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The tragedy of September 11, 2001, has affected virtually everyone in this country, and, in any way that they can, individuals and organizations are helping the cities of New York and Washington, D.C., as well as the rest of the nation, to recover from the events of that day. While keeping in mind the enormous loss and suffering created on September 11, the Natural Hazards Center also recognizes that the event provides an opportunity for the hazards research community to contribute its skills and expertise to better understand what happened (and continues to happen) and thus to contribute to better response and recovery in future disasters.
Therefore, in cooperation with the National Science Foundation, the Center has expanded its Quick Response (QR) Research Program regarding social and behavioral aspects of disasters to include studies of the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.
On the center’s web site - http://www.Colorado.EDU/hazards/qrsept.html - are the names and contact information of the QR researchers that have been funded to date, along with the titles of their research projects. Additionally, a downloadable list of other research projects related to this event and supported by the National Science Foundation is also available from that URL.
But beyond this work, and more importantly, the staff here at the Hazards Center extends its sympathy and support to all those affected by these events - which means, sadly, to our entire nation.
FEMA Seeks Engineers, Architects, Environmental Specialists for New York Office
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is seeking applicants for temporary, intermittent engineering positions at its Disaster Field Office in New York to perform design and development for repair projects. Positions include:
Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate engineering field and 5+ years professional experience; ability to prepare designs, specifications to rebuild infrastructure; ability to modify approaches and adapt equipment; and knowledge of concepts of related engineering fields.
To apply, please FAX an application or resume to: (940) 323-2810, attn: LLN. Applications/resumes must contain the following: Social Security Number; citizenship, current and former job information, including employer’s name and address, hours worked per week, starting and ending dates of employment, and salary history.
I am interested in publishing in the February 2002, Sociological Focus a series of short articles (2-4 printed pages + references) about terrorism, issues related to our national response (religion, media, and social solidarity, etc.), private freedom versus public safety, and other related issues. I am most interested in those who have published on related topics in the past. I will need the brief articles by the end of October. The journal editorial staff can help to edit the article. I also need some people to quickly review what is written. I have one article promised already on PTSD and stress. Thanks for your help.
To aid response to the January Gujarat Earthquake in India, the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-EAP) and the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA) are seeking U.S. firms to participate in a week-long program in India, designed to improve the country’s ability to respond to natural disasters.
US-EAP and NASDA are currently seeking small- to medium-sized U.S. firms to participate during the week of November 16, 2001. The organizers are particularly interested in firms whose products have an environmental focus in the areas of disaster response, preparedness, and reconstruction. They will help schedule meetings with Indian government officials and private firms, and participants will be offered up to $1,500 toward international airfare and up to $250 toward the shipping of supplies and/or the creation of marketing materials.
To receive details, interested persons should send information about their companies (including size), a brief description of the products or services they would like to market, and a brief outline of prior experience in this area to Sarah Heidema, e-mail: sheidema@nasda.com by October 15. For more information about US-EAP and NASDA, see http://www.usaep.org and http://www.nasda.com.
Using Internet technology to integrate geographically distributed national facilities, the NEES project will transform earthquake engineering research from its current reliance on physical experiments to investigations based on integrated models, databases, and model-based simulation. The NEES System Integration project, along with the Equipment Sites and new NEES Consortium, will all be operational by the fall of 2004. At that point, the NEES-funded and other laboratory or simulation facilities, and the engineering research community, will be able to function as a single virtual laboratory- a “collaboratory” - even though the facilities and individuals are geographically distributed.
Further information about this project can be obtained by consulting the CUREE web site: http://www.curee.org/; or the new site CUREE has established for NEES program-wide projects: http://www.nees.org. Interested persons can also contact CUREE, 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804; (510) 231-9557; fax: (510) 231-5664; e-mail: curee@curee.org.
These organizations believe that accurate and useable floodplain maps are the foundation of good local planning and natural disaster mitigation. However, many of the nation’s flood maps are as much as 30 years old, and a full third of the inventory is over 15 years old. Many of these maps do not reflect today’s development and as a result do not show changes in flood hazards. Reliance on these outdated flood maps in making decisions about new development harms commercial and residential property owners and the taxpayers who ultimately pay for flooding damage.
An aggressive program to update, modernize and maintain the inventory of flood maps is essential. FEMA’s Map Modernization Program has laid the framework for this effort. However, with insufficient funding, progress has been slow. FEMA appreciates the support of the coalition and looks forward to continuing to work together to update the nation’s flood map inventory. For information about the Coalition’s mission, contact Susan Gilson, National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, (202) 218-4133; or Larry Larson, Association of State Floodplain Managers, (608) 274-0123; or see:
http://www.fema.gov//mit/tsd/MM_main.htm.
