This is Gurkan Ersoy, MD, from Turkey. I am working as an attending in an emergency department and also the General Secretary for the Emergency Medical Association of Turkey.
I am sure everybody all around the world knows the destruction of the two recent disasters we faced during the end of the millennium. There were many reasons why so many people died or were injured, but please be sure that one of the main reasons was that here in our developing country the medical people don't know "disaster medicine" enough, and the people unfortunately don't know first aid and/or BLS. Our association being single in Turkey is working very hard to give lectures and education to people all around the country. But certainly we are deeply in need of:
Cordially yours,
Gurkan Ersoy, MD
E-mail: gurkan.ersoy@deu.edu.tr
Particular interest is in those risks associated with faith-based organizations. I would appreciate any comments, directions, or organization contacts in this endeavor.
Thank you.
Tom Hale, CPP, CFE
(919) 380-7263
E-mail: tomhale@mindspring.com
Any information would be gratefully received [including any ideas of suitable resources].
Thank you for your time and assistance,
Sincerely,
Jim Stuart-Black
The Fire Service College (IDEM)
Moreton-In-Marsh
GL56 0RH
England
E-mail: Jim@disasterconsultants.freeserve.co.uk
The Sphere Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, originally published in October 1998, has been critically reviewed and edited, and a revised English-language edition of the Sphere handbook (330 pages) is now available. French, Spanish, and Russian versions will also be available soon. The handbook can be ordered in hard copy or viewed on the Web. To order hard copies, see the Web site below, or contact Oxfam Publishing, 274 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DZ, U.K.; fax: +44 1865 313713; e-mail: publish@oxfam.org.uk.
The Sphere project Web site, with the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards Handbook, is http://www.sphereproject.org.
Meanwhile, the Sphere project is currently seeking training specialists to facilitate programs in coming months. A training of trainers workshop will be convened in May, and interested professionals should e-mail: joshi@uk.care.org for details. Upcoming training programs include:
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has initiated an Atmospheric Policy Program (APP) to conduct studies and provide education concerning policies that shape atmospheric research and services in both the public and private sectors, as well as policies that are affected by advances in atmospheric understanding and the provision of meteorological services.
Potential policy research issues include: ensuring data access in the context of full and open national and international data exchange; intellectual property conflicts; public-private sector provision of weather and climate services; air quality regulations and incentives; and issues connected with responses to climate variation and change. The APP anticipates engaging scholars to conduct studies of these issues and, ultimately, to educate generations of atmospheric and other environmental scientists for key policy and managerial posts in government, the private sector, and academia.
The APP will develop the following portfolio of educational activities: opportunities for graduate students to become knowledgeable about atmospheric policy issues and techniques used to analyze them; education for professionals who are near the midpoint of their careers and likely to move into decision-making positions; and education of professionals with policy influence who lack atmospheric science backgrounds. With support from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the APP has established an "AMS Congressional Fellowship" through the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Atmospheric scientists will be placed in congressional offices for one year in the early stages of their careers.
During its first two years, the APP seeks to develop broad
involvement, solicit initial funding support, initiate two policy
studies, organize a policy forum for the 2001 annual AMS meeting, and
develop a 2001 summer colloquium. For more information or to provide
comments and suggestions, please contact:
Dr. Richard S. Greenfield, Director
Atmospheric Public Policy Program
1200 New York Avenue, N.W., Suite 410
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 682-9006, ext. 217
Fax: (202) 682-9298
E-mail: amspolicy@dc.ametsoc.org
WWW: http://www.ametsoc.org/ams (select "Atmospheric Policy" button on
navigation menu)
To respond to these questions, the Hazards Center has recently added a page to its Web site: Selected Sources of Data on Disasters and Disaster Costs - http://www.Colorado.EDU/hazards/sites/costs.html
The page does not provide numbers directly, but directs the user to various sources of such information for both the United States and the world. The list focuses on sources of data on the human consequences of disasters, not on catalogs of physical events. It is by no means comprehensive, and persons aware of other resources are asked to contact David Butler at the Natural Hazards Center (e-mail: butler@colorado.edu), so that the additional information can be included in this index.
