Below are descriptions of recently awarded contracts and grants for the study of hazards and disasters. An inventory of contracts and grants awarded from 1995 to the present (primarily those funded by the National Science Foundation) is available on the Natural Hazards Center's Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/grants.html.
Understanding Damaging Floods in the United States: Data Reanalysis and Correlation with Precipitation Trends.
Funding: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-OGP Programs on Climate Change Data and Detection,
Economics, and Human Dimensions of Climate Fluctuations, and GEWEX Continental Scale International Project;
$150,000; 24 months. Principal Investigator: Roger A. Pielke, Jr., Environmental and Societal Impacts Group, National
Center for Atmospheric Research, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000; (303) 497-8117; fax (303) 497-8125; e-mail:
rogerp@ucar.edu; WWW: http://www.esig.ucar.edu.
Despite extensive efforts over several decades to reduce the damaging impacts of floods in the U.S., losses (adjusted for
inflation) have increased markedly in recent years. This project will create an improved historical flood-loss dataset that
will involve re-analyzing NOAA flood damage information to determine estimated flood losses for each state in the
conterminous U.S., identify river basins or large watershed areas for which it may be possible to construct a flood-loss time
series, and evaluate the quality of available data. In addition, the project will identify precipitation measurements related to
damaging floods and will delineate social and economic factors that are major contributors to flood losses. Finally, it will
use the data to estimate the contributions of socioeconomic and weather-related factors to flood damage.
Training Program for Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs). Funding: U.S. Public Health Service, Office of
Emergency Preparedness; $2.4 million; 48 months. Recipient: Department of Emergency Health Services, Academic IV
Building, Room 316, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, 5401 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21250; (410) 455-6241; WWW: http://ehs.umbc.edu.
DMATs are composed of professional and paraprofessional medical personnel that provide emergency medical care during
a disaster or other event. These teams are part of the federally coordinated National Disaster Medical System, which assists
states and local governments in dealing with the medical aspects of such incidents. The grant recipient will develop and
deliver training to an estimated 6,500 DMAT personnel, covering topics ranging from basic team management to technical
and medical applications in a disaster situation. The first training materials will be available on the World Wide Web in the
fall of 2000.
Initial Planning Study for Earthquake Risk Reduction. Funding: City and County of San Francisco Department of
Building Inspection, 24 months. Principal Investigator: Charles Scawthorn, Applied Technology Council (ATC), 555 Twin
Dolphin Drive, Suite 550, Redwood City, CA 94065; (650) 595-1542 or (510) 817-3153; fax: (650) 593-2320; e-mail:
atc@atcouncil.org; WWW: http://www.atcouncil.org.
This project will develop a "Community Action Program for Seismic Safety" for the City and County of San Francisco.
Tasks include reviewing the seismic risk reduction programs of other cities, suggesting requirements for postearthquake
repairs, examining current earthquake retrofit standards, adapting the guideline, ATC-20 Post Earthquake Evaluation of
Buildings, to the specific needs of San Francisco, and developing a comprehensive estimate of the earthquake risk to that
city.
Taiwan Earthquake Reconnaissance. Funding: National Science Foundation, $14,999, 12 months. Principal Investigator:
Steven L. Kramer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 265 Wilcox Hall, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA 98195; (206) 685-2642 or (206) 685-1024; fax: (206) 685-3836; e-mail: kramer@u.washington.edu.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred on September 21, 1999, about 90 miles south of Taipei, Taiwan, resulting in
extensive damage, injuries, and loss of life. The fault rupture occurred in heavily developed areas, causing considerable
damage to major transportation and river control structures, and triggering hundreds of landslides, including several that
were catastrophic. This funding will support a coordinated industry-academia reconnaissance team to document the
features of this quake, particularly its impacts on urban infrastructure. This is a multi-institutional award that includes the
University of California-Berkeley and the University of Southern California.
