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The United Nations has recently completed an on-line preliminary version of "Living with Risk," a review of disaster reduction initiatives around the world. Sponsored by the Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), the 400-page study presents lessons learned by experts and communities responding to natural hazards such as volcanoes, fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides and tornadoes, along with technological accidents and environmental degradation. It is a road map for a better world, looking at the past to help us learn to live with our environment, rather than at risk from its natural forces. Such a challenge, however, is daunting: in the last decade, 4,777 natural disasters have taken more than 880,000 lives, affected the homes, health and livelihoods of almost 2 billion people around the world and inflicted approximately $687 billion in global economic losses.
The publication builds upon the UN's International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, which ended in 1999, to look at traditional solutions that have protected communities against flood, windstorm, or drought as well as the ways in which creative thinking and improved communication have actually begun to save lives and build hope for developing countries. The report also examines the intricate links between economic development and environmental insecurity. The preliminary version of this book is available on-line in PDF format at: http://www.unisdr.org/unisdr/Globalreport.htm. For more information about the preliminary version, contact: Helena Molin Valdes at the ISDR Secretariat; e-mail: molinvaldes@un.org..
The application deadline is September 12, 2002. Send resume and letter of intent to: Partnership for Public Warning, Search Committee, 7515 Colshire Dr., MS N655, McLean, VA 22102-7508, fax: 703-883-3689, or by e-mail: execdir@partnershipforpublicwarning.org.
The Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado has published a report that updates, extends, and re-analyzes the nation's flood damage data. The report,"Flood Damage in the United States, 1926-2000: A Reanalysis of National Weather Service Estimates," was released in June 2002, and is a new look at flood damage estimates that were collected by the National Weather Service (NWS) between 1925 and 2000.
The NWS is the only organization that has maintained a long-term record of flood damage throughout the U.S. The NWS data are estimates of direct physical damage due to flooding that results from rainfall or snowmelt. The data are obtained from diverse sources and compiled soon after each flood event. However, historically, they have not been verified by any type of comparison with actual expenditures. Therefore, a primary objective of the study was to examine the scope, accuracy, and consistency of the NWS damage estimates with the goal of improving the data sets and offering recommendations on how they can be appropriately used and interpreted.
The complete report, along with an informative web site and lots of flood damage information and links, can be seen at: http://www.flooddamagedata.org/index.html.
The University of Missouri Extension is developing a certificate program in emergency management. The Fire and Rescue Training Institute (FRTI) is developing this program of study, which is focused on adult professional continuing education. This certificate program will provide students with advanced education and applied skills in all aspects of emergency management. The awarding of this certificate will not be contingent upon earning a degree. FRTI also announces that they have developed an additional core course within the Contemporary Emergency Management Professional Certificate Program, which begins this fall.
For more information, see: http://www.mufrti.org/emmag2.htm.
The University of Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup (ONHW) at the Oregon Showcase State Program Community Service Center has a project coordinator vacancy to work with the Partners for Disaster Resistance: Oregon Showcase State Program.
The Showcase program embodies a comprehensive, cost-effective approach to prepare for and minimize natural disaster losses in Oregon. The coordinator will help implement a five-year strategic plan, and will carry out pre-disaster mitigation program activities and a variety of project management and coordination tasks. Desired experience includes managing natural hazards mitigation planning projects, understanding of natural hazards/resources issues and concepts, public outreach, and work with public/private partnerships. A Masters degree in planning or related field is required.
For more information about the center and the position, see: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~csco.
The upcoming Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Congress, which takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 13-15, 2002 (see http://www.ibhs.org/congress/ for complete information), has added a Commercial Flood Summit, sponsored by the IBHS Commercial Lines Committee. The summit will take place on the first day of the Congress, November 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
While specifically addressing issues of concern to commercial insurers, the summit will also address matters of importance to all companies, such as: tropical storm Allison and the potential for repeats of this kind of event, land use planning and its impact on flooding, the status of FEMA's flood mapping program and how insurers can better use this tool, and adjusting the commercial flood loss.
