The Long Road to Recovery: Community Responses to Industrial Disaster. James K. Mitchell,
Editor. 1996. 307 pp. $30.00, plus $4.00 shipping. Copies can be purchased from Brookings
Institution Press, Publications Order Department, Department 029, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue,
N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (800) 275-1447 or (202) 797-6258; fax: (202) 797-6004; e-mail:
bibooks@brook.edu; WWW: http://www.brook.edu.
This book examines community responses to industrial disasters that produced unprecedented
consequences--phenomena that seem to be occurring more frequently and lasting longer than
ever before. It is the result of long-term case studies of seven industrial disasters that occurred
between 1949 and 1989: the mercury contamination in Minamata, Japan; underground fires in
Centralia, Pennsylvania; an airborn dioxin release in Seveso, Italy; the toxic gas release in
Bhopal, India; the nuclear reactor fire at Chernobyl, Ukraine; the destruction of oil facilities
during the Gulf War; and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Contributors stress the need for long-term
postdisaster assessment and the creation of information clearinghouses that focus on industrial
disasters.
Emergency Preparedness in Health Care Organizations. Linda Young Landesman, Editor.
1996. 194 pp. $35.00, plus $7.95 postage and handling. Available from the Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, P.O. Box 75751, Chicago, IL 60675-5751; (630)
792-5800; fax: (800) 676-3299.
Emergency Preparedness in Health Care Organizations is designed to help hospitals and other
health care organizations get ready to face major disasters and emergencies. It covers how to:
develop a proactive emergency management plan; gain a clear understanding of key disaster
planning issues, including command center operation, communications, community interaction,
and emergency department operation; make critical decisions regarding implementation of the
disaster plan; train staff; and comply with accreditation standards. Almost half of the book
recounts various actual hospital emergency response situations.
Working Bibliography on Hazards and Geographic Information Processing Techniques.
Compiled by Richard F. Collins, Michael S. Scott, Deborah Thomas, and Michael E. Hodgson.
Hazards Research Laboratory Discussion Paper #10. 1997. 18 pp. $2.00. Available from the
Hazards Research Laboratory (HRL), Department of Geography, University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208; (803) 777-1699; fax: (803) 777-4972; e-mail: uschrl@ecotopia.geog.sc.edu; WWW: http://www.cla.sc.edu/geog/hrl/home.html.
This working bibliography is divided into general works, remote sensing (natural hazards,
technological hazards, hazards in general), geographic information systems (general, natural
hazards, technological hazards, social responses), and spatial modeling and simulation. A
complete list of HRL publications is available from the Web site above.
Expanded Emergency Management Roles and Missions for the National Guard. Ronald R. Henley. NTIS Product ID: AD-A326 565/9INF. 1997. 44 pp. $21.50, paper; $10.00, microfiche.
The Use of DOD Medical Assets in International Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations. David E. Gilliland. NTIS Product ID: AD-A325 429/9INF. 1996. 101 pp. $28.00, paper; $14.00, microfiche.
Enhancing the Strategic Roles of the National Guard: Domestic Support Operations. Isaac D. Pickering. NTIS Product ID: AD-A326 775/4INF. 1997. 39 pp. $21.50, paper; $10.00, microfiche.
Allowing Access to the Selected Reserve for Domestic Disaster Relief Operations. Lee W. Freund. NTIS Product ID: AD-A326 496/7INF. 1997. 34 pp. $21.50, paper; $10.00, microfiche.
Domestic Support Operations: Military Roles, Missions, and Interface with Civilian Agencies. Stanley W. Johnston, Jr. NTIS Product ID: AD-A326 931/3INF. 1997. 36 pp. $21.50, paper; $10.00, microfiche.
Interagency Cooperation: FEMA and DOD in Domestic Support Operations. C.E. Fischer. NTIS Product ID: AD-A331 147/9INF. 1997. 58 pp. $21.50, paper; $10.00, microfiche.