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Reconnaissance of the August 17, 1999, Izmit Earthquake. Funding: National
Science Foundation, $22,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Jonathan D. Bray, Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, 437 Davis Hall, MC 1710, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1710; (510)
642-9843; e-mail: bray@ce.berkeley.edu.
About one month before the above-mentioned Taiwan quake, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck in the area of Izmit,
Turkey, also causing extensive damage and loss of life. This funding provides partial support for a reconnaissance team
dispatched shortly after the quake to document the geotechnical, engineering, geological, seismological, and tsunamigenic
features. The team coordinated its activities with other reconnaissance efforts from Turkey, Japan, and the U.S. The award
also provides funding to the University of California-Berkeley and University of Southern California.
The Efficiency Gains from Probabilistic Weather Forecasts: A Case Study of Oil and Gas Producers in the Gulf of
Mexico. Funding: U.S. Weather Research Program (National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Office of Naval Research); $118,000, six months.
Principal Investigators: Timothy J. Considine and Craig Bishop, Department of Mineral Economics, College of Earth and
Mineral Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 0221 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802; (814) 863- 0810;
e-mail: cpw@psu.edu.
Considine and Bishop will examine the value of hurricane forecasts to crude oil and natural gas producers in the Gulf of
Mexico. The threat of hurricanes often forces producers to temporarily halt production and evacuate offshore drilling rigs.
Thus, the potential gains from improving hurricane forecasts may be substantial, perhaps approaching $150 million a year.
Using probabilistic hurricane forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center over the past 10 years, the investigators
will employ a decision model that takes into account the costs of protective actions, the potential losses of inaction, and
functions of forecasts and weather conditions.
Preparing and Publishing the Report on the Great Tangshan Earthquake. Funding: National Science Foundation,
$20,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: George W. Housner, California Institute of Technology, Department of
Engineering and Applied Science, M/C 104-44, Pasadena, CA 91125; (626) 395-4226.
One of the worst earthquake disasters in history occurred in Tangshan, China, in the 1970s, causing several hundred
thousand deaths and the destruction of Tangshan itself. So far, only one report has been issued in China, and no detailed
account of this quake has ever been published in English. In a collaborative effort, that report has been translated into
English and edited at the California Institute of Technology. This grant will fund the preparation of this report for
publication in the U.S. and distribution to libraries at universities and cities at risk for earthquakes. Excerpts of the report
will also be published in suitable journals.
The United Nation's International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Secretariat is establishing an Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction as directed last year by the U.N. Secretary-General in a report to the General Assembly (#A/54/497). The ISDR is the U.N.'s program to succeed the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) (see the Observer, Vol. XXIV, No. 4, p. 9). The primary functions of the task force are:
The task force is chaired by the U.N. undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs; the director of the ISDR Secretariat acts as secretary. Members are appointed for two years and include eight representatives of U.N. organizations; eight representatives of civil society and nongovernmental organizations; and six representatives from regional entities.
In April, the task force convened for the first time in Geneva and identified areas that it will address:
The task force agreed to establish three subgroups--on El Niño and La Niña; early warning and vulnerability indicators; and quantification of disaster impacts as justification for investment in prevention--and it is examining whether additional subgroups are warranted. The group also asked the ISDR Secretariat to work on creating and strengthening the network of national committees for ISDR.
Additional information about the ISDR Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction can be obtained from the ISDR Secretariat, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel: (41-22) 917-9000; fax: (41-22) 917-9098 or 917-9099; e-mail: idndr@dha.unicc.org; WWW: http://www.unisdr.org . (Note: this new Web site provides background information on the ISDR; a list of events; on-line versions of the ISDR Highlights newsletter; descriptions of various ISDR programs; and numerous reports, tools, brochures, and other U.N. documents.)
Below are some of the more recent conference announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of hazard/disaster meetings is posted on our World Wide Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html.
Postponed: This course will now be held in the summer of 2001: Advanced Summer Course on Public Health and Humanitarian Aid. Offered by: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). Brussels, Belgium: Originally scheduled for July 17-28, 2000. For details, contact CRED, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Louvain, 30.94 Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; tel: +32-2-764-3327; fax: +32-2-764-3441; WWW: http://www.cred.be.
