Much of the information below is taken from the Regional Disaster Information Center for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRID) Web site--http://www.crid.or.cr--and from ISDR Informs--the newsletter of the United Nations International Strategy for Natural Disaster Reduction Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, which is also available from the CRID Web site.
In February 1997, the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) hosted a meeting in San José, Costa Rica, to discuss a common strategy for managing and disseminating disaster information in the region. The participants, representatives of many of the key national and international organizations working in Latin America and the Caribbean, agreed to create a "Regional Disaster Information System"--a network of institutions and information centers coordinated by the Regional Disaster Information Center for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRID). The network's objective is to "reduce risks and disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean through the provision of information to decision-makers, by means of inter-institutional co-operation [and] a rational use of resources." One principal goal is to establish a reference information/documentation center in every country of the region that will not only provide disaster information for that nation, but also promote a disaster information network within the country.
Subsequently, CRID has undertaken several activities to build national and local capacity, beginning with an organizational meeting of the Regional Disaster Information System (SRID) in August 1999 in San José. In the last year, CRID has conducted training workshops on disaster information unit management and has supported the creation of national networks in several countries of Central and South America. The agency continues these efforts and is also working to establish standard terminology and techniques for maintaining and exchanging information.
For more information about the Regional Disaster Information System for Latin America and the Caribbean, contact Lilliana Gonzalez, CRID, Apartado 3745-1000, San José, Costa Rica; tel: (506) 296-3952; fax: (506) 231-5973; e-mail: crid@crid.or.cr; WWW: http://www.crid.or.cr or http://www.crid.desastres.net.
In risk management, as in other programs, many policies that seek to promote community development are designed at the desks of well-intentioned but not always well-informed people away from the actual community. All too often, these policies do not take hold, since they did not spring from the communities themselves.
To address this problem, the Central American Community Network for Risk Management was established in 1999 to improve the quality of life and promote sustainable development and self-management within communities of the region by encouraging local involvement and action. The network now comprises at least 8,000 communities throughout Central America.
One of the chief goals of the network is to show institutions currently working in disaster prevention that only by working together at the local level will it be possible to reduce the hazards faced throughout Central America. To support the network, the German GTZ agency has financed the "CARECOR" project (the Spanish acronym stands for "Training the Central American Community Network for Risk Management"). One of the key components of which is, not surprisingly, training--but training intended to fundamentally change participants' world views and enable them to take charge of their own risk mitigation and thus promote community resilience.
The network does not have an overarching administrative structure with its own funds and headquarters. Each member community is expected to work independently. There being no central office, interested persons must contact individual country offices. A list with contact information is provided in the ISDR Informs newsletter mentioned above; see http://www.crid.or.cr.
To promote knowledge about local risks, the application of this knowledge to local planning for housing and infrastructure, and the effective implementation of preventive and mitigation measures, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) has initiated the Capacity Building for Natural Disaster Reduction (CBNDR) program, with financial support from the Netherlands government. The aim is to foster the transfer of state-of-the-art knowledge with respect to natural hazard and risk zonation to relevant organizations and institutions in developing countries.
In pursuing these aims, the CBNDR project will support regional programs that:
Central America (CA) has been selected as the site for the first regional action program (RAP) within the CBNDR project. The intergovernmental Centro de Coordinación para la Prevención de los Desastres Naturales en America Central (CEPREDENAC) is the coordinating agency for the region. This RAP-CA project began in April 2000 in the Netherlands with an intensive 10-week introductory course for 20 to 25 participants. Over the next three years, the project will host four one-week meetings during which participants working on the same topics (landslides, floods, etc.) will, in company with an international expert, meet to present achievements and discuss common problems. To round off the program, in 2003 CEPREDENAC will organize a large Central American specialists meeting, wherein the RAP-CA accomplishments will be presented to all institutions in the region working in disaster prevention. A handbook, a self-training package, and case history documentation will also be made available at that meeting.