A Post-Hurricane Andrew Review of Trends in Department of Defense Disaster Relief Operations. Terry R. Youngbluth. NTIS Product ID: AD-A309 018/01NZ. $21.50, paper; $10.00, microfiche.
Any of these publications can be ordered from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; (703) 487-4650; fax: (703) 321-8547; e-mail: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov.
Abstracts of these papers are available from the NTIS Ordernow Web page: http://chaos.fedworld.gov/ordernow.
Designing the Bayous: The Control of Water in the Atchafalaya Basin, 1800-1995. Martin
Reuss. 1998. 490 pp. $25.00. Copies of the book can be purchased from the U.S. Government
Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954;
(202) 512-1800; fax: (202) 512 2250; e-mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; WWW: http://www.access.gpo.gov. Specify stock number 008-022-00312-6.
Designing the Bayous, written by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Senior Historian Martin Reuss,
discusses the conflicts, natural forces, and human interventions that have shaped the Atchafalaya
Basin. This swamp, home to the largest floodway in the world, figures significantly in the plan to
prevent catastrophic flooding in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and other population centers along
the lower Mississippi River. Not surprisingly, this region has spawned intense engineering, legal,
and political disputes. Reuss examines local, state, and federal efforts to reconcile overlapping
and conflicting purposes in the development of the basin. He explores the impact of the Flood
Control Act of 1928, the development of the Old River Control Structures, and the Corps of
Engineers' evolving approach to water resources planning, particularly in the context of the
challenges presented in the environmental era.
Red River Flooding: Short-Term Measures. 1997. 65 pp. Free. Copies can be obtained from the
International Joint Commission, United States Section, 1250 23rd Street, N.W., Suite 100,
Washington, DC 20440; fax: (202) 736-9015; e-mail: bevacquaf@ijc.org.inter.net. The complete
text of the report is also available on the commission's Web site: http://www.ijc.org.
Recognizing the devastation caused in both the U.S. and Canada by the 1997 Red River flood,
the governments of the two nations asked the International Joint Commission to examine the
causes and effects of this damaging event. This interim report identifies measures that can be
implemented in the near-term to reduce future flood damage. It presents historical information on
floods in the basin; describes existing flood protection works, emergency structural works, and
measures taken to prepare for the floods; and highlights some of the social and environmental
impacts of the flooding. The report also contains a draft plan of remaining work to be done by the
International Red River Basin Task Force, including 40 recommendations for short-term actions
to ensure better preparedness for the spring of 1998.
Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines. Publication No. FEMA 186. 1997. 180
pp. Free. Copies can be requested from the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Publications Distribution Facility, 8231 Stayton Drive, Jessup, MD 20794; (800) 480-2520 or
(202) 646-3484; fax: (301) 497-6378.
Title V of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994
substantially amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection
Act of 1973, tightening the mandatory purchase provisions for flood insurance. Most
significantly, this legislation imposes substantial new obligations on lenders and their services.
These guidelines provide the information needed for lenders to meet those requirements,
describing the National Flood Insurance Program, coverage availability, the mandatory purchase
law, its affects on condominiums and cooperatives, and key provisions.
Floods: Causes, Effects and Risk Assessment. 1997. 102 pp. Free. Copies can be requested
from Celia Luthi Powell, Corporate Relations, Partner Re, P.O. Box HM KX, Bermuda; (441)
292-0098; fax: (441) 292-5588; e-mail: celia_luth@partnerre.com.
Partner Re, a specialized catastrophe reinsurer, created this document to encourage the insurance
industry to tackle the problem of flooding, asserting that the vast majority of insurance
clients--homeowners and businesses--expect and deserve solutions from our industry,
especially as they become more aware of the true exposure and the enormous risk river floods in
particular pose to their livelihoods. Floods provides a guide for assessing flood risks,
particularly those associated with rivers. It notes that today, scientific knowledge in meteorology
and hydrology can be used by insurers for fair ratings and risk mitigation. Further, it notes that
government regulation of construction and land use, as well as protection and precaution by the
individual, must complement insurance in providing protection. The report also describes recent
significant floods, types of hazard, types of vulnerability, flood protection, insurance and
reinsurance aspects, and other causes of flood. Appendices provide rainfall data for selected
places, a checklist of risk factors, a list of major historical floods, and a directory of flood-related
Web sites.