Health Emergencies in Large Populations (HELP) Course. Organizers: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and numerous local sponsors. With the aid of the University of Geneva and the World Health Organization, the ICRC created the HELP course to educate professionals regarding public health needs and issues in emergency situations. Offered for the first time in 1986, the course has always been open to any organization or institution working in this area. To date over 50 HELP courses have been conducted around the world, training more than 1,000 health professionals. Currently scheduled courses include:
For general information about the HELP course and to obtain a current schedule, contact the ICRC, GEN_SAN Help Courses, 19, avenue de la Paix, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; +41 22 730 28 10; fax: +41 22 733 96 74; e-mail: pperrin.gva@icrc.org; WWW: http://www.icrc.org.
Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) International Symposium: "Planning for the Inevitable." Seattle, Washington: August 14-16, 2000. The 2000 ACP symposium will examine five phases of disaster (planning, mitigation, response, recovery, and reconstruction) in six categories of risk (general, geophysical, weather, cyberspace, terrorism, and other). For more information, contact: Washington State-Pacific Northwest Chapter, ACP, P.O. Box 1144, Renton, WA 98057; (425) 865-2797.
XXVII General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission. Lisbon, Portugal: September 10-15, 2000. To host its 2000 General Assembly, the European Seismological Commission has aptly chosen Lisbon, the site of the great earthquake, tsunami, and fire of 1755. The assembly will examine all aspects of seismology, from earthquake source physics, to prediction research, to engineering seismology. More information is available from the Conference Secretariat, XXVII General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58, 1269-102 Lisbon, Portugal; tel: +351 21 3970892; fax: +351 21 3953327; e-mail: esc2000@fc.ul.pt; WWW: http://www.igidl.ul.pt/esc2000/.
Virtual Fire and Rescue Expo (VFRE) 2000. On the Internet: September 11-22, 2000. Sponsor: National Fire & Rescue magazine. The VFRE includes sessions on emergency management, emergency medicine, hazmat response, and other related issues. To learn more or to participate, see: http://www.vfre.com.
Emergency Medical Preparedness Educational Symposium. Sponsors: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the Emergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group and others. Albany, New York: September 18-21, 2000. In the five years that this symposium has been held, it has grown from a regional program to an international meeting. This year's symposium will focus on an "all hazards" approach to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Additional information is available from Paul D. Kim, Area Emergency Manager, Emergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group, VAMC ALBANY (00D), 113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208; (518) 462-3311, ext. 2364; fax: (518) 462-2519; e-mail: Paul.Kim@med.va.gov; or Carolyn Burton, (207) 623-5744.
First International Course on Urban Flood Mitigation. Offered by: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Bangkok, Thailand: September 18-29, 2000. ADPC provides comprehensive training, consultation, research, and information services concerning disaster management for the countries of Asia and the Pacific. This, the center's first international course on urban flooding, will include classroom sessions presented by world experts in flood mitigation as well as participatory exercises and field excursions. More information is available from the Training and Education Division, ADPC, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O Box 4 Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand; tel: (66 2) 5245362 or 5245363; fax: (66 2) 5245360; e-mail: tedadpc@ait.ac.th; WWW: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th.
EMS Summit: Knowledge Management in EMS. Presented by: Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation and Sunstar Emergency Medical Services. Clearwater Beach, Florida: September 28-29, 2000. This conference will focus on data management and the use of technology in emergency medical systems (EMS). Specifically, it will address quality management, adult education, clinical management, and EMS operations. The organizers will provide information about how data can be acquired, manipulated, and applied; and about the training necessary to optimize the use of information and technology in EMS. Details are available from the Florida Emergency Medicine Foundation, 3717 South Conway Road, Orlando, FL 32812; (800) 766-6335; (407) 281-7396; fax: (407) 281-4407; WWW: http://www.fcep.org.