For more information contact: Myriam Keenan; (813) 286-3400, ext. 100; e-mail: mkeenan@ibhs.org.
The Applied Technology Council (ATC) is looking for qualified candidates for the positions of Technical Team Leader and Team Participant for a FEMA-funded project to develop performance-based seismic design guidelines. This project, ATC-58, builds upon the 10-year multi-million dollar "FEMA-349 Action Plan for Performance-Based Seismic Design." The positions will develop interim activities and procedures to predict the seismic performance of nonstructural components housed within structures, and work with a variety of stakeholders to choose appropriate performance objectives.
Those interested in applying should submit a letter of intent to: ATC-58 Project, Applied Technology Council, 555 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 550, Redwood City, CA 94065; fax: (650) 593-2320; e-mail: atc@atcouncil.org. For more project information, see: http://www.atcouncil.org.
1) Wanted: Coastal GIS Analyst The Technology Planning and Management Corporation (TPMC) seeks a GIS analyst to support a contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center (CSC) in Charleston, South Carolina. The CSC is an information and technology resource working to meet the needs of the coastal management community. The position requires a degree in geography, GIS, computer science, marine science, or a related field, and experience with GIS applications. Familiarity with coastal zone/hazards issues is a plus. For more information, see: http://www.soza.com (Job #DF00-038).
2) Coastal Hazards Specialist CSC is also looking to fill a vacancy for an extension associate. The specialist will plan, develop, and deliver technical and non-technical outreach programs that are related to hazard-resistant construction and retrofit, coastal hazards awareness, and hazard mitigation strategies. Masters degree in civil engineering, construction science, or related field is required; extension education experience is preferred, as are knowledge of building codes or coastal hazards mitigation, along with excellent communication skills.
For the extension position, send letter of interest, curriculum vita, academic transcripts and three professional references to: Timothy Reinhold, Department of Civil Engineering, Clemson University, 110 Lowry Hall, Box 340911, Clemson, SC 29634-0911.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) has recently released a "One-Stop Hurricane Resource Guide" to offer quick access to valuable hurricane safety information, facts, and up-to-date contact information that focuses on Florida. The guide is aimed at consumers, media, emergency managers, and disaster safety stakeholders who work to promote hurricane preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. Free copies are available while supplies last (FLASH is looking for feedback on the guide's content and presentation). Contact FLASH via e-mail: flash@flash.org; (877) 221-7233; http://www.flash.org.
The Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in Sociology beginning in Fall 2003. They are seeking candidates for the environmental sociology concentration, with a interest in research, teaching, and environmental justice. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but review will begin October 15, 2002. General information about the department may be viewed at: http://socsci.colorado.edu/SOC/.
For complete information about the position, contact: Lori Hunter, Department of Sociology, 327 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309-0327; 303-492-1006; e-mail: lori.hunter@colorado.edu.
Over the past decade, a global team of academics and emergency professionals has conducted research into the state of emergency services around the world. Building on this knowledge, the team has announced the launching of the International Combined Emergency Services Initiative (ICES). The goal of ICES is to provide a center of global excellence in emergency services education, training and response. Situated on over 30,000 acres of land in Queensland, Australia, the ICES Center will eventually be able to meet the needs of up to 15,000 international students and staff. With a focus on training and operations to meet specific country needs, ICES will help developing countries train and administer their own emergency service agencies, thus ensuring that the more vulnerable communities are better able to cope with disasters. ICES will establish and maintain a variety of capabilities, ranging from an operations center to an airborne response task force, to a fully staffed field hospital.
For more information, contact: John Sturrock, ICES, P.O. Box 1227, Crows Nest N.S.W. 1585, Australia; 61-2-9929-6179; e-mail: johns@icesproject.com; http://www.icesproject.com.
