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The U.S. Public Health Service, Region VIII, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have initiated a collaborative project to improve the regional environmental emergency response health infrastructure in order to reduce or prevent adverse health effects due to environmental hazards.
We would like to learn about surveys conducted on groups potentially involved in emergency response (i.e., health care providers, first responders, hazmat teams, designated emergency management officials, laboratory workers) to assess their capacity to respond to an emergency. If anyone has information about surveys of this nature, please contact Aubrey Miller at amiller@hrsa.gov or Linda Gao at gaol@ucsu.colorado.edu.
Thank you very much for your help.
From India . . .
We are working on awareness building for pre-disaster mitigation in the earthquake-affected villages around Latur in Western India. This area was struck by an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude in 1993, killing nearly 9000 inhabitants. Although the rehabilitation programme is long over, there has not been any effort by the government or by NGOs in this direction barring that initiated by us. This area was always considered seismically dormant, but now half the state has become active and tremors are felt in various parts of the state from time to time.
In the last five years we have concentrated on improvement in construction techniques for new houses and on retrofitting of existing houses. But we are now getting into other aspects, such as preparedness inside the house, in schools, in public places, and in places of work. We also want to initiate disaster drills.
We are working directly with the communities in various villages. We are also training masons and are in the process of organizing these specially trained masons. For the past year we have also interacted with 850 school children in 13 rural schools.
September 30 is the sixth anniversary of the last quake, and we want to organize an earthquake drill in various communities. We want to show to the government what can be done so that at least once a year people remember their loved ones that died and practice the drill to stay prepared. We do have some ideas as to what can be done, but we want ideas from those who have been practicing this in other rural and urban areas of the world.
Could you be of any help in this regards?
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Rajendra Desai
Programme Director
E-mail: rajrupal@hotmail.com
[Adapted from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Newsletter]
The National Science Foundation's five-year initiative regarding U.S.- Japan Cooperative Research in Urban Earthquake Disaster Mitigation (NSF-98-36) will begin its third cycle with the upcoming October 1, 1999, proposal deadline. Information on activities supported in the first two cycles is available on the World Wide Web at http://ce.ecn.purdue.edu/~vail/jtcc/.
New proposals are welcome. It is expected that projects under this initiative will involve significant collaboration with Japanese researchers, and proposals should list, if possible, specific counterpart investigators in Japan. Projects that involve students and young researchers will be given priority. The complete program announcement is available at http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf9836.
The Climate and Global Change Program represents one of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) contributions to improving our ability to observe, understand, predict, and respond to changes in the global environment; it is a key contributing element of the U.S. Global Change Research Program and includes studies of climate and societal interactions.
NOAA is currently soliciting program proposals for FY2000; letters of intent must be received no later than July 31, 1999. An extensive description of the program and proposal requirements, as well as other information, are available from Irma duPree, Office of Global Programs, NOAA, 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1210, Silver Spring, MD 20910-5603; (301) 427-1089; fax: (301) 427-2222; e-mail: dupree@ogp.noaa.gov.
Jacksonville State University (JSU) is seeking an assistant/associate professor for the Emergency Management Concentration in its Master of Public Administration Program. Primary teaching duties include graduate-level courses in the concentration. Principle nonteaching duties include curriculum and program development, advisement, professional development activities, and grant writing within the emergency management area. Qualifications include a Ph.D. in an appropriate area, with appropriate experience preferred.
For a complete description and additional information, contact Dr. A. Barry Cox, Jacksonville State University, 205 Curtiss Hall, 700 Pelham Road North, Jacksonville, AL 36265; (256) 782-5926; fax: (256) 782- 5928; e-mail: bcox@jsucc.jsu.edu; emergencymanagement@jsucc.jsu.edu.
