Below are summaries of some of the recent, more useful publications on hazards and disasters received by the Natural Hazards Center. A complete bibliography of publications received from 1995 through 2000 is posted on our World Wide Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/bib/bib.html.
1999 Partnerships Annual Report. 2000. 62 pp. Free. To obtain a copy, contact the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA), Publications Distribution Facility, P.O. Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012; (800) 480-2520.
This report describes activities undertaken in 1999 by the Preparedness, Training, and Exercises Directorate of FEMA.
Among the many achievements of the past year were the implementation of the federal Tribal Policy (see the Observer,
Vol. XXIII, No. 4, p. 8), receipt of awards for EENET broadcasts, progress in its Higher Education Project (see the
Observer, Vol. XXIV, No. 5, p. 6), creation of the national Comprehensive HAZMAT Emergency Response Capability
Assessment Program, and preparation of its Partnerships in Preparedness: A Compendium of Exemplary Practices in
Emergency Management (Vol. IV).
NFPA 1600: Standard for Disaster Emergency Management. 2000 Edition. 16 pp. $18.25, NFPA members; $20.25,
nonmembers. Available from Customer Sales, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, P.O.
Box 9101, Quincy, MA 02269-9101; (800) 344-3555 or (617) 770-3000; fax: (800) 593-6372 or (508) 895-8301; e-mail:
custserv@nfpa.org; WWW: http://www.nfpa.org.
Recently, we mentioned the approval of NFPA 1600, a common set of criteria for disaster management, emergency
management, and business continuity programs established by the members of the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) (see the Observer, Vol. XXIV, No. 3, p. 10). The NFPA recently made printed copies of this standard available.
Specific subjects addressed in NFPA 1600 include laws and authorities; hazard identification and risk assessment; hazard
mitigation; resource management; planning; strategic plans; emergency operations plans; mitigation plans; business impact
analysis; recovery/business continuity plans; direction, communication, and warning; operations and procedures; logistics
and facilities; training; exercises, evaluations, and corrective actions; public education and information; and finance and
administration.
Community Emergency Preparedness: A Manual for Managers and Policy-makers. 1999. 150 pp. $37.80. Copies can be
purchased from the World Health Organization, Publications Center USA, 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210; (518)
436-9686; fax: (518) 436-7433; e-mail: Qcorp@compuserve.com.
This book is a guide to policies, procedures, and planning techniques that can mitigate the consequences of natural and
human-caused disasters. It describes methods for identifying vulnerable populations, predicting the likelihood and
consequences of emergencies, and planning appropriate responses. The six chapters discuss the concepts of emergency
preparedness and vulnerability reduction, policy development, hazard identification and analysis, principles of emergency
planning, training and education, and procedures for project monitoring and evaluation. Annexes include tables for gauging
the scale of damage caused by windstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions.
Disaster Resource Guide. 2000 Edition. Free. To request a copy, contact Disaster Resource Guide, P.O. Box 15243, Santa
Ana, CA 92735; fax: (714) 558-8901. The guide can also be viewed on-line: http://www.disaster-resource.com.
This annual magazine provides a directory of resources for business continuity. It contains detailed information on
conferences and expositions, educational programs, disaster-related organizations, professionals, vendors of products and
services, and Web sites. Information is organized around five major topics: planning and management, information
technology and telecommunications, facility issues, crisis communication and response, and resources.
Devastation! The World's Worst Natural Disasters. Lesley Newson. 1998. 160 pp. $18.75. Copies can be purchased from
DK Publishing, 95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016; (877) 884-1600; fax: (800) 260-7658; WWW:
http://www.dk.com/us.