A couple of issues ago, your DR editor of the last decade, David Butler, began handing over the reins of this enduring missive to the capable hands of the Hazards Center editors new (Wendy Steinhacker) and old (Sylvia Dane).
Time to move on.
But before I take my final bow, I just wanted to tell all DR readers how much I have enjoyed writing and publishing Disaster Research. I recently looked through the list of 2,600+ subscribers and was surprised at the number of people whom I knew either personally or (of course) through e-mail. It has been a pleasure helping you all.
Unfortunately, space doesn't permit my naming and thanking all the great people I've met and worked with, but I would like to offer a special thanks to Peter Anderson and Art Botterell - friends, colleagues, mentors, and, above all, pioneers who recognized very early on the potential of computer mediated communication (we're talking pre-World Wide Web, even pre-Internet stuff here - does anyone remember Fidonet?) Although Peter and Art focused on disasters and emergency management, they both saw that computer communication was going to change fundamentally the way humans communicate and share information with one another.
Of course their prescience was more than borne out. The information revolution of the last 12 years has proved as profound a technological innovation as moveable type and the printing press.
We live in amazing times.
So thanks to Peter and Art and, what the hell (quickly, off the top of my head with apologies to those I leave out), to Lori, Janet, Jacki, Dorothy, Shirley, Jill, Wendy, Jim, Claire, Sarah, Avagene, Amy, Pat, Ricardo, Eric, Bill, Rich, Rob, Eve, Alice, Marj, Ilan, Peter, John, Nicole, Natalie, Wayne, Tom, Joe, Ann, Giles, Jim, Neil, Dave, Kamal, Terry, Rajesh, Christine, Gunilla, and, of course, Mary Fran . . . and to everyone else who has made the effort to share their thoughts and questions and thus make the world a closer and better place.
It's been a trip, but, well, I can't wait to see what's next.
Your former editor,
[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we've discovered. For an extensive list of useful Internet sites dealing with hazards, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html]
http://www.stanfordhospital.com/forPhysiciansOthers/bioterrorism/bioterrorism.html
This web site from the Stanford University School of Medicine has a number of electronic resources concerning bioterrorism and emergency preparedness for physicians and health care providers. In particular, the site includes a variety of clinical checklists and worksheets for handling smallpox and anthrax cases, as well as information from a number of different agencies and organizations.
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov
http://www.ncat.org
For the last six years, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), has maintained the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development web site for the Department of Energy (DOE). Although the URL remains the same, the site was recently re-named the "Smart Communities Network" to reflect the DOE's emphasis on creating communities that incorporate energy efficiency as part of sustainable development. The site contains a wealth of information and links about sustainability and it worth a look. The NCAT site, home of the people who maintain the DOE site, contains a lot of interesting information too.
[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings and training is available from our World Wide Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html]
National Weather Service Flash Flood Workshop. Host: University Center for Atmospheric Research. Boulder, Colorado: August 27-29, 2002. A draft agenda may be viewed at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/flashflood/workshop/2002FFW.shtml.
The 14th Annual Western States Regional Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) Conference 2002 - Enhancing Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Host: Contra Costa County CAER. Concord, California: October 16-18, 2002. Topics include terrorist threat, counter terrorism measures, homeland security, emergency response to a terrorist incident, chemical facility site security, and community right-to-know. For more information: http://www.ccccaer.org/.
Critical Stress Management Conference. Host: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and the Kern Critical Incident Stress Team. Bakersfield, California: October 17-20, 2002. For more information, contact: ICISF, 10176 Baltimore National Pike, Unit 201, Ellicott City, MD 21042; e-mail: kmich@icisf.org; http://www.icisf.org.
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association International (DERA), Annual Meeting and Workshop. **This meeting is re-scheduled from August 22-23, 2002.** Denver, Colorado: November 13-15, 2002. The agenda includes a full day of optional field exercises, briefings on national infrastructure preparedness, and a variety of issue panels. For more information, e-mail: dera@disasters.org ; http://www.disasters.org/workshop.htm.
