Below are the most 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.
First International Congress on Disaster Psychiatry. Sponsors: Disaster Psychiatry Outreach (DPO), Mount Sinai Medical Center, and New York State Office of Mental Health. New York City: October 14, 2000. This meeting will examine such topics as epidemiology, debriefings and therapeutic interventions, the media, psychological impacts on children and adolescents, secondary victims, long-term follow-up studies, biology of trauma, first person accounts, and more. For details, contact Craig L. Katz, DPO, P.O. Box 91, New York, NY 10159-0091; (212) 860-8665; e-mail: craiglkatz@aol.com; WWW: http://www.disaster-psychiatry.org.
Euro-Mediterranean Millennium Meetings on Forest Fires and Special Session on Forest Fire Research. Sponsors: U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and others. Hyères les Palmiers, France: October 24-27, 2000. These meetings will address decision makers and their concerns regarding forest fire risk management and operational command, researchers who are seeking solutions to these problems, all other persons directly or indirectly involved in forest fire prevention and suppression, and manufacturers and business persons who can offer new technologies and approaches to wildfire management and protection. The objective is both to find innovative, practical solutions and to define a coherent strategy that can be shared by all Mediterranean countries affected by wildfires. One particular focus will be the management of fires at the urban/wildland interface.
The meetings, which are open to and intended for persons from beyond the Euro-Mediterranean region, will include symposia, workshops, exhibitions, and other forums specifically designed to encourage networking and conversation. On October 24, 2000, the day before the meetings, the Centre d'Essais et de Recherche de l'Entente (CEREN), in collaboration with the European Commission, will host a special session on state-of-the-art forest fire research. More information on the entire program is available from Entente Interdepartementale, Comité d'Organisation des Rencontres, Euroméditerranéennes Feux de Forêt 2000, Domaine de Valabre, 13120 Gardanne, France; tel: +33-4.42.94.95.00; fax: +33-4.42.9 4.95.29; e-mail: entente@rff2000.com; WWW: http://www.rff2000.com.
Australian Earthquake Engineering Society Annual Conference. Hobart, Tasmania, Australia: November 15-16, 2000. The theme of this conference is "Dams, Fault Scarps, and Earthquakes," and the organizers are offering a postconference field trip to the Lake Edgar fault scarp and Gordon Dam. Recognizing that the seismic risk to infrastructure in Tasmania is significant, the meeting itself will address such fundamental questions as: How can the structural integrity of dams and the safety of people downstream be ensured? How can earthquake resistance be designed into public utilities? How can communities be warned and, if necessary, evacuated in a safe and timely manner? What emergency procedures are or should be established and who should be involved? What are the worst case scenarios? For further information, contact Barbara Butler, P.O. Box 829, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; tel: +61 3 8344 6712; fax: +61 03 8344 4616; e-mail: bbutler@civag.unimelb.edu.au; WWW: http://www.aees.org.au.
Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) 2000 Risk Management Seminar on Crisis Management. Pensacola, Florida: November 17, 2000; Seattle, Washington: December 5, 2000; Portland, Oregon: December 6, 2000. PRIMA's crisis management seminar is intended for risk managers and other personnel working for public entities who must deal not only with disasters, but also with the wide range of other crises that can constitute emergencies--from civil disturbances to major technological disruptions. The seminar will show participants how to develop a crisis management plan (similar to, but not the same as, a disaster management plan) and use it in various situations. For details, contact PRIMA, 1815 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1020, Arlington, VA 22209-1805; (703) 528-7701; fax: (703) 528-7966; e-mail: info@primacentral.org; WWW: http://www.primacentral.org.
Inaugural Symposium on Health and Humanitarian Action. Organized by the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine (IAHM). Palermo, Italy: November 17-18, 2000. The purpose of the IAHM is to provide health care when needed to patients in or from developing countries, to offer relief to victims of disasters, to mobilize hospitals and health specialists in developed countries to aid such patients on a humanitarian basis, and to collaborate with and develop partnerships among other institutions pursuing these goals. This inaugural symposium is intended to promote these aims; it will not be a conference in the usual sense, but rather a "smaller, dense, brainstorming and thought-provoking session." For details, contact M. Masellis, c/o Divisione Chirurgia Plastica e Terapia della Ustioni, Ospedale Civico Benfratelli, Via C Lazarro, 90217 Palermo, Italy; tel: 39 091 6663631/34; fax: 39 091 596404; e-mail: mbcpa@cres.it; WWW: http://www.medbc.com/notice/palerm.htm.
Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center Annual Meeting and Research Assistant Symposium. New Orleans, Louisiana: November 18-20, 2000. The MAE Center specializes in the study of intraplate, midcontinent earthquakes and events in areas where seismic risk is lower, less well known, or more poorly understood. The research of MAE Center members will be presented at this meeting. A complete agenda is available from the MAE Center, 1241 Newmark Laboratory, 205 North Mathews, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 244-6302; fax: (217) 333-3821; WWW: http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu.
Second Kampala Conference on Earthquake Disaster Preparedness: "Reducing Earthquake Effects in Developing Countries." Sponsor: Uganda Seismic Safety Association and others. Kampala, Uganda: December 4-5, 2000. Recognizing the increasing earthquake vulnerability of the world's population due to rapid worldwide urbanization, the sponsors of this conference will bring together as many stakeholders as possible--from politicians, to seismologists, to construction professionals--to examine ways to limit the consequences of earthquakes in developing countries. The official language of the conference will be English. Abstracts are due September 30. More information is available from B.M. Kiggundu, Faculty of Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; e-mail: dean@techmuk.ac.ug; or E.M. Twesigomwe, same address as above; tel: 041 531498; fax: 041 531061; e-mail: physics@starcom.co.ug.
American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting. Albuquerque, New Mexico: January 14-19, 2001. The annual AMS conference traditionally includes numerous sessions on meteorological hazards--from floods to drought, hurricanes to blizzards. Indeed, this edition will be built around two large interdisciplinary symposia: "Precipitation Extremes: Prediction, Impacts, and Responses" and "Climate Variability, the Oceans, and Societal Impacts." For more information about the 2001 meeting, contact AMS, Meetings Department, 45 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-3693; (617) 227-2425; fax: (617) 742-8718; e-mail: amsinfo@ametsoc.org; WWW: http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS/meet/81annual/81annual_right.html.
Cities on Volcanoes 2. Sponsors: New Zealand Earthquake Commission and others. Auckland, New Zealand: February 12-16, 2001. This meeting will provide a venue wherein specialists from the many relevant disciplines can gather to evaluate volcanic hazard preparedness and management and determine improved means of achieving volcanic safety in cities and densely populated areas. A conference circular is available from the Secretary, Cities on Volcanoes 2, Wairakei Research Centre, Private Bag 2000, Taupo, New Zealand; tel: +64 7 374 8211; fax: +64 7 374 8199; e-mail: citiesonvolc2@gns.cri.nz.
Biennial Arid West Floodplain Management Conference. Sponsors: New Mexico Floodplain Management Association (NMFMA) and Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM). Albuquerque, New Mexico: March 20-23, 2001. In addition to two full days of talks by speakers from across the West, this conference will offer workshops spanning everything from elementary issues to the most technical problems. It will also host a National Flood Insurance Program training course and an examination to qualify as a New Mexico certified floodplain manager. A call for papers will be issued soon. For details, see http://weather.nmsu.edu/nmfma/index.htm, or contact Les Bond, NMFMA, P.O. Box 531, High Rolls, NM 88325; (877) 682-1389 (toll free); fax: (505) 682-1369; e-mail: bond@wazoo.com.
Eighth Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst. Sponsor: National Ground Water Association, GeoInstitute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and others. Louisville, Kentucky: April 1-4, 2001. Karst is limestone terrain characterized by sinkholes, caverns, underground streams, and related geological phenomena that can make such regions interesting, if not disturbing, places to live. This conference will include a field trip to the Mammoth Cave area. More information is available from P.E. LaMoreaux and Associates, 106 Administration Road, Suite 4, Oak Ridge, TN 37830; (865) 483-7483; fax: (865) 483-7639; e-mail: pela@icx.net ; WWW: http://www.pela.com/8thcon.htm.