In the past 100 years, over a million people have been killed by earthquakes; another million have been killed by
hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms; nine million have drowned in floods; and millions more have died due to
drought and disease. Devastation! catalogs hazards by regions of the world and provides specific information on over 500
disasters. It includes maps that identify natural hazard danger zones throughout the world and describes current scientific
developments in monitoring, predicting, and understanding natural disasters. Other sections specifically address volcanoes,
earthquakes, severe storms, gales and blizzards, droughts, floods, fires, avalanches and earth movements, mass extinctions,
global climate change, and new threats. Numerous color photos and illustrations are included.
Enhancing Access to NEXRAD Data--A Critical National Resource. Global Energy and Water Resource (GEWEX)
Panel, National Research Council. 1999. 28 pp. $12.00; $9.60 if ordered via the Internet. The complete text is also
available free on-line: http://www.nap.edu. To obtain a copy, contact the National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution
Avenue, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (888) 624-8373 or (202) 334-3313; fax: (202) 334-2451; e-mail:
zjones@nas.edu.
The Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) WSR-88D Doppler network was created to meet the surveillance radar
needs of the National Weather Service, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense. Its primary
objective is to provide nearly continuous radar coverage of the continental U.S. in order to monitor severe weather,
including tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, heavy precipitation, flash floods, and hurricanes. GEWEX was asked to assess
the value of NEXRAD data for answering key atmospheric and hydrological science questions, and their conclusions are
contained in this booklet. It discusses observations made by the panel, issues they raised, and strategies for increasing the
usefulness of this technology.
Results-Based Management at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Jerry Ellig. 2000. 37 pp. Free. Copies can
be obtained from the Mercatus Center, George Mason University, 3401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 450, Arlington, VA
22201-4433; (703) 993-4930; fax: (703) 993-4935; e-mail: mercatus@gmu.edu. The complete text is also available on-line: http://www.mercatus.org.
This report is part of a series of studies from the Mercatus Center that identify exemplary public agencies that have taken
the lead in clearly stating their mission and improving their performance. Results-Based Management notes that the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has won widespread praise for changes made in recent years,
particularly from lawmakers who once talked of abolishing the agency. It points to specific measures of success: the
reduced number of days required to get relief checks to disaster victims; high satisfaction ratings from aid recipients; good
ratings from state, local, and nonprofit officials; the prevention of $2 in disaster losses for every $1 spent on predisaster
mitigation; the prevention of $750 million in flood losses annually; and high satisfaction ratings from those enrolled in
FEMA training courses. The analysis looks at the agency's mission, organizational structure, information systems,
organizational culture, communication strategies, and leadership.
The Next Flood: Getting Prepared. Final Report of the International Red River Basin Task Force to the International
Joint Commission. 2000. 164 pp. Free. Printed copies can be requested from the International Joint Commission (IJC),
U.S. Section, 1250 23rd Street, N.W., Suite 100, Washington, DC 20440; (202) 736-9000; fax: (202) 736-9015; e-mail:
Commission@washington.ijc.org. The complete report can also be found at http://www.ijc.org/publications/redriver/nextflood-e.pdf
.
Following devastating floods in 1997 in the Red River basin, the governments of Canada and the U.S. asked the
International Joint Commission (IJC) to investigate the causes and effects of the flooding and to recommend ways to
reduce the impact of future floods. The Next Flood discusses the history of flooding along the Red River, flow
management, communities at risk, the risks to the Canadian city of Winnipeg, flood preparedness and resiliency, flooding
in the Lower Pembina River Basin (which, like the Red River, lies in both Canada and the U.S.), water quality issues, the
need for improved data and decision support, hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, and flood-related institutional
arrangements. The report also provides numerous conclusions and recommendations that focus on preparedness and
mitigation for major floods.
Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage: Principles and Practices for the Design and Construction of Flood
Resistant Building Utility Systems. FEMA 348. 1999. 196 pp. Free.
Above the Flood: Elevating Your Flood-prone House. FEMA 347. 2000. 70 pp. Free.
Both documents can be obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Publications Distribution
Facility, P.O. Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012; (800) 480-2520. At this writing, the Web version of the first document is
available at http://www.fema.gov/library/lib06.htm. The second volume will soon be on-line at the same URL.