Arkansas Tech University invites applications for an assistant professor effective August 15, if possible, but not later than January 2000 for the baccalaureate program in Emergency Administration and Management. A master's degree is required with preference given to a discipline related to disaster and crisis management, public administration, environmental science, etc. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate a knowledge of, and experience in, emergency management programs and disaster operations; governmental processes; a background in instruction or training related to natural and human-caused disasters; emergency planning and mitigation strategies; and social, political, and economic dimensions of disaster. Candidates must be able to utilize distance delivery of instruction and have an applied knowledge of current technology utilized in contingency and response procedures. Additional information is available from http://commed.atu.edu.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and should include a statement of qualifications, resume, copies of transcripts, and contact information for three references. Applications should be submitted to Dr. Mary Ann Rollans, Dean, Community Education, Dean Hall 110, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR 72801-2222; e-mail: maryann.rollans@mail.atu.edu.
The fall issue of InterCoast, an international journal of coastal management published by the Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, will focus on recent natural disasters affecting coastal areas and hazard mitigation techniques to protect these regions from future disasters. The editors are currently soliciting articles of 750-1500 words. To contribute, contact Noelle F. Lewis, Coastal Resources Center, Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882; (401) 874-6870; fax: (401) 789-4670; e-mail: noelle@gso.uri.edu; WWW: http://crc.uri.edu.
The California Earthquake Safety Foundation is seeking nominations for the year 2000 Alfred E. Alquist Award for Achievements in Earthquake Safety. The award recognizes individuals and/or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to seismic safety in California. Awards are given in such areas as basic and applied research, education, volunteer services, and program implementation. Awards are open to any individuals or groups active in promoting earthquake safety.
Letters describing a nominee's background and accomplishments should be submitted before November 20 to the California Earthquake Safety Foundation, c/o George Mader, Spangle Associates, 3240 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028. For more information, contact George Mader at the above address, or phone (650) 854-6001; fax: (650) 854-6070; e-mail: mader.spangle@batnet.com.
The Public Entity Risk Institute (see DR #236 and #261) is sponsoring an Internet symposium, October 4-8, 1999, on what communities can do to better prepare for and recover from disasters. "Dealing with Disaster," is intended to inform smaller public entities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses on ways they can work together to prepare for disasters. Free and open to all interested persons, the symposium will be conducted in the "Symposium Center" on the institute's Web site: http://www.riskinstitute.org.
The symposium will be based, in part, on the recently released National Science Foundation study, Disasters by Design: A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United States (see DR #290), which outlines a comprehensive approach to dealing with disasters on a long-term, sustainable basis. Each day, the meeting will open with a thought-provoking issues paper that will serve as a basis for discussion. Papers will be transmitted ahead of time to persons who pre-register. Registration is available at the PERI Web site listed above.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) has recently issued a new independent study course - "The Role of Voluntary Agencies In Emergency Management" (IS 288). For details, or to obtain a copy, see EMI's independent study Web page: http://www.fema.gov/home/emi/ishome.htm, which offers numerous other independent study courses for emergency managers. The course materials can also be ordered from the Emergency Management Institute, Independent Study Program, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998.
The University of California at Berkeley Extension offers a comprehensive certificate program in "Emergency Planning and Management" that provides theoretical and practical experience in managing all aspects of an emergency preparedness program - mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery. However, interested persons need not enroll in the program; they can sign up for individual courses. Berkeley's fall schedule includes:
In the previous DR we incorrectly listed a Web resource. The correct entry should be:
http://www.compumentor.org/y2k
From this URL, the CompuMentor Project, which provides volunteer-
based computer assistance to schools and other nonprofit
organizations, is offering a free manual outlining a step-by-step
process for creating a plan of action to identify and mitigate
potential Y2K disruptions. The site also offers a thorough description
of the Y2K problem, definitions of Y2K terms, Y2K references and
links, and Y2K Frequently Asked Questions. Printed copies of the Y2K
workbook are also available for $17.50 ($35 for nonprofit
organizations with budgets over $500,000). Contact CompuMentor at 89
Stillman Street, San Francisco, CA 94107; fax: (415) 512-9629.
[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]
Hazards Forum: "Dealing with Earthquakes in Cities of Developing Countries" presented by Brian Tucker, GeoHazards International. Sponsors: Society of Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics (SECED) and others. London, U.K.: August 12, 1999. Contact: Liz Marwood, Technical Affairs Division, Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA, U.K.; tel: 0171-665-2238; fax: 0171- 799-1325; e-mail: marwood_l@ice.org.uk.