Millennial Meeting of the Seismological Society of America (SSA). Hosted by the John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center, Stanford University, and the U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park Campus. San Francisco, California: April 18-20, 2001. The 96th SSA conference, commemorating the 95th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, will feature technical sessions touching on everything from the historical seismicity of the area to the newest techniques in earthquake monitoring and analysis. It will also include field trips, workshops, and other opportunities to learn about the latest advances in seismology. Abstracts are due January 19, 2001. For more information, see http://www.seismosoc.org/meetings/ssa2001.html; or contact Anne S. Kiremidjian, John A. Blume E arthquake Engineering Center, Stanford University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building 540, MC 4020, Stanford, CA 94305-4020; (650) 723-4164; fax: (650) 725-9755; e-mail: kiremidjian@ce.stanford.edu; or David P. Schwartz, U.S. Geological Survey; (650) 329-5651; e-mail: dschwartz@usgs.gov.
Canadian Geophysical Union (CGU) Annual Meeting and the 58th Annual Eastern Snow Conference. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: May 14-17, 2001. Abstracts for either conference are due January 31, 2001. For information on the CGU conference, contact S. Pagiatakis, Geomatics Canada, 615 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0E9; (613) 995-8720; fax: (613) 992-6628; e-mail: sppagiat@nrcan.gc.ca; WWW: http://www.cgu-ugc.ca. For information on the snow conference, contact J. Pomeroy, Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, U.K. SY23 3DB; tel: +44-1970-622781; fax: +44-1970-622659; e-mail: john.pomeroy@aber.ac.uk; WWW: http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/crysys/esc/.
2001 Technology Partnerships for Emergency Management Workshop and Exhibition. Sponsors: Federal Emergency Management Agency and others. San Diego, California: May 21-24, 2001. The Technology Partnerships Workshop has become an annual event showcasing the latest innovations in disaster and emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response. For information on the 2001 edition, see http://www.foundation.sdsu.edu/technologysolutions, or contact Brenda-Lee Karasik, (619) 553-2101, e-mail: brenda@spawar.navy.mil; or Dale Gurley, (619) 553-5630, e-mail: gurley@spawar.navy.mil.
Coastal Zone '01. Sponsors: NOAA Coastal Services Center and others. Cleveland, Ohio: July 17-19, 2001. Conference themes include building sustainable coastal communities, confronting growth issues and challenges associated with expanding ports, building consensus on coastal issues, and addressing other problems associated with human occupation of ocean, sea, and lake waterfronts. Complete information is available from the NOAA Coastal Services Center, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, SC 29405-2413; e-mail: csc@csc.noaa.gov; WWW: http://www.csc.noaa.gov/cz2001.
World Congress on Disaster Reduction. Sponsors: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Council on Natural Disaster Reduction and others. Washington, D.C.: August 19-24, 2001. The two overarching themes of this congress will be the development of sustainable societies in the face of natural and technological hazards and the provision of disaster technical assistance to achieve that goal. The congress will serve as a "global rallying point" for new and ongoing national and international hazard mitigation efforts. It is intended to strengthen and create new regional and global alliances, establish a realistic blueprint for future global disaster reduction, promote innovative technology and resource sharing among communities, identify possible new regional projects and generate public and private support for them, and establish science and technology centers of excellence to develop and disseminate science- and community-based solutions to specific hazards problems. For an initial congress announcement and further information, contact Walter Hays, ASCE, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191; (703) 295-6054; e-mail: whays@asce.org; or Michael Cassaro, ASCE; e-mail: macass@aye.net.
Fifth European Sociological Association Conference. Helsinki, Finland: August 28-September 1, 2001. This meeting will incorporate several proposed sessions of the association's "Disaster and Social Crisis Research Network":
I. Disasters and Social Crises: Visions and Divisions in American and European Approaches. Coordinators: Wolf
Dombrowski, Disaster Research Unit, University of Kiel, Germany, e-mail: wdombro@soziologie.uni-kiel.de; Robert A.
Stallings, School of Policy, Planning, and Development, University of Southern California, USA, e-mail: rstallin@usc.edu.
II. Deconstructing Disaster Management: Beyond the Command and Control Model. Coordinator: Maureen Fordham,
Anglia Polytechnic University, U.K., e-mail: m.h.fordham@anglia.ac.uk.
