DISASTER RESEARCH 439

October 14 , 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. National Challenge Grant Program
  2. EERI Annual Student Paper Competition
  3. National Wildland Fire Management Awards
  4. Hurricane Katrina and LLIS.gov
  5. Call for Papers: 16th World Conference on Disaster Management
  6. Call for Papers: Conference on Postdisaster Reconstruction
  7. United Nations World Habitat Jam
  8. Volunteer Reviewers Sought for Coastal Hazards Management Course
  9. Some New Web Resources
  10. Conferences and Training
  11. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

1) National Challenge Grant Program

The Corporation for National and Community Service has announced the availability of approximately $4 million in Challenge Grants to assist in disaster relief and recovery efforts following the recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region. Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that engage volunteers in disaster relief and recovery.

The Challenge Grant program requires applicants to provide at least $2 in private funds to match every federal dollar awarded. Up to eight Challenge Grants are anticipated this year, with a minimum grant of $500,000 and a maximum of $1 million. The deadline for applications is November 8, 2005.

For further information, contact Marci Hunn at (202) 606-7507; e-mail: ChallengeGrants@cns.gov; http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp.

2) EERI Annual Student Paper Competition

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has announced this year’s annual student paper competition. The purpose of the competition is to promote active involvement of students in earthquake engineering and the earthquake hazards community. Papers from both graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for this competition. Up to four student authors will be invited to the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference, April 18-22, 2006, in San Francisco, California, and will receive travel support for this purpose. Their papers will also be considered for publication in Earthquake Spectra. Papers must be received by January 16, 2006, and sent to EERI, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612; (510) 451-0905. No fax copies or e-mail copies will be accepted. Guidelines for submission can be found at http://www.eeri.org/news/student_paper_competition.html.

3) National Wildland Fire Management Awards

The National Wildland Fire Management Section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) bestows six awards annually in the categories of Wildland Fire Public Education, Wildland Fire Prevention, Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation, Wildland Fire Planning, Wildland Fire Management, and Wildland Firefighter Safety. Local, state, or federal agency personnel; individuals associated with wildland fire management or public education; or anyone who has shown commitment to public education in forest ecology, wildfire prevention, mitigation, or related fields are eligible for the awards. The programs or activities for which the nominee was responsible must have taken place within two years of the award date.

Individuals or groups may be nominated, and the same individual or group may be nominated in multiple categories. Nominees need not be NFPA members, but nominations may only come from NFPA members. Nominations should be sent to the Wildland Section Executive Board through the section’s executive secretary, Jim Smalley; (617) 984-7483: jsmalley@nfpa.org; http://www.nfpa.org.

4) Hurricane Katrina and LLIS.gov

In response to the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster, LLIS.gov has created a Hurricane Katrina page for members to access relevant disaster recovery lessons learned, best practices, after-action reports, and other hurricane-related documents. LLIS.gov users can submit comments, experiences, and observations from Katrina that will assist in the development of new lessons learned. In addition, users can post questions, comments, and insights to a Katrina-specific message board.

Information on all phases of the disaster, including response and recovery operations, and all emergency response functions, such as search and rescue, communications, and law enforcement operations, is encouraged. Whether it is the receiving of displaced residents or the sending of personnel and resources to the Gulf Coast, jurisdictions across the nation have been affected by Hurricane Katrina, and LLIS.gov would appreciate feedback on the disaster. LLIS.gov is also seeking similar information about Hurricane Rita.

Membership to LLIS.gov is required and open only to vetted emergency response providers and homeland security officials. For more information and to register, visit http://www.llis.gov/.

5) Call for Papers: 16th World Conference on Disaster Management

The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness is calling for presentations for the 16th World Conference on Disaster Management, which will be held in Toronto, Canada, June 18-21, 2006.

The conference's theme will be "The Changing Face of Disaster Management - A Global Perspective." Presentations should fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • Real events/lessons learned
  • Emerging trends in disaster management
  • The human element in disaster management
  • Technical issues/threats
  • Disaster management principles and practices
  • Research and development

The conference will address issues common to all aspects of disaster/emergency management. The program includes speakers from many parts of the world and provides opportunities for training and networking among those in emergency planning and management, business continuity, emergency response, disaster management research, emergency communications, emergency health, risk management, security, and community planning.

Presentation abstracts must be submitted by December 3, 2005. For more information, contact Adrian Gordon at (905) 331-2552; e-mail: agordon@ccep.ca. Information on submitting an abstract is available at http://www.wcdm.org/.