"Disasters: Who Cares?" Sponsors: Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit and others. Wynyard Park, U.K.: October 5, 2000. This conference is dedicated to exploring the psychosocial impact of major incidents and disasters. For further information, contact Chris Samuel, Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit, P.O. Box 194, Middlesbrough, U.K.; tel: +44-1642-221121; e-mail: christopher.samuel@hartlepool.gov.uk.
First International Global Disaster Information Network (GDIN) Information Technology Exposition and Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii: October 9-11, 2000. The GDIN is a major national and international effort to coordinate and enhance the use of various advanced information technologies and technologically derived information (from satellite imagery to geographic information systems) via the Internet to improve disaster response worldwide (see p. 12 of this Observer). Sessions will address emergency management information needs and applications, data resources, networking technologies, funding strategies, information analysis and assessment, and many other aspects of the use of advanced information technology to mitigate and respond to disasters. For more information contact Peter Colvin, GDIN Information Technology Conference, c/o ERIM International, P.O. Box 134008, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-4008; (734) 994-1200, ext. 2438; e-mail: pcolvin@erim-int.com; WWW: http://www.erim-int.com/CONF/GDIN.html.
Third Meeting of the Asian Seismological Commission and Symposium on Seismology, Earthquake Hazard Assessment, and Earth's Interior Related Topics. Sponsors: Asian Seismological Commission, International Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior, and Ministry of Culture and Higher Education of Iran. Tehran, I.R. Iran: October 10-12, 2000. Beyond the meeting and symposium, this conference includes a pre-symposium international training course on "Seismology and Mitigation of Seismic Disaster," and post-symposium field trips and technical workshops on "Educating the Public about Earthquake Hazard and Risk" and "Seismic Networks and Site Selection." The official language of the meeting will be English. More information is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.ut.ac.ir/geo/asc2000.htm; or contact the Organizing Secretary, ASC2000, Institute of Geophysics, Tehran University, P.O. Box 14155-6466, Tehran, I.R. Iran; tel: +98-21-8027009; fax: +98-21-8009560; e-mail: ascloc@chamran.ut.ac.ir.
13th Annual Emergency Preparedness Conference. Sponsors: Emergency Planners and Managers Association of British Columbia and others. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: October 17-19, 2000. The goal of this meeting is "to raise the level of emergency preparedness and make the world a safer place by: promoting awareness; providing information, tools, and solutions to problems; sharing experiences; showcasing technologies; and creating networking opportunities." It includes a preconference workshop on October 16 on the functions of an emergency operations center, tours, four extended workshops, numerous plenary and concurrent sessions, and an exhibit area. Further information is available by contacting the Emergency Preparedness Conference, 700 West 57th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6P 1S1; (604) 322-8365; fax: (604) 322-8359; e-mail: ccox@vanhosp.bc.ca; WWW: http://epma.bc.ca/epc/.
Combined Humanitarian Assistance Response Training (CHART). Offered by: Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CEDMHA). Honolulu, Hawaii: October 18-24, 2000; San Antonio, Texas: November 13-17, 2000. CEDMHA's CHART program is an introductory course designed to furnish military and civilian agency members with basic information about humanitarian emergencies in the international arena. The overall intent is to prepare graduates to carry out humanitarian missions in major complex emergencies. For a course description, see the CEDMHA Web site: http://www.coe-dmha.org, or contact the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, c/o Tripler Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Road (MCPA-DM), Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000; (808) 433-7035; fax: (808) 433-1757; e-mail: pr@coe-dmha.org. To register for a course, contact Lt. Jessie Gee, Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute, MCCS-TEV, 1706 Stanley Road, Building 2263, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234-6100; (210) 221-9523; fax: (210) 221-9061; e-mail: jgee@dmrti.army.mil.