Colorado Governor's Conference on Emergency Management/Natural Hazards Mitigation Conference/Local Emergency Planning Committee Conference. Sponsors: Colorado Department of Local Affairs and others. Breckenridge, Colorado: August 30-September 2, 1999. Contact: Colorado Emergency Management Association, P.O. Box 48096, Denver, CO 80204; (303) 273-1622.
New Mexico Emergency Management Association Annual Conference. Farmington, New Mexico: September 13-16, 1999. Contact: James Leach; (505) 473-7253.
Asia-Pacific Disaster Conference '99: Advances in Technology: Linking Technology with Operational Requirements. Co-sponsors: Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance and Pacific Disaster Center. Kauai, Hawaii: September 19-22,1999. Contact: Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett-White Road (MCPA-DM), Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000; (808) 433-7035; fax: (808) 433-1757; WWW: http://coe.tamc.amedd.army.mil/.
Second Annual Conference on Innovations in Disaster Mental Health. Offered by: Disaster Mental Health Institute, University of South Dakota. Sioux Falls, South Dakota: September 26-28, 1999. Contact: Disaster Mental Health Institute, University of South Dakota - SDU 116, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069-2390; (605) 677-6575 or 1-800-522-9684; fax: (605) 677-6604; WWW: http://www.usd.edu/dmhi/.
Critical Incident Stress Management Workshops. Offered by: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Denver, Colorado: October 7-10, 1999. Contact: ICISF, 10176 Baltimore National Pike, Unit 201, Ellicott City, MD 21042; (410) 750-9600; fax: (410) 750-9601; WWW: http://www.icisf.org.
Public Health in Relief and Emergencies Course. Offered by: Medical Emergency Relief International (MERLIN). Middlesex, U.K.: October 9- 17, 1999. Contact: Sarah Hall, Medical Training Officer, MERLIN, 14, David Mews, Porter Street, London W1M 1HW, U.K.; tel: 0171 487 2505.
World Civil Engineering Conference and Exposition. Presented by: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Charlotte, North Carolina: October 17-20, 1999. Includes several sessions addressing natural hazards. Contact: ASCE, Civil Engineering Conference and Exposition, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191-4400; 1-800-548-2723 or (703) 295-6300; fax: (703) 295-6222; WWW: http://www.asce.org/conferences/99conv/index.html.
Management in Relief and Emergencies. Offered by: Medical Emergency Relief International (MERLIN). Middlesex, U.K.: November 8-13, 1999. Contact: Sarah Hall, Medical Training Officer, MERLIN, 14, David Mews, Porter Street, London W1M 1HW, U.K.; tel: 0171 487 2505.
Twenty Fifth Regional Course on Disaster Management. Offered by: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Bangkok, Thailand: November 8-26, 1999. Contact: ADPC, AIT, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66 2) 524 5391, 524 5362; fax: (66 2) 524 5360; e-mail: lpdadpc@ait.ac.th; WWW: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th.
27th International Conference on Coastal Engineering. Sydney, Australia: June 16-21, 2000. Contact: ICCE 2000, P.O. Box N399, Grosvenor Place, NSW 1220, Australia; tel: + 61 2 92523388; fax: + 61 2 92415282; e-mail: capcon@ozemail.com.au; WWW: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/www/icce2000.html.
Fifth Asia-Pacific Conference on Disaster Medicine. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: September 27-30, 2000. Abstracts due January 15, 2000. Contact: Disaster Preparedness Resources Centre, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Fourth Floor, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3; (604) 822-5254; fax: (604) 822-6164; e-mail: dprc@interchange.ubc.ca; WWW: http://www.safety.ubc.ca/5APCDM.
Hydro 2000: Third International Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium - "Interactive Hydrology: Interactions Between Hydrology and Climate, Environment, Economics, and Society." Sponsors: International Association for Hydrological Science and others. Perth, Australia: November 20-23, 1999. Contact: Congress West Pty Ltd, P.O. Box 1248, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia; tel: +61 8 9322 6906; fax: +61 8 9322 1734; e-mail: conwes@congresswest.com.au; WWW: http://www.ieaust.org.au.
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