Return to Index of Disaster Research Newsletters
Aloha!
I'm with the Pacific Disaster Center, a federal activity designed to
support regional emergency managers. To support some of our work, I am
attempting to locate research that quantifies hazard occurrences for
countries in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region. The area does not
include Africa, the Arabian peninsula, North and South America. The
hazards we are concerned with include tropical cyclones or hurricanes,
tsunamis, wildfires, flooding, drought, earthquakes, volcanic
activities, high surf, and high wind. We hope to be able to compile
data for each of the countries in this region to reflect relative
frequency of occurrences. Any assistance you can provide would be most
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Paul A. Deery
Director of Operations
Pacific Disaster Center
590 Lipoa Parkway, Suite 259
Kihei, Hawaii 96753
(808) 891-0525 ext. 39
Fax: (808) 891-0526
E-mail: pdeery@pdc.org
We are seeking information/contacts/collaboration/projects etc.
Please contact us and
many tanks in advance,
Dimitri Makhatadze
Emergency Medical Service Training Center
Director
E-mail: ditoems@nilc.org.ge
The need for a national plan for wind hazard mitigation as part of a national mitigation plan has been cited in many recent studies. These and other reports have identified needs for and benefits of advancing wind hazard mitigation, but have generally not suggested effective ways to implement such programs. Unfortunately, like other hazards, the extreme wind hazard is not a simple problem. It can be random in both time and space; it is dealt with in only a piecemeal way by the design and construction industries; it is overseen by a fragmentary governmental and regulatory structure; and it is usually met with relative indifference by the public. Only when an actual event - a hurricane, tornado, or other high wind disaster - occurs, do the public and various levels of government become concerned, and even then, the interest and potential commitment are often short-lived.
Of course, no professional organization can dictate to other groups, agencies, or governmental bodies how they should determine their priorities or allocate their resources. Yet it should be possible to work with these groups to increase their awareness that protection against extreme winds is not only possible, but potentially cost- effective; that warning systems are not the only answer to such hazards; and that the risk can be significantly reduced through thoughtful design, construction, regulation, and code enforcement. Such an effort requires sustained commitment and involvement from the wind hazard management community, particularly when already existing structures are involved.
One possible approach to developing a national plan would be to involve members of the American Association for Wind Engineering (AAWE) and other interested persons in an ongoing dialogue to develop a skeleton plan - perhaps through the AAWE Web site. As ideas are developed, the site could provide both a venue for discussion and a dynamic blueprint of a national plan. Persons without access to the Web could be updated through e-mail or printed mailings.
The AAWE is currently seeking comments on this approach and on the potential elements of a national wind hazard mitigation plan. Comments should be addressed to Michael P. Gaus, American Association for Wind Engineering, c/o Department of Civil Engineering, Room 212 Ketter Hall, University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260-4300; (716) 645-2180, ext. 2410; fax: (716) 645-3733; e-mail: gaus@eng.buffalo.edu; WWW: http://www.civil.buffalo.edu/aawe.
[Adapted from The Wind Engineer: Newsletter of the American Association for Wind Engineering. Persons interested in subscribing, should contact the AAWE at the address above.]
Several universities are working together to develop a coordinated Wind Hazard Mitigation Consortium. Cooperating in this effort are Virginia Tech, Clemson, Florida International, Johns Hopkins, Louisiana State, North Carolina State, and Notre Dame universities, as well as the State University of New York at Buffalo and the University of Delaware. The consortium has put together a comprehensive plan to develop knowledge and solutions in both technical and socioeconomic areas concerning wind hazards and is currently seeking support for this plan. For information about this effort, contact H.W. Tieleman, Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA 24061; (540) 231-4190; fax: (540) 231-4574; e-mail: tieleman@bt.edu.
On average, hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones take 350 lives every year in the U.S. Additionally, property losses due to severe winds of various kinds have increased dramatically this decade, amounting to billions of dollars. Moreover, many scientists are predicting increased hurricane activity in coming years.
