DISASTER RESEARCH 420

January 21, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. New Homeland Security Center of Excellence
  2. Call for Fifth Homeland Security Center of Excellence
  3. 2004 PERISHIP Fellows Announced
  4. Two New Quick Response Reports from the Natural Hazards Center
  5. NSF News: Partnerships for International Research and Education
  6. Accelerated Income Tax Benefits for Tsunami Contributions
  7. Ten Years of ASPEP Journals Available
  8. Call for Papers: Rapid Response on the Asian Tsunami Disaster
  9. ICMA’s 2005 Annual Awards Program
  10. Reader Request: Employer Recommendations
  11. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
  12. Some New Web Resources
  13. Conferences and Training

1) New Homeland Security Center of Excellence

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the selection of the University of Maryland (UMD) to lead the new Homeland Security Center of Excellence for Behavioral and Social Research on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism. Homeland Security anticipates providing UMD and its partners with a total of $12 million over the course of the next three years to address these topics.

The research and development focus of this new Homeland Security Center of Excellence will span both international and domestic issues. Areas of work will include the sources of and responses to terrorism, the psychological impact of terrorism on society, and increasing the American public’s preparedness, response, and resilience in the face of threats. Academic and policy experts will examine the motivation and intent of terrorists in order to develop strategies and tools to improve counteractions, such as understanding and forecasting the magnitude of the terrorist threat and formulating effective response strategies. The center will also consider the impact of terrorism on the public and will develop risk communications techniques and relevant educational programs.

The University of Maryland has assembled a team of experts from across the country and around the world. The major partners include the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Colorado, Monterey Institute of International Studies, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of South Carolina. Scholars and researchers from Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, and other countries will also be involved in the research efforts.

More information is available in the press release, which is available online at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4274, and at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0498.xml.

2) Call for Fifth Homeland Security Center of Excellence

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) calling for proposals to create a university-based Center of Excellence for the Study of High Consequence Event Preparedness and Response. This BAA invites eligible institutions and groups of investigators to form consortia capable of creating and sustaining innovative research and education in emergency preparedness, with special emphasis on acts of terrorism. The center will engage in mission-oriented research to significantly enhance the capabilities of first responders and others. The notice invites colleges and universities to submit letters of intent by February 18, 2005. Full proposals are due on April 22, 2005. The BAA is currently accessible at http://216.35.173.248/EPSData/DON/Synopses/5395/BAA05-008/DHSBAA.doc. Read more about the Homeland Security Centers of Excellence at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0498.xml.

3) 2004 PERISHIP Fellows Announced

The Natural Hazards Center and the Public Entity Risk Institute are pleased to announce the 2004 PERISHIP Fellows in Hazards, Risk, and Disasters. The PERISHIP program was designed to foster the advancement of knowledge in the interdisciplinary field of hazards, which relies on a continuous influx of young scholars committed simultaneously to their own disciplines and to the more practical, applied aspects of the field. The program recognizes this unusual combination and encourages pursuit of these interests by providing financial support that enables scholarly work that will ultimately serve to advance knowledge in the hazards field.

A rigorous review process resulted in 10 recipients across 10 disciplines and 8 universities. The 2004 PERISHIP Fellows in Hazards, Risk, and Disasters, along with their disciplines, affiliations, and dissertation titles, are:

Patricia Alvarado
Geosciences, University of Arizona
"Crustal Seismicity in the Back-arc Region of the Southern Central Andes from Historic to Modern Times"

Aurélie Brunie
City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"Natural Disasters, Poverty, and Sustainable Development"

Oyuntsetseg Chuluundorj
Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
"Natural Hazards and Risk Management among Pastoral Herders in Mongolia"

Danny de Vries
Anthropology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"The Influence of Culture Models in Mitigation Decision Making Among Property Owners in Five Historical U.S. Floodplain Communities"

Li-ju Jang
Social Work, University of Denver
"The 921 Earthquake: A Study of the Effects of Taiwanese Cultural Factors on Resilience"

Earl E. Lee, II
Decision Sciences and Engineering Systems, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
"Assessing Vulnerability and Managing Disruptions to Interdependent Infrastructure Systems: A Network Flows Approach"

Stephanie Mizrahi
Political Science/Criminal Justice, Washington State University
"From Panic to Policy: The Relationship Between Terrorist Incidents and Policy Change"

Lori Peek
Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder
"The Identity of Crisis: Muslim Americans After September 11"

Elizabeth Scoville
Civil Engineering, Clemson University
"Investigation of the Cyclic Response of Roof-Wall Systems Under Combined Shear and Uplift Loads for Low-Rise Wood-Frame Buildings"

Mohan Seetharam
Geography, Clark University
"Modeling the Vulnerability of Social-Ecological Systems to Environmental and Economic Change in the Deccan Plateau, India"

Learn more about the fellows, the program, and future funding possibilities at http://www.cudenver.edu/periship/.

