1) Beware of Distracted Editors
Much has been made recently of the dangers of texting and using social media while driving, but what about while trying to produce a newsletter?
For your safety, this DR is long on Natural Hazards Center announcements and short on articles. That's because we're in Austin for the giant media conference South by Southwest Interactive, where we're hoping to pick up a few new tricks to make DR, the Observer, the Natural Hazards Library, and Workshop more useful—and yes, more fun.
But we also have a lot to tell you about this week: there's a new Observer, the first edition of this July's Hazards Workshop program is up on the Web, and of course we still have new resources, conferences, and jobs that can't wait.
So we'll look forward to seeing you again in two weeks, when we'll be back in Boulder full of new ideas—and able to focus.2) 2012 Natural Hazards Workshop Web Site Goes Live
We've begun posting the schedule of sessions and speakers and sending e-mail invitations for our 37th Annual Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop, which will be held Saturday, July 14 through Tuesday, July 17 at the Omni Interlocken Hotel in Broomfield, Colorado.
We'll be updating the site daily, so keep an eye out as we confirm new exciting people and topics. As usual, we'll be adding all kinds of other useful information, like poster and Workshop abstracts, the IRCD Researchers and NHMA Practitioners Meeting schedules, and speaker biography pages. (But you'll have to be registered to see some of that, so use that link in your invitation to register now before space gets tight.)
And if you don't want to have to keep checking the Web, follow us on Twitter. We'll announce many of the exciting Workshop program updates there.3) Win Your Way into the Workshop
Budget tight? You still have time to try and rustle up a free registration (and possibly more) for this summer’s Natural Hazards Workshop by winning one of our three competitions—the Mary Fran Myers Scholarship, the Mary Fran Myers Award, and the Student Paper Competition.
The Mary Fran Myers Scholarship recognizes individuals who share the former Natural Hazards Center co-director’s commitment to disaster research and practice and have the potential to make a lasting contribution to reducing disaster vulnerability. Scholarship recipients will receive financial assistance to attend the Workshop, including transportation, meals, and registration. The deadline for applications is March 26.
The Mary Fran Myers Award recognizes individuals who have added to gender and disaster knowledge or furthered opportunities for women to succeed in the field. Winners receive free registration and will be acknowledged at the Workshop. The deadline for nominations is April 16.
The Student Paper Competition allows undergraduate and graduate research papers to net two lucky students $100 and free entry into the Workshop. Papers may present current research, literature reviews, theoretical arguments, or case studies on social or behavioral aspects of hazards or disasters. The deadline for entry submission is April 30.
4) Latest Natural Hazards Observer Online
The latest edition of the Natural Hazards Observer is now available online. Featured articles from the March 2011 Observer include:
- Raising the Rules: Colorado’s Route to Tougher Floodplain Regulations
- Diagnosing Flu Symptoms with Social Media
- Biodiversity Attracts More International Effort
- Social Media and the Intelligence from Facebook
Visit the Natural Hazards Center Web site to read the March and past editions of the Observer.
5) Call Outs: Calls for Papers, Abstracts, Proposals, and More
Call for Participation
Firewise Calendar Photo Contest
National Fire Protection Association
Deadline: March 16, 2012
The National Fire Protection Association is accepting photos to be included in its 2013 Firewise Calendar. Photos of plants and landscaping that minimize fire risk will be reviewed for use in the calendar. Winning entrants will receive a $25 gift card. Visit the Firewise Web site for more details.
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Call for Presentations
Fifth Spatial Sociocultural Knowledge Workshop
Cranfield University
Deadline: March 17, 2012
Cranfield University is accepting proposals of 250 words or less for presentations at its Fifth Spatial Sociocultural Knowledge Workshop to be held June 19 in Shrivenham, England. The conference examines how a geospatial framework can support disaster relief operations and humanitarian efforts.
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Call for Applications
Dam Safety Scholarship
Association of State Dam Safety Officials
Deadline: March 31, 2012
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials is accepting applications for its annual undergraduate scholarship. Scholarships of up to $10,000 will be awarded to students enrolled in engineering programs or preparing for careers related to the design, construction, or operation of dams. Students planning to graduate in 2013 are eligible to apply.
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Call for Nominations
Gilbert F. White Distinguished Lecture Award
American Geophysical Union Natural Hazards Focus Group
Deadline: April 15, 2012
The Natural Hazards Focus Group of the American Geophysical Union is accepting nominations for its first annual Gilbert F. White Distinguished Lecture Award, which will recognize contributions to the knowledge of natural hazards and disaster risk. Nominees must be active AGU members with a substantive body of work in hazards or disaster risk research. For full nomination instructions, visit the award Web site. Self-nominations are not accepted.
6) Some New Web Resources
[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we have discovered. For an extensive list of useful Web sites dealing with hazards, see www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/.]
Acute Exposure Guideline Levels for Selected Airborne Chemicals: Volume 11
This National Research Council report establishes new guidelines for acute exposure to hazardous chemicals and is useful in responding to emergencies or remediating contamination. Each chemical in the volume has been assessed for three exposure levels (notable but reversible discomfort, long-lasting health effects, and life-threatening health impacts).
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Report on the Domestic Natural Disaster Health Workforce
This report from the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health analyzes the capability of state and local emergency healthcare providers to respond to catastrophic disasters. Topics covered include volunteer failure to respond, an aging medical workforce, development of human capital, and readiness.
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Emergency Management Review
The Emergency Management Review is a new international peer-reviewed journal that aims to share knowledge and insights between emergency management practitioners and researchers. Literature reviews, best practices, and case studies will be featured. Visit the journal Web site to read the first issue and learn more about how to submit papers for review.