2002 Fall Education Conference of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Atlanta, Georgia: November 16-20, 2002. More than 40 hands-on career development seminars, featuring the latest techniques and technologies designed for fire protection and life safety professionals worldwide, will be presented. For more information contact: Margie Coloian; (617) 984-7275; e-mail: mcoloian@nfpa.org; http://www.nfpa.org.
HazMat Explo 6. Hosts: FEMA, EPA, US/DOT, Nevada League of Cities and Association of Counties. Las Vegas, Nevada: December 2-6, 2002. This hazardous materials training conference includes course tracks in industry, medicine, radiology, emergency planning, and first responders. For more information, call: (702) 768-0887; http://www.hazmatexplo.org.
Critical Incident Stress Management Conference. Hosts: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and the San Diego County Critical Incident Stress Management Team. San Diego, California: December 5-8, 2002. For complete information contact: Patti White; (619) 516-1397; e-mail: prwhite@sbcglobal.net.
Fencing Floods in South Asia: Disaster Preparedness through Risk Communication, a Regional Media and Policy Workshop. Hosts: Rural Development Policy Institute, Journalists Resource Center, Meteorology Department of Pakistan and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Islamabad, Pakistan: December 16-19, 2002. Abstract deadline: September 15, 2002. Presenters will receive funding for travel and accommodation as well as a small honorarium. For more information, contact: Iftikhar Haider, Rural Development Policy Institute,#270, St# 37, G-9/1, Islamabad, Pakistan; telephone: 0092-51-2853616; e-mail: eeftiqar@hotmail.com.
7th World Congress on Stress, Trauma and Coping: Crisis Intervention in a Changing World. Host: International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Baltimore, Maryland: February 12-16,2003. One and two-day pre-congress workshops will be offered February 12 - 13, 2002. The call for presentations and papers is available at: http://www.icisf.org/cfp.pdf. For more information, contact: Shelley Cohen; (410) 750-9600; e-mail; scohen@icisf.org.
First World Forum on Children in Complex Emergencies. Host: Union of Pediatricians of Russia and International Charitable Fund for Children in Disasters and Wars, with the support of the Government of Russia and other organizations. Moscow, Russia: April 26-29, 2003. The forum will discuss and adopt a model for national and regional plans to assist children in emergencies through 2010 as requested by the 27th United Nations Special Session Resolution, "A World Fit for Children." For more information, contact: World Forum Organizing Committee, Children's Hospital #20,B. Polyanka str. 20, Moscow, Russia 119180; e-mail: roshal@lamport.ru; http://www.childrendisasters.org.
VIII European Conference on Traumatic Stress (ECOTS). Host: Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Berlin and the German-speaking Society for Psychotraumatology. Berlin, Germany: May 22-25, 2003. Tentative date for abstract submissions: October 31, 2002. For complete information, see: http://www.trauma-conference-berlin.de/.
2003 Structures Congress and Exhibition "Engineering Smarter." Host: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Seattle, Washington: May 29-June 1. The congress will engage engineers and researchers in discussions on how to make better use of existing materials and structural concepts as well as developing new methods and materials. For more inforamation contact: Charles W. Roeder, Structures Congress 2003, University of Washington, 233B More Hall, Seattle, WA 98195-2700; (206) 543-6199; e-mail: croeder@u.washington.edu; http://www.asce.org/conferences/structures2003/.
Cities on Volcanoes 3 Conference. Host: County and State of Hawaii and the International Association of Vulcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior. Hilo, Hawaii: July 13 - 18, 2003. This is the third international meeting to bring together emergency managers, volcanologists, educators, sociologists, psychologists, economists and city planners to re-evaluate volcanic crisis preparedness and management in cities and densely populated areas. For more information, contact: Andrea Furuli; (808) 974-7555; e-mail: cov3@hawaii.edu; or see http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~cov3.
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