Below are descriptions of recently awarded contracts and grants for the study of hazards and disasters. An inventory of contracts and grants awarded from 1995 to the present (primarily those funded by the National Science Foundation) is available on the Natural Hazards Center's Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/grants.html.
Earthquake Injury Data Collection for 1999 Urban Earthquakes. Funding: National Science Foundation, $75,000, 12
months. Principal Investigators: Kimberley I. Shoaf and Hope Seligson, Department of Public Health and Community
Health Sciences, 36-070A CHS, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1301; (310) 794-6646;
e-mail: kshoaf@ucla.edu.
The investigators in this project will use data from the major earthquakes that occurred in 1999 to refine existing casualty
models. They will work with Taiwanese researchers to collect available injury and damage data regarding the quake. Data
from the Colombia quake, as well as the Greece and Turkey quakes, if available, will be analyzed for information on
building damage as well as the relationship between damage and injury.
Learning from Earthquakes. Funding: National Science Foundation, $299,995, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Susan
Tubbesing, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612-1920; (510)
451-0905; fax: (510) 451-5411; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org.
For nearly 30 years, the National Science Foundation has provided support for EERI's Learning from Earthquakes
program. That program enables multidisciplinary research teams to carry out field investigations of significant quakes
throughout the world and to observe and document seismic effects on the natural and built environments as well as their
social, economic, and public policy implications. Recent experiences have raised concerns about the need to improve the
coordination of postearthquake research and to make better use of new technologies. EERI will convene an invitational
workshop to establish a protocol to improve research community response to earthquakes and to enhance data collection
and dissemination. The institute will create a new program to both provide training to team members and support
immediate post-earthquake data collection.
Electronic Encyclopedia of Earthquakes. Funding: National Science Foundation, $86,867, 24 months. Principal
Investigators: Thomas L. Henyey, David W. Simpson, Thomas H. Jordan, Robert K. Reitherman, and Jean-Bernard
Minster, University of Southern California, Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), Department of Earth
Sciences, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0742; (213) 740-3459; fax: (213) 740-0011; e-mail: henyey@earth.usc.edu.
This project is a collaborative effort among the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), the Consortium of
Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE), and the Incorporated Research Institutes in Seismology
(IRIS). During the first-year pilot phase, the investigators will create an operational framework and an initial set of entries
for the encyclopedia. Users of this resource will be able to access data sets via the Internet and manipulate, visualize, and
analyze the data in various ways. Encyclopedia topics will include earth sciences, engineering, physics, and mathematics,
with some treatment of the impacts of earthquakes on human systems. The information will also be layered in terms of its
complexity or the need for prerequisite knowledge.
Digital Government: Testbed for High-Speed "End-to-End Communications in Support of Comprehensive
Emergency Management. Funding: National Science Foundation, $125,000. Principal Investigators: Charles W. Bostian
and Scott F. Midkiff, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 340 Whittemore, Virginia Polytechnic University, Blacksburg,
VA 24061; (540) 231-5096; e-mail: bostian@vt.edu.
This project will explore the use of rapidly deployable wireless high-speed communications in emergency management.
The research will use Local Multipoint Distribution Service radio and evaluate its portability along with its ability to access
remote databases and geographic information systems. The investigators will collaborate with the National Response
Center, the federal agency responsible for responding to chemical spills, toxic releases, and related environmental
problems.
Ground Deformation Due to Fault Rupture and Liquefaction During the 1999 Kocaeli and Duzce, Turkey,
Earthquakes. Funding: National Science Foundation, $40,000, 12 months. Principal Investigator: Jean-Pierre Bardet,
Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90081;
(213) 740-0608; fax: (213) 744-1426; e-mail: bardet@usc.edu.
During the two Turkey earthquakes, surface faulting caused substantial damage to structures and lifelines. It was the first
time these processes impacted urban and industrial areas to such a broad extent, raising major concerns about current
practices in earthquake engineering. The goals of this project are to compile and organize existing data on the surface-faulting and liquefaction-induced ground deformation for these quakes, use aerial photographs taken prior to and following
the quakes to produce maps relating to these events, collect additional technical data, and disseminate this information
through a new geographic information system server on the Internet.