When the Waters Recede: Rescue and Recovery During the Great Flood. Dan Guillory. 1996.
110 pp. $14.95. Copies can be purchased from Iowa State University Press, 2121 South State
Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300; (800) 862-6657 or (515) 292-0155; fax: (515) 292-3348.
When the Waters Recede is a collection of essays about the impacts of the Great Flood of 1993
along the Mississippi River. Guillory's essays look at natural disasters, provide a primer on
floods, discuss causes and consequences of the floods, talk about identification with the river and
its sense of place, examine the impacts on many small communities; and describe the individuals
he met who were willing to share their experiences with him.
The Natural Hazards Center recently received several reports from the National Weather Service (NWS) regarding severe weather events and the role of the NWS in forecasts and warnings. Printed reports include:
They can be obtained from your local National Weather Service Office or the Customer Service Core, National Weather Service Headquarters, 1325 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
The following three reports can also be obtained at the address above or accessed via the Internet at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/nwspub.htm. They are in PDF format and require an Adobe Acrobat™ viewer, which can be downloaded at the site:
Does the Weather Really Matter? The Social Implications of Climate Change. William James
Burroughs. 1997. 242 pp. $24.95, plus $4.00 shipping. Purchase from the Customer Services
Department, Cambridge University Press, 110 Midland Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573-4930;
(800) 872-7423; fax: (914) 937-4712; e-mail: orders@cup.org; WWW: http://www.cup.org.
In Does the Weather Really Matter? Burroughs explores how weather impacts our lives. He
combines historical perspective and economic and political analysis to determine the relevance of
weather and climate change. He begins by analyzing whether the frequency of extreme weather
events is changing and then discusses the consequences of those changes, as well as the chaotic
nature of climate and how this unpredictability can impose serious limits on how we plan for the
future. Finally, Burroughs asks, What types of serious, even less predictable changes are around
the corner?
Climate Change Information Kit. Information booklet, 20 pp. Information sheets, 60 pp. 1997.
Free. To obtain copies or additional information materials, contact the United Nations
Environment Programme, Information Unit for Conventions, Geneva Executive Center, C.P. 356,
1219 Châtelaine, Switzerland; tel: (41 22) 979-9244/9196/9111; fax: (41 22) 797 3464; e-mail:
iuc@unep.ch; WWW: http://www.unep.ch.
Noting that the 1990s have been a time of international soul-searching about the environment,
this kit provides general information on the issues related to global climate change. It describes
basic concepts of global warming and outlines how the United Nations Global Climate Change
Convention attempts to deal with these issues. The information sheets discuss the climate system,
including the greenhouse effect, climate change, and past climates; the consequences of predicted
changes, including food security, sea level rise, and climatic disasters and extreme events; the
Climate Change Convention; and activities to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Hurricanes: Their Nature and Impacts on Society. Roger A. Pielke Jr. and Roger A. Pielke Sr.
1997. 279 pp. $79.95, plus $2.50 shipping. Copies can be ordered from John Wiley & Sons, U.S.
Distribution Center (USDC), 1 Wiley Drive, Somerset, NJ 08875-1272; (732) 469-4400; fax:
(732) 302-2300; WWW: http://www.wiley.com.