III. The Contributions of Sociology to Disaster Research and Vice Versa. Coordinators: E.L. Quarantelli, Disaster
Research Center, University of Delaware, USA, e-mail: elqdrc@udel.edu; Bruna de Marchi, ISIG Institute of International
Sociology of Gorizia, e-mail: bruna.de-marchi@libero.it.
IV. Global Accumulation of Capital as a Factor in Social Crises and Complex Disasters. Coordinator: Vera Vratusa,
Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, e-mail: vvratusa@f.bg.ac.yu.
V. Disaster and Sociocultural Changes: Changes Other than Those in the Organization of Civil Protection. Coordinator:
Nicholas Petropoulos, Emergencies Research Center, Athens, Greece, e-mail: erc@otenet.gr.
Sociologists and other social scientists who would like to make a presentation in one of these sessions should submit an abstract of not more than 250 words, no later than January 31, 2001, to the respective session coordinators.
Third International Disaster and Emergency Readiness Conference. Organized by: Andrich International Ltd. The Hague, The Netherlands: October 23-25, 2001. This wide-ranging conference covers such topics as the use of information technology for disaster management training and operations, risk and damage assessment, risk reduction, crisis management in the transport industry, emergency planning, fire service and disaster, disaster management, media and disasters, nuclear accidents, handling major events, local authorities and emergency management, business continuity, warning systems, disaster recovery, and learning from experience. For a conference brochure, contact Mrs. Jan Tucker, IDER Project Manager, Andrich International Ltd, 51 Market Place, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 9AZ, U.K.; tel: +44 (0)1985 846181; fax: +44 (0)1985 846163; e-mail: jan@andrich.com.
Twelfth European Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Organizers: European Association for Earthquake Engineering and others. London, U.K.: September 9-13, 2002. A call for abstracts is being issued this fall. For a program and registration information, contact 12ECEE Secretariat, Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA, U.K.; tel: +44 (0)20 7665 2314; fax: +44 (0)20 7233 1743; e-mail: 12ecee@ice.org.uk; WWW: http://www.bham.ac.uk/CivEng/seced/12ecee01.htm.
The "Masters of Disaster" children's disaster safety curriculum (see the Observer, Vol. XXIV, No. 4, p. 11) is now complete and available for Red Cross chapters and stations to order from the agency's General Services Division. The curriculum is intended to aid teachers of science, math, social studies, and language arts in teaching about the hazards of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, lightning, earthquakes, and, in general, family disaster preparedness, within their regular lesson plans. A complete listing of national teaching standards and which lessons in the curriculum help meet those standards is included with each package.
The curriculum comes as a set of materials in a box, and there are separate boxes for teachers of grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Within each box is a teacher's guide, activities book (with reproducible activity pages), age- and hazard-specific video, interactive poster, and, for the K-2 and 3-5 kits, stickers and an order card for The Notagains, a disaster preparedness CD-ROM. A class set of all materials (for up to 30 students) is included in each box.
These items are available for order only from local Red Cross chapters or stations, which can provide price and availability information. Schools or other third parties should not contact the Red Cross General Services Division or offices of the Red Cross National Headquarters to place orders. For details about the Masters of Disasters curriculum, see the American Red Cross Web site: http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/index.html.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Management Institute (FEMA/EMI) offers numerous courses through its Independent Study Program (see the Observer, Vol. XXIV, No. 2, p. 21). The self-paced courses are designed for both the general public and people with emergency management responsibilities. Each course includes lessons with practice exercises and a final examination. Persons scoring 75% or better on the exam are issued a certificate of completion by EMI. The average course completion time is 10-12 hours. Dozens of courses are available; the most recent additions include:
Any interested person can view course descriptions, download complete course materials, and register for course credit via the EMI Independent Study Web page: http://www.fema.gov/home/emi/ishome.htm. Alternatively, prospective students can contact FEMA/EMI, Independent Study Program, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727-8998; (301) 447-1200; e-mail: independent.study@fema.gov.
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.