The Vulnerability of Infrastructure to Volcanic Ash Falls. Funding: Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology;
$105,000 (New Zealand); 12 months. Principal Investigator: Jim Cole, Natural Hazards Research Centre, University of
Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand; tel: +64-3-364-2755; e-mail: j.cole@geol.canterbury.ac.nz.
This project is an initial assessment of the impacts of volcanic ash falls on urban infrastructure in New Zealand. That
country's Ministry for Emergency Management (MEM) and Earthquake Commission (EQC) have indicated that
assessment of the vulnerability of urban infrastructure will be an important step in their comprehensive natural disaster
planning. Preliminary results will be presented at an international conference, "Cities on Volcanoes 2," in Auckland in
February 2001.
The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have issued an invitation for applications for the $25,000 Floodplain Management Graduate Fellowship for 2001-2002. The award will support a post-baccalaureate student for one academic year to conduct research in the U.S. addressing a floodplain management or flood mitigation issue. Applications are due March 1, 2000. For details, see http://www.floods.org/flwshp98.htm, or contact ASFPM, 2809 Fish Hatchery Road, Suite 204, Madison, WI 53713; (608) 274-0123; fax: (608) 274-0696; e-mail: asfpm@floods.org.
The new electronic journal American Emergency Management Response (AEMR) is seeking articles from emergency management professionals, scholars, and members of government at all levels. The journal was created by the Association for National Defense and Emergency Resources and the Department of Political Science at the University of Akron as a public service for individuals, academicians, and decision makers concerned about emergency management. E-mail articles should be sent to acook@uakron.edu. For additional information and instructions on submitting paper copies, see the AEMR Journal Web site: http://www.uakron.edu/ander.
In keeping with its goal of building a strong and effective emergency management system throughout the nation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continually searches for model programs and creative ways to use resources at the federal, state, and local levels--both in government and in the private and volunteer sectors.
FEMA's Compendium of Exemplary Practices in Emergency Management pays tribute to such practices and the people who created them. With "Partnerships in Preparedness" as its theme, the Compendium provides guidelines for forging cooperation and leveraging emergency management talent and resources.
FEMA is currently soliciting suggestions for next year's compendium. A panel of FEMA partners screens nominations using the following criteria:
Each nomination should include names of knowledgeable individuals who can provide further information about the program. Nominations and suggestions are welcome at any time. For complete details or a nomination form, contact Compendium of Exemplary Practices in Emergency Management, PT-SL Room 614, FEMA, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472; WWW: http://www.fema.gov/pte/exempract.htm.
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.
Confronting Catastrophe: New Perspectives on Natural Disaster. David Alexander. 2000. 304 pp. $25.00, paper; $45.00,
hardbound. To purchase a copy, contact the Order Department, Oxford University Press, 2001 Evans Road, Cary, NC
27513; (800) 451-7556; fax: (919) 677-1303; WWW: http://www.oup-usa.org.
In Confronting Catastrophe, Alexander argues that disasters have not been "considered sufficiently in the light of present-day worldwide trends and tendencies" and that some analysis of history and human cultures is also
necessary to help
explain why deaths and losses are increasing rapidly. He urges a better marriage between the physical and social sciences,
as well as recognition of the increasing divergence between the developed and developing world. Alexander advocates
concrete, direct analysis and discussion while avoiding abstract, academic debate. Using this approach, he presents his
views on the study of disaster; the roles of society and culture in disasters; past, present, and future disasters; technology,
economics, and disasters; and moral and philosophical issues.
Journal of the American Society of Professional Emergency Planners. 2000. 166 pp. $19.00. Copies can be purchased
from Robert Goldhammer, American Society of Professional Emergency Planners (ASPEP), c/o IAEM, 111 Park Place,
Falls Church, VA 22046-4513.
ASPEP is an organization of certified emergency managers dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about disasters and
to the improvement of emergency management. Their annual journal shares research, practice, and opinion from all
disciplines involved in reducing disasters' toll. The latest issue contains papers on planning response to terrorist acts, the
Y2K challenge, response to Hurricane Floyd, managing stress in emergency management, a special needs registration
program, the use of interagency agreements, model emergency action plans, terrorism and school violence, emergency
planning generally, the historical origins of emergency management in the U.S., and virtual emergency operations centers.