Have hurricanes in the U.S. become more severe in the last decade? Losses due to hurricanes in
the 1990s total more than those incurred in the 1970s and 1980s combined, even after adjusting
for inflation. The fact is, however, in the past few decades, the U.S. has experienced a decrease in
the frequency of severe storms, although we are growing increasingly more vulnerable to
hurricane impacts due to demographic changes. This book defines and assesses the hurricane
problem in the U.S. to enable decision makers to formulate and implement effective public
policies. The authors use the concept of vulnerability to define the problem as a joint function of
extreme environmental phenomena and human exposure to them. Hurricanes looks at the
complementary roles of science and policy; discusses difficulties in defining the hurricane
problem; describes the tropical cyclone phenomenon; explains hurricane forecasts; examines
hurricane impacts; discusses societal responses; and evaluates the Hurricane Andrew forecast,
impacts, and responses. Appendices suggest additional reading, provide economic and casualty
data for the U.S., include data on tropical storm and hurricane incidence in the Atlantic Ocean,
list names of tropical cyclones around the world, offer a guide for local hurricane decision
makers, and explain scientific units of measure.
Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms. Revised Edition. John M. Williams and Iver W.
Duedall. 1997. 148 pp. $12.95. Order from the University Press of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th
Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079; (800) 226-3822 or (352) 392-1351; fax: (352) 392-7302; e-mail: mv@upf.com.
This volume details the 181 tropical cyclones that have struck Florida since 1871, including 72
hurricanes and 78 tropical storms. It explains the terminology used by meteorologists,
demonstrates the use of the Saffir/Simpson scale, and examines the historical and geographical
contexts of each hurricane and tropical storm. Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms provides
statistics for each storm, eyewitness accounts, photos, 10-year tracking charts, and a hurricane
preparedness checklist. It also explains evacuation procedures and types of property damage
produced by these storms and includes references and a list of Internet sites for further
information.
Effects of Hurricane Andrew on Natural and Archeological Resources: Big Cypress National
Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park. Technical Report NPS/NRGCC/NRTR/96-02. $14.00, microfiche; $35.00, paper. Order from the National Technical
Information Service; 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; (703) 487-4650; fax: (703)
321-8547; e-mail: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov; WWW: http://www.ntis.gov.
This report describes the conditions of the natural resources--timber, water, wildlife,
etc.--located in the National Park System in south Florida following Hurricane Andrew. It also
recommends the immediate and long-term protection of threatened resources and the collection
of data that will provide better understanding of the effects of humans and natural disturbances
on the parks. The eye of Hurricane Andrew passed through the three parks, and although some
effects on natural resources appeared drastic, initial ecosystem responses seemed normal. Many
trees sustained severe damage, although many defoliated trees resprouted leaves within weeks.
There were no massive die-offs of wildlife, although nonnative plants were undoubtedly spread
into natural areas.
Windstorm Mitigation Manual for Light Frame Construction. 1997. 104 pp. Free. Copies can
be requested from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Mitigation Section, 110 East
Adams, Springfield, IL 62701; (217) 782-8719; fax: (217) 782-2589; e-mail:
jhorton@pop.state.il.us.
On April 19, 1996, several tornadoes cut through Illinois, causing widespread damage and
destruction. A partnership of government and commercial interests produced this manual to
improve mitigation against these storms. Written for homeowners and contractors, it describes
wind, construction connections, light frame construction, the wind uplift chain, the stability of
the total residence, miscellaneous problems, and wind-resistant design. The manual notes that the
cost of incorporating basic windstorm mitigation construction techniques adds only 1% to 3% to
the cost of new residential construction. Numerous drawings illustrate the construction
techniques discussed.
Proceedings of the International Snow Science Workshop: ISSW '96. 1997. 327 pp. $30.00,
plus $7.50 shipping. Copies can be purchased from the Canadian Avalanche Association, Box
2759, Revelstoke, BC, Canada V0E 250; (604) 837-2435; e-mail: canav@avalanche.ca; WWW:
http://www.avalanche.ca.
The 1996 International Snow Science Workshop was held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and this
document contains the proceedings from that meeting. Sessions were held on the management
and analysis of snow, avalanche, and climate data; hazard management and public warning;
mountain weather and snowpack; snow cover stability, avalanche initiation, and forecasting;
blowing snow; instruments and methods; ski and backcountry operations; avalanche dynamics
and defense; case histories; and avalanche control, rescue, and education.
