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We would appreciate receiving information about the specific effects
on pets and farm animals resulting from the following disasters:
I'm preparing a paper on "Community-Based Approaches to Disaster Mitigation" for a conference in June, and I would like to make some comparisons between approaches in developed and developing countries. Although I know about community-based approaches in developing countries, I am less familiar with experiences in developed countries, so would be grateful to anybody who could recommend either case studies or more general analysis of such experiences - preferably material that is easily accessible. Please contact Dr. John Twigg, e-mail: twigg.glynn@virgin.net -or- j.twigg@ucl.ac.uk.
A Classic Question . . .
Hello,
I am working with New Zealand's national government-owned natural
disaster insurer, the Earthquake Commission (EQC). I am hoping you can
help us (or suggest a source of help). We are looking for any
information or studies/research on the costs and benefits of
mitigation measures made in and to residential homes.
A little background may be useful. EQC provides all New Zealand homeowners with low-cost comprehensive natural disaster insurance (full details are on the EQC Web site at http://www.eqc.govt.nz). Part of EQC's role is also to educate the public about the risks they face and what they can do to reduce those risks.
One idea we are investigating is to make available at low cost products that will make it easier for homeowners to take measures to reduce loss. This would mean importing products and retailing them to homeowners and others. Since this is outside EQC's current core business (simply being an insurer), we need to be able to show that there are potential cost savings (in terms of reduced damage and thus lower payouts) and that these savings are likely to out-weigh the costs involved in promoting the mitigation efforts.
Our efforts to find information or studies that quantify the savings to homes and contents have not, so far, been very successful - could you please point me to any such information??
Thanks in advance for your help. I am happy to share any information I do get - please let me know if this is of interest to you.
Best wishes,
Gary Bowering
P.O. Box 12-455
Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand
Tel: +64-4-472 2239; Fax: +64-4-473 3414; E-mail: bowering@paradise.Net.Nz2
The Coventry Centre for Disaster Management, Coventry University, U.K., has recently been experimenting with using the Internet to deliver distance-taught material. At the moment there is an exercise on-line, called Midtown, which is based upon a conventional table-top exercise as used by several British emergency planning departments. The aim of the exercise is to develop an understanding of the way in which local authorities and the emergency services work together to deal with a major incident. The exercise, which uses a constructivist instructional method, aims to foster collaborative work and higher- level thinking than traditional distance learning. Thus, the program uses a virtual learning environment that enables participants to communicate with each other using private e-mail, chat, and notice boards; carry out the allotted research and tasks; and then submit their jointly prepared work electronically. The work is intended to serve as a testbed for future on-line material, and as such any comments, criticisms and suggestions are most welcome.
The exercise can be reached by accessing the centre's Web site at http://www.coventry.ac.uk/acad/sbe/disaster/ and following the instructions. Any feedback will be most appreciated.
Kevin Corti
Coventry University
E-mail: kevin@netucate-online.co.uk
WWW: http://www.coventry.ac.uk/acad/sbe/disaster
As we've mentioned before, the industrious folks down at the Natural Hazards Research Centre in Australia (as opposed to the industrious folks up here at the Natural Hazards Research Cent*er* in the U.S.) have assembled an Australasian Disaster and Hazard Research Directory and made it available on the World Wide Web: http://www.es.mq.edu.au/NHRC/ema.html.
A joint project between the centre and Emergency Management Australia, the directory attempts to catalog all hazards/disaster research and researchers in the Australia/South Pacific/Southeast Asia region. It includes synopses, complete contact information, and other details about various research projects and allows on-line searches by hazard, disaster, country, researcher, or keyword.
To ensure comprehensiveness, the managers of this resource invite persons from any part of the world who are conducting hazards/disaster research pertaining to the Australasian region to submit descriptions of their projects as well as research results. Information and updates can be provided through the Web site, or by contacting Keping Chen or Russell Blong, Natural Hazards Research Centre, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia; tel: +61-2-9850 8433; fax: +61-2-9850 9394; e-mail: kchen@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au -or- rblong@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au.