The program secretariat plans to develop and secure funding for similar action programs in other parts of the developing world. Further information about the UNESCO CBNDR program is available from the CBNDR Program Secretariat, c/o ITC, P.O. Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, The Netherlands; tel: +31-(0)53-4874 213/221; fax: +31-(0)53-4874 200; e-mail: cbndr.unesco@itc.nl.
The Inter-American Committee for Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR) is a forum for the analysis of policies and strategies promoting natural disaster reduction in the context of sustainable development. The Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly established the IACNDR, recognizing the need to strengthen the role of the OAS in natural disaster reduction and emergency preparedness among member states.
The IACNDR is chaired by the Secretary General of the OAS and comprises other representatives from that organization, as well as leaders from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Pan-American Institute of Geography and History, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, and Inter-American Council for Integral Development.
The purpose of the committee is to propose national policies and strategies involving sustainable development mechanisms that can reduce a country's disaster vulnerability and that can lead to emergency preparedness and response activities that enhance the effectiveness and timeliness of international and national assistance.
The IACNDR has established three working groups: Vulnerability Assessment and Indexing, headed by the OAS; Financing and Natural Disaster Reduction, headed by the IDB; and Emergency Preparedness and Response, headed by PAHO. Specific aims of the IACNDR include promoting the commitment of member states to natural disaster reduction, recommending resource priorities to the OAS and Inter-American System, evaluating and supporting recommendations regarding investment for vulnerability reduction, reinforcing links between disaster reduction and sustainable development, and identifying options in vulnerability assessment and indexing techniques.
For more information about the IACNDR contact Luis Jorge Perez Calderon, Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program, PAHO, 525 23rd Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20037; e-mail: perezlui@paho.org.
In April, Guatemala's Del Valle University and the United Nations signed an agreement to create a Research Center for Disaster Management, part of a United Nations Disaster Management Team effort to improve emergency response in Guatemala and Central America. The agreement establishes a program to promote research, professional training, and the provision of other disaster management services to communities at risk, linking scientists, international agencies, and public and private decision makers.
The center's activities will include developing plans and projects aimed at reducing social, environmental, and institutional vulnerability; strengthening the Guatemalan peace process; and promoting sustainable development. The center will study the country's natural, social, and technological hazards--their occurrence, location, magnitude, and impact--and ways to reduce vulnerability and risk.
At the undergraduate level, the center will train technicians who can institute prevention measures and respond to emergencies. At the graduate and postgraduate levels, the center will train professionals who can incorporate risk analysis into planning and programs of all types, and who can develop projects that reduce social, environmental, and institutional vulnerability. The center will also provide consultant services to support the development of response plans and vulnerability reduction programs.
The team putting together the Research Center for Disaster Management is interested in any information or proposals that might aid the development of the curriculum, research agenda, training programs, and risk reduction services. For more information, or to offer suggestions, contact Hugo Romeo Masaya, Secretario General, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 avenida 11-95 zona 15, Vista Hermosa III, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala; tel: (502) 364-0336, ext. 40; fax: (502) 364-0212; WWW: http://www.uvg.edu.gt; e-mail: masayama@uvg.edu.gt.
The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) recently announced a program to mentor colleagues in Honduras who are working to lessen flood risks. The program will establish working relationships to support post-Hurricane Mitch flood-hazard mitigation involving the creation of an alert and warning system in strategic areas. Funded by a U.S. Agency for International Development Mission Grant through the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the project centers on the Aguan River Valley of northern Honduras.
For information about this project, contact Vince Parisi, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472; e-mail: vincent.parisi@fema.gov; or Diane Watson, ASFPM, 2809 Fish Hatchery Road, Suite 204, Madison, WI 53713; (608) 274-0123; fax: (608) 274 0696; e-mail: diane@floods.org.
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.
