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Twenty-five years ago, geographer Gilbert F. White and sociologist J. Eugene Haas published a pioneering report on the U.S.'s ability to withstand and respond to natural disasters. At that time, research on disasters primarily involved physical science and engineering. As White and Haas pointed out in their "Assessment of Research on Natural Hazards" (1975), little attempt had been made to tap the social sciences to better understand the economic, social, and political significance of extreme natural events.
Their work attempted to fill this void and, perhaps more importantly, they advanced the critical notion that, rather than simply picking up the pieces following disasters, the U.S. could employ better planning, land-use controls, and other preventive and mitigative measures to reduce disasters' toll. The report also paved the way for an interdisciplinary approach to disaster research and management, encompassing areas such as climatology, economics, engineering, geography, geology, law, meteorology, planning, seismology, and sociology.
Recently, more than 100 hazards researchers revisited the work of White and Haas to reassess the state of natural hazards knowledge in the U.S. by conducting the Second U.S. Assessment of Research and Applications for Natural Hazards, a project sponsored by the National Science Foundation and several federal agencies. They addressed a fundamental question: "Why, despite all our knowledge about the causes of, consequences from, and remedies for disasters, do losses continue to rise?"
Their findings are now available in a summary volume, "Disasters by Design: A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United States" by Dennis S. Mileti. The book summarizes hazards research findings from the last two decades, synthesizes what has been learned, and outlines a proposed shift in direction in research and policy for natural and related technological hazards in the United States.
Among their many conclusions, the contributors to "Disasters by Design" found that one of the central problems in coping with disasters has been the belief that we can use technology to control nature and "solve" problems posed by natural hazards. Also, most strategies for coping with hazards have failed to take into account the complexity and changing nature of hazards; events in the past 25 years have shown that natural disasters and related technological hazards are not problems that can be dealt with in isolation. Losses from hazards result from shortsighted and narrow conceptions of the relationship of humans to the natural environment, and poor choices regarding where and how we will construct our communities.
To redress these shortcomings, the researchers recommend that the U.S. shift to a policy of sustainable hazard mitigation, a concept that links wise management of natural resources with local economic and social resiliency. To achieve sustainability, communities must take responsibility for choosing where and how development proceeds. "Disasters by Design" outlines objectives to reduce losses and advances several specific approaches for mitigating the effects of natural hazards.
"Disasters by Design: A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United States" by Dennis Mileti (1999, 376 pp.) costs $47.95, plus $4.50 shipping and handling and can be ordered from National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; fax: (202) 334-2451; WWW: http://www.nap.edu/bookstore.
Two prior publications from this project are also available from the National Academy Press. Interested persons can view and print the complete text of these documents and/or order them on-line for a 20% discount:
Finally, a complete, extended bibliography for "Disasters by Design" is now available from the Natural Hazards Center Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/assessbib.html.
This list of literature comprises all the citations provided by the numerous researchers, practitioners, reviewers, and others who contributed to the book.
On behalf of the Natural Hazards Center, I am collecting information on any social science research on the 1997 Red River of the North Flood that has been completed or is currently underway. The information collected will be compiled into a report of abstracts of this research and provided to the International Red River Basin Task Force of the International Joint Commission. The task force will use the report to help them complete their recommendations for needed changes in regard to flood management, response, and recovery policies for the United States and/or Canada.
If you are doing, or have done research (or know of someone else's
research) on the 1997 Red River floods, would you please send me
information about it? The format in which I would prefer to receive
the information is outlined below. However, if it is easier for you to
send me a copy of your papers (draft or final) or proposals (so I can
abstract them), that would be fine, too. Please send them to me at
JBRGF@uffdaonline.net
or 416 25th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58201.
My telephone number is (701) 775-7223.
Thank you,
Janet Rex
Preferred format:
-----
Title of Research Study
Principal Investigator(s) (with contact information if available)
Funding agency
Grant amount (if available)
Duration of study
Abstract
Brief summary of conclusions or results (if available)
Citations to any published articles, etc. resulting from the study
The Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) seeks an Executive Director. The mission of WSSPC is to provide a forum to advance earthquake hazard reduction programs throughout the western region (U.S. and Canada) and to develop, recommend, and support seismic policies and programs for the region through information exchange, research, and education. WSSPC directors are the heads of the geological surveys and emergency management organizations in the western states, western Canadian provinces and territories, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Responsibilities of the Executive Director include applying for and managing grants; other fundraising; organizing annual and specialized conferences; writing and publishing a quarterly newsletter; maintaining a Web site, e-mail distribution and discussion groups, a catalog of products, and a membership directory; conducting an annual awards program; communicating with WSSPC members and with local, state, and federal government agencies, universities, industries, and nonprofit organizations with interests in earthquake policies; arranging meetings and agendas for the board of directors; and supervising staff in the San Francisco office (program manager and administrative assistant).