Our thanks to Ilan Kelman for his help in identifying many of these sites.
As regular readers of DR know, the Hazards Center sponsors "Quick Response" studies of immediate postdisaster impacts and response. Upon completing their work, quick response researchers submit brief reports to the center, which publishes them immediately via the World Wide Web. The newest reports are:
http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/qr/qr123/qr123.html
QR123: There's a Big Wind a Comin'þ: A Profile of Survival and
the Culture of Response after Hurricane Mitch on Isla Guanaja,
Honduras, by Gerald Krausse and Christopher L. Dyer
http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/qr/qr124/qr124.html
QR124: Field Evaluation of Hurricane Damage to the Water
Resources, Tourism Infrastructure, and Emergency Response of San
Salvador Island, Bahamas, by Douglas W. Gamble
A complete list of quick response reports is available at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/qr/qr.html.
Besides sponsoring quick response research, the Natural Hazards Center is involved in a multitude of other programs and projects to bring information about hazards and hazards management to the people who want to understand and mitigate these risks. If you would like to know exactly what the center is up to and what it has available, consult the 1999 Annual Report, which was also recently added to the center's Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/annrpt/99annrpt.html.
http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/idndr/idndr.htm
For several years, the International Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction (IDNDR) Regional Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean,
housed in San Jose, Costa Rica, has published IDNDR Informs - a
thorough, well-designed magazine on hazard/disaster management. Volume
15 of IDNDR Informs is a transitional issue as the IDNDR progresses
to the United Nation's successor arrangement - the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). This latest issue includes
much useful information, including links to several complete on-line
texts and information about numerous programs in the region.
http://www.crid.or.cr
The Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID) in San Jose,
Puerto Rico, recently announced the launch of its new Web site. The
site, published in English and Spanish, covers information on CRID's
four main roles:
http://www.sfbayquakes.org/
This site, a cooperative venture between the U.S. Geological
Survey and Pacific Gas & Electric, serves up three-dimensional images
of the landscape, seascape, and faults of the San Francisco Bay Area
that can be viewed on-line and/or downloaded. The digital images,
created by using satellite imagery and digital elevation models
(DEMs), were developed by scientists from the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory and the USGS. The images are available as a maps or
perspective images looking to the north, east, and west. The images
are available with or without earthquake fault overlays, and the fault
maps are underlain by a translucent ribbon that guides the viewer
through the valleys when viewing perspective maps.
http://www.flash.org
The Florida Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) is a non-profit,
public/private coalition dedicated to promoting and encouraging family
and home disaster safety. The alliance strives to bring together the
best minds, latest research, and most practical techniques to help
homeowners, homebuilders, insurers, and government make homes safer
from natural disasters. Its goal is to help homeowners minimize
deaths, injuries, suffering, property damage, and economic losses
caused by hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, or wildfires by
encouraging them to build, buy, and use buildings that are safe from
disaster, to know the risks that natural hazards present, and to
understand ways of reducing these risks. The FLASH Web site is a
gateway to information, programs, and products available to meet this
goal. It includes an on-line quiz to evaluate a home's safety.
Now that January 1st is behind us, it is a good time for us Y2K Civic Preparedness Activists to reflect on the whole scope of our Y2K activist experience.
In hopes of facilitating that thinking and gathering and learning from our experiences, Doug Stewart, Jan Nickerson and Dacia Reid have created Part 2 of our "On The Record" Survey. (Part 1 survey responses are posted at uuy2k.org; analysis will follow shortly).
Whether or not you had time to respond to the Pre-Y2K Survey we hope that you will find time to take a look at and respond to our Post Rollover survey. We are setting up an interactive forum for a dialogue on survey responses after we receive the initial round of survey responses. Responses will be accepted through March 15, 2000.