The Recovery and Reconstruction Plan of the City of Los Angeles: Evaluation of Its Use after
the Northridge Earthquake. 1997. 46 pp. $10.00.
The Recovery and Reconstruction Plan of the City of Los Angeles: Evaluation of Its Use after
the Northridge Earthquake--Appendices. 1997. 95 pp. $15.00.
Both documents are available from Spangle and Associates, Urban Planning and Research, 3240
Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028-7592; (415) 854-6001; fax: (415) 854-6070. A summary
report and the full appendices are also available on the World Wide Web:
http://www.batnet.com/spangle/.
According to the authors, this study is the first to evaluate the actual postdisaster effectiveness of
planning in advance for long-term recovery and reconstruction. This type of planning is now
mandated by the state of Florida for communities subject to hurricane damage and is proposed
for most communities by the American Planning Association and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency in an upcoming report. The study, which draws on interviews with city
officials, found that after the Northridge earthquake Los Angeles benefited from the preparation
of a recovery and reconstruction plan because city staff knew what to do and proceeded with
recovery tasks with a minimum of confusion. The report describes the Los Angeles Recovery and
Reconstruction Plan, lead agency responsibilities, the Northridge earthquake and use of the plan
as a postearthquake guide, actual actions taken and those outlined in the plan, postearthquake
revisions to the plan, evaluation of the plan, and general findings. The appendices contain
summaries of interviews with key public officials.
WSSPC Annual Conference Policy Session Papers. 1997. 123 pp. $20.00. Available from the
Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC), 121 Second Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco,
CA 94105; (415) 794-6435; fax: (415) 974-1747; e-mail: wsspc@wsspc.org; WWW:
http://www.wsspc.org.
The theme of the 1997 WSSPC annual conference, held in Victoria, British Columbia, May 4-7,
1997, was development of seismic policy. Three policy sessions were held: building codes
and seismic zonation, hazard loss estimation and scenario development, and earthquake and
hazards insurance. The policy session papers examine these topics.
Illusions of Safety: Culture and Earthquake Hazard Response in California and Japan. Risa
Palm and John Carroll. 1998. 136 pp. $35.00, plus $3.00 shipping. Available from
HarperCollins Academic Home Page, Order Fulfillment Center, c/o Westview Press, 5500
Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301-2877; (800) 386-5656; fax: (303) 449-3356; e-mail:
academic.orders@harpercolllins.com; WWW: http://www.hcacademic.com/westview.htm.
Illusions of Safety surveys cultural influences on earthquake risk response in both the United
States and Japan. The attitudes of Japanese and California respondents are compared and
analyzed to determine their effects upon individual responses to earthquakes. Survey responses
and the authors' firsthand experience of the reactions to the Kobe, Japan, earthquake in 1995 and
the Northridge, California, earthquake in 1994 are presented. Results indicate that the Japanese
generally prefer a communal approach to earthquake response, whereas Americans (more
specifically Californians) place more emphasis on household self-sufficiency. The authors
examine how these reactions influence public policy for earthquake preparedness and response in
each country.
Critical Decisions: Evacuating Hospitals After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Robert A.
Olson, Carl H. Schultz, Kristi L. Koenig, and Eric Auf der Heide. 1998. 67 pp. $10.00, plus $3.00
shipping. Copies can be purchased from Robert Olson Associates, Inc., 4164 Los Coches Way,
Sacramento, CA 95864; (916) 978-7300; fax: (916) 978-7301; e-mail: robtatroa@aol.com.