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree (master's preferred); excellent communication, business, and organizational skills; expertise in budget management, grant applications and management, and computers (preferably word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, financial management, and Web-site management software); initiative; and capabilities and interest in fundraising.
Preference will be given to applicants with two or more years of experience with nonprofit, volunteer organizations or government agencies and to applicants with supervisory skills. Familiarity with earthquake hazards, emergency management, or public policy is desired.
Salary for this full-time position will be in the range of $45,000 to $55,000, depending on experience. The potential exists for future, substantial raises based on performance. WSSPC offers excellent medical and retirement benefits.
To receive full consideration, complete applications, including a
resume, statement of interest, and three letters of reference from
previous supervisors or individuals familiar with your professional
activities, must be on file by June 21, 1999 at:
Western States Seismic Policy Council
121 Second Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Fax: (415) 974-1747
E-mail: wsspc@wsspc.org
Tel: (415) 974-6435
Position Title: Project Manager
Position Description:
The Project Manager will supervise implementation of up to five
national urban disaster mitigation projects of the Asian Urban
Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP). He or she will join a ten-person
urban disaster mitigation unit at the Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center in Bangkok, which implements the AUDMP. Responsibilities
include administrative and programmatic management and technical
supervision of the national projects, and their integration with
regional initiatives in training, information exchange, and
development of regional disaster networks.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Salary, Benefits and Contract Period:
Program Overview:
The Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program is a six-year effort to
respond to the need for safer Asian cities. The ultimate goal of the
program is to reduce the disaster vulnerability of urban populations,
infrastructure, critical facilities, and shelter in targeted cities in
Asia. The purpose of the program is to:
Working in conjunction with collaborating institutions in each target country, the program strategy takes a three-tiered approach:
For more information on the AUDMP please visit the ADPC Web site at
http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th.
To apply, send a letter, enclosing a
curriculum vitae detailing full personal particulars, qualifications,
and experience, not later than June 30, 1999, to:
AUDMP / ADPC
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang 12120, Thailand
Fax: (662) 524-5360 / 524-5350
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Greetings,
Last January 25, 1999, the Colombian coffee zone was affected by an earthquake that left a large number of structures destroyed and about 250,000 people homeless.
The Sociedad Caldense de Ingenieros Civiles (Caldas' Society of Civil Engineers) is a nonprofit organization that includes approximately 200 members devoted to construction, consultation, and inspection of infrastructure projects.
The financial situation today in Colombia has brought an acute crisis to our sector; we must work daily to improve the situation through the teaching and training of professionals. We have helped in the evaluation of the damage produced by the earthquake on structures and slopes, and we want to continue doing so, but we do not have the appropriate technical or technological resources.
We want to ask you a help on this action - the help can be funds, information, teaching, or any other kind of aid to support the professional improvement of the associated engineers.
I will appreciate immensely the attention paid to this communication.
Cordially,
Alberto Guevara Valencia
Chair
E-mail:
aslider@manizales.cetcol.net.co
WWW:
http://orbita.starmedia.com/~scic/SCIC.html
Dear friends,
I am sharing the following information with you because I believe all of you are as concerned with the increasing frequency and severity of disasters as we are. . .
NGOs from the six continents met in Yokohama (Japan) during the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (May 1994) and established a network of NGOs from across the world to work within the framework of IDNDR to generally promote exchange of information and cooperation between various agencies. Joint Assistance Centre, a voluntary agency where I work, was designated as the focal point and has been acting as the secretariat since then. Currently I hold the position of Secretary General, Global Forum of NGOs for Disaster Reduction (GFNDR).
The GFNDR organised the first World Assembly of NGOs in Kathmandu and issued a 'call from Kathmandu' in October 1996. The Governing Body met in Geneva in October 1998 and adopted the Geneva Declaration. Several areas of concern have been defined, and the GFNDR has developed initiatives supporting the generation of low-cost activities to mitigate disasters by agencies and individuals across the world.
If you would like to know more about us, please write.
In order to carry on the march "Towards a Safer World in 21st Century" and to chart out a clear course of action for NGOs, individuals, research institutions, and the academic community with the objective of reducing loss to life and damage to property in the event of natural disasters, chemical emergencies, war, or the use of weapons of mass destruction, the GFNDR will hold a workshop/consultation for the independent sector, including the corporate world and insurance industry, during the IDNDR Final Programme Forum July 5-9, 1999, in Geneva.