Despite the efforts of governments and private-sector entities to reduce flood hazards, problems still remain with the design
and construction of building utilities. The first document was prepared to illustrate effective utility design and construction
for residential and nonresidential structures located in flood-prone areas in order to assist owners in complying with
National Flood Insurance Program requirements. It covers both new and existing building systems and describes how to
repair, replace, or rehabilitate flood-damaged building utility systems as well as reduce future flood damage. It also
contains information on complying with model building codes.
Above the Flood chronicles the successful efforts to elevate substantially damaged homes in Dade County, Florida, following Hurricane Andrew. It presents an overview and case studies of three common techniques; explains FEMA's technical and regulatory guidance on these projects; and summarizes the benefits of elevating a flood-prone home. Soon, a companion CD-ROM and video will be available that include interviews with contractors and homeowners as well as demonstrations of each of the numerous elevation techniques.
The Upper St. Johns River Basin Project: The Environmental Transformation of a Public Flood Control Project.
Maurice Sterling and Charles A. Padera. Professional Paper SJ98-PP1. 1998. 18 pp. Free. Copies can be obtained from
the Library, St. Johns River Management District, P.O. Box 1429, Palatka, FL 32178-1429; (904) 329-4132.
Begun in the 1980s, the St. Johns River Basin Project, a joint effort of the St. Johns River Water Management District and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is one of the largest and most ambitious wetland restoration projects in the world. The
basin was once subject to conventional structural flood-control. In contrast, the current project is designed to balance the
multiple uses of the river, restoring environmental habitat, and protecting water quality--while also maintaining flood
control. Construction began on the current project in 1988 and was altered several times to address environmental factors.
This paper traces that process, describing the project history; project planning; the current project; designation of marsh
conservation areas, water management areas, and other restored areas; structural improvements; better water quality and
storage, marsh conditions, and wildlife habitat; and opportunities for public recreation.
A Procedure for Estimating Loss of Life Caused by Dam Failure. Wayne J. Graham. DSO-99-06. 1999. 48 pp. For
availability, contact the Bureau of Reclamation, Dam Safety Office, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225.
Risk assessment and other dam safety studies often require an estimate of fatalities resulting from dam failure. To assist
such efforts, the Bureau of Reclamation Dam Safety Office conducted an extensive evaluation of dam failures and the
factors that contributed to loss of life. Graham evaluated every U.S. dam failure that caused more than 50 fatalities and
every failure that occurred after 1960 that caused any fatalities, obtaining information regarding warning, population at
risk, and number of fatalities. He found that loss of life due to dam failure is highly influenced by three factors: the number
of people occupying the dam failure floodplain, the amount of warning provided to those at risk, and the severity of the
flooding. He outlines a seven-step procedure for estimating loss of life.
Flood Management in Canada at the Crossroads. Dan Shrubsole. ICLR Research Paper Series No. 5. 2000. 34 pp.
$25.00 (Canadian), plus shipping. For information on how to obtain a copy, contact the Institute for Catastrophic Loss
Reduction (ICLR), 151 Yonge Street, Suite 1800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2W7; (416) 362-2031, ext. 342; fax:
(416) 362-2602; e-mail: iclr@ibc.ca.
In Canada, decisions to reduce government expenditures have come at a time when the economic losses due to flooding are
increasing. This paper suggests initial steps to address this problem and describes the constitutional responsibilities of all
levels of government for flood management. It reviews major federal flood management programs, describes the recent
Saguenay and Red River Valley floods and responses by communities to these floods, and counsels that significant
obstacles to reducing future flood losses in Canada are intertwined with current flood management arrangements.
Specifically, Shrubsole con-cludes there is no federal mechanism to integrate structural and nonstructural adjustments to
floods. He adds that, after a community has incurred significant losses, senior government primarily funds disaster relief
and structural flood control, while providing little incentive for adoption of floodplain and land-use regulations. He
suggests an alternative flood management strategy based on the principles of ecosystem management, partnerships, and
science.