The San Francisco Disaster Registry Program (DRP) for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities is part of a comprehensive regional strategy to provide disaster health services to vulnerable populations. The DRP, under the direction of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, does not depend upon traditional response agencies, such as police, fire, and paramedics. Rather, it uses "emergent" volunteers - people who come forward after a disaster and ask, "how can I help?" Since traditional response agencies can be overwhelmed in a disaster, the DRP response model represents a practical solution that taps previously underused resources. Experience from the Loma Prieta earthquake and similar events has shown that large numbers of such volunteers will be available and that they need to be included in any organized response effort.
In keeping with newer disaster planning models, the DRP addresses
disaster-related needs of vulnerable populations throughout a cycle
that includes mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. In a
collaboration between local, community-based organizations and
government, the DRP coordinates a number of activities that seek to
minimize disaster vulnerability, while at the same time maximizing
effective response to the targeted populations. Some of these
activities include:
For further information about San Francisco's Disaster Registry Program for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities, contact Ron Lopez, EMS and Disaster Specialist, Emergency Medical Services Section, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1540 Market Street, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102; (415) 554-9976; fax: (415) 241-0519; e-mail: ron_lopez@dph.sf.ca.us.
[Adapted from Network Newsletter - a publication of the Environmental and Societal Impacts Group, National Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000]
The Disaster Management Support Project is one of six projects adopted by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites as part of an effort to develop an integrated global observing strategy and improve use of existing and planned earth observation satellite data. Over the past 18 months, the project has held six meetings and working sessions to solicit information and technical input from space agencies and disaster managers to develop its strategy. The project has initially chosen to highlight drought, earthquakes, fires, floods, oil spills, tropical cyclones, and volcanic ash. For more information, contact Janice A.M. Sessing, International Relations Specialist, NOAA/NESDIS, Office of International and Interagency Affairs, 1315 East-West Highway, SSMC3, Room 3620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; (301) 713- 2024; fax: (301) 713-2032; e-mail: jsessing@nesdis.noaa.gov.
[Also adapted from ESIG/NCAR's Network Newsletter]
Scientific teams at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) are
involved in both assessing and demonstrating the potential uses of
remote sensing data in managing disasters. Recently, for example,
RADARSAT data were used to track the devastation caused by Hurricane
Mitch. In collaboration with other national institutions, CCRS is
studying the use of remote sensing in predicting, managing, and
mitigating such natural disasters as floods, droughts, oil spills,
forest fires, and landslides. For more information, contact Terry
Pultz, Applications Division, CCRS, 588 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada K1A 0Y7; (613) 947-1316; fax: (613) 947-1385; e-mail:
terry.pultz@ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca.
[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.nwstc.noaa.gov/d.HMD/Lightning/Ltng_home.htm
The National Weather Service Training Center (NWSTC) is
responsible for (among other things) training weather forecasters in
the use of the new technology that forms the backbone of the
modernized weather service. That technology includes AWIPS (Advanced
Weather Interactive Processing System), the UNIX-based system that
forecasters are now using to integrate and display data. To support
that training, this section of the NWSTC Web site offers extensive
information about lighting - from fundamental physics, to detection,
to safety, to climatology. The site includes several case studies of
severe lightning outbreaks as well as references and a glossary of
lightning terms.
http://www.tu.org/library/conservation/floodbrochure.pdf
http://www.ncrc.nps.gov/rtca/
Trout Unlimited and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails,
and Conservation Assistance Program have developed a brief, well-
illustrated brochure entitled Restoring Streams to Reduce Flood
Loss. It can be downloaded in PDF format from the first address above
or can be viewed on-line at the second.
http://www.extension.unr.edu/Flood/Flood.html
The University of Nevada Reno's extension office has prepared
this "Flood Facts" Web site with much information about flood
preparedness, the history of flooding in the region, flood dynamics,
and long-term mitigation and solutions to flood problems. It also
includes regional flood maps and survival tips. Besides being a good
resource in itself, this site provides a model for similar resources
that could be developed elsewhere to address local or regional flood
hazards.