This report examines evacuation decision-making processes in hospitals following the 1994
Northridge, California, earthquake. While many evacuation studies have been conducted, very
few have examined medical facilities and the problems administrators face in deciding to fully or
partially evacuate a facility. Among the principal findings of this study were that pre-event
emergency plans and procedures were important, but little use was made of them at the height of
the crisis; emergency response training was important for instilling knowledge of appropriate
actions; the perception of damage by on-duty personnel was the driving force in deciding to
evacuate; and clear delegations of authority and procedures for decision making during off-hours
facilitated rapid actions.
Hospital Earthquake Preparedness Guidelines. Publication #PB97002BAR. 1997. 196 pp.
$10.00, plus $6.00 shipping.
Living and Lasting on Shaking Ground: Earthquake Preparedness for People with
Disabilities. Publication #P97001BAR. 1997. 150 pp. $6.00, plus $4.00 shipping.
Both publications can be purchased from the Association of Bay Area Governments, P.O. Box
2050, Oakland, CA 94604; (510) 464-7900.
The first document, produced by the California Office of Emergency Services Earthquake
Program, is a revision of a 1991 publication that reflects recent regulatory changes for hospitals
in California and incorporates studies of medical facility performance in the Northridge
earthquake. Developed with extensive contributions from health care professionals across the
state, the guidelines discuss all phases of preparedness: hazard mitigation, response planning, and
business resumption. They address both a hospital's ability to resist damage and respond to
disaster, and a hospital's role in larger community emergency planning and exercises. A series of
checklists assists in developing plans and in training personnel according to the California
Standardized Emergency Management System. Appendices provide supplemental information on
structural and nonstructural performance categories, communications options, and the Hospital
Emergency Incident Command System. Completing the volume are an extensive bibliography on
emergency planning for hospitals and a list of additional resources.
Living and Lasting on Shaky Ground was originally created by the Independent Living
Resource Center San Francisco with two purposes--first, to be used as a preparation tool for
people with disabilities and their friends and service providers; second, to be employed as a
training tool for organizations or neighborhood groups that include people with disabilities. The
California Office of Emergency Services Earthquake Program adapted the document for wider
use because of the guide's useful compendium of suggestions for meeting the needs of a broad
and inclusive range of disabilities. General information on earthquakes and their effects is
followed by before and after checklists for specific disabilities. Other sections discuss reducing
hazards in living environments and stockpiling supplies. Also included are neighborhood
planning strategies, materials for use in earthquake readiness workshops and training sessions,
and lists of resources available to those involved in preparedness activities.
Social, Economic, and System Aspects of Earthquake Recovery and Reconstruction: First
Year Report. James Beck, Anne Kiremidjian, George Mader, and Robert Reitherman. 1997.
236 pp. For price and availability, contact the California Universities for Research in
Earthquake Engineering (CUREe), 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804-4698; (510)
231-9478; fax: (510) 231-5664; e-mail: parsh@nisee.ce.berkeley.edu.
The CUREe-Kajima Cooperative Research Program includes two research areas: structural
implications of ground motions; and the social, economic, and system aspects of earthquake
recovery and reconstruction. This report outlines the latter effort. Section 1 addresses research on
business recovery after earthquakes. Section 2 examines decision support, geographic
information systems, damage distribution analyses, and other tools in the recovery process.
Section 3 provides perspectives on governmental and business recovery after earthquake, and
Section 4 discusses innovative methods and technologies for earthquake recovery and
reconstruction.
California Earthquake Loss Reduction Plan: 1997-2001. Publication No. SSC 97-02. 1997. 49
pp. $15.00. To order a copy, contact the California Seismic Safety Commission, 1900 K Street,
Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 322-4917; fax: (916) 322-9476; e-mail: sscbase@aol.com; WWW: http://www.seismic.ca.gov.
Under the California Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1986, the California Seismic Safety
Commission is required to update the state earthquake loss reduction plan and recommend new
policies for managing that state's earthquake risk. This plan is designed to guide the state
executive and legislative branches in determining priorities and overall implementation strategies
for seismic safety. It incorporates lessons gained from the Northridge earthquake in 1994 and the
Kobe, Japan, quake a year later, and focuses on 11 elements: geosciences, research and
technology, education and information, economics, land use, existing buildings, new
construction, utilities and transportation, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery. It
identifies 44 strategies and 120 initiatives to be accomplished by the private sector and state and
local governments.
