues - from operational problems to policy questions - and developing appropriate responses.

For additional information about this new center and its long-range plans, contact Johann G. Goldammer, Fire Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, c/o Freiburg University, P.O.Box D-79085 Freiburg, Germany; tel: +49-761-808011; fax: +49-761-808012.

11)----------
New Graduate-Level Disaster Courses

George Washington University

Commencing with the spring 1999 semester, a graduate-level Crisis and Emergency Management Certificate Program will be offered in addition to the degree programs. The program will consist of six selected courses and will be available for open enrollment or on a contractual basis to interested organizations. Credits earned in the certificate program may be applied to the masters and doctoral requirements.

All of the crisis and emergency management courses are held during the evening at the GWU Foggy Bottom Campus in Washington, D.C.

Please see the Department of Engineering Management Web Site: http://www.seas.gwu.edu/seas/emgt for general information concerning this program, course offerings, and overall graduate-level program information. Also, please see the GWU Institute for Crisis, Disaster, a nd Risk Management Web Site: http://www.seas.gwu.edu/seas/institutes/icdm for information on institute research, training, and education initiatives. For specific questions, please contact the institute at (703) 729-8271; e-mail: crisismgt@seas.gwu.edu.

University of Delaware

12)----------
ADPC Launches Extreme Climate Event Project

[Taken from "Asian Disaster Management News" - the newsletter of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center]

In response to the 1997-98 El Nino event, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in collaboration with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has developed a 15-month pilot project to enhance Southeast Asia's ability to respond to future extreme climate events. The project, funded by the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, will develop a regional capacity of climate forecasting and enable regional sharing of lessons learned, capitalizing on the experiences of the past.

The project will document forecasts, impacts, institutional responses, and policies concerning extreme climate events over the past 10-15 years in some of Asia's most affected countries. The goal is to improve understanding of the impacts on the region. The project will also survey the climate forecasting research community to identify event indicators and develop a predictive capacity. Finally, it will also provide an interface between the generators of climate information and the users of this information, such as governments, NGOs, and the national and regional media.

The countries initially selected to participate include Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The project will focus on impacts in four main sectors: nutrition and food security; population welfare and public health; natural resources and environment; and industry and economy. The project will host regional user workshops and an awareness campaign to inform the public about the impacts of extreme climate events and strategies to avert them.

For more information, contact ADPC, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66-2) 524- 5378/5354; fax: (66-2) 524-5360; e-mail: adpc@ait.ac.th; WWW: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/Default.html.

13)----------
Help Wanted: ADPC Seeks Executive Director

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director.

Established in 1986 by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), ADPC has achieved a worldwide reputation as the primary politically neutral focal point in Asia and the Pacific for promoting disaster awareness and for providing technical support to the development of local disaster management capabilities. ADPC programs are diverse, addressing all types of hazards, natural as well as technological, and covering all aspects of the disaster management spectrum. In 1999 the center will become a fully autonomous independent foundation, though remaining a tenant on AIT's campus north of Bangkok, Thailand.

The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of the center and is responsible for the overall conduct of its affairs, overseen by a Board of Trustees. This is a challenging opportunity to lead a unique and valued regional resource. Candidates for the position should have the following profile:

• The vision to identify the structural and programmatic reforms necessary to take the center into its new independent status and to develop still further the relevance of its programs to its clients;
• Proven leadership and management skills in an international environment in Asia;
• Extensive professional experience in disaster management or a related field.

A competitive compensation package is offered.

To apply please send a CV by 20 December to the Acting Director, ADPC, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; fax: (66-2) 524-5360; e-mail: adpccons@ait.ac.th. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in Bangkok in January 1999.

14)----------
New Watershed Assistance Grants Available

EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds recently awarded River Network $300,000 to distribute grants to local watershed partnerships to support organizational development. River Network, a national organization based in Portland, Oregon, supports river and watershed advocates at the local, state, and regional levels in building effective partnerships and organizations. The Watershed Assistance Grants program will distribute grants ranging from $2,000 to $30,000 in 1999 to support watershed partnerships working to protect and restore watersheds.