The Partnership for Natural Disaster Reduction and its principle undertaking - the HomeSaver Project, supported by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Energy - represent one effort to deal with these losses. The partnership is a cooperative effort among government, universities, and industry. The aim of the HomeSaver Project is to discover proven, affordable, hazard-resistant remedies to make homes and businesses safer in hazardous areas, including higher-risk ocean or inland coastal regions.
To achieve this goal, the partnership has completed the conceptual design for a national test facility: the Windstorm Center at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) will generate hurricane-force winds on one- to two-story homes (or other structures) to determine what construction practices and retrofit options can work to keep homes safer in severe windstorms. The partnership will provide input to the HomeSaver Project concerning the types of tests the center should conduct and will actively promote the mitigation options resulting from the project.
In its first phase, the HomeSaver Project will test real homes in credible simulated storms of hurricane intensity. One-story homes will be tested at turbulent wind gusts as high as 120 mph intermixed with rain - typical of severe storms at the earth's surface. Before homes are tested at the Windstorm Center, they will be built as they are today, according to various building codes, with new technologies, or fitted with different types of materials. The tests should help determine:
For more information about this partnership and project, contact: Cheryl O'Brien, Program Manager, Partnership for Natural Disaster Reduction, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3605; (208) 526-4105; fax: (208) 526-4017; e-mail: cco@inel.gov; WWW: http://www.inel.gov/homesaver.
Two important components of hazard mitigation are 1) assessing the vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure and 2) increasing building and infrastructure resistance to damage caused by hazard events. Increased damage resistance is achieved through improvements in construction codes and standards, designs, methods, and materials used for both new construction and postdisaster repair and recovery.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Building Performance Assessment Team (BPAT) Program, part of FEMA's national mitigation effort, is an integral part of this process. Operated by a consulting engineering firm under contract to FEMA, the program employs federal, state, and local officials, and private-sector specialists from many fields to study building performance in response to natural and human-caused hazards. BPAT objectives are to inspect buildings and infrastructure; conduct forensic engineering analyses to determine causes of structural failure and success; and recommend actions that state and local governments, the construction industry, and building code organizations can take to reduce future damage and protect lives and property in hazard areas.
Since the early 1990s, FEMA has deployed BPATs in response to Hurricanes Andrew, Iniki, Opal, Fran, and George; flood disasters in California, Georgia, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Texas; and the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
Successful hazard mitigation depends in part on the application of BPAT findings and recommendations to new construction and retrofitting. The transfer of information by FEMA to state and local governments and the private sector is critical to this process. Hence, FEMA broadly distributes this information using a wide variety of media, and the program now offers several of its reports on-line through the FEMA Web site.
For more information on FEMA's BPAT program, copies of the latest team reports concerning the effects of Hurricane Georges on Puerto Rico and the Gulf Coast, and information about becoming a member of a BPAT team, see: http://www.fema.gov/mit/bpat; or contact Clifford Oliver, Program Manager, Program Assessment and Outreach Division, Mitigation Directorate, Room 411, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472; (202) 646-4631; fax: (202) 646-2577; e-mail: Clifford.Oliver@fema.gov.
American Indian and Alaska tribal governments hold a unique status in the U.S., having many of the rights and benefits of sovereign nations. Recently, in a final policy statement contained in the January 12 issue of the Federal Register (Vol. 64, No. 7, pp. 2095-2097), James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced his agency's commitment to working with native American nations on emergency management issues.
In 1994, President Clinton directed agencies to ensure that the federal government maintains a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized tribal governments. As a result, FEMA has been developing a policy to encourage cooperation and partnership between and among federal, tribal, state, and local governments to resolve issues of mutual concern related to emergency management.
Promising that FEMA will use its best efforts to institutionalize this policy within the fundamental tenets of the agency's mission, Witt designated the agency's Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Directorate to serve as liaison between FEMA and sovereign tribes on policy issues. Further, he noted that each of the 10 FEMA regional offices has a designated individual as the focal point for the coordination and implementation of this policy.
The same issue of the Federal Register contains an in-depth discussion of comments FEMA received while considering this policy (pp. 2099-2107). Copies of the Federal Register can be found at any federal depository library or via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov.
For more information on this new policy, contact Kyle W. Blackman, FEMA, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472; (202) 646-2776; e-mail: kyle.blackman@fema.gov.