Fifth Annual Conference on Crises and Disasters. Organized by the Crisis Research Unit, Ain Shams University. Cairo, Egypt: October 28-29, 2000. This conference is considered unique in the Arab World; it provides Arabic-speaking researchers and disaster managers an opportunity to examine the entire spectrum of natural- and human-caused disasters and to discuss issues ranging from effects on manufacturing to political and legal issues. Simultaneous English translation will be provided if warranted. A request for presentations has been issued and papers are due July 31, 2000. For details, contact Mohamed Rashad Elhamalawy, Crisis Research Unit, Faculty of Commerce, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt 11566; tel: (202) 4049260/2609167; fax: (202) 4049259; e-mail: cruegypt@hotmail.com.
Disaster Forum 2000. Sponsors: Emergency Preparedness Canada and others; offered by: Disaster Forum Association. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: November 1-4, 2000. Disaster Forum 2000 offers preconference workshops; plenary speakers on such topics as building resilient communities, the media's perspective on disasters, Y2K, lessons learned from the Swiss Air Flight 111 disaster, and international cooperation in disasters; and concurrent sessions that cover a broad range of disaster concerns--from the use of the Internet in disaster management to "livestock emergency response." For much more information, see the conference Web site: WWW: http://www.edmc.net/disaster, or contact Disaster Forum Association, 11215 Jasper Avenue, Suite 437, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 0L5; (780) 427-8626; fax: (780) 422-1549; e-mail: disaster@edmc.net.
American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Annual Conference. Miami, Florida: November 6-9, 2000. The AWRA annual conference always covers a wide range of aqueous topics, but given this year's venue (Miami), there will be a particular focus on coastal and estuarine issues. For details, contact AWRA, 4 West Federal Street, P.O. Box 1626, Middleburg, VA 20118-1626; (540) 687-8390; fax: (540) 687-8395; e-mail: info@awra.org: WWW: http://www.awra.org.
26th Course on Disaster Management. Offered by: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC). Bangkok, Thailand: November 6-24, 2000. The Course on Disaster Management is the cornerstone of ADPC's professional development program for disaster managers in the Asia/Pacific region. The curriculum, which has evolved over 15 years, provides the basic concepts, tools, and skills of emergency management through lectures, group exercises, individual projects, field trips, and other participatory programs. Details are available from the Learning and Professional Development Program, ADPC, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand: tel: 66 2 524 5378/5354; fax: 66 2 534 5360; e-mail: lpdadpc@ait.ac.th; WWW: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th.
Fire Conference 2000: The First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention, and Management. Presented by: International Association of Wildland Fire and others. San Diego, California: November 27-December 1, 2000. Wildfire management is being increasingly recognized as a critical and complex component of resource management and land-use planning. This conference will bring together fire researchers, managers, professionals and other experts in the field to examine both the overarching issues and specific needs and problems in fire management. The primary goal is to increase communication among the various government, nonprofit, and business organizations dealing with wildland fire problems. More information and/or a conference brochure are available from Sandra Cooper, University Extension, UC Davis, 1333 Research Park Drive, Davis, CA 95616-4852; (530) 757-8948; e-mail: scooper@unexmail.ucdavis.edu; WWW: http://www.universityextension.ucdavis.edu/fire/.
Coastal GeoTools. Sponsored by: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. Charleston, South Carolina: January 8-11, 2001. This conference is designed to enhance participants' ability to use geospatial data, tools, and technology, including geographic information systems, the Internet, remote sensing, metadata, and global positioning systems. Among others, areas to be addressed include hazard mitigation and shoreline erosion. For a conference flier, contact the NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405-2413; (843) 740-1200; WWW: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/GeoTools/.
CPM [Contingency Planning and Management] 2001. Sponsor: Contingency Planning and Management magazine. Boston, Massachusetts: April 24-25, 2001. This annual conference and exhibition on business continuity provides an educational opportunity for any individual charged with developing, maintaining, or implementing an organization's business continuity plan. The organizers are currently seeking speakers and presenters. For more information, contact the Alicia LoVerso, Conference Coordinator, WPC Expositions, 84 Park Avenue, Flemington, NJ 08822; (908) 788-0343, ext. 154; fax: (908) 788-9381; WWW: http://www.ContingencyPlanExpo.com.