Prediction: Science, Decision Making, and the Future of Nature. Daniel Sarewitz, Roger A. Pielke, Jr., and Radford
Byerly, Jr., Editors. 2000. 400 pp. $60.00, clothbound; $29.50, paperback. Copies can be purchased from Island Press,
Box 7, Department 2NET, Covelo, CA 95428; (800) 828-1302; fax: (707) 983-6414; WWW: http://www.islandpress.org.
The idea that predictive science can simplify future decision making by creating a clearer picture of the future is appealing
in principle, but deeply problematic in practice. The value of predictions in public policy is not simply a technical question;
it is much more than a problem of reducing uncertainties, of getting the numbers "right." Rather, prediction involves a
complex mixture of interdependent scientific, political, and social factors. Technically reliable predictions in and of
themselves do not translate into successful decisions. In Prediction, the authors examine the application of scientific
predictions to problems of the environment. They discuss why prediction and science are not the same thing and why we
must better understand human nature to improve our decisions about our environment. Contributors present 10 case studies
in natural hazards that are perceived by decision makers as unavoidable (weather, floods, asteroids, and earthquakes);
environmental problems with strong political importance (beach erosion, mining impacts, and nuclear waster disposal); and
complex, difficult-to-solve environmental issues (oil and gas reserves, acid rain, and global climate change).
Topics: Annual Review of Natural Catastrophes 1999. 2000. 46 pp. Free. To request a copy, contact Angelika Wirtz,
Geoscience Research Group, Munich Reinsurance Company, Königstrasse 107, 80802 Munich, Germany; tel: 4989
3891-3453; e-mail: awirtz@munichre.com. Information contained in the report is also available from the company's Web
site: http://www.munichre.com.
The Munich Reinsurance (MunichRe) Geoscience Research Group, which has been gathering detailed world disaster data
for over 25 years, has issued its annual tally of disaster losses, and the final year of the 20th century was no different than
the first 99. Earthquakes in August and November in Turkey, another quake in Taiwan in September, a cyclone in the Bay
of Bengal, and a debris avalanche in Venezuela claimed between 70,000 and 100,000 lives, the highest death rate since
1991, when a cyclone in Bangladesh killed 140,000. Insured losses came to $22 billion, the second highest in the 1990s. In
addition to numerous photos of disasters, Topics includes detailed data on the number of loss events, economic losses,
number of deaths, and insured losses. It describes the various catastrophic events of 1999, statistical trends relating to
natural catastrophes from 1950 to 1999, statistical comparisons among decades for that period, the culmination of the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, the Climate Summit held in Bonn, the results of a MunichRe
investigation into the effects of natural catastrophes--both human and monetary losses--in countries of varying stages of
development, losses due to severe storms, and alternative risk transfer and insurance securitization.
The Practice of Local Government Planning. Third Edition. Charles J. Hoch, Linda C. Dalton, and Frank S. So, Editors.
2000. 512 pp. $42.95. Copies can be ordered from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), (800)
745-8780 or WWW: http://bookstore.icma.org.
Sound local land-use practices are essential if local jurisdictions are to reduce the impacts of natural disasters. This new
edition of The Practice of Local Government Planning offers practical guidance on a broad range of issues planners are
likely to encounter, whether they work in inner cities, older suburbs, rural districts, or small towns. In addition to covering
the latest planning trends and the impacts of technology, diversity, and increased citizen participation, this text covers basic
planning elements such as housing, transportation, community development, and urban design. It includes tips for
understanding recent social, environmental, and political trends and how they affect planning practice; analyzing a
community's population and economic structure; identifying the potential environmental impacts of proposed
development; and communicating effectively with citizens, community groups, and local government officials.
Handbook of Disaster Medicine. J. de Boer
and M. Dubouloz, Editors. 2000. 520 pp. $103.00. To purchase a copy from
the U.S. or Canada, send a fax to Books International, Inc.; (703)
661-1501. To view the publisher's (Van der Wees Uitgeverij) information
on-line and to download an order form, see http://www.vsppub.com/books/medic/bk-HanDisMed.html.