During the past 30 years, thousands of miles of floodplain have been carefully mapped and analyzed under FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These studies have affected local zoning, mitigation policy, and flood insurance coverage. However, in many areas, the floodplains are changing faster than either FEMA or the participating communities can update the information. Urbanization, new land uses, and natural forces such as erosion and siltation have drastically altered floodplains, and many new areas are susceptible to floods but remain unmapped.
The cost of updating the nation's flood insurance studies could range as high as $800 million, and addressing the backlog of studies and revisions would require FEMA to divert personnel and resources from other important programs, such as disaster response, recovery, emergency preparedness, and mitigation. Thus, FEMA is establishing a new program, Cooperating Technical Communities (CTC), to ensure a high standard of quality and program compliance among communities that have both the interest in and capability of performing map updates.
Currently, the consulting firm of Dewberry and Davis, which has served as a technical assistance contractor for the NFIP since 1974, is developing guidelines and specifications for the CTC regarding preparation and maintenance of digital and standard flood insurance rate maps and other aspects of the mapping process. Dewberry and Davis will also coordinate assistance, develop selection criteria for CTC candidates, create a public awareness program, and develop training materials. The first agreements will be made with pilot communities this year.
For more information on this project, contact Allen Groover, Dewberry & Davis, 8401 Arlington Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22031-4666; (703) 849-0100; fax: (703) 849- 0118; WWW: http://www.dewberry.com.
The recently formed Multihazard Mitigation Council is initiating a drive for charter members representing all natural hazard interests. The council, whose goals are to improve communication, coordination, and cooperation among all parties involved with natural hazard mitigation, was established under the auspices of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS). It brings together experts from across disciplines to provide advice and counsel to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other federal agencies, and state and local officials about how to best approach hazard mitigation. Individuals and organizations interested in these goals are invited to become members. For more information, call (202) 289-7800, or e-mail the council's Executive Director, Tom Hollenbach, at thollenbach@nibs.org.
The mission of the World Bank is to reduce poverty and improve living standards through sustainable growth and investment in people, and the agency believes that to do this, disaster prevention and mitigation must become integral parts of development planning. Thus, on July 13, 1998, the World Bank created a Disaster Management Facility (DMF) to provide operation support, promote capacity building, and establish partnerships with both the international and scientific communities to work on disaster issues. Specifically, the DMF will promote:
For further information on the DMF and its activities, contact Alcira Kreimer, Disaster Management Facility, World Bank, Room F4K-282, 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20433; (202) 473-3205; fax: (202) 522-3224; e-mail: akreimer@worldbank.org; or Margaret Arnold; (202) 473-1378; e-mail: marnold@worldbank.org.
The United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) Secretariat has announced its 1999 World Disaster Reduction Campaign, to be based on the slogan "Prevention Pays." To celebrate the theme of this, the final year of the IDNDR, the secretariat is inviting all partners to share examples of successful disaster prevention practices at the international, national, and local level.
Among other activities, the secretariat is organizing an international photo contest with entries illustrating effective disaster prevention. The campaign will culminate on October 13 with World Disaster Reduction Day, during which the 1999 United Nations Sasakawa Disaster Prevention Award and the 1999 IDNDR International Photo Contest Award will be presented.
The IDNDR Secretariat would like to remind everyone interested in natural disaster reduction that two resource centers, the IDNDR Resource Centre and the Regional Disaster Information Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRID), are available to provide disaster- related information and documentation. The IDNDR Resource Centre offers books, monographs, journals, magazines, and other documents, as well as selected bibliographies on disaster-related literature available on-line and upon request. Moreover, a specialized on-line reference database is available for the search of specific information.
The objectives of CRID are to collect and index existing disaster- related information and to distribute reference materials at no cost to organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The center offers a variety of services, including bibliographic searches; a print index of all documents in the center's database (DESINDEX); specialized bibliographies published by the center (BIBLIO-DES); a CD-ROM containing the center's database (LILACS CD-ROM); and direct access via Internet for database searches, written and audiovisual training material, contacts, news, and updates.