Grant applications will be available after December 1, 1998. To request an application, please write to River Network, Watershed Assistance Grants Program, P.O. Box 8787, Portland, OR 97207, or e-mail: info@rivernetwork.org. For additional information on funding opportunities, visit River Network's web site: http://www.rivernetwork.org/nonprofi.htm.

15)----------
On WEBEX - A Successful Experiment in Emergency Management

A person using the experimental approach formulates a hypothesis, then designs a trial that will either support or disprove it. WEBEX was a recent experiment in the use of synchronous Internet technology - "live chat" - to conduct an on-line functional exercise in emergency management and thus to determine whether this medium could be successfully used to conduct such exercises involving a wide variety of role players with little or no "live chat" experience. The results were extremely positive.

The occasion was the November 1998 Virtual Fire and Rescue Exposition (VFRE), an on-line conference hosted by "National Fire & Rescue Magazine," with an audience of fire and emergency management professionals. Almost all planning for the event took place on-line, with weekly meetings using the EIIP chat facility.

Early on, it was decided to use a train derailment scenario involving hazardous materials and elements of terrorism (loosely adapted from the set of interactive training CD-ROMs, "Decision Making Skills for Public Officials During a Hazardous Materials Incident"); permissions and supporting materials were obtained with the cooperation of FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the Exercise Division within the Preparedness, Training, and Exercise Directorate. Five separate chat rooms, representing the on-scene Incident Command Post, staging and triage areas, an Emergency Operations Center, and a media briefing area, were planned. Five Communications Officers were recruited from volunteers and trained in chat techniques to facilitate communications among rooms. Potential roles were identified, and volunteer role players were recruited via various Internet media. Two practice chat sessions, using a different scenario, were held for the players.

The exercise was held the evening of November 5th, and consisted of a 30-minute pre-exercise briefing, 1 1/2 hours of exercise play, and a 30-minute follow-up session. Seven major events were predefined, and a "Master Controller" cued the events to the Communications Officers in each room, based on the progress of the exercise and the time available. Event messages were appropriate to the room receiving the message and synchronized with other messages.

Evaluators, pre-assigned for each room, measured the progress of the player responses against expected actions and reported exercise status to the Master Controller for the purpose of pacing. Both event messages and expected actions were laid out in a common document in spreadsheet form for reference. Multimedia background materials were provided to the players in advance via a WEBEX page on the VFRE World Wide Web site - including maps, planning documents, and the opening scenario with photos, for the fictitious Central City incident. In addition, an exercise overview, video and audio descriptions, and a players list, including bios and digital photos, were provided. During the exercise, additional photos were introduced to provide visual reference and clues.

The exercise itself was a public event with conference attendees invited to either observe or participate. Approximately fifty players and observers stayed through the entire event, with at least seventy-seven in attendance recorded at one point. Professionals from the private sector, fire services, emergency medical services, emergency management, and other local government functions participated.

Again, the objective was not to demonstrate technical perfection of response, but rather, to see whether the whole concept of conducting an exercise via the Internet was feasible, and to learn what improvements might be made in technique. Furthermore, it was hoped that the experience would be challenging and stimulating to all involved, thereby, encouraging more frequent exercising in "real" communities.

As stated above, the outcome was extremely positive: 1) One practice session in chat technique appeared sufficient, even for those who had never chatted previously. 2) Interaction between players was highly realistic, with the usual challenges in human communication observed. 3) A planned formal debriefing was abandoned in light of the excitement generated by the exercise and the time was used for participants to express their reactions. The most frequent question was, and continues to be, "When are we going to do it again?"

This training technique shows real promise; the introduction of the Internet environment seemed to bring with it the appeal of on-line gaming, and provide participants with a highly interactive experience with others of similar background and purpose. Application of this technique to real communities or regions may also enhance understanding of the wide range of professional concerns typically involved in response to a disaster or major incident. Although no follow-up event is currently planned, we expect another WEBEX or similar exercise sometime in the future and encourage other organizations to conduct experiments of their own.

For further information, contact Amy Sebring, EIIP Project Coordinator (asebring@emforum.org); or Avagene Moore, CEM, EIIP Coordinator (amoore@emforum.org).