If you are interested in participating in the Final Programme Forum, particularly during the NGO consultation, kindly write to us for more details.
In the meantime, in your response, we would appreciate receiving more information about you and your current concerns and future vision.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
N.K.Jain
Secretary General, GFNDR
GFNDR Secretariat
Joint Assistance Centre
G.17/3, DLF City Phase 1,
Gurgaon, Haryana 122002
India
Tel: 0091-124-352141 and 353822
Fax: 0091-124-351308
E-mail :
nkjain@jac.unv.ernet.in
[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.napawash.org/napa/index.html
Under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey,
the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) undertook a
preliminary analysis of certain legal limitations on access to and
disclosure of disaster management data within the United States that
will be important to consider in developing an NDIN (National Disaster
Information Network) as a national component of a Global Disaster
Information Network (GDIN). The legal limitations involve intellectual
property, privacy, liability, and security concerns. This report,
available from the Web site above in both HTML and PDF formats, sets
out the academy's findings. It both analyzes the issues in depth, and
offers some solutions, where possible, although answers are not clear
in many cases.
http://www.ucm.es/info/isa/rc39.htm
http://sociweb.tamu.edu/ircd/
http://millersv.edu/~srg/ircd/archive.htm
http://www.usc.edu/dept/sppd/ijmed/
The International Sociological Association's (ISA's) Research
Committee on Disasters (RC39) is a group of sociologists from around
the world dedicated to studying and understanding disasters as social
phenomena. The ISA Web site and the committee's own Web site (the
first two URLs above) provide background information about the origin,
mission, and activities of the group. The committee publishes its own
newsletter, "Unscheduled Events," available from the third URL, and a
journal, "The International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters"
- details, including specifics about publication, subscription,
current and upcoming contents, etc. are available from the fourth URL.
http://KFS009.soziologie.uni-kiel.de/~discult/
Among other interests, the above-mentioned Research Committee on
Disasters has begun examining and discussing the "popular culture" of
disasters (see DR #266) - including everything from jokes and songs
about disasters to myths, legends, novels, and other cultural
artifacts relating to cataclysms of various sorts. The individuals
interested in this topic are united through a mailing list that can be
accessed through the URL above.
http://www.paho.org/english/ped/pedeval.htm
The "Conclusions and Recommendations" from the Pan American
Health Organization conference, "Evaluation of Preparedness and
Response to Hurricanes Georges and Mitch," held in February in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic, are now available on-line at the URL
above. The document is in PDF format and may be downloaded and
distributed for free.
http://www.paho.org/spanish/ped/pedsres.htm
"Cronicas de Desastres: Terremoto de Cariaco, Venezuela", the
latest in the PAHO Disaster Chronicles series, analyzes the response
and lessons learned from the Cariaco, Venezuela, earthquake of July
1997. This publication is now available (in Spanish only) in PDF
format at the above address. For more information, e-mail
disaster-publications@paho.org.
Our Foundation is soliciting nominations/applications of young (40 years or younger on May 31, 1999) scientists and engineers for the 1999 Shamsher Prakash Research Award of $1001.00 and a plaque for excellence in Geotecknical/Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering. The 1998 Award was won by Dr.Ikuo Towhata of the University of Tokyo.
Nominations are due July 31. 1999.
For an application package, please contact:
Sally Prakash Shamsher Prakash
Hon. Secretary Professor of Civil Engineering
Shamsher Prakash Foundation University of Missouri-Rolla
Anand Kutir, 1111 Duane Avenue Rolla, MO 65409-0030
Rolla, MO USA Tel: (573) 341-4489
Fax: (573) 364-5572 (*51) Fax: (573) 341-4729
E-mail:
prakash@novell.civil.umr.edu
During the evening hours of April 14, 1999, a fierce hailstorm raged through the suburbs of Sydney, Australia, causing an estimated insured loss of A$1.2 billion. The storm ended up being the largest insured loss for a single event disaster in Australia's history, even passing the Newcastle earthquake in 1989.
PartnerRe, a leading global reinsurance company, has put together a report that is now available to interested parties. In addition to a description of the hailstorm and its effects on the insurance industry, the report touches on the hail risk in New South Wales and illustrates how PartnerRe is supporting partnerships with leading scientific institutions, in an effort to improve the understanding and assessment of natural catastrophes.