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The Insurance Industry’s Incredible Disappearing Weather Catastrophe RiskThis report by the Consumer Federation of America has found that insurance companies are significantly shifting the cost of extreme weather—tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods—to consumers. By increasing deductibles and capping payouts, insurers have methodically assured that much of the cost of increasingly extreme weather is shouldered by policyholders, the report states. Subsequently, overwhelmed homeowners are forced to rely on disaster assistance, meaning taxpayers also take on a larger share of the risk.
7) Conferences, Training, and Events
[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. For a comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings, visit our Web site at www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/conferences.html.]
March 15-17, 2012
Building Resilience Workshop III
Oxfam, Loyola Center for Environmental Law and Land Use, Greater New Orleans, and others
New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost and Registration: $225, open until filled
This workshop will identify strategies for reducing the vulnerability of New Orleans and South Louisiana to natural and man-made hazards. This is the third workshop in a series of three master planning workshops. Topics include community shelters, non-structural mitigation, evacuation plans, and focused discussions with parish residents.
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April 17-19, 2012
Third Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire
International Association of Wildland Fire
Seattle, Washington
Cost and Registration: $495 before March 17, open until filled
This conference discusses public safety, preparedness, and management of wildland fires. Topics include long-term homeowner maintenance of defensible space, firefighters’ physical and psychological workplace injuries, neighborhood involvement in wildfire mitigation planning, and the effect of large wildfires on local labor markets.
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April 20-22, 2012
Wildland Fire Litigation Conference
Ken Roye
Sacramento, California
Cost and Registration: $595, open until filled
This conference discusses infrastructure, environment, and insurance issues in wildland fire litigation. Topics include technology in fire investigation, uses and limitations of fire behavior modeling software, conservation and environmental easement appraisals, tree damage valuation methods, and the use of game theory in conflict mediation.
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April 22-27, 2012
European Geosciences Union General Assembly
European Geosciences Union
Vienna, Austria
Cost and Registration: $513 before March 22, open until filled
This conference presents research from geoscientists around the world. Topics include the uncertainty and variability of precipitation, landslides in volcanically active environments, flood risk uncertainty, large earthquakes and tsunami activity, and the economic costs of natural hazards.
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April 30 to May 2, 2012
Coastal Cities Summit
International Ocean Institute
St. Petersburg, Florida
Cost and Registration: $395, open until filled
This conference looks at managing coastal resources while addressing the pressures of coastal development, sea level rise, population growth, and ocean acidification. Topics include disaster resilience, coastal energy alternatives, food supply concerns, drought, and building smaller cities and towns.
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April 30 to May 3, 2012
Science Policy Conference
American Geophysical Union
Washington, D.C.
Cost and Registration: $545 before March 30, open until filled
This conference examines the science informing policy decisions related to natural hazards, natural resources, oceans, and the Arctic. Topics include improved natural hazards preparedness and mitigation strategies, severe weather effects on agriculture and food prices, coastal transformations caused by sea level rise and erosion, and local business continuity strategies.
8) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
[The following job postings provided an overview of some selected openings in hazards-related fields. For more information on a particular job, please follow the links provided.]
Program Directors
National Science Foundation
Arlington, Virginia
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
The National Science Foundation is seeking two senior researchers to serve as program directors. The Decision, Risk and Management Sciences Program position requires broad expertise in judgment and decision making, decision analysis, behavioral economics, management science, or societal and public policy decision making. The Science of Organizations position requires training in social or economic sciences and a fundamental understanding of how organizations develop, form, and operate. Applicants for both programs must have a PhD and six or more years of successful research experience.
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Emergency Management Analyst
G4S Government Solutions
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position will assist with the development and maintenance of emergency plans, checklists, and procedures. Responsibilities include developing the 45th Space Wing Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, providing training to emergency first responders and hurricane coordinators, and participating in emergency response for all launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. An associate’s degree in emergency management is required. Emergency management certification in is preferred.
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Emergency Management Coordinator
Rockford Health System
Rockford, Illinois
Salary: $43,202
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position will develop and oversee all hospital emergency preparedness. Responsibilities include complying with the requirements of the Joint Commission and the Illinois Department of Public Health, developing record-keeping systems, and conducting emergency preparedness training for hospital staff. One year of experience is required. Three to five years of experience and completion of Incident Command System courses are preferred.
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Forensic Structural Engineer
Project Time & Cost
Denver, Colorado
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position will provide residential and commercial site investigations to determine the cause and origin of structural failures, damages, or defects. Responsibilities include investigating and assessing damages caused by windstorm, hail, hurricane, and earthquake; providing detailed damage reports to clients; and marketing company services. A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, a professional engineering license, and at least five years of experience are required. Experience working with law firms and insurance companies is preferred.
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Chief Building Official/Floodplain Administrator
City of Baytown
Baytown, Texas
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position administers the city’s floodplain program, including supervising inspectors, program coordinators, and plan reviewers and providing creative leadership to the city’s substandard buildings program. Five years of building contractor, architectural, or inspection experience and a bachelor’s degree in construction management or business administration are required. Experience working with municipalities is preferred.
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Emergency Preparedness Specialist I
Wyoming Department of Homeland Security
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Salary: $42,768 to $50,304
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position will coordinate statewide emergency preparedness planning. Responsibilities include training local bomb squads, acting as a liaison to city, county, and tribal emergency coordinators, providing information and guidance to county and city officials regarding Homeland Security Grant Programs, writing and developing grants, and responding to disasters in the state. Knowledge of grant administration and Homeland Security Grant Programs is required.
Contributions of jobs, conferences, and other content to this newsletter can be sent to jolie.breeden@colorado.edu. Please include “for Disaster Research” in the subject line.
To subscribe, visit http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/dr/ or e-mail jolie.breeden@colorado.edu.