For a copy of Modernizing FEMA’s Flood Hazard Mapping Program - A Progress Report, May 2001 see:
http://www.fema.gov//mit/tsd/DL_mpmod.htm
Accurate assessments are key to effective disaster response. Identifying, evaluating, and responding to the environmental impacts of disasters is required for effective disaster relief and recovery operations. However, standard environmental impact assessment procedures are unsuited for relief operations. This project will use applied research and development to establish and field test a practical REA methodology and develop a training syllabus to allow the adoption of REA as a best practice for relief operations. The project is currently developing the actual REA methodology, and this task will be completed by the end of 2001. Additional information on the project can be found at http://www.bghrc.com under disaster management.
Charles Kelly, Affiliate, Benfield Greig Hazard Research
Centre
E-mail: 72734.2412@compuserve.com
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/keepsafe/unexpected.html
The American Red Cross has developed a brochure that lists
many of the things people can do to prepare for a terrorism attack. Entitled
Terrorism - Preparing for the Unexpected, it is available from the URL above.
The brochure addresses common questions that the Red Cross has been asked and
that the agency feels it can knowledgeably address. It is intended to be informative,
non-alarmist, but factual and forthright and covers shelter-in-place and evacuation
instructions, as well as other useful information.
http://www.ibhs.org
http://www.ibhs.net/ibhsdocuments/pdf/recovery.pdf
To aid small and mid-size businesses affected by the events of September 11th,
the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) is providing a new brochure,
Getting Back to Business . . . A Guide for the Small Business Owner Following
Disaster on-line. The guide is an overview of what business owners need to know
- especially about working with their insurer - following a disaster, natural
or human-caused.
http://www.planning.org
http://www.planning.org/abtapa/11sept01.htm
We received the following message (abbreviated here to conserve space) from Jim
Schwab (jschwab@planning.org) of the
American Planning Association (APA):
To all, greetings:
I ask that you first visit, and then ideally participate, in APA’s newly launched threaded discussion of “Planning After September 11.” The tragedy in New York at the World Trade Center, as well as the crash into the Pentagon, have raised significant issues for the planning community to address with regards to post-disaster recovery and the process of planning to rebuild communities that are more disaster-resistant and better able to face the challenges of the future. That is the reason that APA . . . has initiated this valuable opportunity for planners to discuss the meaning of these events for our profession. This discussion is planned to continue for a month.
I realize that not everyone [being contacted] has any connection to planning for post-disaster rebuilding, although many do. That does not matter. The terrorist attacks have changed our world and our perception of it, and everyone in the profession needs to think these issues through. We have three threaded discussions, led by very fine moderators, within the web site. If you go to our home page, at http://www.planning.org, you can use the button marked “Planning After September 11” to enter the discussion pages, and register for participation. Alternatively, you can go straight to the site at: http://www.planning.org/abtapa/11sept01.htm. Either way, I urge you to become part of this vital discussion.
http://www.disaster-central.com
Disaster Central, a new prototype, web-based knowledge portal, is now available
from the URL above. This educational site features substantive digital resources
organized by topic, and should be of interest to researchers, educators, and
practitioners. The site now includes a list of useful sites and documents regarding
terrorism. Suggestions and comments are invited; and potential sponsors and
partners are actively being sought. For more information, or to offer ideas
or resources, contact the site’s creator, Claire B. Rubin (Claire B. Rubin and
Associates, Arlington, Virginia), e-mail: cbrubin@mindspring.com.
http://www.disaster-resource.com
http://www.disaster-resource.com/cgi-bin/template.cgi?content_page=resources.htm
The people that bring you the on-line Disaster Resource Guide have created
a web page focusing on the September 11th tragedy. “September 11th:
Resources for Recovery” lists resources in eight categories:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01822.pdf
From this address interested persons can download the September 2001 U.S. General
Accounting Office (GAO) report, Combating Terrorism: Selected Challenges and
Related Recommendations (GAO-01-822).
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mhmi.html
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry has placed its Managing Hazardous Material Incidents series on the
web. The series comprises three volumes:
A training video for volumes I and II - Community Challenge: Hazardous Materials Response and the Emergency Medical Systems - is also available.