Earthquakes and Their Interpretation: The Campaign for Seismic Safety in California, 1906-1933. Dissertation. Carl-Henry Geschwind. 1996. 262 pp. For students and faculty: $32.50,
microfilm/microfiche; $36.00, paperbound; $46.50, hardbound. For nonacademics: $46.00,
microfilm/microfiche; $57.50, paperbound; $69.50; hardbound. Order from University
Microfilm International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106; (800) 521-3042.
In 1906, San Francisco and its surrounding area were devastated by a major earthquake; yet,
Californians did not view earthquakes as an ongoing hazard. After a milder quake hit in 1933 in
the southern part of the state, Californians reacted differently, rapidly enacting local and
statewide building codes that required earthquake-resistant construction. This doctoral
dissertation traces what happened between 1906 and 1933 to produce this profound shift in
public attitudes toward seismic hazards in the state. Geschwind outlines the seismic policy events
following 1906, when a small number of scientists and engineers developed a new understanding
of earthquake risk in California, gradually acquiring the means to prevail in the public policy
arena after 1933. He argues that hazards and their implications for human action are never
obvious, but rather open to interpretation and debate. At the same time, he maintains that the
occurrence of natural disasters profoundly affects the persuasiveness of opposing interpretations
of risks.
Landslides Hazard Mitigation with Particular Reference to Developing Countries. 1995. 124
pp. £10. Available from the House Services Manager, Royal Academy of Engineering, 29 Great
Peter Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3LW, U.K.; tel: 0171 222 2688; fax: 0171 233 0054;
WWW: http://www.raeng.org.uk.
In 1993, the Royal Academy of Engineering held a conference that brought together Britain's
landslide experts to examine that hazard within the context of the International Decade for
Natural Disaster Reduction. In particular, the participants sought to define opportunities for the
alleviation of rapid-onset landslide hazards. The papers in this proceedings volume cover The
Relevance of Landslide Hazard to the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction,
Landslides and Local Geology, Water and Landslides, The Assessment of Sub-Aerial
Landslide Hazards, Submarine Landslides, Volcanic Landslides and Related Phenomena,
Landslide Hazard Assessment, and Possible Actions to Help Developing Countries Mitigate
Hazards Due to Landslides.
Slide Mountain or the Folly of Owning Nature. Theodore Steinberg. 1995. 220 pp. $13.95,
paperback; $30.00, hardbound; plus $3.95 shipping. Copies can be purchased from Fulfillment
Services, CPFS, P.O. Box 7780-4721, Philadelphia, PA 19182-4721; (800) 822-6657; fax: (800)
999-1958; e-mail: orders@cpfs.pupress.princeton.edu; WWW: http://www.ucpress.com.
The name of this book is derived from a fictional legal dispute, recounted by Mark Twain, over
land in Nevada named Slide Mountain. It describes an attempt by a group of practical jokers to
convince a U.S. attorney that a landslide had caused one person's land to slip down on top of another's, burying the former's land to a
depth of 38 feet. They
convinced the attorney to plead the case of the owner of the buried land, while the owner of the
land that slid was claiming title to both pieces of property. Heeding the absurdity of this tale,
Steinberg concludes that real estate is not as real, or lasting, as it may seem. In short, nature can
at times make ownership a precarious, even unreal affair, leaving us all in the shadow of Slide
Mountain. Steinberg studied case law to uncover important lessons in property ownership
relating to nature and our ability to control it. He discusses land disputes in the Blackbird Hills of
Nebraska along the Missouri River, legal wrangling to define what makes a lake different from a
stream in order to determine who owned a stretch of oil-rich land that bordered the hard-to-define
body of water, ownership of desert underground water rights, cloud seeding and claims of
ownership of weather, and claims of ownership of the air in New York City.