Empirical Studies of the Effect of Flood Risk on Housing Prices. Philip T. Chao, James L. Floyd, and William Holliday.
IWR Report No. 98-PS-2. 1998. 70 pp. Free. Reports may be ordered by writing Arlene Nurthen, Department of the Army,
Corps of Engineers, Water Resources Support Center, Casey Building, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315-3868;
fax: (703) 428-8171; e-mail: arlene.nurthen@inet.hq.usace.army.mil.
Responding to charges that the Army Corps of Engineers is biased against nonstructural flood damage reduction measures,
this study was implemented to identify impediments that may exist to justifying nonstructural flood control measures as
alternatives to structural measures. Indeed, the Corps' Principles and Guidelines for Water and Related Land Resources
Implementation Studies provide that "Reduction of flood damages borne by floodplain activities should not be claimed as
benefit of evacuation or relocation because they are already accounted for in the fair market value of floodplain properties."
This study questions that assumption and compares the price of a floodplain property to a hypothetical, otherwise identical,
non-floodplain property. This discount for floodplain location incorporates such attributes (positive or negative) as access
to recreational boating, river views, clean-up costs, and loss of income due to a flood. The report reviews academic
literature on price models of floodplain real estate and examines case studies from two Corps projects in Abilene, Texas,
and South Frankfort, Kentucky.
Troubled Waters: Congress, the Corps of Engineers, and Wasteful Water Projects. 2000. 44 pp. $10.00, printed version;
free, on-line. To order, contact the Taxpayers for Common Sense, 651 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20003;
(202) 546-8500, ext. 101. To view on-line, see: http://www.taxpayer.net/corpswatch
or http://www.nwf.org.
According to Taxpayers for Common Sense and the National Wildlife Federation, no other federal agency has had such a
profound impact on the nation's environmentally sensitive floodplains, waterways, and coastal areas as the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. The ongoing construction and maintenance of Corps dams, navigation channels, flood-control
structures, and other water development projects dramatically alter the American landscape. Although there are many
"heartening signs" that the Corps is reforming its civil works program, many Corps districts continue to pursue
environmentally harmful, financially wasteful water resource projects. Troubled Waters profiles 25 Corps projects that will
cost $6 billion in coming years and will destroy irreplaceable wildlife habitat. It challenges concerned citizens to engage
the Corps regarding the impacts and costs of these projects on a regional level. It provides an overview of Corps missions,
including navigation assistance, flood damage reduction, shoreline protection, and beach replenishment, then presents
numerous policy recommendations to "cut the fat" and ensure ecosystem health, describes the Corps' cost-sharing rules for
decision making, outlines steps in project development, describes how citizens can affect Corps policies, and lists several
organizations from which further information can be obtained.
Flood and Landslides: Integrated Risk Assessment. Riccardo Casale and Claudio Margottini, Editors. 1999. 450 pp.
$159.00. To order a copy, contact Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., P.O. Box 2485, Secaucus, NJ 07096-2485; (800) 777-4643; fax: (201) 348-4505; e-mail: orders@springer-ny.com; WWW: http://www.springer-ny.com.
Flood and Landslides reviews state of the art mitigation techniques for these natural disasters, highlighting the possibility
of effective land-use planning and management. Noting that floods and landslides are often triggered by heavy rainfall, this
book analyzes floods and slope stability phenomena as differing aspects of the same dynamic system-- the drainage basin.
Technical papers discuss such topics as the characterization of landslide hazard, flood hazard assessment and mitigation,
the impacts of climate change on these hazards, tools and methods of forecasting and monitoring, mapping, integrated
floodplain management, the economic consequences of floods and landslides, the vulnerability of megacities, hazard
mitigation, and case studies from around the world.