Business Continuity: Best Practices. Andrew Hiles. 2000. $159.00, plus shipping. Includes 2001 supplement when
published. To purchase, contact Rothstein Associates, Inc., 4 Arapaho Road, Brookfield, CT 06804-3104; (203) 740-7444;
fax: (203) 740-7401; e-mail: info@rothstein.com; WWW: http://www.DisasterRecoveryBooks.com.
Research has shown that the ability of an organization to respond effectively during a crisis is a greater factor in ensuring
its survival than the amount of insurance coverage it carries. Business Continuity provides a framework for
implementation of "10 core units of competence." It offers a step-by-step guide to ensuring business survival following a
disaster or other severe event that interrupts daily operations. Topics include understanding contingency planning in
general, evaluating risk, analyzing business impacts, developing strategies for ensuring continuation of business,
responding to emergencies, drafting and implementing a plan, increasing awareness and training, maintaining and
exercising a plan, and applying existing standards and guidelines (e.g., NFPA 1600) to a plan.
Resources for Recovery: Post-Disaster Aid for Cultural Institutions. National Endowment for the Arts, Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Small Business Administration (SBA). 2000. 20 pp. Free. Copies can be
requested by calling the FEMA, Publications Center, (800) 480-2520.
Preservation of our cultural heritage can fall to arts centers, conservation and historic preservation organizations, historical
societies, libraries, museums, theaters, or other institutions. Resources for Recovery identifies federal financial aid and
information resources that assist cultural institutions in recovering from disasters. It offers tips on what to do both before
and after a disaster strikes; outlines assistance provided by FEMA, SBA, the National Endowment for the Arts, the
National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services; and lists Web sites that
provide conservation expertise.
Helping the Children: A Practical Handbook for Complex Humanitarian Emergencies. Anna Mandalakas, Kristine
Torjesen, Karen Olness, Editors. 1999. 138 pp. $12.50. Published by Health Frontiers; distributed by Johnson & Johnson
Pediatric Institute, P.O. Box 140097, St. Louis, MO 63114-9907; (toll free) (877) 565-5465; fax: (toll free) (877) 565-3299; WWW: http://www.jnjPediatricInstitute.com (click on "Catalog"). (Spanish and Al
banian editions are available.)
Helping the Children is intended to aid both health professionals and relief workers who may not be child health experts
during both human-caused and natural disaster relief efforts. The handbook offers practical guidance in such areas as:
The booklet contains additional information on such things as landmines, obstetrics, and ethical issues.
The Management of Nutrition in Major Emergencies. World Health Organization (WHO). 2000. 250 pp. $64.80 (U.S.) or
72.00 Swiss francs. Order from WHO Publications Center USA, 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210; (518) 436-9686;
fax: (518) 436-7433; e-mail: Qcorp@compuserve.com; or WHO, Marketing and Dissemination, 1211 Geneva 27,
Switzerland; tel: (41 22) 791 24 76; fax: (41 22) 791 48 57; e-mail: bookorders@who.ch.
This WHO manual is a practical guide to measures needed to ensure that the food and nutrition needs of disaster-stricken
populations, refugees, or internally displaced persons are adequately met. It offers expert advice not only on nutrition, but
also on emergency management, including preparedness and long-term recovery. The proposed programs emphasize the
engagement of local health services and other authorities as the best strategy for building national capacity and ensuring
rapid recovery. With checklists, tables, and diagrams, the manual first discusses the process for meeting nutritional
requirements; then surveys the major nutritional deficiency diseases that appear in emergencies; discusses the assessment
and surveillance of nutritional status; describes feeding programs; outlines steps to prevent, treat, and control
communicable diseases; and surveys the larger context of emergency preparation and response. This guide is currently
available in English, and a French version is being prepared.
Contingencies, Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management: Emergency Management in the Third Millennium--TIEMS 2000. 2000. 512 pp. $40.00. To order, contact Kathy Kowalski, Pittsburg Research Laboratory, 636
Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburg, PA 15236; (412) 386-4531.
This volume contains the proceedings of the seventh annual conference of the International Emergency Management
Society (TIEMS), held in Orlando, Florida, in May. Topics include natural disasters, social science and emergency
management, training, decision support, human-caused disasters, organizational issues, civil-military cooperation in
disaster management and humanitarian assistance, disaster response, risk assessment, and risk monitoring.