If you would like to have your free copy of the report, please contact the author:
Fabian Schonenberg
PartnerRe Services
Weinplatz 10
CH-8022 Zurich
Switzerland
Tel: (41 1) 224 3544
Fax (41 1) 224 3500
E-mail:
schonenberg@partnerre.com
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is pleased to announce the newest release of the SUMA (disaster SUpply MAnagement) software, version 5.1. in Spanish, English, or French. This new version includes important improvements to the Warehouse Management Module as well an overall optimization of the entire system. The improvements are based on experiences gained from recent disasters in the Americas, such as the floods caused by El Nino in Peru, the Aiquile-Totora earthquake in Bolivia, and Hurricanes Georges and Mitch in Central America and the Caribbean. To learn more about SUMA and download a copy of the new software and manuals, visit the SUMA web site: http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/SUMA/. For more details about this new software please contact FUNDESUMA, e-mail: funsuma@sol.racsa.co.cr.
[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]
Workshop: "The Precautionary Principle: Refine It or Replace It?" Offered by: Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Washington, D.C.: June 3-4, 1999. Contact: Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health, 718 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5924; (617) 432-4497; fax: (617) 432-0190; e-mail: lkoonce@hsph.harvard.edu.
11th Annual IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) Workshop. Yosemite, California: June 9-12, 1999. Contact: Susan Strain, IRIS, 1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 682-2220; fax: (202) 682-2444: e-mail: susan@iris.edu; WWW: http://www.iris.washington.edu/HQ/workshop99_info.html.
American Sociological Association Annual Conference. Chicago, Illinois: August 5-10, 1999. The International Sociological Association's Research Committee on Disasters will host two panels: "Cross-Cultural and Cross Societal Disaster Research: Problems and Possibilities from the Perspective of Those Who Have Done Such Research"; and, "Panel on Exploring the Popular Culture of Disasters." Contact: E.L. (Henry) Quarantelli, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716; (302) 831-6618; fax: (302) 831-2091; e-mail: elqdrc@udel.edu.
Y2K Emergency Response Strategies for Municipalities and Local Governments. Offered by: International Quality and Productivity Center (IQPC). San Francisco, California: August 16-17, 1999 (pre-conference and post-conference workshops - August 15 and 18). Contact: IQPC, 150 Clove Road, P.O. Box 401, Little Falls, NJ 07424-0401; 1-800-882- 8684 -or- (973) 256-0211; fax: (973) 256-0205; e-mail: info@iqpc.com; WWW: http://www.iqpc.com.
Fourth Colorado Mitigation and Wildfire Conference. Golden, Colorado: September 17-19, 1999. Contact: Colorado Mitigation and Wildfire Conference, P.O. Box 3733, Evergreen, CO 80437-3733; (303) 271-8217; fax: (303) 271-8227.
Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Annual Meeting. Palm Springs, California: September 27-29, 1999. Contact: SCEC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742; (213) 740-5843; fax: (213) 740-0011; e-mail: scecinfo@usc.edu; WWW: http://www.scec.org.
Third DOMODIS Workshop: Documentation of Mountain Disasters. Sponsors: International Congress of Scientific Unions, U.N. International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction Secretariat, and International Association of Geomorphologists. Bucharest, Romania: September 30- October 2, 1999. The conference language will be English. Oral or poster presentations are being solicited, and should be delivered to the conference organizers by August 15. Contact: Professor Dan Balteanu, Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Str. D. Racovita Nr.12, R-70307 Bucuresti 20, Romania; tel: 0040-1-3135990; fax: 0040- 1-4112485; e-mail: balteanu@valhalla.racai.ro.
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; tel: 6-04-6577888, ext. 3333/3375; fax: 6-04-6563707; e-mail: nwchan@usm.my; WWW: http://www.hum.usm.my/rivers99.htm -or- http://www.utusan.com.my/genius/water/default.htm.
International Workshop on Development and Management of Flood Plains and Wetlands. Organizer: International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES). Sponsor: International Hydrological Program (IHP). Beijing, China: September 5-8, 2000. Contact: Mr. Jiang Chao, IWFW 2000, IRTCES, P.O. Box 366, Beijing 100044, China; tel: +86-10-68413372; fax: +86-10-68411174; e-mail: irtces@public.east.cn.net.
Mid-America Post-Earthquake Highway Response and Recovery Conference. Sponsors: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Mid-America Earthquake Center, and the Central United States Earthquake Consortium. St. Louis, Missouri: September 5-8, 2000. Contact: Donald Neumann, FHWA, 209 Adams, Jefferson City, MO 65101; (573) 636-6196, ext. 17; e-mail: donald.neumann@fhwa.dot.gov.
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