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/hfloyd
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Coastal Services Center now offers the 50-page volume, Lessons Learned Regarding
the Use of Spatial Data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) During Hurricane
Floyd free from its web site at the URL above. The report assesses both the
positive and problematic aspects of using spatial data and geographic information
systems (GIS) in response and recovery following Hurricane Floyd.
http://www.redr.org
http://www.redr.org/training/index.htm
RedR is an international charity with offices around the
globe working to relieve suffering in disasters by selecting, training, and
providing competent and effective relief personnel to humanitarian aid agencies
world-wide. The RedR web site provides complete information about the agency,
newsletters and other publications, access to the RedR library, and, at the
second URL above, a comprehensive list of upcoming RedR training programs and
other training resources.
http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/andino/
This Spanish-language web site is intended to support institutions
working on disaster management in Andean countries:
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It both
provides useful information on disasters and disaster management in the region
and promotes information exchange among the various institutions dealing with
these risks.
The East-West Center, as the Managing Partner of the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), is accepting applications for a management team to provide innovative leadership at the PDC facility located on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The PDC is a science and technology-based information processing center designed to provide world-class information products and services to federal, state, local, and regional emergency managers for natural hazard mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery, and humanitarian assistance within the Indian/Pacific Ocean region.
The positions now open include:
For more information, including salary details, a list of required and desired qualifications, and application instructions, contact the Human Resources Office, East-West Center, 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848-1601; fax: (808) 944-7270. Applications received by October 15, 2001 will receive full consideration.
For information about the East-West Center, see http://www.EastWestCenter.org. Information on the Pacific Disaster Center is available from http://www.pdc.org.
[In DR #352 we posted a notice from the Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA) soliciting preliminary proposals for “Collaborative Research in Disasters in the Americas.” Because that program emphasizes collaboration with Latin American and Caribbean researchers, the center has also issued the solicitation, provided below, in Spanish.]
El Programa de Becas para la Investigacion, que pertenece al Centro para el Manejo de Desastres y Asistencia Humanitaria (CDMHA), tiene como objetivo el facilitar el descubrimiento y el uso del conocimiento cientifico relacionado con la preparacion y mitigacion de desastres en las Americas. Para cumplir con esta mision el centro anuncia su llamado para propuestas en el 2001, “Investigacion Colaborativa sobre Desastres en la Americas.” Unos $600.000 dolares estan disponibles para becar entre 4 a 6 proyectos que abarquen un periodo de no mas de un ano con presupuesto hasta de $150.000 cada uno, incluyendo los costos indirectos. El programa competitivo de becas de CDMHA es financiado por el Departamento de Defensa (DoD) de los Estados Unidos a traves de la Oficina de Investigacion Naval (ONR.)
Las propuestas seran consideradas en tres areas de importancia: 1) temas de salud publica en desastres; 2) ciencias sociales, desastres y desarrollo; e 3) informacion tecnologica y ciencias aplicadas al manejo de desastres. Se dara prioridad a aquellas propuestas que se enfoquen en los siguientes temas de investigacion: coordinacion entre grupos internacionales, gubernamentales, no gubernamentales y militares en la preparacion y respuesta a los desastres; evaluacion de la efectividad del programa; integracion del manejo de desastres con el desarrollo sustentable de largo plazo; y el uso de la tecnologia para aumentar los sistemas de informacion en el manejo de desastres. Ademas, los estudios que emprendan investigacion con relacion a operaciones militares estadounidenses en situaciones de desastres son favorables. Ejemplos de proyectos adecuados para este anuncio incluyen evaluaciones de programas con un diseno concreto de investigacion, una evaluacion de vulnerabilidades con una relacion practica para la region, investigacion sobre la efectividad del manejo de riesgos, y la investigacion sociocultural sobre la preparacion y respuesta comunitaria. Los proyectos deben concentrase en Latino America o el Caribe e incluir colaboracion institucional entre investigadores de Norte y Sur America.
Los candidatos deben someter las propuestas a traves de un consorcio con una institucion patrocinadora en Norte o Sur America, estos incluyen organizaciones de investigacion, universidades, organizaciones no gubernamentales, agencias gubernamentales y privadas, y fundaciones sin animos de lucro. Aquellos proyectos que requieran la participacion de seres humanos, materiales de laboratorio u otras consideraciones de seguridad deben ser revisadas por un comite de conformidad investigativo (por ejemplo, una junta de revision para el uso de seres humanos o junta institucional.)