Steven Biel of Brandeis University is currently editing a collection of essays for NYU Press on the cultural history of disasters and would like to hear from potential contributors. The volume will focus on the U.S. and will feature essays that explore the ways in which disasters have revealed or shaped social and political conflicts, beliefs, ideologies, and myths. The goal is to reach scholars in a variety of disciplines as well as nonacademic readers. Please send brief descriptions (500 words) of proposed essays to Steven Biel, American Studies Department, Brandeis University, MS 005, Waltham, MA 02254; e-mail: sbiel1030@aol.com. The deadline for proposals is April 15, 1998.
With a click of a mouse, emergency managers, fire safety educators, and community volunteers can now gain instant access to brochures, fact sheets, activity guides, and other resources for raising awareness and educating the public about disasters. The Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Library from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now available on CD-ROM. FEMA's CD offers:
In addition to PDF files, which are similar to images printed from the Internet, the FEMA Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Library on CD-ROM includes high-resolution printer files and instructions for producing high-quality color brochures at a professional print shop. PC and Mac computer discs are included in the package.
This CD is specifically designed for disaster educators who provide information about multiple hazards and who want to produce high-quality educational materials for large audiences. People wanting single copies of materials can obtain them from the FEMA Web site: http://www.fema.gov. To order the FEMA Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Library on CD-ROM, call (202) 736-1648; fax: (202) 331-3003; or e-mail valca_valentine@oar-wash.com.
These materials are being made available by FEMA's Community and Family Preparedness Program, which also recently published Practical Ideas for Strengthening Community & Family Disaster Preparedness Programs--A Report on FEMA's Community & Family Preparedness Conference, July 1997. This report is also available from http://www.fema.gov. People without access to the Web or others desiring more information about the Community and Family Preparedness Program, can contact the program manager, Ralph Swisher, FEMA, Training Division, Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Directorate, Room 625, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472; e-mail: ralph.swisher@fema.gov.
The NATURAL HAZARDS RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS INFORMATION CENTER was founded to strengthen communication among researchers and the individuals and organizations concerned with mitigating natural disasters. The center is funded by the National Science Foundation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Institute for Business and Home Safety.
Please send information of potential interest to the center or the readers of this newsletter to the address below. The deadline for the next Observer is March 21, 1998.
Center phone number: (303) 492-6818
Fax: (303) 492-2151
E-mail: hazctr@spot.colorado.edu
Publications Clerk: (303) 492-6819
E-mail: jclark@spot.colorado.edu
Sylvia C. Dane, Editor
David L. Butler, Spin Doctor
Dennis S. Mileti, Director
Mary Fran Myers, Co-Director
Fay Tracy, Staff Assistant
Diane Smith, Staff Assistant
Dave Morton, Librarian
Janet Clark, Publications Clerk
Eve Passerini, Research Assistant
Alice Fothergill, Research Assistant
Cartoons for the Observer are drawn by Rob Pudim.
Published bimonthly. Reproduction with acknowledgment is permitted and encouraged.
The Observer is free to subscribers within the U.S. Subscriptions beyond the U.S. cost $15.00 per
year. Back issues of the Observer are available for $2.00 each, plus shipping and handling.
Orders must be prepaid. Checks should be payable to the University of Colorado.
Copies of the Observer and the Hazards Center's electronic newsletter, Disaster Research, are also available from the Natural Hazards Center's World Wide Web site:
http://www.colorado.edu/hazards
To contact the Observer editor, send an e-mail message to: Sylvia.Dane@Colorado.edu
To contact the Disaster Research editor, send an e-mail message to: David.Butler@Colorado.edu
For other services or information provided by the Natural Hazards Center, send an e-mail to:
To reach us by snail mail, send correspondence to:
Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center
Institute of Behavioral Science #6
University of Colorado at Boulder
Campus Box 482
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0482
February 20, 1998
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March 1998 Observer