4) Two New Quick Response Reports from the Natural Hazards Center

The following Quick Response reports have been posted on the Natural Hazards Center’s Web site at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/qr/qrrepts.html.

The April 2004 Tornado in North-Central Bangladesh: A Case for Introducing Tornado Forecasting and Warning Systems. by Bimal Kanti Paul and Rejuan Hossain Bhuiyan. 2004.

The objectives of this study were to explore the nature of formal and/or informal warnings that residents of the villages impacted by the tornado on April 14, 2004, received and how these residents responded when they learned about and/or personally observed the tornado. The researchers found that there were no tornado forecasting/warning systems in the area or in Bangladesh in general, despite an evident need as well as desire from the public, and made recommendations about how such systems could be implemented.

Providing for Pets During Disasters: An Exploratory Study. by Leslie Irvine. 2004.

This research examined how pets were provided for in the wake of Hurricane Charley in Charlotte County, Florida. Findings indicate that the treatment of animals post-Charley was significantly better than the treatment animals received post-Andrew primarily because of the county’s well-developed animal response plan and established interorganizational networks.

5) NSF News: Partnerships for International Research and Education

Partnerships for International Research and Education will enable U.S. institutions to establish collaborative relationships with foreign groups or institutions in order to advance specific research and education objectives and to make possible a research effort that neither side could accomplish on its own. As science and engineering become increasingly global, U.S. scientists and engineers must be able to operate in teams comprised of partners from different nations and cultural backgrounds. International partnerships are, and will be, increasingly indispensable in addressing many critical global scientific problems. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in U.S. institutions by establishing innovative new models for international collaborative research and education. It is also intended to facilitate greater variety in student participation and preparation and to contribute to the development of a diverse, globally-engaged, science and engineering workforce.

Proposals for funding are due March 10, 2005. For more information, see the summary of program requirements at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05533/nsf05533.htm or contact Edward Murdy at (703) 292-8711 or emurdy@nsf.gov.

6) Accelerated Income Tax Benefits for Tsunami Contributions

On January 7, the president approved a bill enabling donations made for tsunami relief through January 31, 2005, to be deducted on 2004 tax returns (Public Law 1091-1). This is an opportunity to provide relief to tsunami victims without having to wait a year to take the tax deduction. The complete text of the law will be available in any federal repository library and on the Library of Congress Web site at http://thomas.loc.gov/.

7) Ten Years of ASPEP Journals Available

ASPEP (American Society for Professional Emergency Planners) was established in 1972 by the graduating class of the Career Development Program for Civil Defense Directors at the Federal Staff College in Battle Creek, Michigan. When the Federal Training Center moved to the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the annual meetings were conducted during the annual Conference of the U.S. Civil Defense Council, subsequently called NCCEM (National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management), and now called IAEM (International Association of Emergency Managers).

The primary goal of ASPEP was to foster professionalism and encourage continuing education in emergency management. In 1994, ASPEP initiated the publication of a professional journal, designed to publish practitioners in a professional publication. Over the past several years, the ASPEP leadership has recognized parallels and duplicative efforts between ASPEP and IAEM. The decision was made to gracefully dissolve ASPEP and transfer their activities into IAEM.

A CD containing all the ASPEP journals from 1994 through 2004 is now available through the IAEM merchandise Web site at http://iaem.com/about/Merchandise/description.htm. The farewell CD is $20.00 and the funds will go toward establishing a similar journal through the IAEM Communications Committee. Questions can be directed to the IAEM communications committee chair, Valerie Quigley at vjquigley@lbl.gov.