Cross-Cultural Risk Perception: A Survey of Empirical Studies. Ortwin Renn and Bernd Rohrmann, Editors. 2000. 240
pp. $99.00. Order from 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.
Cross-Cultural Risk Perception offers theoretical insights and practical information from several risk perception studies
that can aid policy makers, risk experts, and other interested parties. The book begins with an extended introduction
summarizing the state of the art in risk perception research and core issues of cross-cultural comparisons. The main body
consists of four cross-cultural studies on public attitudes toward risk in different countries, including the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Sweden, Bulgaria, Romania, Japan, and China. The last chapter critically
discusses the main findings from these studies and proposes a framework for understanding and investigating cross-cultural
risk perception. Finally, the editors outline implications for communication, regulation, and risk management.
Disaster Risk Management. 2000. 115 pp. $85.00 (Australian).
Disaster Risk Management Guide: A How-to Manual for Local Government. 2000. 26 pp. $45.00 (Australian).
Set containing both volumes: $130.00 (Australian).
To purchase, contact the Disaster Policy and Research Unit, Counter Disaster and Rescue Services, Queensland Government, GPO Box 1425, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia; tel: 3247 8481; fax: 3247 8480; e-mail: j
stephens@emergency.qld.gov.au.
This publication focuses on the application of risk management techniques to disaster management. It explains the science
of risk reduction and its underlying concepts, particularly focusing on the Australian/New Zealand Standard for Risk
Management. It contains an introduction to risk management; an overview of the elements to be considered in the risk
management process; and guidelines for establishing a framework, developing evaluation criteria, identifying risks,
analyzing vulnerability, estimating and evaluating risks, and mitigating the threats. Appendices provide pointers for using
the right types of data and risk information, sample documentation and suggestions for its use, a sample study, and
recommended Web sites.
The How-to Manual, a companion to the first publication, begins by noting that the Australian federal government has spent millions of dollars in responding to and assisting recovery from natural disasters, yet only a small amount on planning for and mitigating impacts. The Commonwealth of Australia recently linked future disaster assistance to action taken by other levels of government. Consequently, state and local governments that have not implemented mitigation actions may lose Commonwealth funding for recovery from disasters. This manual presents a formal, systematic approach to conducting an assessment of risks and then developing and implementing programs to reduce those risks. It describes the main elements of the risk management process, initial tasks, methods for identifying risks, risk analysis and evaluation, mitigation, information distribution, participation by stakeholders, and program review and evaluation.
Operational Guide: Rehabilitation and Social Sustainability. 2000. Free. To request a copy, contact the U.N. Office for
Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; fax: (41-22) 917-8060;
e-mail: PeriP@unops.org.
This guide was created for project managers carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction in countries recovering from
wars or natural disasters. The manual draws on experiences during the past decade in more than 20 countries and that
involve a variety of specialized agencies both within and outside of the United Nations.
Biblio-des No. 29: Towards a Culture of Prevention--Disaster Education. 2000. Free. For availability, contact the
Regional Disaster Information Center (CRID), Apartado Postal 3745-1000, San José, Costa Rica; fax: (506) 231-5973; e-mail: crid@crid.or.cr. The complete bibliography can also be found on-line: http://www.crid.or.cr/crid/ENG/SERVICES/biblio29.htm.
This issue of Biblio-des contains a selected bibliography focusing on the Hemispheric Education Plan for Disaster
Reduction and the U.N.'s International Strategy for Disaster Reduction campaign, "Education, Youth, and Disasters." Its
three sections contain citations in both Spanish and English on curricula, citizen education, and educational facilities.
Australian Emergency Manual: Safe and Healthy Mass Gatherings. 1999. $27.15 (Australian). To obtain a copy, contact
the Disaster Awareness Program, Emergency Management Australia, Department of Defence, P.O. Box 1020, Dickson
ACT 2602, Australia; tel: +61 (0)2 6266 5219; fax: +61 (0)2 6266 5029; e-mail: jabrahams@ema.gov.au.