IDER '97 Conference Proceedings. 1997. 388 pp. £40.00.
IDER/IEPC '99 Conference Proceedings. 1999. 306 pp. £60.00.
Postage and handling must be included for each book: £4.50 for Europe; £9.00 for North America; £10.50 for other
locations. (A discount of £10.00 is offered with the purchase of both volumes.) These books can be ordered from Andrich
International Limited, attn: Jan Tucker, 51 Market Place, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 9AZ, U.K.; tel: +44 1985 846181;
fax: +44 1985 846163; e-mail: ider@andrich.com.
The United Nations; the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works, and Water Management; and the International Air
Transport Association cosponsor the biennial International Disaster and Emergency Readiness (IDER) Conference, which,
in 1999, met in conjunction with the International Emergency Planning Conference (IEPC) (see the conference listings in
this Observer). The proceedings from these meetings, comprising papers from emergency management experts from
around the world, cover everything from various technological advances in the discipline to health issues, large event
planning, emergency management education, and a host of other topics.
World Disasters Report: Focus on Public Health. 2000. $25.00, plus $4.50 shipping. To order, contact Eiron Inc., P.O.
Box 40072, Washington, DC 20016; (202) 966-3240; fax: (202) 244-0913; e-mail: eironinc@aol.com; WWW:
http://www.wdn.com/yellowdog.
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), diseases are a far greater threat
to public health than natural disasters. In 1999, while up to 100,000 people were killed by natural disasters, some 13
million died of infectious diseases. The IFRC devoted this year's World Disasters Report to this issue. Its chapters assess
public health priorities; AIDS in Africa (70% of the world's HIV-positive people live south of the Sahara); North Korea's
failing public health system; continued fallout from the Chernobyl catastrophe in the post-Soviet era; and the continuing
crisis in Kosovo. Additional chapters look at the distribution of international aid, a proposed international response law,
disaster data, and IFRC response activities.
Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones. David Longshore. 2000. 384 pp. $45.00. Available from Facts On
File, Inc., 11 Penn Plaza, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10001; (800) 322-8755, ext. 228; fax: (800) 678-3633; WWW:
http://www.factsonfile.com.
This encyclopedia covers all major aspects of tropical cyclones, from "advection" to "Y-named storms." It covers
meteorological terms, scientific measurement of these storms, biographical information on key figures in the history of
hurricane scholarship, geographic distribution, histories of specific storms and their effects on civilizations, the culture and
folklore of cyclonic storms, methods of tracking, and cyclone structure and development. Longshore includes a 700-year
chronology of global tropical cyclone activity, as well as appendices that provide a sample hurricane tracking chart,
instructions on plotting approaching storm systems, and a list of named storms.
Coordination of Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance Efforts Between Civilian and Military (U.S. Southern
Command) Groups During the Hurricane Mitch Crisis: An Assessment of Information Flow Obstacles and
Opportunities. Nicholas F. Colmenares. 2000. 30 pp. $5.00. Copies can be obtained from the author by e-mailing
carmaworld@aol.com.
This report assesses how military and civilian groups working in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance were able to
share information and coordinate their efforts when responding to Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. Colmenares examines the
military's approach to the disaster, including internal resource evaluation and use, and how this information was
communicated to civilian organizations. He found that individuals use the ideas and resources closest to them, as well as
those that most directly pertain to their roles and responsibilities, sometimes making the resolution of issues among
institutions exceedingly difficult. Colmenares outlines the criteria for "successful" information sharing according to those
who participated in the disaster response, describes sources of data, discusses the need for improved military disaster
planning through greater participation of civilians, and describes limits to effective information flow and response
coordination.
Permitting Disaster in America: How Reforming "Rubber Stamp" Wetland Destruction Permits Will Protect Your
Family from More Flood Risks. Brett Hulsey et al. 2000. 23 pp. $20.00. Copies are available from the Sierra Club, 214
North Henry Street, Madison, WI 53703; (608) 257-4994.