8) Call for Papers: Rapid Response to the Asian Tsunami Disaster

In the light of the recent South Asian tsunami disaster and its aftermath, the editors of "Sociology Research Online" invite contributions to a rapid response entitled “The Asian Tsunami: Global Disasters and Sociological Responses.” The editors welcome social scientific contributions that reflect upon the global political and social context of the tsunami, national and international responses to these events, and the contributions that sociologists and other social scientists might make to understanding the implications of this and other global disasters for the contemporary world. Contributions should be relatively brief (approximately 2-3,000 words) and will be subject to a peer-review process. Ideally, articles should reach the editors no later than the end of February 2005 so they can be refereed and, if necessary, revised prior to publication, which is scheduled for the end of March 2005. Articles will also be considered for the June issue. Visit http://www.socresonline.org.uk/9/4/rr-tsunami.html for the details, or contact the editors at socres@soc.surrey.ac.uk.

9) ICMA’s 2005 Annual Awards Program

For the past 37 years, the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Annual Awards Program has honored cities, towns, counties, and other entities and their managers and administrators for their creative contributions to professional local government management. The awards are divided into two categories: the Professional Awards, which recognize individual achievement by chief administrative officers, assistant administrators, or others, and the Program Excellence Awards, which are presented to local governments and their chief administrators in recognition of their creative and successful programs.

The deadline for receipt of nominations is Friday, March 11, 2005. Detailed information is available at http://www.icma.org/awards/2005/. Award recipients will be recognized during ICMA’s 91st Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 25-28, 2005. Address questions to ICMA, 777 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20002; (202) 289-4262; e-mail: awards@icma.org.

10) Reader Request: Employer Recommendations

My name is Christopher Thullen. I am currently working at the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. However, I wish to move to the United States. where I previously lived. I am not only trying to move to a new location but also exploring how to apply my professional skills to a different type of field.

By training, I am a computer analyst. Professionally, my strong points are technical knowledge, organizational capabilities, and cross-cultural skills. In recent years, I have been working in the financial sector and in organizations related to the United Nations. I have been developing and implementing customized computer applications. My tasks were to work with future users, determine their specifications and accordingly design the applications. I am in charge of a data warehouse and of the administration of Oracle databases.

My most significant experience has been the two years I spent volunteering with the U.S. Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa (1987-1989). I led soil conservation and well projects as a forestry extension agent with farmers and herders. A few years later, I participated in the relief effort in Rwanda (1994-1995).

Thus, I intend to stay in my field of training but leave the financial sector and apply my computer skills to fields such as disaster and risk management, forestry (based on my previous Peace Corps experience), or telecommunications (part of my studies). I also hope to be able to use my language skills and international experience. By changing fields, I am looking for a way to reconcile my computer job skills with my other previous experiences in the Peace Corps and in relief work.

I am seeking suggestions for organizations that might include positions that correspond to my skills and interests. If you know any individuals or organizations who might be interested in my services, please e-mail me at chris_thullen@span.ch.

11) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

[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.]

_________________________________
Emergency Management Director
Lake County, Florida

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in emergency management, public administration, or related field with a minimum of five years experience in middle or upper level management in public safety or related field; or any equivalent combination of related education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions. Must possess and maintain a valid Florida class "E" driver’s license. Special requirements: must have training or operations experience with crisis action teams of some type at the local, state, or federal (military) level. Experience with Florida Emergency Management trust funds and state Emergency Management Grants preferred. Possess ability to interpret information in various forms and determine situational awareness for groups of agencies. Ability to develop, organize, and execute coordinated emergency exercises involving 20 or more different agencies at multiple levels of government and business.

Job Description:
Responsible for the organization, administration, and operation of the county emergency management agency. Coordinates emergency management activities, services, and programs within the county, including all municipalities, and serves as liaison to the state Division of Emergency Management, municipal governments, and other local emergency management agencies and organizations. Responds to and coordinates emergencies in which people are required to be evacuated and sheltered, where infrastructure has been damaged, and where a large incident requires the establishment of an interagency incident command system.

The closing date for this position is January 26, 2005. Find out more at http://www.lakegovernment.com/departments/employee_services/.

_________________________________
Manager of Emergency Management
Orange County, Florida

Qualifications:
Requires a bachelor's degree in emergency management, public or business administration, or a related field and five years of experience in emergency management or a related field.

Must be a certified emergency manager. Must have completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency Professional Development Series courses, or obtain within one year of employment.