This manual provides guidance on conducting incident-free mass gatherings. Prepared primarily for emergency managers
and health personnel, it covers pre-event planning, safety issues, spectator management and control, public health, medical
care, psychological issues, special considerations for high-risk events, and other aspects of managing large events. Annexes
provide information on the characteristics of crowds as well as considerations for planners, promoters, and vendors.
Going International: Kurskalender/Health Courses 2000. 2000. 194 pp. 150.00 Austrian Schillings. To obtain a copy,
contact Gerhard Polak, Bureau for International Services of the Vienna Medical Association, Weihburggasse 10-12, A-1010 Vienna, Austria; tel: +43/1/51501-410.
Since 1989, the Bureau for International Services of the Viennese Medical Association has published a yearly directory of
health courses. This issue, in both German and English, lists more than 1,000 courses, including many related to emergency
and disaster medicine, from 200 European institutions. The first chapter lists all training and courses that an emergency
physician in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria must complete. The second chapter is devoted to humanitarian aid,
catastrophe management, and training for international emergency missions. The third lists courses addressing development cooperation among nations. Other chapters cite courses on tropical medicine and international public health and list
international meetings and conferences. The appendices list recommended books, journals, and Internet sites.
Safety and Disaster Management in Schools and Colleges: A Training Manual. David G. Kibble. 1998. 128 pp. $34.95.
To buy a copy, contact Taylor & Francis/Routledge, 7625 Empire Drive, Florence, KY 41042; (800) 634-7064; fax: (800)
248-4724; WWW: http://www.routledge-ny.com.
This manual provides tips for undertaking disaster and safety planning in educational institutions. According to its author,
David Kibble, who is deputy headmaster of a school in the U.K., this manual "can be used by a member of a senior disaster
management team who has been given the responsbility of drawing up a school's disaster plan or by a colleague who has
been asked to provide . . .a plan detailing how a college might be used as an emergency [shelter]." Kibble discusses the
concept of safety and disaster planning, the special needs of educational institutions, coping with students with medical
needs, preventing and responding to violence and aggression, fire and bomb safety precautions, and emergency shelter
planning.
IAEM Bulletin Vol. 17, No. 10 (October 2000). For availability, contact the IAEM, 111 Park Place, Falls Church, VA
22046-4513; (703) 538-1795; fax: (703) 241-5603; e-mail: iaem@aol.com; WWW: http://www.iaem.com.
This issue of the IAEM Bulletin is devoted to "The Future: Expanding the Boundaries of Emergency Management." Lead
contributor William Waugh suggests that we are seeing the future of this field now and that the future is characterized by
rapidly changing information technology, increasing scientific and technical information on hazards, a growing demand for
trained and experienced emergency managers, and the development of a global community of emergency management
authorities. Numerous other professionals share their views on the future of their field, discussing steps necessary for
sustaining a strong emergency management community, the evolution of emergency response careers, emerging issues, the
establishment of a national standard of care for emergency management programs in the U.S., the increasing complexity of
coping with emergencies, the past 50 years and what they mean for the future, choosing an emergency management career,
and military assistance to civil authorities.
An Introduction to the Economics of Climate Change Policy. John P. Weyant. 2000. 55 pp. Free. The complete report is
available at the Pew Center on Global Climate Change Web site: http://www.pewclimate.org/projects/econ_introduction.cfm. For further information, contact the Pew Center on Global Clima
te Change, 2101 Wilson
Boulevard, Suite 550, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 516-4146.
Some analysts say measures to address global climate change policy will have dire effects on economies, while others
foresee net benefits. This report identifies five variables that explain most differences in the results of economic modeling
of climate policy. Two of the key variables involve how the economy adjusts to energy price changes that may cause
producers to develop new technologies or substitute different inputs when providing goods and services. Price changes may
also cause consumers to alter their buying patterns. A third variable involves emission trends or the expected path of
emissions in the absence of any new climate policies. The fourth suggests that more flexibility in environmental public
policy may lessen the economic impacts of emissions reductions. The final factor considers whether the benefits of
reducing certain emissions are included in cost estimates.
Economic and Social Effects of El Niño in Ecuador, 1997-1998. Rob Vos, Margarita Velasco, and Edgar de Labastida.