Open Skies Aerial Photography of Selected Areas in Central America Affected by Hurricane Mitch. Bruce F. Molina
and Cheryl A. Hallam. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Circular 1181. 1999. 88 pp., plus CD-ROM. Free. To receive a
copy, contact the USGS, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225; (303) 202-4700 or (800)
435-7627; fax: (303) 202-4693.
Between October 27 and November 1, 1998, Central America was devastated by Hurricane Mitch. One of the first
informational needs was complete aerial photographic coverage of the storm-ravaged areas so that the governments of the
affected countries, the U.S. agencies planning to provide assistance, and the international relief community could provide
aid to those in the devastated area. Between December 4 and 19, 1998, an "Open Skies" aircraft conducted five successful
missions and obtained more than 5,000 high-resolution aerial photographs and more than 15,000 video images. The aerial
data are being used by the international reconstruction task force and many others who are working to rebuild and reduce
the risk of future destruction. The CD-ROM contains a digital version of the entire circular plus full-resolution image files
of the maps and photographs used in the printed version.
Storms. Roger Pielke Jr. and Roger Pielke Sr., Editors. 2000. 960 pp. (Two-volume set.) $275.00. To order, contact
Routledge Customer Service, 7625 Empire Drive, Florence, KY 41042; (800) 634-7064; fax: (800) 248-4724; e-mail:
cserve@routledge-ny.com; WWW: http://www.routledge-ny.com.
Although storms are a constant to life on earth, their impacts on society and the environment are not always welcome. As a
result, societies seek to reduce their vulnerability to storms, although sometimes these responses can exacerbate
vulnerability. Storms includes papers from academics from around the world who discuss storm science and social
vulnerability, tropical cyclones, extra-tropical cyclones, mesoscale convective systems, and other storms. Detailed accounts
of storms in the U.S., Canada, Cuba, China, Australia, India, Russia, Vietnam, Brazil, and Mexico are included.
Some Buildings Just Can't Dance: Politics, Life Safety, and Disaster. Richard Stuart Olson, Robert A. Olson, and
Vincent T. Gawronski. 1999. 214 pp. $78.50. Copies can be purchased from JAI Press, Inc./Ablex Publishing Corporation,
100 Prospect Street, P.O. Box 811, Stamford, CT 06904-0811; (203) 323-9606, ext. 3054; fax: (203) 357-8446; e-mail:
a.dirado@elsevier.com.
This book examines the city of Oakland's response to building damage suffered in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Using
a combined "nondecision making and advocacy coalition approach," the authors demonstrate how and why hazardous-structure abatement was kept off the local political agenda prior to the disaster. The book then traces how and why the
Oakland city government actively addressed earthquake damage as well as vulnerability to future quakes. Chapters
examine policy dynamics and disaster, coalitions and advocacy, agenda control and seismic safety, disasters and policy
conflicts, previous research on hazard abatement, the intergovernmental context, hazard mitigation policy prior to the
quake, impacts of the quake on city policies, implementation of ordinances, dealing with unreinforced masonry buildings,
and general conclusions.
Seismic Reliability Assessment of Critical Facilities: A Handbook, Supporting Documentation, and Model Code
Provision. Gayle S. Johnson, Robert E. Sheppard, Marc D. Quilici, Stephen J. Eder, and Charles R. Scawthorn. Technical
Report MCEER-99-0008. 1999. 392 pp. $35.00. To purchase a copy, contact the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake
Engineering Research (MCEER), University of Buffalo, State University of New York, Red Jacket Quadrangle, Buffalo, NY
14261-0025; (716) 645-3391; fax: (716) 645-3399; e-mail: mceer@acsu.buffalo.edu; WWW: http://mceer.buffalo.edu.