For more information, see: http://www.idndr.org/; and http://www.netsalud.sa.cr/crid; or contact: Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo, IDNDR Secretariat, United Nations, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel: (41-22) 917-9709; e-mail: madeleine.moulin-acevedo@dha.unicc.org; WWW: http://www.idndr.org/.
[These are some of the latest and more useful Internet resources we've encountered. For an extended list of selected Internet sites dealing with hazards and disaster management, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html.]
http://www.oas.org/en/prog/nhp
The Natural Hazards Project (NHP) of the Unit for Sustainable
Development and Environment (USDE), Organization of American States
(OAS) recently announced its new Web page at the URL above. The page
contains information, in Spanish and English, about the project's
various natural hazard mitigation activities including the projects in
the areas of transportation vulnerability reduction, education
vulnerability reduction, and floodplain management, as well as
announcements about up-coming activities, the project's internship
program (see Disaster Research #281), and contact information.
As a response to Hurricanes Georges and Mitch, the Natural Hazards Project is developing a school building construction and maintenance resource Web page within the education section of the NHP site. The resource page will include technical documents, contact information for groups and individuals working on school building reconstruction and retrofitting, and links to relevant Web sites. The objective of the resource page is to provide information that will facilitate the rebuilding of schools so that they will be resistant to future natural events.
The project is open to suggestions of information that should be added to the site, and is looking for technical documents in electronic form about school building reconstruction, retrofitting, site selection, or related materials. Also, please contact the project regarding relevant Web sites that should be included and/or names and contact information of individuals, organizations, or networks that are, or might potentially become involved in, school reconstruction.
The Natural Hazards Project is interested in any feedback about the accessibility, format, content, and relevance of this site. Comments can be directed to the Natural Hazards Project, Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment, Organization of American States, 1889 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20008; (202) 458-6803; fax: (202) 458-3560; e-mail: .
http://www.discovery.com/news/earthalert/earthalert.html
Via this Web site, the Discovery Channel offers a world map with
"Daily Updates of the State of Planet." Icons on the map indicate
recent disasters (earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, wildfire, drought,
infestations, temperature extremes, volcanic eruptions, avalanches,
tropical storms, landslides, high wind, and other major disasters -
including, this week, an elephant stampede in Indonesia). Click on an
icon to receive an in-depth report.
http://www.aswm.org
The Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) is now on the
Web at the address above. The site includes information about the
association and its many activities, current news about wetlands, a
list of programs and symposia, a book ordering service, a registry of
professionals, and links to other wetland sites. The ASWM is now a
partner with Wetlands International (see:
http://www.wetlands.ca/wi-a/wadex.html, and
http://www.wetlands.agro.nl) and is helping that organization form
Wetlands International U.S., as well as an interorganizational
International Wetlands and Floodplain Coordinating Council.
http://www.dir.ucar.edu/esig/HP_roger/sourcebook
This National Center for Atmospheric Research Web site, entitled
The Extreme Weather Sourcebook, reports economic costs of extreme
weather by state. It provides quick access to data on damage costs due
to hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes in the United States and its
territories. The information is in constant 1997 dollars, simplifying
comparisons among extreme-weather impacts and among states or regions.
The site ranks the states and U.S. territories in order of economic
losses from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and all three events
combined, and a dollar figure for the average annual cost in each
category for each state is also provided. Links take the reader to
graphs with more detailed information on cost per year for each state
and each hazard.
http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/arf.html
Background information and a summary report of the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF) Workshop on Disaster Management, held earlier this year,
are available from this site. Organized by the Asian Disaster
Preparedness Center (ADPC) with support from the United States Office
of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the workshop was convened to
promote bilateral, subregional, and multilateral cooperation in
disaster management in the Asia/Pacific region.