1999. 38 pp. Free. To request a copy, contact the Poverty and Inequality Advisory Unit, Mail Stop E-0421, Inter-American
Development Bank, 1300 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20577; fax: (202) 623-3299, e-mail:
povunit@iadb.org. The complete document is also on-line: http://www.iadb.org/sds/pov.
Natural disasters caused by El Niño and other phenomena often hit hardest on the poor. Yet, it is sometimes difficult to
separate the effects on living conditions resulting from inclement weather from general inadequacies in infrastructure and
poor economic development. This study proposes methods for identifying different types of risks associated with natural
disasters and designating degrees of vulnerability to such risks by geographical areas and population groups. It finds that
most economic costs in Ecuador relate to losses of agricultural production, damage to infrastructure, and increased health
risks. It further suggests that most agricultural income losses are borne by small farmers who produce rice, corn, coffee,
and cocoa, and, to a lesser extent, by workers in the sugar cane and banana industries. The overall impact on the already
high poverty rate could be as much as 10%. Conversely, others benefited from El Niño, such as wealthy shrimp producers,
who saw productivity increase by over 25%, and banana exporters, who compensated for production losses through higher
export quotas and prices.
Once Burned, Twice Shy
On October 27, 2000, the United Nations released a major new international study entitled Reducing the Impact of Environmental Emergencies Through Early Warning and Preparedness--The Case of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), declaring that thousands of human casualties and tens of billions of dollars in economic damage will continue to befall the world's developing countries every two to seven years until major investments are made to improve forecasting and preparedness for El Niño.
The creation of regional organizations to prepare collective responses to El Niño is one of the key recommendations of this study, which was developed by teams of researchers working in 16 countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. The 19-month investigation was undertaken by four collaborating United Nations organizations--the U.N. Environment Program, the U.N. University, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)--together with the U.S.-based National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). It examined societal impacts of the 1997-98 El Niño in the 16 countries in order to identify "what worked and what didn't with regard to societal responses to the forecasts and impacts of the 1997-98 El Niño event."
The study's findings highlight the need to undertake systematic long-term risk reduction activities, the need to improve understanding of climate-related vulnerability through education and training, and the need to improve not only technical forecasting capabilities, but also society's understanding of and ability to respond to forecasts. Consequently, the U.N. agencies involved in the study are partnering with NCAR to develop a comprehensive program to "educate educators" in developing countries. The program will address science, policy, and ethics related to climate change, variability, and extremes. U.N. University, in partnership with NCAR and the WMO, is currently seeking donor support to fully develop such a program.
A 30-page executive summary of the study--Lessons from the 1997-98 El Niño: Once Burned, Twice Shy?--including numerous findings and recommendations, is available from the NCAR Web site: http://www.esig.ucar.edu/un/ or http://www.esig.ucar.edu/un/enFinal.pdf. Copies are also available from the Public Affairs Section, United Nations University, 53-70, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan; tel: +81-3-3499-2811; fax: +81-3-3499-2828; e-mail: mbox@hq.unu.edu; WWW: http://www.unu.edu.
The Impact of El Niño and La Niña on Southeast Asia: 21st-23rd February 2000, Hanoi, Vietnam Workshop Report.
2000. 102 pp. Free. The complete text of the report is available from the Indochina Global Change Network Web site:
http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/tiempo/annex/igcn. For more information, contact the University of East Anglia, Climate
Research Unit, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.; tel: 01603 556161; fax: 01603 507784; e-mail: cru@uea.ac.uk; WWW: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk.
Both El Niño and La Niña weather events severely impact the Indochina region (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam), affecting
temperatures, rainfall, the frequency of tropical storms, and other variables. The Indochina nations have limited ability to
protect their people, natural ecosystems, and national economies against these forces. Historic means of coping with natural
hazards, developed over centuries, are no longer effective. The Indochina Global Change Network was established to
strengthen the ability of these nations to respond to the threats posed by global change and natural hazards. The network
organized a workshop to assist the scientific communities of these nations in strengthening their ability to respond. In
general, participants concluded the region needs to have better access to technical and financial resources, to develop a
scientific and policy-making structure, to open communication among government agencies at all levels and to other
stakeholders, to promote awareness, and to strengthen response. Specific recommendations outline strategies for reaching
these goals, including a formal and urgent request to the World Meteorological Organization for regular El Niño advisory
reports.