Current building standards are primarily intended to preserve life, although some governing bodies recognize that critical
facilities, such as hospitals, must survive an earthquake and be operational during and following a seismic event. This
report summarizes a multiyear research effort to develop a method of assessing and improving the functional reliability of
equipment systems in critical facilities following earthquakes. It is intended to be used by engineers, building officials,
building owners, and others involved in operating facilities that provide critical services. It describes an approach that
includes systems definition, evaluation of individual components, systems evaluation, and risk management. It also
includes supporting documentation and information on model code provisions.
A second volume, Nonstructural Damage Database, by Andrew Kao, T. Soong, and Amanda Vender (Technical Report MCEER-99-0014, 1999, 60 pp., $25.00) is also available from the address above. The database can also be downloaded from the MCEER Web at the URL above.
Case Studies: An Assessment of the NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings. FEMA 343. 1999.
220 pp. Free. Copies can be obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Publications
Distribution Facility, P.O. Box 2012, Jessup, MD 20794-2012; (800) 480-2520.
With many major advances, especially in technical fields, users of a new product often raise concerns about its usefulness,
safety, cost, and need. This volume attempts to address such concerns relating to the NEHRP Guildelines for the Seismic
Rehabilitation of Buildings (FEMA 273) and its companion Commentary (FEMA 274) (see the Observer, Vol. XXIV,
No. 1, p. 11). Through a scientific evaluation, Case Studies concludes that, though in need of refinement, the Guidelines
are an invaluable tool in improving the resistance of buildings to earthquakes. It provides background concerning the
project, a summary of key findings, conclusions regarding usability and technical adequacy, a description of factors in
design and construction costs, and recommendations for improvement.
An Assessment of Seismic Monitoring in the United States: Requirement for an Advanced National Seismic System.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Circular 1188. 1999. 58 pp. Free. Available from the USGS, Information Services, Box
25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225; (303) 202-4700 or (800) 435-7627; fax: (303) 202-4693.
According to this study, seismic monitoring is vital to meet the United States' need for timely and accurate information to
reduce the loss of life and property caused by earthquakes. This report, required by Public Law 105-47, is an assessment of
the status of, needs for, and associated costs of seismic monitoring in the U.S. The report assesses existing systems and
networks, then proposes an effective, national seismic monitoring strategy and an advanced system linking national,
regional, and urban monitoring networks (the Advanced National Seismic System); that system's infrastructure
requirements; potential information products and services; and "action items" to create such a system.
Standard Guide for the Estimation of Building Damageability in Earthquakes. E2026-99. 2000. 24 pp. $40.00. Copies
can be purchased from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Customer Services; (610) 832-9585; fax:
(610) 832-9555; WWW: http://www.astm.org.
This guide provides a standard for conducting probabilistic studies of expected building loss from earthquakes in the U.S. It
also provides guidance on preparing a narrative report of such a study. As such, it helps users to meet real estate transaction
"due diligence" requirements for assessing a specific property's potential for damage due to an earthquake. It explains
earthquake ground shaking, soil instability, faulting, landsliding, and tsunamis. It also establishes what can reasonably be
expected of a loss estimator in approximating probable damage of buildings, including communicating observations,
opinions, and conclusions in a manner that is not misleading.
Mitigating Geological Hazards in Oregon: A Technical Reference Manual. John D. Beaulieu and Dennis Olmstead.
Special Paper 31. 1999. 62 pp. $20.00.
Geological Hazards: Reducing Oregon's Losses. John D. Beaulieu and Dennis Olmstead. Special Paper 32. 1999. 29 pp. $10.00.
Both publications can be purchased through Nature of the Northwest, 800 N.E. Oregon Street, No. 5, Portland, OR 97232;
(503) 872-2750; e-mail: info@naturenw.org; WWW: http://www.naturenw.org. For more information on these
publications, contact James Roddey, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, 800 N.E. Oregon Street,
Portland, OR 97232; (503) 731-4100, ext. 242.