Duties:

  • Works with local government and private sector organizations to develop plans and capabilities responsive to hazards that pose a serious threat.
  • Coordinates all components of an integrated emergency management system consisting of fire and police, emergency medical service, public works, volunteers, and other groups contributing to emergency management.
  • Establishes and maintains a legal authority for the development and maintenance of an emergency management program and organization; carries out all directives in accordance with Florida Statute 252.
  • Trains staff, to include the areas of hazards and their consequences, professional development, emergency response and recovery, emergency operations planning, and exercise development.
  • Identifies and analyzes natural, technological, terrorism, and human-made hazards and creates a multiyear program development plan.
  • Develops strategies to eliminate or reduce hazards constituting a significant threat, through a hazard mitigation program.
  • Develops plans to respond to and recover from a disaster occurrence; acts as senior coordinating official with Florida's Division of Emergency Management, Florida's National Guard, and federal military forces.
  • Initiates and coordinates activities to utilize assets of the private sector, i.e., tourism industry, Chamber of Commerce, etc. in the local emergency management program.
  • Maintains current information on the extent and availability of military resources available to support civil authorities in preparation for and following the occurrence of emergencies.
  • Assists in the establishment of mutual aid or cooperative assistance agreements to provide needed services, equipment, or other resources in the event of an emergency.
  • Coordinates with local industry to develop industrial and local business emergency plans and capabilities in support of local government plans.
  • Develops and maintains an emergency operations center as a site from which key officials can direct and control operations during an emergency.
  • Establishes and maintains an emergency broadcast system to alert key public officials and warn the public in the event of an emergency.
  • Secures technical and financial assistance from state and federal programs.
  • Researches new grants and administers and tracks existing emergency management grants, i.e., Homeland Security funding, Urban Area Security initiatives, state competitive grants, other federal grants as applicable.

The closing date for this position is February 28, 2005. Find out more at http://www.orangecountyfl.net/jobs/jobline/.

_________________________________
Associate Director
Center for Hazards Assessment, Response, and Technology
Department of Sociology
University of New Orleans

The University of New Orleans (UNO) is seeking an associate director (with timely promotion to director) for its Center for Hazards Assessment, Response, and Technology (CHART), a mature and growing applied environmental sociology/natural hazards research center within the Department of Sociology. Applicants should have experience commensurate with their appointment at the rank of a tenure-track associate professor. The center is seeking a sociologist with specialization in environmental sociology, natural hazards, or natural resources to succeed CHART's founding director. CHART is an interdisciplinary research center focused on addressing environmental and natural hazards challenges within coastal Louisiana, including metropolitan New Orleans.

Applicants must have a proven record of successful research funding, established record of scholarship, management of multiresearcher research projects, and the experience/desire to interface with natural scientists, government agency officials, and community stakeholders. Complementary sociology specialties desired include community sociology, applied sociology, sociology of science, complex organizations, social movements, and political sociology. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To apply, send a letter of application, curriculum vita, and three references to Shirley Laska, CHART, CERM Building, Suite 339, UNO, New Orleans, LA 70148; e-mail: slaska@uno.edu; http://www.uno.edu/~chart/. Review by a multidisciplinary search committee will begin February 25, 2005, and continue until the position is filled.

_________________________________
Assistant Professor or Associate Professor
Environmental Technology Management
Technology and Applied Sciences: Information and Management Technology
Arizona State University

Essential Functions:
Areas of teaching responsibilities include undergraduate courses in environmental technology management and graduate level courses in one or more of the following areas: environmental management, emergency management, international environmental management and sustainable development. The candidate will direct student research and chair graduate student committees; serve on departmental, college, and university committees; and participate in student recruitment and administration of the environmental technology management program.

Qualifications Required:
An earned doctoral degree in a related field and three years of directly related industrial or governmental experience, effective communication skills, dynamic and recognized research and publication record appropriate to rank, and established industry and/or professional leadership appropriate to rank, in an environmental technology related area.

Qualifications Desired:
Experience in one or more of the following: analytical methods for detection of hazardous substances or pollutants; remediation technologies; international environmental management; policy or supervisory level of emergency management; preparedness and response to natural and technological disasters.

Applications are due March 1, 2005. To apply, send a vita and three references, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers to Thomas Schildgen, Department of Information and Management Technology, Arizona State University East, 7001 East Williams Field Road, Technology Center, Room 102, Mesa, Arizona 85212. For more information, visit http://www.east.asu.edu/ctas/imt/.