The International Society of Disaster Medicine (ISDM) was created recently
to cross the traditional boundaries of medicine and nationalism. As part
of that effort, ISDM created an international curriculum on education and
training in disaster medicine, now available in this handbook. Topics
include: medical care in mass casualty events, public health, disaster
management, and education and training, including international
guidelines.
Response to Disaster: Psychosocial, Community, and Ecological Approaches. Richard Gist and Bernard Lubin, Editors.
1999. 232 pp. $69.96, clothbound; $29.95, paperback. To order a copy, contact Brunner-Routledge, Taylor & Francis
Group, 7625 Empire Drive, Florence, KY 41042; (800) 634-7064; fax: (800) 248-4724; e-mail:
bkorders@taylorandfrancis.com; WWW: http://www.brunner-routledge.com.
Psychological service in the wake of cataclysmic life events has emerged as a prominent and important component of social
response to disasters. Indeed, where once help was scarce, it is now sufficiently plentiful to engender its own set of
conflicts and contradictions along with its intended solace and aid. Response to Disaster reconciles various technical,
theoretical, and applied approaches in order to improve response. "Part 1: Theoretical Foundations" establishes a basis for
the exploration and assessment of models and interventions. "Part 2: Community Strategies for Intervention" explores the
application of principles developed in Part 1 through case studies, the examination of model programs, and a discussion of
empirical evaluation data. The final section, "Contemporary Issues in Community Systems Research and Practice,"
examines current topics in both theoretical and evaluation research, ethical issues peculiar to community practice, and the
legal and liability implications of community intervention.
Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable People in Times of Disaster: A Guide for Emergency Managers. 2000. 61 pp. Free.
Single copies can be requested from Carrie Barnecut, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Coastal
Region, 1300 Clay Street, Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94612; (510) 286-0895;
e-mail: carrie_barnecut@oes.ca.gov.
Electronic versions are also available from the e-mail address above or from ftp://anonymous@ftp.oes.ca.gov.
This guide provides advice for emergency management professionals and volunteer organizations on how to improve their
support of people with special needs during disasters. Addressing the great diversity of special health and medical concerns,
language and cultural barriers, and other life circumstances can present many challenges. Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable
People offers tips on tapping into the resources provided by community based organizations (CBOs) and other local
organizations that provide services to specific groups of people, such as the homeless, the developmentally disabled, low-income elderly, or non-English speaking populations. It describes methods for understanding various responders' roles in
emergency management, establishing partnerships among organizations, bridging organizational differences, and
facilitating CBOs' roles in recovery. It also provides guidance on administrative procedures, such as establishing
agreements and contracts and managing reimbursements.
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Annual Report: FY 1999. For availability, contact the U.S. Agency for
International Development, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., BHR/OFDA 8.06.01M,
Washington, DC 20523-8602; (202) 712-0400; fax: (202) 216-3706; WWW: http://www.usaid.gov/ofda.
The U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the office within the U.S. Agency for International Development
responsible for providing non-food, humanitarian aid in response to international crises and disasters. This annual report
describes the U.S. response to numerous disasters in 1999, including the devastating earthquakes in Turkey, the widespread
destruction in Central America caused by Hurricane Mitch, and the civil strife in Kosovo. The increasing number of
complex emergencies due to conflict have consumed the bulk of humanitarian aid over the past decade, although
vulnerability to natural disasters is greater than ever due to population growth and environmental degradation. This report
outlines the agency's new programming and response capabilities; its role as a donor in emergency relief; its role as
coordinator of emergency relief; and its prevention, preparedness, and mitigation activities.
The Science Times Book of Natural Disasters: The Best Science Reporting from the Acclaimed Weekly Section of the
New York Times. Nicholas Wade, Editor. 2000. 200 pp. $25.00. To order a copy, contact Adventurous Travel Bookstore,
245 South Champlain, Burlington, VT 05401; (800) 282-3963; fax: (800) 677-1821; e-mail: books@atbook.com; WWW:
http://www.lyonspress.com.