Earthquakes and tsunamis could take thousands of lives and cost billions of dollars in Oregon. Landslides in the state
already cause one to two deaths per year and $1-$10 million in damage. Flooding and coastal erosion are even more
damaging. These two publications were designed to provide policymakers and the public with information and tools to
reduce the toll of these geologic processes. The first document, designed for land-use planners, emergency managers, and
public policymakers, includes information on Oregon's past disasters and potential problems, guidance on dealing with
multiple hazards, and strategies for mitigating these hazards. The second summarizes the first and is designed for
nontechnical users.
Earthquake Risk Management: Toolkit for Decision-Makers. SSC Report 99-04. 1999. 224 pp. $40.00. To obtain a copy,
contact the California Seismic Safety Commission (SSC), 1755 Creekside Oaks Drive, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95833;
(916) 263-5506; fax: (916) 263-0594; WWW: http://www.seismic.ca.gov.
This product provides the necessary tools for developing an effective earthquake risk management program. It includes
information on the characteristics of earthquakes, causes of earthquake damage and loss, damage and loss assessment of
structures and equipment, reducing risk, and developing and implementing a risk reduction program. The toolkit is
designed for both businesses and local governments. Appendices cover earthquake terms, sources for additional resources,
background information on earthquake hazards, measures of quake vulnerability, methods for assessing equipment
vulnerability, sample work statements, and worksheets.
Surviving a Tsunami--Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan. Brian F. Atwater, Marco Cisternas V., Joanne
Bourgeois, Walter C. Dudley, James W. Hendley II, and Peter H. Stauffer, Compilers. Circular 1187. 18 pp. Free. Copies
are available on the Internet: http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/circular/c1187.
This booklet contains lessons on how to survive a tsunami and is based on accounts from people who survived the tsunami
generated by the largest earthquake ever measured--the magnitude 9.5 quake in Chile on May 22, 1960. It describes the
tsunami and the earthquake that caused it, discusses similar tsunamis and strategies for survival, and provides lessons from
these experiences. It recommends heeding natural warnings, complying with official warnings, expecting many waves as
well as larger ones, heading for higher ground, abandoning belongings, not counting on roads remaining intact, and other
measures that can save lives.
The Seismological Society of America (SSA) is planning to publish a special issue of its Bulletin covering the 1999 Ji-Ji (Taiwan) earthquake. The issue will encompass investigations into all seismological and engineering aspects of the quake, and researchers working in these areas are encouraged to submit papers for the journal. Submission instructions are available from http://www.seismosoc.org/publications/bssa.html. The deadline is August 1. Questions and submissions should be directed to the issue's guest editors: Leon Teng, e-mail: lteng@terra.usc.edu; or Ben Tsai, e-mail: ybtsai@geps.gep.ncu.edu. tw.
The Hazards Center
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 Weather Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Institute for Business and Home Safety, and the Public Entity Risk Institute. 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 July 21, 2000.
Center phone number: (303) 492-6818
Fax: (303) 492-2151
E-mail: hazctr@spot.colorado.edu
Publications Clerk: (303) 492-6819
E-mail: janet.kroeckel@colorado.edu
Staff
Sylvia C. Dane, Editor
David L. Butler, London/Shilton Correspondent
Dennis S. Mileti, Center Director
Mary Fran Myers, Co-Director
Sarah Michaels, Information Architect
Jacquelyn Monday, Program Manager
Diane Smith, Staff Assistant
Janet Kroeckel, Publications Clerk
Eve Passerini, Research Associate
Lori Peek, Research Assistant
Alice Fothergill, Research Assistant
Len Wright, Research Assistant
Cartoons for the Observer are drawn by Rob Pudim.
The Natural Hazards Observer is printed in the U.S. and 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.
Other issues 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 editor of the Natural Hazards Observer, send an e-mail message to sylvia.dane@colorado.edu
To contact the editor of Disaster Research, 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 message to hazctr@spot.colorado.edu
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
Last updated June 28, 2000.
If you have questions or comments about this document, please contact the editor: sylvia.dane@colorado.edu.
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