12) 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/resources/.]

http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/research/resactivites/CI/2003-D001_e.asp
This report provides a baseline assessment of the tsunami warning system and related risk reduction practices in British Columbia, Canada, and offers a series of conclusions that could be used to strengthen them. Also available in French at http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/research/resactivites/CI/2003-D001_f.asp.

http://www.eeri.org/lfe/pdf/japan_niigata_eeri_preliminary_report.pdf
The report Preliminary Observations on the Niigata Ken Chuetsu, Japan, Earthquake of October 23, 2004 is the latest installment in the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Learning from Earthquakes Program.

http://www.thoughtweb.com/relief/
The Pacific Disaster Center and Thoughtweb Inc. have created this Web site to facilitate information sharing and collaboration regarding the ongoing relief efforts pertaining to the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. The objective of the site is to provide personalized and highly relevant, up-to-date knowledge and situation awareness so users can be effective and efficient in doing what they can to support the tsunami relief and recovery effort.

http://www.iafc.org/grants/documents/codes.pdf
Early in 2004, the International Association of Fire Chiefs convened two emerging codes issues roundtables to develop strategies for enacting building code changes with an emphasis on life safety and fire threat reduction in nightclubs and other places of public assembly. This publication reports the outcomes of those roundtables.

http://hsdec.org/
The Homeland Security/Defense Education Consortium is a network of teaching and research institutions focused on promoting education, research, and cooperation related to and supporting the homeland security/defense mission. The consortium is committed to building and maintaining a community of higher education institutions supporting this mission and the overall homeland security effort through the sharing and advancement of knowledge. Web resources include suggested syllabi, course materials, and links to relevant Web sites.

http://ioc.unesco.org/itsu/categories.php?category_no=63
The UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s tsunami warning system in the Pacific has set up a public tsunami warning listserv. Subscribe here to receive pacific tsunami warnings via e-mail.

http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRP_Brochure.pdf
Download a two-page brochure about the National Response Plan from this U.S. Department of Homeland Security Web page.

http://www.ilankelman.org/disasterdeaths.html
This Web site compiles literature covering the causes and circumstances of disaster-related deaths. The current focus is on studies which examine individual fatalities from disasters involving environmental phenomena. Comments and additions are encouraged and should be sent to ilan_kelman@hotmail.com.

13) Conferences and Training

[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 Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html.]

Responding to Emergencies at Dams: Unifying Dam Safety and Security. Sponsor: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Fort Worth, Texas: February 15–17, 2005. Discussions during this three-day workshop will include emergency procedures, dam safety, and dam security. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (and other law enforcement agencies), emergency response personnel, and other federal and state agencies are invited to attend. For more information, contact Frank Calcagno, (202) 502-6026; e-mail: frank.calcagno@ferc.gov; http://www.ferc.gov/eventcalendar/.

MCEER Annual Meeting. Sponsor: Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER). Sacramento, California: February 24-26, 2005. With the theme of “Involving Stakeholders... Igniting Innovation... Securing Resilience,” MCEER’s annual meeting aims to engage stakeholders at the start of a process that will ignite innovation and engineer solutions to help communities secure heightened resilience against earthquakes as well as other disasters. The meeting will feature a Practitioners Day Forum on Friday, February 25, inviting participation from the practicing community and public officials to more fully engage critical stakeholders up-front. For more information, contact Karen Buchheit, MCEER, University at Buffalo, 109A Red Jacket Quadrangle, Amherst, NY 14260; (716) 645-3391 x126; e-mail: buchheit@mceermail.buffalo.edu; http://mceer.buffalo.edu/meetings/2005AnnualMeeting/default.asp.

New Knowledge of Earthquake Hazard in the Central United States and Implications for Building Seismic Design Practice. Sponsors: Applied Technology Council (ATC), U.S. Geological Survey. Memphis, Tennessee: March 3, 2005. This seminar has been designed for practicing structural engineers, geotechnical engineers, and earth scientists as part of the ongoing project to “Transfer U.S. Geological Survey Research Results into Engineering Design Practice.” Emphasis will be on earthquake potential, ground motions, and building design implications for earthquakes occurring in the New Madrid seismic zone. Earthquakes occurring in other parts of the central United States will also be addressed. For more information, contact the ATC, 201 Redwood Shores Parkway, Suite 240, Redwood City, CA 94065; (650) 595-1542; http://www.atcouncil.org/rel011005.shtml.

The National Severe Weather Workshop 2005. Sponsors: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Severe Storms Laboratory, Oklahoma Emergency Management Association, Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association. Midwest City, Oklahoma: March 3-5, 2005. Designed for emergency managers, storm spotters, and other weather enthusiasts, the workshop offers an opportunity to learn about the National Weather Service’s outlook, watch, and warning process; severe weather preparedness and safety; StormReady; EMWIN; severe storm risks; lightning effects; wind damage effects; and new ways to get radar data. Spotter training will be offered in conjunction with the workshop. For more information, contact http://www.norman.noaa.gov/nsww2005/.