Inside the Hurricane: Face to Face with Nature's Deadliest Storms. Pete Davies. 2000. 272 pp. $25.00. Copies can be
ordered from Von Holtzbrinck Publishing Services, 16365 James Madison Highway, Gordonsville, VA 22942; (888)
330-8477; fax: (800) 672-2054; WWW: http://hholt.com.
In Inside the Hurricane, Davies explores the power and destructiveness of these great storms. He recounts his ride along
with researchers who flew into the eye of Hurricane Bret, then describes the science and history of hurricanes, the history
of aerial reconnaissance, a program called Project Stormfury that attempted to reduce the strength of these storms,
hurricane formation off the coast of Africa, storm modeling and prediction, the American response to Hurricane Floyd, and
Hurricane Mitch and its impacts on Honduras.
Risk Analysis and Uncertainty in Flood Damage Reduction Studies. Committee on Risk-Based Analysis for Flood
Damage Reduction, Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council. 2000. 216 pp. $42.00, standard
purchase; $32.00, Web site purchase. The complete volume can also be viewed on-line for free: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/9971.html. To purchase a printed 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; WWW:
http://www.nap.edu.
In 1996, Congress charged the National Academy of Sciences to study the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' use of risk-based analysis to evaluate its impact on Corps projects and to examine how risk-based analysis relates to current policy and
procedures used by the Corps. The committee concluded that recognition of engineering and economic uncertainties in
flood damage reduction studies leads to projects that are better tailored to local conditions and available data than earlier
methods used by the Corps. Indeed, the committee commends the Corps for embracing contemporary, but complicated,
techniques and states that "there should be no turning back from this accomplishment." The report describes the Corps and
U.S. flood damage reduction policies and programs, issues related to decision making and communication, risk analysis
concepts and terms, risk analysis techniques, case studies used in the committee's appraisal, evaluation and proposed
improvements, levee certification, and conclusions and recommendations.
Floods. Dennis J. Parker, Editor. 2000. 808 pp. (two-volume set). $325.00. 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-ny.com.
Floods provides a collection of new essays by flood experts from around the world on research, theory, and experience. It
includes numerous figures and tables that present useful data such as "Deaths from floods, 1987-96, by continent";
categories of flood loss and flood types; major African floodplains; examples of nonconventional and radical approaches to
reducing flood hazards; and 10 leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines. Following a detailed introduction to floods
and floodplain management, these volumes present a comprehensive examination of the global flood problem. The first
section looks at flooding as a human problem, analyzing the fundamental causes of human vulnerability to floods, such as
economic hardship and ineffective government. The second section examines the measurement and evaluation of the
impacts of floods, including economic, health, and ecological concerns. The next describes strategies for addressing flood
hazards and disasters, such as floodproofing, floodplain management, and the specific example of the Bangladesh Flood
Action Plan. The fourth section evaluates the effectiveness of flood preparedness, warning, and insurance. The following
section presents discussions of exposure and vulnerability reduction through regulation and other social processes. Several
authors then examine the physical basis of flooding, including human impacts as well as global climate change, sea level
rise, and dam failure. The seventh section presents methods for improving flood prediction in various regions, including
cold climates and regions prone to tsunamis. The final section provides lessons, directions, and future challenges for those
working to reduce the human suffering caused by floods, addressing such issues as flood risk reduction in developing
countries, lessons from the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, and implications for sustainable
development.
Flood Mitigation Planning Packet. 2000. $12.00, plus shipping. Packet includes:
National Directory of Floodplain Managers: 2000 Edition. $25.00.
To order either item and to determine shipping charges, contact the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM),
2809 Fish Hatchery Road, Suite 204, Madison, WI 53713; (608) 274-0123; fax: (608) 274-0696; e-mail:
asfpm@floods.org; WWW: http://www.floods.org.
The Flood Mitigation Planning Packet, created with financial support from the Public Entity Risk Institute, is designed to
assist local governments in developing policies and procedures to avoid future flood problems. The video contains two 15-minute segments. The first, for general audiences, describes reasons for flood mitigation planning; the second, for
committee members and decision makers, presents steps for creating and implementing a flood mitigation plan. The
Citizen's Guidebook explains multi-objective planning and management of flood risks and provides pointers to help a
community select suitable flood loss reduction measures. The Natural Hazards Informer, published by the Natural
Hazards Center, outlines the steps for undertaking mitigation planning--a systematic, objective review of the flood
problem and what can be done about it. (This publication can be found in its entirety on the Hazards Center's Web site:
http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/informer.)