Los candidatos interesados en someter propuestas deben enviar una Carta de Proposito de 2 paginas no mas tarde del 1ro de noviembre del 2001. La Carta de Proposito debe resumir los objetivos del proyecto, el diseno del estudio, el significado, el presupuesto, y debe identificar los socios colaborativos y los convenios institucionales. Aquellos candidatos que propongan proyectos considerados como mejores adecuados con los criterios y prioridades mencionadas seran invitados a preparar una propuesta detallada, la cual debe ser entregada antes del cierre del llamado del 1ro de marzo del 2002. Las propuestas seran evaluadas por un Comite de Revision Cientifica en el extranjero, compuesto por expertos en el campo de estudios de desastres. El formato de la propuesta debe seguir los reglamentos de la Fundacion Nacional de Ciencia (National Science Foundation-http://www.nsf.gov.)
Las Cartas de Propoósito y las propuestas deben ser enviadas
a:
Research Grants Program
Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian
Assistance
13201 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, University of
South Florida
Tampa, FL 33612
USA
15 de septiembre, 2001 - Anuncio
del programa
1ro de noviembre, 2001 - Vencimiento para recibir
la Carta de
Proposito
1ro de enero, 2002 - Seleccion de candidatos
para una propuesta detallada
1ro de marzo, 2002 - Ultimo dia para recibir
las propuestas
detalladas
15 de abril, 2002 - Convocacion del Comite
de Revision Cientifica
1ro de mayo, 2002 - Notificacion de becas/fecha
de inicio de las mismas
Para informacion general sobre el CDMHA vea la pagina web del centro http://www.cdmha.org. Tambien puede escribir a cdmha@hsc.usf.edu, comunicarse al (813) 974-2907, o enviar un fax al (813) 974-9980.
Natural Disasters Roundtable - “Sea Level Rise and Coastal Disasters.” Host: National Academy of Sciences. Washington, D.C.: October 25, 2001. Contact: Patricia Jones Kershaw, Natural Disasters Roundtable, National Academies, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20418; (202) 334-1964; fax: (202) 334-1961; e-mail: pkershaw@nas.edu; WWW: http://national-academies.org/naturaldisasters.
“Building Resilient Communities Through Hazards Mitigation (URBDP 598).” Winter 2002 distance learning offered by: University of Washington, Distance Learning. For details, contact: Bob Freitag, Director, Institute for Hazards Mitigation, Department of Urban Design and Planning, Box 355740, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5740; (206) 616-2395; e-mail: bfreitag@u.washington.edu; WWW: http://www.outreach.washington.edu.
Disaster Management 2002. Host: NIGI, the National Institute for Government Innovation and George Washington University. Las Vegas, Nevada: January 28-29, 2002. Contact: (888) 670-8200; fax: (941) 365-2507; e-mail: register@iirusa.com; WWW: http://www.nigi.org.
Engineering for Extreme Winds 2002. Host: Wind Science and Engineering Research Center, Texas Tech University. Lubbock, Texas: February 6-8, 2002. Contact: Mary Ruth Bishop, Division of Continuing Education, Texas Tech University, Box 41006, Lubbock, TX 79409-1006; (806) 742-7200, ext. 262; 1-800-692-6877; fax: 1-800-742-7277; WWW: http://www.dce.ttu.edu.
Regional LIDERES 2002 Course on Disaster Management. Hosted by: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Buenos Aires, Argentina: March 2002. “Directed at top-level professionals with broad experience in disaster situations from a wide variety of organizations and sectors (health ministries, national disaster offices, the Red Cross, financing institutions, U.N. and other cooperating agencies).” Course conducted in Spanish. Contact: PAHO, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program, 525 Twenty-third Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037-2895; fax: (202) 775-4578; e-mail: curso-lideres@paho.org; WWW: http://www.disaster.info.desastres.net/LIDERES.
2002 Annual Conference of the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management. Springfield, Illinois: March 6-7, 2002. A call for speakers and exhibitors has been issued; applications are due October 31, 2001. Contact: Illinois Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management, 153 Nanti Street, Park Forest, IL 60466; or Jerry Robinson, Conference Chair, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, 9575 West Higgins Road, Suite 600, Rosemont, IL 60018; fax: (847) 823-0520; e-mail: jrobinson@cbbel.com.
“Defending the Integrity of Ground Water: The Impact of Natural and Manmade Disasters.” A call for papers has been issued. Sponsor: National Ground Water Association (NGWA). Washington, D.C.: July 10-12, 2002. Contact: Julie Bullock, NGWA, 601 Dempsey Road, Westerville, OH 43081-8978; 1-800-551-7379, ext. 530; (614) 898-7791; fax: (614) 898-7786; e-mail: ngwa@ngwa.org; WWW: http://www.ngwa.org.
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