[The Natural Hazards Center lists Y2K sites that might be helpful for emergency managers on its Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/y2k.html]
http://www.co.mo.md.us/pio/y2k/lessons.htm
http://www.co.mo.md.us/Year2000/
On December 21, 1998 Montgomery County Maryland conducted a full-
scale Year 2000 exercise, and a summary with lessons learned is
provided at the first URL above. Major systems were tested in real-
time with clocks that were rolled ahead. These included the 911
computer aided dispatch system, the traffic management center (which
controls all the traffic lights), FAMIS accounts payable and payroll,
and voter registration. The lessons learned cover implications for
local government, the region, state, and nation. Montgomery county
offers additional resources via its Y2K office site at the second URL,
including information about the office's mission and its approach to
handling Y2K problems. The site also includes a section on "Best
Practices for Organizations" at
http://www.co.mo.md.us/Year2000/strategiesf.htm.
http://www.coalition2000.org/prepplan.htm
This DavisLogic, Inc. site offers a draft community Y2K
preparedness plan.
http://www.computerworld.com/news/year_2000/index.html
Computerworld magazine's collection of year 2000 links and
resources.
http://www.utne.com/y2k/
The Utne Reader's year 2000 report, including a citizen's
action guide.
The Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment (USDE) of the Organization of American States is currently soliciting support for two Regional Meetings on Curriculum Development, Teacher Training and Community Involvement for Disaster Education in Latin American and the Caribbean. In support of this initiative, USDE invites all interested persons to participate in a "Virtual Chat Session," hosted by the Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) to be held in English on Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at 1:00 p.m. EST.
The session will serve as a "brainstorming" meeting to determine the format and content of the regional meetings; identify the key actors who should be present; and identify potential presenters, moderators, and an organizing committee. More generally, the session will further efforts to establish a dialogue on disaster education and to consolidate the emerging network of professionals working in this area.
Similarly, the resulting regional meetings will facilitate networking of institutions and individuals working on disaster curricula, promote curriculum planning and development, help generate research incentives, facilitate the exchange of ideas and materials, further disaster education generally, and foster community involvement in disaster education. Persons unable to participate in the chat session can contact USDE at the addresses below with ideas and/or to receive a complete agenda. Persons requiring technical assistance, should feel free to contact Katherine Reilly (202) 458-6803, kreilly@oas.org or Sergio Mora (202) 458-6261, usdecpr2@oas.org. We look forward to chatting with you!
Sincerely,
Stephen O. Bender
Natural Hazards Project - Unit for Sustainable Development and
Environment
Organization of American States
1889 F Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 458-6295
Fax: (202) 458-3560
E-mail: Natural-Hazards-Project@oas.org
WWW: http://www.oas.org/en/prog/nhp
To learn more about the Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) Virtual Forum see: http://www.emforum.org.
On Friday, the International Joint Commission (IJC) Red River Basin Task Force and the Red River Basin Board, with support from the Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) and the Global Disaster Information Infrastructure (GDIN) Transition Team, announced the launch of the Red River Basin Disaster Information Network. The network will host a "virtual forum" for sharing information on the results of Information User Needs workshops held last July; this interactive discussion session will be held February 25, 12:00 p.m. (CST). The forum will occur on-line and will be accessible to network members via http://www.emforum.org/redriver/ - the new Web site and focal point for the network.
The purpose of the network is to provide an opportunity for sharing disaster-related information among persons and agencies responsible for flood mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in the region. Interested persons are encouraged to become members of this group; an e-mail address is all that is required for membership, however, Internet access and browser software are recommended for full participation. Visit the Web site listed above for an on-line application. For more information, contact the IJC Task Force Database Subgroup Co-leaders: Terry Birkenstock; (651) 290-5271; e-mail: terry.j.birkenstock@mvp02.usace.army.mil -or- Dr. Slobodan Simonovic; (204) 474-8375; e-mail: simon@ce.umanitoba.ca
The Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) is seeking an executive director. CUSEC is a multistate earthquake preparedness and mitigation consortium based in Memphis, Tennessee. The organization seeks a person experienced in program management, grant writing and administration, and emergency management. Resumes will be accepted until March 31 and should be sent to W.R. Padgett, Chair, CUSEC Board of Directors, c/o Kentucky Emergency Management Agency, Service-Boone Center, EOC Building, Room 106, Frankfort, KY 40501-6168. For more information about CUSEC, see http://www.cusec.org.
[We received the following via the grapevine and have abbreviated the announcement to save space. We suggest contacting FEMA for complete details.]
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Recruitment Bulletin RB-99-027-CNB. The subject position is covered under the National Flood Insurance Fund.