The National Directory of Floodplain Managers contains the names and addresses of members of the ASFPM, including professionals involved in floodplain management; flood hazard mitigation; the National Flood Insurance Program; and flood preparedness, warning, and recovery. The directory, however, is more than just an address book. It also includes a description of the fundamental policy changes advocated by the association at local, state, and federal levels in 2000. Other sections describe activities undertaken by the organization this year, such as the certified floodplain manager program and the floodplain management graduate fellowship (see the article above), as well as policy committee activities dealing with such issues as flooding in arid and coastal regions, flood insurance, flood mitigation, floodproofing and retrofitting, mapping, and other concerns. The directory also describes specific flood-related services offered by federal agencies along with who to contact, followed by descriptions of other organizations that deal with floods and information on how to contact them.
Audit of FEMA's Cost Estimate for Implementing the Flood Map Modernization Plan. H-09-00. 2000. 44 pp. Free. To
request a copy of this report, contact the Office of the Inspector General, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Audit
Division, Suite 506, 500 C Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20472; (202) 646-4166; fax: (202) 646-3901.
This report presents the results of FEMA's Office of Inspector General (IG) audit of the $750 million cost estimate for the
agency's Flood Map Modernization Program, a seven-year plan for updating its flood-hazard mapping program. The audit
examined three issues: whether the estimate was based on reasonable mapping requirements, whether it included
reasonable assumptions and accurate estimates and calculations, and whether it incorporated lower cost alternatives and
cost-saving technologies where feasible. The IG concluded that FEMA's methodology was sound, requirements were
reasonable, and no major cost elements were overlooked. The IG does recommend, however, that FEMA improve the
accuracy of its cost estimate by verifying that data used in the estimate are accurate and that planned mapping initiatives
are cost effective. The IG also recommends that FEMA maintain historical cost data on flood studies and other mapping-related costs and refine its estimates of the impact of technological advances on mapping costs. FEMA's responses to the
report are presented in the appendix.
Journal of Floodplain Management. Subscriptions are $45.00/year, plus $5.00 shipping in the U.S. and $20.00 shipping
overseas. To subscribe, contact the Floodplain Management Association (FMA), P.O. Box 2972, Mission Viejo, CA 92692-0972; (949) 766-8112; fax: (949) 459-8364; e-mail: fmalaura@pacbell.net.
This new peer-reviewed quarterly journal publishes articles on applied research, case studies, reviews, and recent advances
in floodplain and watershed management. It is intended to aid practicing floodplain managers and covers everything from
geographic information system applications in floodplain management to legislative issues, disaster preparedness, and
project funding. The editors are currently soliciting articles; interested authors should contact FMA at the address above.
Landslides of the World. 2000. 413 pp. 16,000 Japanese Yen. To purchase a copy, contact Kyoto University Press,
Kyodai-Kaikan, 15-9 Yoshida Kawara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8305, Japan; fax: +81-75-761-6190; e-mail: sales@kyoto-up.gr.jp.
Landslides cross major political, social, and economic boundaries worldwide, causing untold numbers of deaths, injuries,
and economic losses. In many countries, losses due to landslides and other slope stability problems are increasing as
residential and industrial developments expand into unstable hillside areas. In 1987, the Japan Landslide Society began
publishing the annual Landslide News to enable scientists and engineers to present case histories, research studies, and
papers on the management of landslide and slope stability problems. Landslides of the World contains 84 selected papers
from that publication and includes 16 pages of color photographs. The introduction outlines types of landslides and their
mechanisms, including factors that influence the extent of a landslide disaster. Chapters address catastrophic landslides,
prediction and warning, hazard identification, landslides and regional and urban development, earthquake-induced slides,
rain-induced slides, debris and pyroclastic flows, reactivated and residual landslides, and landslide dams and submarine
slides. For a free subscription to Landslide News, contact Hiroshi Fukuoka, Secretary General of Landslide News,
Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan, fax: +81-774-384300, e-mail: L-News@landslide.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp; http://landslide.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/e-L-news.htm. The editors are also seeking
contributors, reports, news, and names of landslide professionals to include in a list they are compiling of active landslide
researchers, engineers, and administrators throughout the world.
