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The National Hazard Mitigation Program announces a call for nominations for this year's Richard H. Hagemeyer Tsunami Mitigation Award. The award recognizes the project or program that most exemplifies building tsunami-resistant U.S. coastal communities. Groups or individuals concerned with tsunami mitigation are eligible for the award. Nominations are encouraged for projects and programs that address one or more of the following areas: improving tsunami education; providing tools and training for construction, land use planning, and/or emergency planning and response in tsunami inundation zones; creating and strengthening links within and among coastal communities and states to support long-term tsunami mitigation; improving the tsunami mitigation science infrastructure; or encouraging local innovation and sponsorship of tsunami mitigation programs.
Nomination forms and supporting materials must be received by September 1, 2003. Complete information is available at http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami-hazard/Hagemeyeraward.htm.
The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok, Thailand, has recently launched an electronic newsletter called "eNews: Disaster Mitigation in Asia" that is sent to almost 2,000 subscribers each month. The aim of eNews is to provide a forum for sharing updates on disaster mitigation in Asia including the latest information sources, new approaches, methodologies, models, resources, and tools for disaster risk reduction. The newsletter will also provide information about projects, conferences, training courses, workshops, and jobs in Asia and worldwide. To subscribe, send a blank email to: adpc-announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Contributions are welcome, and may be sent to audmp@adpc.net.
For more information about the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, visit http://www.adpc.net.
The Natural Hazards Center is pleased to let you know that our latest Working Paper, "History of Major Terrorist Events and Their U.S. Outcomes (1988-2001)" by Claire B. Rubin, William R. Cumming, Irmak Renda-Tanali, and Thomas Birkland, has been uploaded to our web site.
This report, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides a preliminary analysis of major terrorist events and their outcomes between 1988-2001. The authors systematically identify and analyze these defining events and document them in a narrative chronology that identifies and describes them and explores the causal relationships between events and outcomes.
The on-line report is available at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/wp/wp107/wp107.html.
The "International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy" (IJSSP) is producing a special issue on disasters. Journal editors are looking for a diverse set of papers that focus on issues ranging from natural or technological hazards, vulnerability, mitigation, preparedness, response, emergency management, and social policy, among other topics. Interdisciplinary submissions are encouraged, and all papers (hard copy, disk, or e-mail) must be sent to Havidan Rodriquez, P.O. Box 9266, P.O. Box 9266, Department of Social Sciences, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR 00681-5227; e-mail: ha_rodriguez@rumac.uprm.edu.
The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2003.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a proposal notice to amend eligibility criteria for a January 3, 2003, Federal Register notice (68 FR 359) entitled "Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) Opportunities for Transfer of Research and Technology into Tropical Cyclone Analysis and Forecast Operations." Proposals are due no later than 5 p.m. (EST) April 10, 2003.
For complete proposal information or to obtain an application package, contact Karen King, NOAA, Office of Weather and Air Quality Research, Routing Code R/WA, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 11216, Silver Spring, MD 20910;(301) 713-0460 ext. 202; e-mail: Karen.King@noaa.gov.
The Firewise Communities team is hosting national and regional workshops in 2003 to motivate communities to protect people and property from the risks of wildland fire. The workshops gather diverse community leaders from across the country at regional locations to address the ongoing problem of fast-moving, home-consuming wildfire.
A working team of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) created the Firewise Communities Workshop Series in 1999 to share wildland fire knowledge and grassroots solutions about the causes of the wildland/urban interface fire problem. With 20 workshops completed since 1999, the Firewise Communities Workshop Series has reached more than 3,000 professionals in 47 states.
Six national workshops are being offered in 2003: Ashland, Oregon (March 17-19); Bellevue, Washington (March 31-April 2); Durango, Colorado (April 9-11); Nashville, Tennessee (September 22-24); Boise, Idaho (October 6-8); and Santa Fe, New Mexico (November 5-7). Additionally, there are four, nationally endorsed, two-day Firewise workshops being hosted throughout California. For more information, contact Firewise, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269;(617) 984-7494; http://www.firewise.org.
The recently established "Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies" (A-DES) program at Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, uses a liberal arts and sciences approach to foster an appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of the hazards and disaster field.
The program is designed to be completed in four academic years through a highly interactive, practically-oriented curriculum. Students will gain a solid theoretical and applied foundation in the natural sciences, emphasizing elements of modern society and the environment as they pertain to risks, disaster, and emergency responses, as well as mitigation, organizational development, and resources management.
This program is available on-line through the university's distance education program as well. Detailed information, including eligibility, course descriptions, and a list of faculty, is available from A-DES, Faculty of Science, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 6A9, Canada; (204) 727-9768; e-mail: ades@brandonu.ca.