http://www.gismaps.fema.gov
The Federal Emergency Management Agency GIS and Software
Development Team's Mapping and Analysis Center has put together a new
Web site intended to provide the public with ready access to FEMA GIS
maps during disasters. Typical postings will include hurricane
tracking maps, model outputs of estimated wind damage, remote sensing
maps of affected areas, maps of counties in federally declared
disasters, and other maps to support disaster management. The site
will also feature a selection of archived FEMA GIS maps, as well as
background information about GIS and the FEMA team effort.
http://tropical.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/index.html
No doubt many DR readers are familiar with the annual forecasts
of Atlantic hurricane activity issued by Professor William Gray and
his colleagues at Colorado State University. This official Web site of
that group provides much more than the usual bare-bones CNN Bill Gray
sound bites. Rather, it offers in-depth information on both the
processes and the results of the group's extensive investigations into
pre-season climatological signals that anticipate upcoming hurricane
activity.
http://www.epa.gov/swercepp/
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chemical Emergency
Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) provides leadership,
advocacy, and assistance to: 1) prevent and prepare for chemical
emergencies; 2) respond to environmental crises; and 3) inform the
public about chemical hazards in their community. To protect human
health and the environment CEPPO develops, implements, and coordinates
regulatory and nonregulatory programs. The office's Web site includes
pages on Prevention and Risk Management, Preparedness - Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know, Emergency Response,
International Programs, and Counter-Terrorism. It also provides
sections on Databases and Software, Laws and Regulations, and
Publications.
http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/dipecho/ This is the new Web site of the European Community Humanitarian Office's (ECHO's) new Disaster Preparedness, Information, and Mitigation Program for Natural Disasters in the Caribbean (see DR #285, item 4). The program is conducted through the ECHO Regional Office of the Caribbean. The Web site offers the program's action plan, a preliminary study of the region, descriptions of the numerous projects now being supported by the program, and descriptions of ECHO emergency operations in the region. All information is provided in English, Spanish, and French. More information is also available from the Officina ECHO Caribe, Calle La lira #4 El Vergel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; tel: (809) 472-1615; fax: (809) 472-3767 e-mail: dipecho@codetel.net.do.
The Asia Pacific Disaster Management Centre (APDMC-see DR #278) is hosting a training program entitled "Local and Community-Level Disaster Risk Management" (LCLDRM) in Makati City, Philippines, May 24-June 4, 1999. To support this program, APDMC is cataloging related Web sites. Anyone with information on Web sites dealing with LCLDRM should forward the Web address to APDMC, P.O. Box 1005, Makati Central Post Office, 1250 Makati City, Philippines; fax: 632-826-0389; e-mail: apdmc@nsclub.net.
[Adapted from Weather Zine - a bi-monthly on-line and e-mail newsletter from the "Societal Aspects of Weather" WWW Site - http://www.dir.ucar.edu/esig/socasp]
The International Hurricane Center (IHC) Hurricane Rapid Research Initiative (HURRI) Grants Program is currently soliciting proposals. The deadline for submission is May 15, 1999. The HURRI program is designed to facilitate field research in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane or severe storm. These pre-approved grants provide transportation, per diem, and miscellaneous supplies for such post-hurricane field work. It is assumed that the initial data collected through a HURRI grant will then be used to strengthen a proposal for a major research grant from an agency such as the National Science Foundation. While not required, it is also hoped that the future project will involve the International Hurricane Center.
Proposals are welcome from any discipline or field, including but not limited to the natural and physical sciences, social sciences, health sciences, and engineering. The grants can be used to support doctoral research if the proposal is written and supervised by a faculty member.
The IHC will pre-award several grants of up to $4,000 each to researchers from SUS universities to cover direct expenses (excluding salary, wages and stipends) to carry out post-impact hurricane research of relevance in Florida.
For more information, contact the International Hurricane Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199; (305) 348-1607; fax: (305) 348-1605; e-mail: hurrican@fiu.edu.
The Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) has an immediate opening in its external research program for a research seismologist with expertise in strong ground motion and seismic hazard assessment. Important seismic hazard-related research opportunities abound in this geographic region. CERI's newly upgraded regional seismic networks provide ample short-period, broadband, and strong motion data for analysis and its proximity to the New Madrid seismic zone provides a strong research focus.
The successful candidate must have a Ph.D., a record of excellent publications, and demonstrated capability to compete successfully for research support from external agencies. Salary will be commensurate with experience. First year's funding will come from existing grants. In subsequent years the candidate is expected to raise most of his/her own salary. It is envisioned that the successful candidate also will interact strongly with the U.S. Geological Survey's Central U.S. NEHRP program, and with the National Science Foundation's Mid-America Earthquake Center, of which CERI is a core institution.
Applications will be accepted immediately for a July 1999 start. The selection process will begin May 15, 1999, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please send CV, a statement of research interests, and names of three references to Arch Johnston, CERI, Campus Box 526590, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-6590. For more information on CERI visit: http://www.ceri.memphis.edu. The University of Memphis is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.
ASSOCIATE SCIENTIST I - #9083
Please note: This is a new, full-time term position. Applications for
this position will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Friday, May 14, 1999.
The position is with the National Center for Atmospheric Research
(NCAR) - Environmental and Societal Impacts Group (ESIG).
Starting Salary Range $2,699-$3,373/month.
Duties: Conducts data analysis, manipulation, and presentation, investigation research, basic statistical and policy analyses, and other research support activities in support of ESIG research related to the societal aspects of weather. Prepares and edits materials for publication (e.g., WWW, internal reports, publications, etc.). Acts as associate editor of the "Societal Aspects of Weather" WWW site and the Weather Zine newsletter, which requires collection and collation of materials, and possibly preparation in HTML. Prepares research updates, produces bibliographies, provides basic hardware and software support, as required.
Education and Experience: B.A. degree in social or environmental sciences; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrated research or research support experience in a related
field
- Demonstrated research skills (library, WWW, etc.)
- Demonstrated skill in written and oral communication
- Demonstrated skill in technical editing
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to work as part of a team and individually
- Knowledge of basic statistics
- Knowledge of economics, policy, geography, or related science
- Knowledge of Microsoft word processing, spreadsheet, and
presentation software
- Basic knowledge of Windows operating system
Desired (but not required):
- Knowledge of HTML
- Knowledge of advanced statistics
- Experience in a research setting
For more information, contact ESIG/NCAR, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO, 80307; (303) 497-8117; fax: (303) 497-8125; e-mail: jan@ucar.edu; WWW: http://www.dir.ucar.edu/esig/.
The following is the Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) Virtual Forum Schedule for May 1999 (all times eastern):
Round Table Discussions - Tuesdays - 1:00 pm
The Round Tables are Partner-led discussions. Watch for details on
topics and speakers via EIIP mail lists each weekend prior to
scheduled session.
May 4: State and Local Emergency Management Data Users Group
(SALEMDUG)
May 11: SSI Services, Inc. and Pennsylvania School Boards
Association
May 18: To be announced
May 25: International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
Formal Discussions - Wednesdays - 12:00 Noon
May 5: Paul Flores and Rick Ranous, EQE, Inc., will share insight
on how-to-do Business Continuity Planning
May 12: Paul Hoff and Marty Ditmeyer present National Academy of
Pubic Administration (NAPA) findings from January '99
Workshop on Limitations to Data Access for Disaster
Management
May 19: Special Event as follow up to the National Town Meeting on a
Sustainable America in Detroit, Michigan, May 2-5, 1999.
May 26: Michael and Leo Frishberg discussion and demonstration
entitled "Using 'Plan Ahead' for After the Action."
To participate in these on-line discussions and presentations, log in
to: http://www.emforum.org, and follow the simple instructions to
establish a user account and password by clicking on the 'New User
Account' link.