OPEN: February 8, 1999
CLOSE: March 2, 1999
POSITION: Program Specialist, GS-301-14
SALARY RANGE: $68,570 - $89,142
PROMOTIONAL
POTENTIAL: NONE
LOCATION: FEMA, Mitigation Directorate, Program Support
Division, Program Delivery Branch
DUTY STATION: Washington, DC
AREA OF
CONSIDERATION: All Sources - Nationwide
DUTIES
The incumbent serves as a program manager, policy advisor, and team
leader for the National Flood Insurance Program in the Program
Delivery Branch within the Program Support Division of the Mitigation
Directorate. Manages the functions of the Floodplain Management Team.
Plans and directs all activities performed within the team and is
responsible for the timeliness and quality of the work produced by the
team. Directs and "coaches" the team in the selection and application
of appropriate problem solving techniques, provides advice on work
methods, practices and procedures. Trains or arranges for the training
of team members in team building and for specific training necessary
for the accomplishment of individual and team tasks. Monitors and
reports on the status and progress of floodplain management work.
Represents the team in dealings with the Branch Chief or the Division
Director for the purpose of obtaining resources. Represents the team
in meetings and dealings with other team leaders within the
Directorate, program officials within and outside of the Agency, the
public and other customers. Resolves simple, informal complaints of
employees and refers others, such as formal grievances and appeals, to
the Branch Chief or to the appropriate management official.
Coordinates the preparation, presentation, and communication of work
related information to the Branch Chief and Division Director. Ensures
that the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are
communicated to the team and integrated into the team's strategies,
goals, objectives, work plans and work products and services. . .
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES KSA's
Applicants should address the appropriate KSA's in their
application/resume: GS-301-14
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants must submit an SF-171, OF-612 or resume to:
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW, Room 816
Washington, DC 20472
Attn: Carolyn Nelson-Ballard
For more information about this vacancy, contact Carolyn
Nelson-Ballard at (202) 646-3244.
If applying by resume it is mandatory the following information be included: Social Security Number, Veterans Preference Information, citizenship information, previous salary, complete employment and educational history, and daytime phone number. Either the resume or a cover letter must be signed and dated. Resumes not containing the above information will not be considered.
Disaster Research #282 incorrectly listed contacts for ordering a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) home study course, "Introduction to Mitigation" (IS-393). The material can be ordered from FEMA's Emergency Management Institute, Independent Study Program, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998, or downloaded through the Internet from http://www.fema.gov/home/emi/ishome.htm.
Strategies for Coordinating Disaster Responses. Funding agency: National Science Foundation, $350,940, 24 months. Principal Investigator: Thomas E. Drabek, Department of Sociology, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208-0209; (303) 871-2947 or 871-2050; fax: (303) 741-0390; e-mail: zted@aol.com.
1998 Volcan Casita Mudflow, Nicaragua. Funding agency: National Science Foundation, $5,485, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Michael F. Sheridan, Department of Geology, Box 603050, University of Buffalo, NY 14260-3050; (716) 645-6800, ext. 6100; fax: (716) 645-3999; e-mail: mfs@acsu.buffalo.edu.
State Regulation of Building Safety: Policy Choices, Institutions, and Interests. Funding agency: National Science Foundation; $92,979, 24 months. Principal Investigator: Alka Sapat, School of Public Administration, University Tower, 220 S.E. Second Avenue, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301; (954) 762-5687; fax: (954) 762-5673; e-mail: asapat@acc.fau.edu.
Comparing Community Response to Hurricanes Georges and Andrew in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida. Funding agency: National Science Foundation, $96,145, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Betty Hearn Morrow and Nicole Dash, International Center for Hurricane Research and Mitigation, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199; (305) 348-3217; fax: (305) 385-7364; e-mail: morrowb@fiu.edu.
The Economic Benefits of a Disaster Resistant University. Funding agencies: Federal Emergency Management Agency and University of California Berkeley, $750,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Mary C. Comerio, Department of Architecture, 335 Wurster Hall, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 84720-1800; (510) 642-2406 or 642-4942; fax: (510) 643-5607; e-mail: mary_comerio@ced.berkeley.edu.