"A Comparative Evaluation of Post-Disaster Municipal Recovery Strategies: What Works and What Doesn't." Funding: Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), $149,800, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Daniel Alesch, Center for Organizational Studies, Department of Public and Environmental Affairs, MAC A327 , University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Green Bay, WI 54311; (920) 465-2045; e-mail: aleschd@uwgb.edu.
"Weather Information Network Enabled Mobile System." Funding: National Science Foundation, $98,291, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Darryl Sale, Denet Labs, 4300 Dartmouth Drive, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8372; (701) 777-6543; e-mail: darryl@denetlabs.com.
"Mechanisms of Community Reassembly After a Catastrophic Fire." Funding: National Science Foundation, $28,372, 12 months. Principal Investigators: Nathan J. Sanders and Erik S. Jules, Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95518; (702) 826-3229; e-mail: njs12@humboldt.edu.
"Animated Real-Time Road Traffic Visualization for Broadcast and the Internet." Funding: National Science Foundation, $9,700, six months. Principal Investigator: Andre P. Gueziec, Triangle Software, 365 America Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94085-4402; e-mail: andre@trianglesoftware.com.
The International Research Committee on Disasters (IRCD), a group of sociologists active in disaster policy and administrative research, would like to call your attention to a number of committee updates ranging from membership renewal at special rates, new publications, web-based referral service, and an IRCD-supported electronic web-based journal, "Contemporary Disaster Review."
DR readers who are interested in either submitting items to Contemporary Disaster Review or becoming a reviewer, should contact Hank Fischer of Millersville University at hank.fischer@millersville.edu.
The IRCD membership has been sought out numerous times for their expertise in a variety of disaster-related disciplines. In response to this, IRCD is compiling a web-based referral service for use by the media. Persons interested in offering free expertise should send their name, email, phone numbers and areas of expertise to Hank Fischer at the e-mail above.
General information about IRCD is available at http://www.udel.edu/DRC/IRCD.html.
[Below are a few recent job vacancies that are related to some of the myriad activities in which DR readers engage. Please contact the organizations directly for more information.]
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Assistant/Associate Professor in North Dakota
North Dakota State University is seeking a full-time, tenure-track associate or assistant professor in the department of sociology/anthropology and emergency management. The university presently offers a minor in emergency management, and plans are underway to begin a major degree program along with a masters and doctorate degree in emergency management. The school's goal is to provide an interdisciplinary program that is both scholarly and applied, with a firm foundation in sociological methods and theory. This is an opportunity to become a key player in this process. Qualifications include demonstrated experience in emergency management and the ability to teach graduate-level courses from a sociological perspective in at least two of the following: disaster, preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, or the professionalization of emergency managers. A Ph.D. is required, and it is critical that the applicant be able to work in a cooperative and collegial manner with a variety of partners.
To apply, send cover letter, resume, Ph.D. transcript, and contact information for three references to George A. Youngs, Search Committee Chair, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, 402 Minard Hall, Box 5075, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5075. For full consideration, submit application by March 24, 2003.
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University of North Texas
The Department of Public Administration in the School of Community Service at the University of North Texas invites applications for an anticipated tenure-track position at the assistant professor level beginning September 2003. Primary teaching responsibilities are in the department's Master of Public Administration Program, with occasional teaching of undergraduate courses in public administration or in the baccalaureate program in emergency administration and planning. Prospective candidates must have a teaching and research interest in nonprofit management and at least one of the following areas: human resource management, emergency administration and planning, or organizational behavior. Candidates must be able to combine excellent teaching with a productive agenda of research and community service. Please submit a letter of interest, current vita, teaching interests, writing sample, and three letters of reference to: Search Committee Chair, Department of Public Administration, University of North Texas, P.O. Box 310617, Denton, TX 76203-0617.
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County Director of Emergency Management
The Holmes County Commissioners in Ohio are seeking applications for a full time emergency management director to be hired as a full time county employee. Responsibilities include planning, developing, and coordinating county-wide emergency response and preparedness services, along with other public safety duties as prescribed by the Board of County Commissioners and the Executive Committee for Emergency Management. Desired background includes a bachelor's degree in public administration or related field, and a minimum of three years experience in emergency management with progressive levels of responsibility. Interested candidates may send a cover letter and resume to Holmes County Commissioners Office, Human Resource Department, 2 Court Street, Millersburg, OH 44654.
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Homeland Security Director/North Carolina
Union County, North Carolina, is looking to hire a highly motivated, individual to direct and coordinate civil preparedness activities with a focus on prevention, emergency response, recovery, and mitigation. Particular emphasis will be given to supporting the Public Health System and emergency response agencies. Requirements include a bachelor's degree in political science, public administration, criminal justice or a related field. A strong working knowledge of emergency preparedness, crisis management methods, and strong interpersonal skills are an asset. Candidate must possess an Emergency Management Coordinator Certification Level I (within 24 months of employment), Level IV Certification (within 5 years of employment), and Hazmat Operations Level I certificate. Completed applications must be sent to the Personnel Department, 500 North Main Street, Suite 835, Monroe, NC 28112. Applications are due by March 21, 2003. Complete job description is available at http://www.co.union.nc.us/2nd_pages/employment/jobs.pdf.