[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]
Short Course on Engineering for Gulf Coast Hurricanes. Sponsors: Wind Engineering Research Center and Division of Outreach and Extended Studies, Texas Tech University. Galveston, Texas: May 26-27, 1999. Contact: Division of Extended Studies, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 42191, Lubbock, TX 79409-2191; (806) 742-2352, ext. 270; fax: (806) 742-0480; e-mail: ppdenroll@ttdce1.coed.ttu.edu.
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: May 31-June 5, 1999. Contact: Organizing Committee, IDNDR Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean, Apdo Postal 3745-1000, San Jose, Costa Rica; tel: (506) 257-2141, 255-1962; fax: (506) 257-2139; e-mail: idndr99@netsalud.sa.cr; WWW: http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/idndr/idndr.htm.
Recommended Procedures for Implementation of DMG Special Publication 117 - Guidelines for Analyzing and Mitigating Liquefaction Hazards in California: A Workshop for Building Officials and Practicing Professionals. Offered by: Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). Los Angeles, California: June 17, 1999. For more information, contact Mark Benthien, SCEC, Department of Earth Sciences, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742; (213) 740-0323; fax: (213) 740-0011; WWW: http://www.scec.org. To register, call (213) 740-5843.
"The Path to Quality Seismic Design and Construction" Seminar. Offered by: Applied Technology Council (ATC) and Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC). Concord, California: June 17, 1999; and Commerce, California: June 21, 1999. Contact: ATC, 555 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 550, Redwood City, CA 94065; (650) 595-1542; fax: (650) 593-2320; e-mail: atc@atcouncil.org; WWW: http://www.atcouncil.org -or- SEAOC, 555 University Avenue, Suite 126, Sacramento, CA 95825; (916) 427-3647; fax: (916) 568-0677; e-mail: seaoc@aol.com.
[NOTE NEW DATES]
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Second Annual Emergency
Management Higher Education Conference. Emmitsburg, Maryland: July
7-8, 1999. 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.
ClinCon '99 - Conference on Emergency Medical Care: "Integrating Care from Streetside to Bedside." Orlando, Florida: July 8-11, 1999. A call for abstracts has been issued. Contact: Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation, 3717 South Conway Road, Orlando, FL 32812; (407) 281-7396, 1-800-766-6335; WWW: http://www.fcep.org/clincon99.htm.
International Conference on Climate Change and Variability: Past, Present, and Future. Organizer: Commission on Climatology of the International Geophysical Union. Tokyo, Japan: September 13-17, 1999. Contact: Prof. Takehiko Mikami, Department of Geography, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Ohsawa 1-1, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 192- 0397, Japan; tel: 81-426-77-1397; fax: 81-426-77-2589; e-mail: mikami@comp.metro-u.ac.jp.
National Conference: "Rivers '99: Towards Sustainable Development." Includes sessions on water hazards and disaster management. A call for abstracts has been issued. Host: Universiti Sains Malaysia. Penang, Malaysia: October 14-17, 1999. Contact: The Secretary, National Conference on "Rivers '99: Towards Sustainable Development," School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia; e-mail: nwchan@usm.my.
24th Climate Diagnostics and Prediction Workshop. Co-sponsors: Climate Prediction Center and the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth. Tucson, Arizona: November 1-5, 1999. Abstracts due July 2. Contact: Climate Prediction Center, W/NP51, NOAA Science Center, 5200 Auth Road, Camp Springs, MD 20746; (301) 763-8000, ext. 7515; fax: (301) 763-8395; e-mail: cdwshop@sgi85.wwb.noaa.gov; WWW: http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov/index.html.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 1999 Conference. Miami, Florida: November 14-17, 1999. Abstracts are currently being accepted. Contact: International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 60 Revere Drive, Suite 500, Northbrook, IL 60062; (847) 480-9028; fax: (847) 480-9282; WWW: http://www.istss.org/; e-mail: www@istss.org.
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) 1999 Annual Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia: December 5-8, 1999. Abstracts due May 14; the organizers encourage contributions from the natural hazards community. 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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