Seventh National Watershed Conference. Sponsor: National Watershed Coalition. Richmond, Virginia: May 20-23, 2001. The theme of this conference, "Small Watershed Programs: Past, Present, and Future," reflects the need for the sponsors of local watershed projects to be increasingly knowledgeable and innovative if their projects are going to succeed. It also recognizes the multiobjective nature of such programs, whose purposes include flood damage reduction, erosion and sediment control, drainage, irrigation, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat development, water quality improvement, water supply, water con servation, watershed restoration, and groundwater recharge. Considering this theme, abstracts for oral and poster papers will be accepted in the following categories:
Abstract deadline is October 1, 2000. More information is available from John W. Peterson, National Watershed Coalition, 9304 Lundy Court, Burke, VA 22015-3431; (703) 455-6886; fax: (703) 455-6888; e-mail: jwpeterson@erols.com.
Eighth International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICOSSAR '01). Organized by: International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability. Newport Beach, California: June 17-22, 2001. This conference will include sessions on hazards analysis, earthquake engineering, wind engineering, and other hazards-related issues. For details, contact the ICOSSAR '01 Secretariat, University of Colorado, College of Engineering and Applied Science, Campus Box 422, Boulder, CO 80309-0422; (303) 492-7006; fax: (303) 492-0353; e-mail: corotis@colorado.edu, or icossar@usc.edu; WWW: http://www.colorado.edu/engineering/ICOSSAR.
International Tsunami Symposium 2001 (ITS 2001). Sponsors: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (NOAA/PMEL) and others. Seattle, Washington: August 7-10, 2001. The aim of this symposium is to bring together scientists, engineers, and emergency managers from all over the world specializing in tsunami research and mitigation. They will exchange current information on technical advances and discuss other progress in the science. The symposium will cover all aspects of tsunami phenomena, such as tsunami generation, propagation, and seismic focus; tsunami prediction and simulation; tsunami disasters and mitigation; instrumentation and observation; tsunami warning and preparedness; and tsunami databases. Abstracts should be submitted on-line or by e-mail not later than September 1, 2000. See http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/its2001 for complete instructions and additional information; or contact: E.N. Bernard, NOAA/PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, WA 98115-6349; (206) 526-6800; fax: (206) 526-4576; e-mail: bernard@pmel.noaa.gov.
Third International Symposium on Earthquake Resistant Engineering Structures (ERES 2001). Malaga, Spain: September 4-6, 2001. The problems of protecting the built environment can be divided into two parts: the upgrading or rehabilitation of existing structures and the optimal design and construction of new facilities. This conference will examine both issues, focusing on research problems that still exist in earthquake engineering. A call for papers has been issued, and abstracts are due January 3, 2001. More information is available from Susan Hanley, Conference Secretariat, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7AA, U.K.; tel: 44-0-238-029-3223; fax: 44-0-238-029-2853; e-mail: shanley@wessex.ac.uk; WWW: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences.
Fifth Asia-Pacific Conference on Wind Engineering (APCWE V). Kyoto, Japan: October 21-26, 2001. APCWE V will address important current research and technology in wind engineering. Among the many topics to be examined are wind hazards, disaster mitigation and insurance, codes and regulations, and environmental issues. Abstracts are due December 31, 2000. For a complete conference announcement, contact APCWE V Secretariat, Department of Global Environment Engineering, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan; fax: +81-75-761-0646; e-mail: apcwe5@brdgeng.gee.kyoto-u.ac.jp; or see http://wwwsoc.nacsis.ac.jp/jawe/apcwe5.
The National Weather Service (NWS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have together produced four courses for emergency managers:
For more information about these courses, contact John Ogren, (301) 713-0090, ext. 140; e-mail: john.ogren@noaa.gov. Courses are taught through individual state emergency management training offices. To schedule a course, interested persons should therefore contact their state training office or the warning coordination meteorologist of the National Weather Service that serves their area.