Usoi Landslide Dam and Lake Sarez: An Assessment of Hazard and Risk in the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan. Donald
Alford and Robert Schuster, Editors. United Nations Publication Sales No. E.00.III.M.1. 2000. 123 pp. $30.00. Copies can
be obtained from United Nations Publications, 1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel: (41 22) 917 2601; fax: (41 22) 917
0027; e-mail: unpubl@unog.ch.
Lake Sarez in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan was created in 1911 when a massive earthquake-induced landslide
blocked the Murgab River Valley. Because the Usoi dam (as it came to be called) is not an engineered structure and
because a very large volume of water is impounded behind the dam, the stability of the dam and the possible consequences
of its failure have been questioned. This report presents the findings of an international reconnaissance mission that studied
Lake Sarez in June 1999. The investigation, organized by the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction (IDNDR) Secretariat, included a combined group of Tajik and international scientists who studied the dam and
lake as well as the geology, ecology, human geog-raphy, and other elements of the surrounding environment. After
developing flood scenarios, the team concluded that the dam and lake presented an archetypal low-probability/high-consequence event; the probability of a massive outburst flood from Lake Sarez is low in the near-term, but the consequences
of such a flood would be devastating. The complete analysis and resulting recommendations, including those for
establishing a monitoring and warning system, are included.
Local Government Capability Assessment for Readiness (CAR). 2000. CD. $795.00. Copies can be ordered from ERI
International, 4537 Foxhall Drive, N.E., Olympia, WA 98516; (360) 491-7785; fax: (360) 493-0949; e-mail: info@eri-intl.com; WWW: http://www.eri-intl.com. Demo CD and information
packet available upon request.
This CD contains a computer program that assesses the operational capabilities of local governments to mitigate, prepare
for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. It assists users in establishing priorities and analyzing the
effectiveness of emergency management programs. The program focuses on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's
CAR program, which covers: laws and authorities, hazard identification and risk assessment, hazard management,
resources management, planning, control and coordination, communications and warnings, operations and procedures,
logistics and facilities, training, exercises, public education and information, and finance and administration. Other
professional standards, such as the NFPA 1600, are also incorporated. The program assists users in evaluating current states
of readiness, developing strategic plans, and creating long-term work plans to improve program effectiveness.
Hazards, Disasters, and Survival. VHS. 2000. 90 minutes. For information on how to obtain a copy, contact Emergency
Management Australia, P.O. Box 1020 Main Road, Dickson ACT 2602, Australia; tel: 02 6266 5402; fax: 02 6266 5029;
e-mail: ema@ema.gov.au; WWW: http://www.ema.gov.au.
This video contains the six 15-minute episodes of the "Hazards, Disasters, and Survival" television series, produced by the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation with assistance from Emergency Management Australia and each state and territory.
Each segment features interviews with emergency managers and survivors of natural disasters and provides practical advice
on how to prepare for these events. Hazards include severe storms, bush fires, floods, tropical cyclones, earthquakes and
landslides, and heatwaves. Lesson plans to support the use of the videos in classrooms have been developed and can be
downloaded from the EMA Web site.
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 January 22, 2000.
Center phone number: (303) 492-6818
Fax: (303) 492-2151
E-mail: hazctr@spot.colorado.edu
Publications Administrator: (303) 492-6819
E-mail: janet.kroeckel@colorado.edu
Sylvia C. Dane, Editor
David L. Butler, Cyber Errorist
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 Administrator
Lori Peek, Research Assistant
Alice Fothergill, University of Akron Professor
Len Wright, Research Assistant
Cartoons for the Observer are drawn by Rob Pudim.
Published bimonthly. Reproduction with acknowledgment is permitted and encouraged.
The Observer is free to subscribers within the U.S. Subscriptions beyond the U.S. cost $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 printed 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 January 18, 2001.
If you have questions about this document, please contact sylvia.dane@colorado.edu.
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