6) Call for Papers: Conference on Postdisaster Reconstruction

The Third International Conference on Postdisaster Reconstruction: Meeting Stakeholder Interests, organized by i-Rec at the University of Montreal and the University of Florence, will be held in Florence, Italy, May 17-19, 2006. The conference will address the themes at the core of the debate around the development of effective and sustainable postdisaster reconstruction strategies and bring together professionals and practitioners from various fields such as housing, reconstruction, civil engineering, international development, humanitarian aid, architecture, urban planning, and environmental studies.

Participants interested in presenting are invited to submit an abstract related to one of the conference themes. The abstract should be typewritten in English (preferably in MS Word or PDF format) and should not exceed 300 words or one page. Abstracts submitted will be peer reviewed by the International Scientific Committee before acceptance. E-mail abstracts to cassidy.johnson@sympatico.ca by November 15, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.grif.umontreal.ca/pages/I-Rec%20Call%20for%20papers%202006.pdf.

7) United Nations World Habitat Jam

The World Habitat Jam is a United Nations forum designed to encourage global participation of stakeholders in urban development and risk as a run-up event to the 3rd World Urban Forum in Vancouver, Canada, in June 2006. The 72-hour online event sponsored by the United Nations Human Settlements Program and the government of Canada will occur December 1-3, 2005. The event seeks participants with a range of qualifications to take part in any or all of six urban sustainability forums: improving the lives of slum dwellers, sustainable access to water, environmental sustainability, safety and security, finance and governance, and humanity: the future of our cities.

After registering on the event’s Web site, participants will be e-mailed instructions on how to participate in the discussions on December 1-3, 2005. Participants can sort through information presented to find their most relevant topics, as well as present research, share ideas, discuss specific solutions, offer examples of programs that work well, collaborate on new ideas, and challenge the status quo. Individuals or teams also may be involved with the World Habitat Jam as a moderator, subject matter expert, or facilitator. Find more information at http://www.habitatjam.com.

8) Volunteer Reviewers Sought for Coastal Hazards Management Course

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Higher Education Project is seeking volunteers to review a draft of an undergraduate-level college course, “Coastal Hazard Management.” This is an approximately 1,156-page “Instructor Guide” that has been developed by a team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Interested volunteers, who believe they have the necessary background and expertise to review an undergraduate-level course in coastal hazards management, will have 45 days after receipt of the priority-mailed paper copy to review and return comments. It is requested that no one seek a review copy for information purposes only, as within a few months a final version of this course will be available for free on the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Web site. If interested in becoming a reviewer, visit http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/completeCourses.asp to become familiar with other FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Project courses prior to reviewing. To become a volunteer reviewer or to request more information, contact Barbara Johnson, Federal Emergency Management Agency; (301)447-1452; e-mail: barbara.l.johnson@dhs.gov; http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/index.asp.

9) 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/.]

USGS Preliminary Earthquake Report, October 8, 2005
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center preliminary report on the magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Pakistan on October 8, can be found here.

EERI Kashmir Earthquake Virtual Clearinghouse
This virtual clearinghouse developed by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) provides data on the earthquake in Pakistan for use by government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and local builders in the reconstruction.

World Health Organization Information on the South Asian Earthquake
This Web site of the World Health Organization provides situation reports and other information on the countries affected by the October 8, earthquake in Pakistan.

Floods and Landslides in Central America and Mexico
This Web site of the Pan American Health Organization includes reports and photographs from the countries impacted by Hurricane Stan and the related floods and landslides.

Outcomes from WHO Conference on Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster
Proceedings and outcomes from the World Health Organization (WHO) Conference on the Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia held in Phuket, Thailand, in May 2005 can be found here.

Implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
This report to the United Nations secretary-general provides an overview of the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the follow-up to the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005, in Kobe, Japan.

GAO Report on U.S. Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Activities
The report titled Hurricane Katrina: Providing Oversight of the Nation’s Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Activities prepared by the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) is available here.

American Veterinary Medical Association Disaster Preparedness Series
The Web site of the American Veterinary Medical Association provides educational materials to assist veterinarians, animal owners, and others interested in the well-being of animals in preparing for animal safety in the event of a disaster.

The Macroeconomic and Budgetary Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Reports and testimony prepared by the Congressional Budget Office on the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are available here.

Special Needs Assessment for Katrina Evacuees Project
On October 5, the National Organization on Disability released the findings of its Special Needs for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) Project. In the month of September, SNAKE teams were deployed throughout the Gulf region to perform rapid assessments of the special needs and living conditions of Katrina survivors with disabilities.

Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness
In July, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties submitted this report to the President documenting the progress made by the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities in overcoming the complex challenges people with disabilities face in times of emergency.

Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in Disaster Response
The rapid environmental assessment in disaster response Web page of the Benfield Hazard Research Center has been substantially updated and expanded. It includes an updated training schedule, background papers, resources, and links to other information about environment and disasters.

NOAA/USGS Debris Flow Warning System Pilot Project
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have announced plans to conduct a pilot project in Southern California that will improve National Weather Service forecasts of potential debris flows, also known as mud flows. The project’s goal is to provide public warnings of imminent threats in and near areas recently burned by wildfires.

Report on the Status of 9/11 Commission Recommendations
The 9/11 Public Discourse Project released the first of several reports that will assess the status of the 41 recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission. In Report on the Status of 9/11 Commission Recommendations—Part I: Homeland Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response, the project participants examine recommendations made in the areas of emergency preparedness and response, transportation security, and border security.

READYColorado Campaign
READYColorado is a public awareness campaign supported by public and private partners concerned with raising awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness among Colorado citizens. The Web site includes tools, checklists, strategies, and information for preparing, responding, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters.

Map-Based U.S. Fire Department Database
This site, prepared by Fire Engineering Magazine allows searches for paid, volunteer, and mixed fire agencies by state throughout the United States by clicking on a map. It also links to various levels of information about each fire organization.

10) 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.]

International Symposium on Urban Disaster Risk Reduction and Regeneration Planning: Integrating Practice, Policy, and Theory. Sponsor: California Polytechnic State University. San Luis Obispo, California: November 3-5, 2005. This symposium is designed to bring together some of the best minds from overseas and the United States for an intense two and one-half day assessment of how to build and, if necessary, rebuild more durable, disaster resistant communities. For more information and to register, call (805) 756-1315; e-mail: crp@calpoly.edu; http://www.planning.calpoly.edu/projects/international_2005.html.

Emergency Preparedness and Response - Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina. Sponsor: “Homeland Defense Journal.” Washington, DC: November 30-December 1, 2005. This training conference is designed to provide an opportunity for emergency management experts from academia, industry, and government to come together and share information about how local jurisdictions can better address the onset, arrival, and aftermath of a major natural disaster of potential national significance. For more information, contact Pamela Greenstein, (703) 807-2753; http://www.homelanddefensejournal.com/conf_EmergPrepComm.htm.

2005 National Summit on Emergency Response and Preparedness for Schools. Organizer: The Performance Institute. Arlington, Virginia: December 15-16, 2005. The purpose of this summit is to help schools design, implement, and improve emergency preparedness plans and crisis management strategies. Contact The Performance Institute, 1515 North Courthouse Road, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 894-0481; http://www.performanceweb.org/Centers/Education/Events/S209/S209.htm.

2006 GeoCongress. Sponsors: Geo Institute and American Society of Civil Engineers. Atlanta, Georgia: February 26-March 1, 2006. The objectives of the 2006 GeoCongress are to showcase recent advancements in all geo applications as a result of the adoption of information technologies, debate future opportunities for the geo industry that can result from even more widespread adoption of information technologies, and bring together participants from a broad range of groups within the geo community. For more information, contact David Frost, e-mail: david.frost@ce.gatech.edu; http://www.asce.org/conferences/geocongress06/.

2006 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Applications Science Workshop: Research and Applications on Use and Impacts. Organizers: National Weather Service Climate Services Division, the University of Arizona Climate Assessment for the Southwest, and the Arizona Cooperative Extension. Tucson, Arizona: March 21-24, 2006. This workshop will bring together a diverse group of climate science producers and users to share and discuss developments in research and applications related to the use and impacts of climate predictions on societal decision making and resource management. The goals of the meeting are to identify new climate prediction applications research, promote interactions between climate-sensitive integrated research and service communities, and assess impacts of climate forecasts on environmental-societal interactions. The workshop will not address technical challenges of making climate predictions, climate modeling, or other technical topics related to the science of climate predictions. For more information, contact Mike Crimmins; e-mail: crimmins@u.arizona.edu or Diana Perfect; e-mail: diana.perfect@noaa.gov; http://cals.arizona.edu/climate/CPASW2006/.