Earthquakes, tornadoes, and volcanoes have always been awe-inspiring, but scientists have discovered even more
remarkable features in their efforts to better understand these phenomena. Articles in this collection describe the complex
set of weather conditions that lead to tornadoes and microbursts, as well as the genesis and evolution of tsunamis as they
spread from their geologic epicenter and wash over entire islands. Volcanoes are depicted as major earth events, not only
devastating surrounding areas with hot ash, lava, and mudslides, but also causing changes in global weather patterns that
lead to floods in some parts of the world and drought in others. Articles also examine avalanches, hurricanes, floods,
storms, forest fires, sinkholes, viral pandemics, and other natural hazards.
Mental Health Services in Disasters: Instructors Guide. Raquel Cohen. 2000. Free.
Mental Health Services in Disasters: Manual for Humanitarian Workers. Raquel Cohen. 2000. Free.
A limited number of copies are available. To request one, contact the Editor, Disasters: Preparedness and Mitigation in
the Americas, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination
Program, 525 23rd Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037; (202) 974-3520; fax:
(202) 775-4578; e-mail: disaster-publications@paho.org;
WWW: http://www.paho.org/english/ped/pedhome.htm.
PAHO and the World Health Organization recently announced the English version of these guides that were originally
written in Spanish. They complement each other and are designed to offer guidance on reducing the social and
psychological consequences of disasters.
Disaster Survival Planning: A Practical Guide for Businesses. Revised Edition. Judy Kay Bell. 2000. 174 pp. $19.95. To
order, contact Disaster Survival Planning, Inc., 669 Pacific Cove Drive, Port Hueneme, CA 93041; (800) 601-4899; fax:
(805) 984-2601; e-mail: staff@disaster-survival.com; WWW: http://www.disaster-survival.com.
This revised edition of Disaster Survival Planning, originally published in 1991, offers new and updated information on
the use of computer systems and terminology, the need for organizations to undertake business continuity planning,
industry regulations, changes in the insurance industry and the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and
major disasters since 1991. Bell discusses the need for creating a business continuity plan, gaining executive approval,
resolving policy issues, designating officer succession, providing guidelines for top managers, restoring business
operations, considering physical aspects, establishing an emergency operations center, assessing damage and prioritizing
resources, testing the plan, and taking care of employees.
Living Dangerously: Navigating the Risks of Everyday Life. John F. Ross. 2000. 208 pp. $14.00. Copies may be obtained
from Perseus Books Group, Customer Service, 5500 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301; (800) 386-5656; fax: (303)
449-3356; e-mail: westview.orders@perseusbooks.com; WWW: http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com.
From cholesterol to cancer, asteroids to earthquakes, we face more risks than our grandparents ever dreamed of. But most
of us are 200 years behind the curve when it comes to making intelligent risk-based decisions. We refuse to fly, but do not
wear seat belts in our far more dangerous cars. We panic about toxic waste dumps, but collectively smoke a billion
cigarettes a year. In Living Dangerously, John Ross argues that the burgeoning science of risk assessment has given us
powerful new tools to cope with a complex world, if we could only learn to speak the language. Ross examines the building
blocks of this new language and how long-held, often pre-set, biological and psychological responses to risk affect human
perception.
Two Months of Flooding in Eastern North Carolina, September- October 1999: Hydrologic, Water-Quality, and
Geologic Effects of Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water-Resources Investigations Report 00-4093. 2000. 55 pp. $4.00, plus $5.00 shipping. To order a copy, contact the USGS Information Services,
Box 25286, Denver, CO 80225; (888) 275-8747; fax: (303) 202-4693; WWW: http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/prices/other_publications.html.
In September and October 1999, the combined effects of hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene resulted in two months of
flooding throughout eastern North Carolina. Flooding reached record levels, and 500-year or greater floods occurred in all
of the state's river basins east of Raleigh. This report includes detailed information on the meteorological conditions that
led to the flooding, the floods themselves, water-quality conditions during flooding, and the effects of the hurricanes on
shoreline conditions.
Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches. Cornelia Dean. 1999. 336 pp. $24.95. To order a copy, contact
Columbia University Press Order Department, 136 South Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533; (800) 944-8648 or (914)
591-9111; fax: (800) 944-1844 or (914) 591-9201; WWW: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/index.html.
Extensive development cannot coexist with an eroding beach, and most American beaches are eroding, according to
Cornelia Dean, author of Against the Tide (and science editor of the New York Times). Dean wrote this book to urge
Americans to reconsider our attitudes toward our beaches. She begins with the 1900 Galveston hurricane tragedy, where
20% of the city's population died, and notes that prior to the 20th century, very few people lived near a beach because it
was too dangerous. Yet, almost half of all construction in the U.S. during the seventies and eighties took place in coastal
areas, and 80% of Americans now live within an hour's drive of a coast. Dean describes numerous attempts to save beaches
that resulted in their destruction and then addresses the physics of beaches and coastal ecology, unwise construction
practices, public policy, and conservation issues. She also recommends practical steps to preserve our remaining stretches
of pristine coastline and salvage others damaged by unwise construction.
Flood Hazards: Human, Riparian, and Aquatic Communities. Ellen. E. Wohl, Editor. $110.00. Copies are available from
the Customer Service Department, Cambridge University Press, 110 Midland Avenue, Port Chester, NY 10573; (800)
872-7423; fax: (914) 937-4712; e-mail: orders@cup.org; WWW: http://www.cup.org.
As demographic changes increase pressure on river systems, it is imperative to understand the increasing hazards from
natural and regulated flows along rivers. This volume provides a comprehensive review of existing knowledge on the
subject. Three regions--the Colorado River basin of the U.S. and Mexico, the Tone River basin of Japan, and the lower
drainages of the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers in Bangladesh--are used throughout as examples. The contributors to this
volume examine inland flood hazards in general, physical controls of flooding, flood processes and effects on humans,
biological flood processes, responses to flooding, and mitigation strategies.
The Change in the Weather: People, Weather, and the Science of Climate. William K. Stevens. 2000. 382 pp. $24.95. To
purchase a copy or to locate a local bookseller that carries this volume, see http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog.
In The Change in the Weather, New York Times science reporter William Stevens asks such questions as: Are we indeed
changing the climate? If so, how and what are the likely consequences? Stevens explains recent unusual weather in the
context of a broader escalation of climate extremes and explores human relationships with climate, including the impacts of
climate on cultures worldwide. He questions the viability of our climate in 50 years, particularly if we are still burning
fossil fuels at the same rate as we did in the 20th century. He posits that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere may
double, leading to a possible rise in heat-related deaths and weather disasters.
El Niño 1997-1998 in the Midwest. Stanley A. Changnon, Steven D. Hilberg, and Kenneth E. Kunkel. 2000. 68 pp. Free.
To obtain a copy, contact Gloria Marsh, State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7495; fax: (217)
333-4983; e-mail: gloria@sws.uiuc.edu; WWW: http://www.sws.uiuc.edu/pubs.
During the summer of 1997, an anomalously warm El Niño event developed in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Long-range forecasts were issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center, warning
that this event was expected to match or exceed the 1982-1983 El Niño, which, until that time, had been the strongest ever
recorded. This report presents information gathered by the Midwestern Climate Center during the 1997-1998 event. It is
divided into four sections that address predictive outlooks, the monthly and seasonal weather conditions during the El Niño,
societal and economic impacts in the Midwest, and conclusions and recommendations.
Drought: A Global Assessment. Donald A. Wilhite, Editor. 2000. 752 pp., two-volume set. $275.00. To purchase a copy,
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-n
y.com.