In Permitting Disaster in America, the Sierra Club argues for expanded protection of wetlands and floodplains as one
means to mitigate the increasing flood hazard in the U.S., and the club offers a host of studies, data, and other information
to support its stand. The report also suggests steps that families can take to protect themselves--from avoiding habitation
in floodplains to becoming politically involved and demanding that Congress and federal agencies change their policies
toward wetland development. The Sierra Club has several other reports available from its "Protect Our Families from
Floods" Project, including Floods, Deaths, and Wetland Destruction; Subsidizing Disaster; Red River Rampage; and
Permitting Disaster in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. To obtain these reports, contact the Sierra
Club at the address above.
The Marmara, Turkey Earthquake of August 17, 1999: Reconnaissance Report. Charles Scawthorn, Editor. Technical
Report MCEER-00-0001. 2000. 200 pp. $35, plus shipping and handling. Order from the Multidisciplinary Center for
Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER), State University of New York at Buffalo, Red Jacket Quadrangle, Buffalo, NY
14261; (716) 645-3391, ext. 126; fax: (716) 645-3399; e-mail: mceer@acsu.buffalo.edu; WWW: http://mceer.buffalo.edu.
The Marmara quake killed approximately 17,000 people and devastated the prime industrial area of Turkey. An especially
tragic aspect of this disaster was that, on the basis of historic seismicity, it was clearly foreseen and anticipated by leading
seismologists and earthquake engineers. Unfortunately, rapid population growth and development in recent years, and an
accompanying lack of building code enforcement, were the main factors leading to the great loss of life and property. These
and other findings are detailed in this report based on field investigations by several MCEER researchers immediately
following the magnitude 7.4 quake. The report contains observations on the seismic event itself, impacts to buildings and
infrastructure, emergency response, search and rescue, and postearthquake restoration efforts. It also includes a section
entitled "The Marmara Earthquake: A View from Space," detailing high-level reconnaissance investigations using various
advanced technologies.
Strategic Plan for Loss Reduction and Risk Management: University of California, Berkeley. Working Paper 2000-03.
2000. 54 pp. Free. The complete report can be obtained on-line from the Institute of Urban and Regional Development's
Web site: http://www-iurd.ced.berkeley.edu/pub/WP-2000-03.pdf.
The Disaster-Resistant University program of the University of California-Berkeley is part of FEMA's Project Impact and
is an initiative to reduce future disaster risks at institutions of higher learning. In our July issue, we mentioned the results of
an economic analysis of potential losses from a magnitude 7 earthquake on the nearby Hayward Fault (see the Observer,
Vol. XXIV, No. 6, p. 11). This plan, a companion to that report, was prepared by the Office of the Vice Provost and the
Disaster-Resistant University Steering Committee to increase the safety of the university community and sustain operations
in the event of an earthquake, flood, or fire. It describes the steps necessary to achieve these goals, actions to take to reopen
the university within 30 days of a disaster, responsibilities of university decision makers, the risks the campus faces and
resources for reducing these risks, an inventory of campus buildings and their uses, campus utility systems, nonstructural
mitigation activities, emergency response, business continuity planning, recovery planning, education and training, and
plan maintenance.
Decisions to Demolish. Martha Blair Tyler and Karen Kristiansson. 135 pp. $10.00 (includes shipping). Available from
Spangle Associates, 3240 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028-7592; (650) 854-6001; fax: (650) 854-6070.
Decisions to Demolish is the final report from a study of demolition after earthquakes funded by the National Science
Foundation. The study found that only 9% to 10% of red- and yellow-tagged buildings were demolished after the Loma
Prieta and Northridge earthquakes in 1989 and 1994, while over 90% of damaged buildings were repaired. Single-family
residences accounted for almost 70% of all demolitions.
The Spangle Associates research team not only investigated which structures were torn down, but also why they were dismantled as well as the consequences of demolition. They found that local government decisions to demolish were primarily based on public safety concerns; decisions by the owners of private property were more often based on economic exigencies, such as the costs of alternatives and the availability of financing. For some communities, downtown demolitions helped define opportunities to re-plan and invigorate areas in decline before the earthquake, and the reconstruction also provided an opportunity to improve safety. However, all communities lost historic buildings; thus, one of the chief lessons from the study is the need to retrofit important, culturally valuable buildings before the next quake. Finally, the research team also found that affordable housing could become less available because of demolition, since apartment buildings and single-room occupancy hotels that house lower-income families were less likely to be replaced.