11) Some New Web Resources
[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://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_WC034
The Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Florida has created a document titled "Getting the News out in Times of Disaster" that presents a variety of communication strategies using a case study of Florida wildfires.
http://www.ecologic.de/floods2003
http://www.ecologic.de/floods2003/downloads/floodsreport.pdf
On February 5-6, 2003, water directors and experts of the European Union and newly admitted states participated in a workshop in Bonn to promote European cooperation on flood protection. The papers of this workshop, "Precautionary Flood Protection - An International Exchange of Experiences" are now available on-line.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-131-02/fs-131-02.html
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) in Memphis, Tennessee, have updated their forecasts for earthquake activity in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. A fact sheet containing this new information is available at this web site.
[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]
Structural Design for Non-Structural Engineers, Including Wind Applications. Sponsor: University of Wisconsin. Orlando, Florida: April 8-11, 2003. This short course will focus on introducing current codes and standards that govern structural design, including the provisions of the International Building Code. Participants will learn how to determine major structural loading conditions, evaluate structural requirements, calculate design footings, and more. Course information is available from Bruce Kieffer, Department of Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706; (608) 262-2624; e-mail: kieffer@engr.wisc.edu.
2003 Fire-Rescue-Med Conference. Sponsor: International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Las Vegas, Nevada: May 5-7, 2003. Conference workshops and breakout sessions span a wide variety of emergency medical service, fire service, and rescue related issues and research. For complete information, contact IAFC, 4025 Fair Ridge Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033; (703) 273-0911; e-mail: frm2003@iafc.org; http://www.iafc.org/.
Annual VOAD Conference. Sponsor: North Dakota Chapter of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). Bismarck, North Dakota: May 13-16, 2003. National voluntary disaster agency program heads and state and local VOAD agency leaders from around the country will share interagency response and recovery experiences. Information about the agenda, conference schedule, and registration is available at NDVOAD, American Red Cross, 4007 State Street, Bismark, ND 58503; (701) 223-6700; http://www.nvoad.org/annualconf1.php.
NEES Annual Meeting. Sponsor: Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Consortium. Park City, Utah: May 21-22, 2003. This first annual meeting will offer participants the opportunity to explore research topics for the future, learn about funding plans from the National Science Foundation, and network with others from the national earthquake engineering community. Meeting information is available through the NEES Consortium, 1301 S. 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804; (510) 231-9557; http://www.nees.org/.
NFIP 2003 Flood Conference. Sponsor: National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). San Francisco, California: May 27-30, 2003. Titled "Keeping Risk at Bay," this conference is designed for insurance companies, agents, claims adjusters, government officials, real estate professionals, surveyors, and more. Complete information is available from Catherine King, 2003 National Flood Conference, 7700 Hubble Drive, Lanham, MD 20706; (301) 918-1439; e-mail: catheriner.king@fema.gov; http://bsa.nfipstat.com/.
Emergency Response Preparedness: Business Continuity Planning in Uncertain Times. Sponsor: Gas Technology Institute (GTI). Washington, DC: June 16-17, 2003. Conference highlights include an interactive, action-based simulation that will address integrated continuity plans and responses. Conference information is available from Susan Robertson, GTI, 1700 South Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018; (847) 768-0783; e-mail: education@gastechnology.org.
Eleventh Course on Communities Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM-11). Sponsor: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Bangkok, Thailand: July 21-August 2, 2003. This course will explore how to design and implement programs for reducing vulnerability to hazards and discuss ways to promote a "culture of safety." Exercises and simulations will provide experience in risk assessment and risk management planning. For more information contact ADPC, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66 2) 516-5900-10; e-mail: tedadpc@adpc.net; http://www.adpc.net/training/te-cbdrm11.html.
Fifth Course on Flood Risk Management (FRM-5) Sponsor: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Beijing, P.R. China: September 15-26, 2003. This course offers an integrated approach to respond to floods using lessons learned by Asian countries. Successful and failed experiences with structural, nonstructural and the less structural strategies will be discussed to enable participants to understand causes and create county-specific mitigation recommendations. For more information contact ADPC, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66 2) 516-5900-10; e-mail: tedadpc@adpc.net; http://www.adpc.net/training/te-frm5.html.
Geo-Trans 2004. Sponsor: Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Los Angles, California: July 27-31, 2004. This conference will focus on geotechnical engineering for transportation projects such as bridges, tunnels, underground structures, rail and highway corridors, and systems engineering. Seismic design, risk assessment, geographic information systems, and retaining structures are among the topics to be presented. Complete information is available from ASCE, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191; (703) 295-6350; e-mail: conf@asce.org; http://www.asce.org/conferences/geotrans04/.
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