Drought may be the most complex of all natural hazards, resulting in serious economic, social, and environmental losses in
both developed and developing countries. Drought risks are escalating due to many factors, including increasing and
shifting populations that intensify pressure on water and other natural resources. These volumes present a comprehensive
overview of research on the physical and social dimensions of drought, including case studies of the most drought-prone
countries. They cover new technology, drought planning methods, and effective mitigation activities from recent drought
experiences worldwide. Following a general discussion of drought, the books are divided into seven additional parts that
address causes and predictability; monitoring and early warning techniques; impacts and assessment methods; adjustment
and adaptation strategies; policy, mitigation, and preparedness; links between drought and other issues; and conclusions
and future challenges.
Earthquake Hazard and Seismic Risk
Reduction. Serguei Balassanian, Armando Cisternas, and
Mikael Melkumyan, Editors. 2000. 460 pp. $172.00. To purchase, contact
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Order Department, P.O. Box 358, Accord
Station, Hingham, MA 02018-0358; (781) 871-6600; fax: (781) 681-9045;
e-mail: kluwer@wkap.com; WWW: http://www.wkap.nl.
In 1998,
Armenia commemorated the 10th anniversary of the catastrophic Spitak
earthquake by hosting the Second International Conference on Earthquake
Hazard and Seismic Risk Reduction, bringing together over 400 participants
from 43 countries to discuss current knowledge about reducing earthquake
disasters. This volume contains the proceedings of that meeting and
includes sections on disaster reduction and prevention, scientific
understanding of earthquake hazard, and developments in earthquake
engineering.
The Planning Process: Organized Preparation for Regional Disaster Planning. 2000. Free.
Yes! You CAN Survive an Earthquake. 2000. Free.
Copies of both brochures can be requested from the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), 2630 East
Holmes Road, Memphis, TN 28118-8001; (800) 824-5817; e-mail: cusec@ceri.memphis.edu; WWW: http://www.cusec.org.
The Planning Process discusses why organizations should develop a thorough, written disaster plan with the cooperation
of community representatives, government officials, volunteer agencies, and the private sector. It describes essential steps
for planning for earthquake and other natural hazard mitigation: hazard identification and risk assessment, development of
seismic safety goals and policies, design of mitigation and preparedness strategies, program development, and creation of a
plan and its evaluation. The Yes! You CAN brochure presents earthquake survival facts and information, including a
summary of earthquake risk in the New Madrid Seismic Zone and a list of steps to take before, during, and after an
earthquake occurs.
Summary of Outreach Activities for California's Seismic Hazards Mapping Program: 1996-1998. Special Publication
121. 2000. 136 pp., plus 33" x 20" map. $25.00. To obtain a copy, contact the California Division of Mines and Geology,
Publication Sales, Desk W, 801 K Street, MS 14-33, Sacramento, CA 95814-3532; (916) 445-5716; fax: (916) 327-1853;
WWW: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/dmg/pubs/pub_list/ordering.htm.
From 1996 through 1998, the California Department of Conservation's Division of Mines and Geology (DMG) developed
and released 40 maps that identify areas where liquefaction and landslide hazards probably exist. These maps were
distributed to affected cities and counties who in turn required site-specific investigations prior to approving most types of
development and issuing permits. This report describes the methods DMG used to disseminate the maps and related
information to jurisdictions, engineers, geologists, and real estate professionals that participate in implementing
California's Seismic Hazard Mapping Act (SHMA). It contains sections on the need for this study, historical background,
the SHMA of 1990, outreach activities and information aids, a survey of four local agencies, meetings with local
governments and lessons learned, and conclusions and recommendations.
The DMG has also recently posted a "White Paper on its Web site entitled, An Evaluation of Future Earthquake Losses in California. While stating that it is important for decision makers to have a detailed understanding of expected future losses from earthquakes, it notes that two-thirds of the state's annual average earthquake loss is due solely to the Northridge quake, which occurred after 23 years of continued population growth and which ruptured directly beneath the San Fernando Valley. This paper presents the results of a statewide evaluation of potential earthquake losses. Its URL is: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/dmg.