16)----------
Maple Leaf Sites

A DR reader recently suggested the following Web sites from up north as useful sources of disaster information:

http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/tekrd/rd/apps/em/disasters/dismone.html

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing - Disaster Monitoring

http://www.ccep.ca/

Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness

http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/caninfo/ealpha.htm#D

National Library of Canada/Canadian Information: Disasters:

http://www.rcc-net.org/

Rescue Coordination Centre Network

http://www.ciffc.ca/

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

http://www.denendeh.com/flycolor/wildfire/

Canadian Wildfire Network

17)----------
Some Interesting Numbers

[The following data appear in the November/December 1998 issue of "WorldWatch"]

Number of people killed in
international terrorist attacks in 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Number of people killed by human-exacerbated floods
in the past eight months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,914

Population of the United States . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 million
Number of the 400 million people living in China's Yangtze
watershed who lost crops, were forced out of their homes
or businesses, or suffered other damages from the flooding
of the Yangtze River in 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 million

Population of Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 million
Number of people flooded out of their homes
in China in 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 million

18)----------
A Recent Grant of Note

An Interactive, Intelligent, Spatial Information System (IISIS) for Disaster Management: A Community Model. Funding agency: Buhl Foundation, $100,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Louise Comfort, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, 3E31 Forbes Quadrangle, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260; (412) 624-5523 fax: (412) 624-4810; e-mail: lkc@pitt.edu; WWW: http://quake.ucsur.pitt.edu:2000/.

19)----------
Conferences and Training

[Below are some recent 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]

The CUREe-SCEC Course on the Earth Sciences-Engineering Interface in Seismic Design. Sponsors: California Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREe) and the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). Los Angeles, California: November 30, 1998. Contact: CUREe, 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804; or SCEC, University of Southern California, 3651 Trousdale Parkway, Suite 166, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742; (213) 740-5843; fax: (213) 740-0011.

Twenty-fourth Course on Disaster Management (DMC-24). Offered by: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Bangkok, Thailand: March 8- 26, 1999. Contact ADPC, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66-2) 524-5378/5354; fax: (66-2) 524-5360; e-mail: adpc@ait.ac.th; WWW: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/Default.html.

Coastal GeoTools: A Conference for Coastal Resource Managers Who Want to Make Better Use of Geospatial Data, Tools, and Technology. Sponsor: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services Center. Charleston, South Carolina: April 5-7, 1999. Contact: NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405-2413; (843) 740-1334; WWW: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/GeoTools99/.

Natural Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Annual Conference. Washington, D.C.: May 7-12, 1999. Contact the Office of Emergency Preparedness/ National Disaster Medical System, Department of Health and Human Services, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 360, Rockville, MD 20857; (800) 872-6367 (press the "star" key) or (301) 443-1167; fax: (301) 443-5146; e-mail: ndms@usa.net; WWW: http://www.oep-ndms.dhhs.gov.

Third Regional Training Course on "Community Based Approaches to Disaster Management" (CBDM-3). Offered by: the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Bangkok, Thailand: May 10-21, 1999. Contact ADPC, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66-2) 524-5378/5354; fax: (66-2) 524-5360; e-mail: adpc@ait.ac.th; WWW: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/Default.html.

Tsunami Symposium. Sponsor: Tsunami Society. Honolulu, Hawaii: May 25- 27, 1999. Abstracts are due February 1, 1999 and should be directed to Charles Mader, Tsunami Symposium Program Chairperson, 1049, Kamehame Drive, Honolulu, HI 96825-2860; (808) 396-9855 or (970) 949-6845 (December 21-April 1). For additional information about the conference, contact the Tsunami Society, P.O. Box 25218, Honolulu, HI 96825; or call the symposium chairperson, George Curtis; (808) 963- 6670.

Hemispheric International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) Meeting for the Americas: Towards a Reduction in the Impact of Disasters in the 21st Century. San Jose, Costa Rica: June 1-5, 1999. Contact: Helena Molin Valdes, IDNDR Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, c/o Pan American Health Organization, P.O. Box 3745-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica; tel: (506) 257-3141; fax: (506) 257- 2139; e-mail: hmolin@undpcos.nu.or.cr.

Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) 1999 Annual Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia: December 5-8, 1999. Contact: Society for Risk Analysis, 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 402, McLean, VA 22101; (703) 790-1745; e-mail: sra@burkinc.com; WWW: http://www.sra.org.

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