We'd like to know what you think and especially what you've learned
from your Y2K experiences. The link below will lead you to the survey
introduction on the UUY2K Web site and the links to the on-line and
e-mail versions of the Post-Rollover survey:
http://www.uuy2k.org/uuy2k/post-y2k.htm
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. And please pass along this invitation to others in your communities.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dacia Reid
Director
The UUY2K Project
RevDacia@uuy2k.org
Jan Nickerson
President
Y Connect
JaNickrson@aol.com
Doug Stewart, EdD
CEO
TechTouch Systems
Stewart@rt66.com
Requirements:
Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in one of the social sciences, have demonstrated strong research capabilities, and possess the ability to work collegially and in a team context. The position is for two years, beginning September 2000, at a salary of $36,000. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Candidates should submit, either by mail or fax, a letter of application, curriculum vitae, samples of written work, and the names of three references.
Apply to:
Roger E. Kasperson, Chair Search Committee
The George Perkins Marsh Institute
Clark University
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610-1477
Tel: 508-751-4622
Fax: 508-751-4600
The director will lead and manage the federation's global information systems and telecommunications requirements. With a Geneva-based team of 24 staff, ISD seeks to meet the needs of the secretariat and more than 60 delegations around the world. This role is a strategic and operational one, with the director expected to identify needs and translate them into effective solutions in concert with other key managers within the organisation.
Responsibilities: To undertake general management of the Information Systems Department and in particular, assist direct reports; to plan and develop, with the executive management group, the long-term information systems strategy and plan for the federation; to plan work priorities and strategy implementation for the department in relation to federation priorities and Strategy 2010; to participate in the development of information management and knowledge management policies and systems for the federation in order to facilitate the effective modernisation of the organisation's business practices and activities; to create awareness of ISD services within other divisions and departments and establish methods for evaluating the effectiveness of the service/products of the department.
Pending funding, each center will sponsor up to eight undergraduate students from universities and four-year colleges to spend ten weeks conducting individual research projects that will contribute to ongoing research programs of the centers. A $4,000 stipend will be paid each student.
Students who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree in an earthquake engineering-related field are eligible. However, students may not participate in this REU program at the same university in which they are enrolled as undergraduates. They are eligible to apply to any other university within the three centers. REU participants will be paired with a faculty advisor, and the student will join the faculty member's research team. Each participant will have a predetermined individual research project, chosen during the selection process, and will be responsible for completing the project within the allotted time.
A number of activities are planned to stimulate the research skills of the students and to enhance the written and oral communication skills of each participant, culminating in an Earthquake Symposium for Young Researchers that will be held in Memphis, Tennessee, August 17-19, 2000. Participants will be strongly encouraged to publish their results and to present their research at other venues as well.
For application forms and further information about this undergraduate
opportunity see the Center Web sites:
In the meantime, the Red cross is soliciting applications for "Implementer's Awards" from local Red Cross chapters. The awards will enable 30 communities in the U.S. to get a jump-start on using the curriculum in schools this fall. (Chapters can obtain the application in Disaster Services Connection #96.) Awards will be given to 30 teams composed of a local Red Cross representative and a school district partner who will receive expenses-paid training on how to use and market the curriculum. In addition, each team's local Red Cross chapter will receive up to 25 free copies of the curriculum, a $500 grant to obtain expendable teaching supplies, and ongoing support to enhance implementation throughout the school year. Red Cross chapters are urged to work with local school administration partners to complete and return applications to Red Cross National Headquarters by April 14, 2000. Questions should be e-mailed to curric@usa.redcross.org.
2000 Inter-American Development Bank Annual Meeting. New Orleans, Louisiana: March 24-29, 2000. Includes a series of seminars, discussions, and work groups, March 25-26, on "Confronting Natural Disasters: A Matter of Development." For more information, see: http://www.iadb.org/exr/am2000, or e-mail: janinep@iadb.org.
Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS) Provider & Instructor Course. Sponsors: Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, in collaboration with the American Academy of Clinical Toxicologists. Tucson, Arizona: March 29-21, 2000. Contact: Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center; (520) 626-2305; e-mail: ahlsinfo@aemrc.arizona.edu; WWW: http://www.ahsc.arizona.edu/aemrc/hazmat.htm.
First Conference of the Association of Floodplain Managers of Mississippi (AFMM). Jackson, Mississippi: April 6-7, 2000. Contact: Bill Carrigee, President, AFMM, (228) 467-3081.