1st Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference. Organizer: International Association of Wildland Fire. Portland, Oregon: March 28-30, 2006. The theme of this conference is “Fuels Management - How to Measure Success.” The conference will address the development, implementation, and evaluation of fuels management programs that are designed to reduce risks to communities and to improve and maintain ecosystem health with a focus on how to measure success. The deadline to submit abstracts is November 30, 2005. For more information, contact the International Association of Wildland Fire, PO Box 261, Hot Springs, SD 57747-0261; (605) 890-2348; http://www.iawfonline.org/fuels/overview.shtml.

11) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

_________________________________
Public Health Preparedness Planner
Hawaii Department of Health: Honolulu, Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Health Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Branch is currently recruiting for a public health preparedness planner. The position participates in the development and exercise of state and county public health emergency response plans, including the distribution of large quantities of medical materials and organization of staff and volunteers. Duties include collaborating with public and private agencies in the development of the statewide plan and coordinating related exercises.

The ideal candidate would have a college or university degree or equivalent and three years of specialized experience in emergency response planning. Knowledge of bioterrorism and public health preparedness programs is desirable. Must possess strong writing, analytical, organizational, public speaking, and computer skills. Must be able to work independently.

To apply, submit a letter of interest and resume to Jan Harada, (808) 587-6847; e-mail: jmharada@doh.hawaii.gov.

_________________________________
Emergency Preparedness and Response Position
Americorps: Alexandria, Virginia

The City of Alexandria Health Department has an opportunity for a student interested in emergency management. Americorps is providing funding to the health department for an Education Grant AmeriCorps member. It is an opportunity for someone interested in emergency preparedness/disaster planning, community/public health, volunteer mobilization, and/or outreach to groups with diverse cultural and language and physical attributes. The position involves a commitment of 1,700 hours over the next year with an education stipend of $4,725 upon completion. Flexible work hours, some of which will simply involve being on call, and significant work at home are possible.

The person in this position will have the opportunity to:

  • Facilitate access to health-related services to low-income people, especially in emergencies, and those potentially isolated due to culture or language.
  • Work with the department’s volunteer corps to identify the special needs of various cultural groups in Alexandria, helping to determine how best to communicate with those populations, helping them understand and prepare for potential public health emergencies, and eliciting volunteers from those communities.
  • Establish relationships with neighborhood associations to further objectives.
  • Assist in managing the volunteers, including recruiting, selecting, creating, and conducting training; coordinating meetings; creating means of ongoing communication; and managing the volunteer database.
  • Organize the identification of people with special physical needs in the community who might be at risk during a health emergency and determining how best to serve that population.
  • Assist in the development of annexes and appendices for the Health Department Emergency Operations Plan, including quarantine and isolation procedures, special needs shelters, response to bioterrorism, and a potential surge of patients. Ensure all manuals are kept current.
  • Assist in the development of forms and data collection tools for use in large scale medication-dispensing processes.
  • Participate in city and regional emergency planning meetings and tasks.

The primary supervisor of the position will be the emergency planner for the Alexandria Health Department. If interested, respond to John Clizbe, e-mail: John.Clizbe@vdh.virginia.gov.

_______________________________
Public Health Bioterrorism Preparedness Research Scientist
Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation: Seattle, Washington

The Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation conduct public health research and survey operations for government and private industry. Battelle is seeking a principal health research scientist to join a nationwide team of researchers focusing on public health system preparedness. A completed social science doctorate (sociology, anthropology, geography, or related discipline) is required. The position involves working with senior scientists on projects examining organizational aspects of bioterrorism preparedness and emergency response for public health functions, as well as emerging infectious disease epidemiology. Activities include designing program evaluation projects, collaborating in preparing project proposals, conducting literature reviews, analyzing data, and writing reports. The position requires travel, and the work will involve a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection in the course of site visits.

For further information on the required and preferred qualifications for the position and to submit a resume, visit https://recruit.battelle.org/ENG/candidates/ and enter the requisition number 11145 in the appropriate box in the “job search” section.

_______________________________
Newsletter Editor
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute: Oakland, California

The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is searching for a new editor for the EERI Newsletter. The editor should have a commitment to EERI, an enjoyment of writing, the ability to meet monthly deadlines, confidence with computers and software, and a willingness to seek details when needed. The newsletter is formatted in Adobe’s InDesign layout program, and EERI would be willing to provide training in this software. If interested in the position, send a summary of your professional background, a description of how you plan to produce the newsletter, and any ideas you have for improving it to Susan Tubbesing, EERI, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612; (510) 451-0905; http://www.eeri.org.

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.

Back to Top