Vulcan's Fury: Man Against the Volcano. Alwyn Scarth. 1999. 312 pp. $29.95. Copies can be purchased from Yale
University Press, Order Department, P.O. Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520; (800) 987-7323; fax: (800) 777-9253; e-mail: custservice.press@yale.edu; WWW: http://www.yale.edu/y
up.
This volume describes 15 of the most notable eruptions in human history. In 79 A.D., Vesuvius produced the most violent
eruption in European history, while the 1669 Etna eruption marked the first known attempt to divert a lava-flow. The 1783
eruption of Laki killed a fifth of the population of Iceland, while the 1883 eruption of Krakatau drowned most of its victims
and destroyed the island as well. Mount St. Helens razed thousands of acres of forest in 1980. Scarth reconstructs each
disaster--its origins, explosion, and aftermath--drawing from eyewitness accounts and ancient texts (some appearing in
English for the first time) to illustrate their impacts on humanity.
If you're looking for pictures of geophysical events, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and hurricanes, the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) is the place to shop. They have an extensive collection of scientific and educational slides that illustrate, among other things, volcanic eruptions, earthquake damage, volcanoes, erosional landforms, faults, lava forms, and landslides. Three of their more recent additions include:
For a complete list of their offerings, contact the NGDC, 325 Broadway, E/GC4, Boulder, CO 80303-3328; (303) 497-6826; fax: (303) 497-6513; e-mail: info@ngdc.noaa.gov; WWW: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov.
In September, the University of Richmond began offering a 30-semester-hour undergraduate Certificate in Crisis Management program available entirely over the Internet. This venture expands access to the university's Emergency Services Management program, which has been offered since 1996.
The certificate courses have been chosen to provide working emergency managers with new skills and knowledge they can apply to their jobs; students can select courses that best enhance already completed training. (Fall 2000 offerings included "Introduction to Emergency Services Management," "Social Dimensions of Disasters," and a research practicum.) The university has recently completed an agreement with Thomas Edison State College of New Jersey that allows individuals completing the certificate to apply the courses toward Thomas Edison's degree in Emergency Disaster Management.
For more information about the Richmond program, contact Walter G. Green III, School of Continuing Studies, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173; (804) 289-8133; e-mail: wgreen@richmond.edu.
A new international graduate school in earthquake engineering, based at the University of Pavia in Italy, will open in January 2001. The European School of Advanced Studies in Reduction of Seismic Risk (ROSE) has been launched to meet the increasing world demand for specialists in earthquake engineering and the attendant need for high-quality education of seismic hazard mitigation professionals and researchers. The director of the school is G. Michele Calvi, and the faculty includes academics and researchers from numerous institutions across Europe as well as several universities in the U.S. Further details about the program, including application forms and scholarship information, can be obtained from the ROSE School, Secretariat, Collegio Alessandro Volta, Via Ferrata, 27100 Pavia, Italy; tel: +39 0382-548735; fax: +39 0382-528422; e-mail: rose@unipv.it; WWW: http://spadino.unipv.it/rose.html.
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. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 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 readers of this newsletter to the address below. The deadline for the next Observer is November 22, 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
Sylvia C. Dane, Editor
David L. Butler, Ship's Surgeon and Spy
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
Lori Peek, Research Assistant
Alice Fothergill, Research Assistant
Len Wright, Research Assistant
Cartoons for the Observer are drawn by Rob Pudim.
ISSN 0737-5425
Printed in the USA.
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 $24.00 per year. Back issues of the Observer are available for $4.00 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 e-mail 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, e-mail sylvia.dane@colorado.edu.
To contact the editor of Disaster Research, e-mail 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, write to
Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center
Institute of Behavioral Science #6
University of Colorado at Boulder
482 UCB
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0482
Last updated October 31, 2000.
If you have questions about this document, please contact sylvia.dane@colorado.edu.
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