We recently received a notice of a "Broad Agency Announcement" [are there "Narrow Agency Announcements"?] by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg Consolidated Contracting Office. It states that areas of interest include "earthquake engineering; coastal engineering" and several other hazard-related areas. The complete announcement will be available on the World Wide Web on or about February 26 at http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/contract/BAA99.htm. The deadline for proposals is December 31, 1999. See http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/contract for more information, or call Trudy James, (601) 631-7265 -or- Robin Green, (601) 631-7266.
Risk Management: An International Journal is published to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise across countries, disciplines, and professions. It is intended to generate ideas and promote good practice among those involved in the business of managing risk and is essential reading for anyone involved in this discipline. The journal includes research-based papers and case studies, literature reviews, and papers written by leading experts in the field of risk, crisis, and disaster.
In the first issue, for example (published in January 1999), noted disaster researcher Henry Quarantelli examines the implications of future disaster trends for programs and policies; Christopher Hood explores risk regulation regimes within the framework of the interface between the risk society and the regulatory state; and John Copas looks at statistical modeling for risk assessment. Finally, Stephen Sutton reviews the psychological literature on the perception of health risks. Regular features include "A Risky Decision" and "Risk Management on the Internet" together with a reviews section.
We welcome papers from anyone working or conducting researching in the area of risk, crisis, or disaster. Authors are encouraged to send research-based papers and case studies, as well as papers developing theory and good practice. All papers are anonymously refereed. For further information, please contact Martina McGuinness, Scarman Centre for the Study of Public Order, University of Leicester, 154 Upper New Walk, Leicester LE1 7QA, U.K.; tel: +44(0)116 252 5703; fax: +44(0) 116 252 5766; e-mail: mmm10@le.ac.uk.
[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]
Disaster Recovery: Maximizing Federal Aid. Presented by: Management Concepts, Inc. This two-day seminar covering FEMA's redesigned Public Assistance Program is offered in 14 different sites around the nation, March through July 1999. For a seminar brochure, contact: Management Concepts, Inc., 8230 Leesburg Pike, Suite 800, Vienna, VA 22182; (703) 790-9595; fax: (703) 790-1371; WWW: http://www.mgmtconcepts.com.
EERI Learning from Earthquakes Program: "Technical Briefings on the Colombia Earthquake of January 25, 1999." San Francisco, California: March 4, 1999; Los Angeles, California: March 5, 1999. Contact: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612-1934; (510) 451-0905; fax: (510 ) 451-5411; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org; WWW: http://www.eeri.org.
Workshop on Seismic Analysis, Design, and Retrofitting of Bridges. Host: University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, California: March 22-25, 1999. Contact: UC Berkeley Office of Continuing Education; (510) 642-4151; WWW: http://www.berkeley.edu/unex/eng.
Disaster Recovery Planning: Insuring Business Continuity. Offered by:
American Management Association International.
Orlando, FL: March 22-24, 1999
Phoenix, AZ: April 7-9, 1999
New York, NY: May 19-21, 1999
Hyannis, MA: June 28-30, 1999
Chicago, IL: September 29-October 1, 1999
New York, NY: November 1-3, 1999
Scottsdale, AZ: December 8-10, 1999
Contact: American Management Association, P.O. Box 169, Saranac Lake,
NY 12983-9985; fax: (518) 891-0368; WWW: http://www.amanet.org/.
37th Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Annual Conference and Exhibition. Dallas, Texas: April 11-16, 1999. Contact: RIMS, 655 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017; (212) 286-9292; WWW: http://www.rims.org.
Business Recovery Managers Symposium: A Three-Day Strategic Summit on Contingency Planning, Y2K Disaster Mitigation, and Disaster Management and Response. Offered by: MIS Training Institute. Orlando, Florida: April 27-29, 1999 (with pre- and postconference workshops, April 26 and April 29-30). Contact: MIS Training Institute, 498 Concord Street, Framingham, MA 01702-2357; (508) 879-7999; fax: (508) 872-1153; e-mail: mis@misti.com; WWW: http://www.misti.com.