Floods and Flooding in a Changing Environment. Sponsors: School of Environmental Science - University College Northampton, Association of British Climatologists, and St. James Community Forum. Northampton, U.K.: April 28-29, 2000. Contact: Dr. Chris Holt, Course Leader, University College Northampton, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, Northampton, U.K. NN2 7AL; Tel: +44(0)1604-735500, ext. 2091; fax: +44(0)1604-720636; WWW: http://www.northampton.ac.uk/aps/env/envsci.html.
Spring Meeting of the Arizona Floodplain Management Association. Flagstaff, Arizona: May 4-5, 2000. Contact: Amir Motamedi; (602) 506-4871; WWW: http://www.azfma.org.
Short Course: Engineering for Gulf Coast Hurricanes. Sponsored by: Wind Engineering Research Center and Division of Outreach and Extended Studies, Texas Tech University; and Center for Professional Development, Galveston College Moody Hospitality Institute. Galveston, Texas: May 24-25, 2000. Contact: Extended Studies, Texas Tech University, 6901 Quaker Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79413 -or- Moody Hospitality Institute, Galveston College; (409) 683-4230; fax: (409) 683-4929; e-mail: goneil@gc.edu.
Western Territorial Workshop: Project Impact - "Taking Hold in the West." San Francisco, California: May 30-June 2, 2000. Contact: Susan Babyak, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), e-mail: susan.babyak@fema.gov; or Tony Mendes, Project Impact Liaison, FEMA Region VIII/Denver, Colorado; (303) 235-4790; fax: (303) 235-4729; e-mail: tony.mendes@fema.gov.
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) Year 2000 International Symposium. McLean, Virginia: June 21-24, 2000. Contact: SRA, 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 402, McLean, VA 22101; (703) 790-1745; e-mail: sra@burkinc.com.
International Symposium: 10 Years of the IDNDR - How Near Are We Towards Hydro-Geological Disaster Reduction. Conveners: National Group for the Prevention of Hydro-Geological Disasters of the National Research Council of Italy, and the Italian National Committee of UNESCO/IHP. Perugia, Italy: July 16-20, 2000. Contact: Organising Committee c/o WARREDOC, Villa La Colombella, 06080 Colombella, Perugia, Italy; tel: 0039 75 6910167; fax: 0039 75 6919326.
Eleventh Annual Conference of the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers. Steamboat Springs, Colorado: August 31- September 1, 2000. Contact: John Pflaum, Conference Chair, McLaughlin Water Engineers, Ltd., 2420 Alcott Street, Denver, CO 80211; (303) 458-5550; fax: (303) 480-9766; e-mail: johnp@mwewater.com.
Specialized Disaster Management Training Course for Persons Responsible for Health Sector Disaster Programs. Organizer: Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). San Jose, Costa Rica: September 4-15. The course will be conducted in Spanish. Contact: PAHO, 525 23rd Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037; (202) 974-3520; fax: (202) 974-3527; e-mail: disaster@paho.org; WWW: http://www.paho.org/english/ped/pedhome.htm.
International Conference for Environmental Hazard Mitigation (ICEHM). Giza, Egypt: September 9-12, 2000. Contact: Dr. Adel A. ElFouly, Center of Environmental Hazard Mitigation, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; tel: (202) 5674836 and (202) 5674838; fax: (202) 5540593 WWW: http://www.skyboom.com/cehm; e-mail: cehm@orex.org.
Annual Meeting of the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA). San Diego, California: October 23-26, 2000. Contact: NAFSMA, 1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 800 West, Washington, DC 20004; (202) 218-4122; fax: (202) 842-0621; WWW: http://www.nafsma.org.
2000 Annual Business Survival and Recovery Seminar. Columbus, Ohio: October 24, 2000. Sponsor: Contingency Planners of Ohio. Contact: John P. Wloszek; (513) 763-4269; e-mail: jwloszek@afkelly.com; WWW: http://www.geocities.com/wallstreet/market/8029.
Sixth International Conference on Seismic Zonation: Managing Earthquake Risk in the 21st Century. Sponsor: Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). Palm Springs, California: November 12-15, 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.
Return to Index of Disaster Research Newsletters
Return to Hazards Center Home Page
hazctr@colorado.edu