International Symposium on Tsunami-Science, Society and Governance. New Delhi, India: March 5-6, 2005. Conference conveners propose deliberation on the following topics: science of tsunami (warnings), disaster reduction in tsunami, tsunami and coastal issues, social and psychological issues, tsunami and children, tsunami and community, relief and rehabilitation, and tsunami and governance. If you are interested in participating, it is requested that you submit yourabstract (300 words), full paper (2,000 words), poster idea as soon as possible, but before February 28, 2005. Send your submissions and inquiries to Durgadas Mukhopadhyay at spartaindia@yahoo.com.

Coastal GeoTools ‘05. Sponsor: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: March 7-10, 2005. The fourth biennial edition of this conference focuses on real-life coastal applications of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and decision-support tools, as well as the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. For more information, contact Hamilton Smillie; (843) 740-1192; e-mail Geo.Tools@noaa.gov; http://www.csc.noaa.gov/GeoTools/.

Lessons Learned Between Hurricanes: From Hugo to Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne-A Natural Disasters Roundtable Forum. Sponsor: The National Academies. Washington, DC: March 8, 2005. The roundtable’s mission is to facilitate and enhance communication and the exchange of ideas among scientists, practitioners, and policy makers to identify urgent and important issues related to the understanding and mitigation of natural, technological, and other disasters. For more information, contact Patricia Jones Kershaw, Disasters Roundtable, The National Academies, 500 5th Street NW, Keck 610, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 334-3362; e-mail: pkershaw@nas.edu; http://dels.nas.edu/dr/.

2005 Homeland Security Summit. Sponsor: Performance Institute. Washington, DC: March 14-16, 2005. This event is designed to help attendees enhance emergency response preparedness planning, upgrade their incident command systems, effectively manage resources, and improve communications processes, procedures, and systems. Discussions will also include the latest updates on the National Incident Management System, how to improve collaboration and streamline interagency response, and how to create a blueprint for all-hazards planning. For more information, contact the Performance Institute, 1515 North Courthouse Road, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 894-0481; http://homelandsecurityweb.org/hss04/.

Wildland Fire Safety Summit (2005): Human Factors Ten Years Later. Sponsor: International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF). Missoula, Montana: April 25-28. This summit will focus on the role of human factors in wildland firefighter safety, providing attendees with the opportunity to review the impacts of the 1994 Human Factors Workshop and to develop recommendations for the future. Presentations will cover topics such as the culture of wildland firefighting, the role of leadership in wildland firefighting, the physiological and sociological aspects of wildland firefighting, and new tools and technology for wildland firefighting. For more information, contact the IAWF Safety Summit, The University of Montana, Continuing Education-EMP, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812; (406) 243-2979; http://www.iawfonline.org/summit/.

The Salvation Army North American Disaster Training Conference. Organizer: The Salvation Army. Orlando, Florida: May 8-12, 2005. This five-day conference, the largest Salvation Army event dedicated exclusively to emergency disaster services, offers delegates an opportunity to participate in certified disaster training programs and discuss key issues in emergency preparedness and response. This year's theme, "The Future is Now. The Mission is Clear. An Army Prepared," reflects upon the progress The Salvation Army has made in strengthening its disaster services program. The 2005 conference will introduce The Salvation Army's new National Disaster Training Program and conference delegates will be among the first Salvation Army disaster workers to be certified under the new training standards. For more information, contact The Salvation Army, 2005 North American Disaster Training Conference, 1424 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, GA 30329; http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/.

Contingency Planning and Management 2005 West. Sponsor: CPM Group. Las Vegas, Nevada: May 24-26, 2005. This conference and exhibition is an educational event dedicated to professionals charged with business continuity/COOP, emergency management, and security. The program features over 70 technical sessions, special workshops, a disaster simulation, and preconference training certifications. For more information, contact CPM 2005 West, 20 Commerce Street, Flemington, NJ 08822; (908)788-0343 x132; e-mail: CPM2005@WitterPublishing.com; http://www.contingencyplanningExpo.com/.

Questions for the readership and contributions to this e-newsletter are encouraged. Questions and messages should be indicated as such and sent to hazctr@colorado.edu.

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