Financial Management of Earthquake Risk. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Endowment
Subcommittee on Financial Risk Management. 2000. 127 pp. $7.00, plus $3.00 shipping. (California residents include
8¼% sales tax). Available from EERI, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612-1934; (510) 451-0905; fax: (510)
451-5411; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org; WWW: http://www.eeri.org/Publications/Publications.html.
This most recent publication in EERI's Endowment Fund White Paper series examines how financial risk is managed in the
residential, commercial, small business, lifelines, and government sectors; how risk can be reduced, transferred, or avoided
through the use of insurance, mortgages, and capital market instruments; and how earthquake engineering expertise fits into
this process. The discussion will help engineering students and faculty understand some of the different career options that
use engineering knowledge, practicing engineers understand how the information they provide to clients is part of a larger
process of financial risk management, and financial managers understand how the financial and earthquake engineering
communities are interrelated.
EERI has also published the most recent volume in its oral history series: Connections: The EERI Oral History Series, Nicholas F. Forell. 2000. 48 pp. $15.00, plus $3.00 shipping. (California residents include 8¼% sales tax). The seventh in the series, this interview with Forell explores his role in the development of seismic design codes and his efforts generally to raise engineering standards for buildings constructed in earthquake-prone areas.
The latest volume in EERI's "Learning from Earthquakes" Series is also available: El Quindío, Colombia Earthquake, January 25, 1999. EERI El Quindío Reconnaissance Team. 2000. 79 pp. $15.00, plus shipping ($5.00, domestic; $8.00, international). (Again, California residents include 8¼% sales tax.) Interested persons should also note that EERI has numerous free preliminary reconnaissance reports available on the Web regarding many recent major quakes around the world; see http://www.eeri.org (click on "EQ Reports").
Adoption and Enforcement of Earthquake Risk-Reduction Measures. Peter J. May, T. Jens Feeley, Robert Wood, and
Raymond J. Burby. PEER 1999/04. 1999. 92 pp. $15.00. Available from the National Information Service for Earthquake
Engineering (NISEE), Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center, 1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA
94804-4698; (510) 231-9401; fax: (510) 231-9461.
The authors studied the sociopolitical implications of seismic provisions of local building codes in several areas of the
country. Specifically, from a national survey of building code officials, they explored 1) making building codes effective
tools in earthquake hazard mitigation at the national level, 2) the policy challenges of seismic mitigation in the western
U.S., and 3) the role of "policy entrepreneurs" in the adoption of seismic-related provisions by local governments within
California. The researchers' conclusions are diverse, but they did find that regulatory approaches adopted by federal and
state governments are important in determining local enforcement of building code provisions. In addition differing local
political and economic contexts also influenced regulatory actions by local government. The adoption of regulations was
more affected by past earthquakes, whereas the enforcement of building codes is more related to the extent of the
earthquake hazard.
Despite the misconception that it contains only papers dealing with the physical sciences, the peer-reviewed journal, Natural Hazards, publishes manuscripts on all aspects of natural hazards, and the editors welcome papers related to the social, economic, and mitigation aspects of hazards and disasters. Interested persons should send manuscripts to the Editorial Office, Natural Hazards, Kluwer Academic Publishers, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA, Dordrecht, Netherlands.
In addition, the editors are also seeking individuals to edit special issues on specific topics related to natural hazards. Editors of special issues can invite up to three colleagues to become co-guest editors, and the publishers will consider printing single (six manuscript) or double (twelve manuscript) issues and in rare cases a triple issue. Guest editors will choose reviewers, obtain all manuscripts, and submit the final revised copies with the necessary reviews. For more information, contact Tad Murty, Baird & Associates, 1145 Hunt Club Road, Suite 1, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1V 0Y3; (613) 731-8900; fax: (613) 731-9778; e-mail: tmurty@baird.com; WWW: http://www.baird.com.
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, 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 center or the readers of this newsletter to the address below. The deadline for the next Observer is September 20, 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, Cruise Director
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, write 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 September 12, 2000.
If you have questions or comments about this document, please contact the editor: sylvia.dane@colorado.edu.
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