The Oceanography Society (TOS) 1999 Scientific Meeting: "Extreme and Unexpected Phenomena in the Ocean." Reno, Nevada: April 27-30, 1999. Abstract deadline: March 1, 1999. See: http://www.tos.org, or contact: TOS Meeting Planning Office, 4052 Timber Ridge Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455; (757) 464-0131; fax: (757) 464-1759; e-mail: J.Rhodes@tos.org.
Arizona Floodplain Management Association Annual Meeting. Payson, Arizona: May 6-7, 1999. Contact: Dan Sherwood, (602) 435-4152.
Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) 1999 Symposium: "Setting the Trend for the Next Millennium." Los Angeles, California: June 13-16, 1999. Contact: ACP, P.O. Box 16861, Irvine, CA 92623-6861; (414) 768-8000, ext. 134; e-mail: acp1999@excite.com; WWW: http://www.ACP-International.com.
Short Course on Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Buildings. Offered by: Indian Institute of Technology. Kanpur, India: May 24-28, 1999. Contact: Dr. Sudhir K. Jain, Coordinator for Course on Seismic Design, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur - 208 016, India; tel: (0512) 597867; fax: (0512) 597795, 597395; e-mail: skjain@iitk.ac.in.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Second Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Conference. Emmitsburg, Maryland: June 16-18, 1999. The organizers are currently seeking recommendations regarding format, content, participants, speakers, workshops, etc. Contact: Wayne Blanchard, Higher Education Project, FEMA Emergency Management Institute, Building N, Room 430, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727; (301) 447-1262; fax: #(301) 447-1598; e-mail: wayne.blanchard@fema.gov.
First Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Summer Institute on Interdisciplinary Science in the Americas: "Interactions between Seasonal to Inter-Annual Climate Variability and Human Systems." Miami, Florida: July 11-30, 1999. Contact: IAI/UM Summer Institute, c/o Guillermo Podesta, University of Miami RSMAS/MPO, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149-1098; fax: (305) 361-4622; e-mail: gpodesta@rsmas.miami.edu; WWW: http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/IAIUM.
Fourth Colorado Mitigation and Wildfire Conference. Denver, Colorado: September 17-19, 1999. Call: (303) 271-8217; fax: (303) 271-8227.
International Symposium on Earthquake Engineering (ISEE '99). Organizers: Institute of Earthquake Engineering, University of Montenegro. Budva, Montenegro, Yugoslavia: September 22-25, 1999. Contact: ISEE '99 Secretariat, University of Montenegro, Faculty of Civil Engineering, 81000 Podgorica, Cetinjski put bb, Montenegro, Yugoslavia; tel: +381 81 245 510; fax: +381 81 241 903; e-mail: isee99@cg.yu.
California Emergency Services Association Annual Conference and Training: "Defining 21st Century Emergency Management, Managing Reality vs. Perceptions in a Media World." Palm Springs, California: September 26-30, 1999. Contact: Wendy Milligan, Business Manager, 181 Westminster Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003; (805) 644-0899; fax: (850) 642-2883; e-mail: scesamgr@aol.com.
International Erosion Control Association 31st Annual Conference and Trade Exposition. Palm Springs, California: February 21-25, 2000. Abstracts due April 1, 1999. Contact: International Erosion Control Association, 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.
Eighth International Conference of the Natural Hazards Society. Tokushima, Japan: May 21-25, 2000. Contact: Natural Hazards Society, P.O. Box 49511, 80 Glen Shields Avenue, Concord, Ontario, Canada L4K 4P6; WWW: http://www.es.mq.edu.au/NHRC/NHS.
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute 2000 Annual Meeting. St. Louis, Missouri: May 31-June 3, 2000. Contact: EERI, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612-1934; (510) 451-0905; fax: (510) 451-5411; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org; WWW: http://www.eeri.org.
Intecol VI - Global Wetlands at the Millennium. Sponsor: International Association of Ecology. Quebec City, Canada: August 6-12, 2000. Contact: Clayton Rubec, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OH3; (819) 953-0485; fax: (819) 994-4445; e-mail: clay.rubec@ec.gc.ca.
Return to Index of Disaster Research Newsletters
Return to Hazards Center Home Page
hazctr@colorado.edu