Natural Hazards Observer
| July 2005 | Volume XXIX | Number 6 |
Below are brief descriptions of a sampling of recent publications on hazards and disasters received by the Natural Hazards Center. Information on how to obtain copies is included.
All Hazards • Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis •
Landslides and Debris Flows • Drought, Climate Change, and Severe Weather • Wildfire •
Public Health •
Hazardous Materials and Terrorism • GAO Reports
All Hazards
Disaster Risk Reduction 1994-2004. 2005. CD-ROM. Available from the United Nations International Strategy for Risk Reduction (ISDR). For more information or to get a copy, contact Marie-Lou Darricau at darricau@un.org; http://www.unisdr.org/. Following the first World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction held in Yokohama, Japan, in May 1994, a wealth of literature and information on disaster reduction has been developed by a range of individuals, institutions, and nations. This set of three CD-ROMs represents the first compilation of disaster risk reduction documentation and information (in full text) derived from ISDR partners around the world. Comprising reviews and reports prepared and collected in the context of the review of the Yokohama Strategy, it presents guidelines, tools, articles, and case studies to promote and support the application of disaster risk reduction.
Report of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, 18-22 January 2005. 2005. 42 pp. Available free online from the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Palais des Nations, CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; e-mail: isdr@un.org; http://www.unisdr.org/wcdr/intergover/official-doc/L-docs/Final-report-conference.pdf. The purpose of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was to take stock of progress in disaster risk reduction accomplished since the Yokohama Conference of 1994 and to make plans for the next ten years. This report features the main outcomes from the WCDR, which represent the commitment of the international community to address disaster reduction and to engage in a determined, results-oriented plan of action. Contents include the “Hyogo Declaration,” the “Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,” and the “Common Statement of the Special Session on the Indian Ocean Disaster: Risk Reduction for a Safer Future.”
Risk Modeling, Assessment, and Management. Second Edition. Yacov Y. Haimes. ISBN 0-471-48048-7. 2004. 837 pp. $126.50. Available from John Wiley & Son, Inc., Customer Care Center, Consumer Accounts, 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256; (877) 762-2974; http://www.wiley.com/. The second edition of this reference describes the state of the art of risk management and its important applications in such areas as engineering, science, manufacturing, business, management, and public policy. The author strikes a balance between the quantitative and the qualitative aspects of risk management, showing how to quantify risk and construct probability in conjunction with real-world decision-making problems. At the same time, he addresses a host of institutional, organizational, political, and cultural considerations. Incorporating real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the analytical methods under discussion, the book presents basic concepts as well as advanced material, avoiding higher mathematics whenever possible.
Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis. Maxx Dilley, Robert S. Chen, Uwe Deichmann, Arthur L. Lerner-Lam, and Margaret Arnold. Disaster Risk Management Series No. 5. ISBN 0-8213-5930-4. 2005. 150 pp. $20.00. Available from The World Bank, PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960; (703) 661-1580, (800) 645-7247; e-mail: books@worldbank.org; http://publications.worldbank.org/. This report is the result of a project with the overall goal of identifying geographic areas of highest disaster risk potential to better inform development efforts. It presents a global view of major natural disaster risk hotspots—areas at relatively high risk of loss from one or more natural hazards—and summarizes the results of an interdisciplinary analysis of the location and characteristics of hotspots for six natural hazards: earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, floods, drought, and cyclones. Data on these hazards are combined with data on the subnational distribution of population and economic output and past disaster losses to identify areas at relatively high risk from one or more hazards. A 29-page synthesis report is available free online at ftp://ftp.ciesin.columbia.edu/pub/hotspots/synthesisreport.pdf.
Identification and Analysis of Factors Affecting Emergency Evacuations. L.J. Dotson, J. Jones (Sandia National Laboratories). 2005. Vol. I 61 pp, Vol. II (appendices) 411 pp. Available free online from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Washington, DC 20555. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/contract/cr6864/. The objective of this study was to assess the emergency evacuation process in the United States, including evaluating evacuation experience (e.g., time to complete evacuation, traffic issues, deaths or injuries, etc.) and identifying critical factors affecting emergency evacuations (e.g., training, drills, preparedness, ad hoc versus preplanned, etc.). The study examined public evacuations of 1,000 or more persons in response to natural disasters, technological hazards, and malevolent acts in the United States between January 1, 1990, and June 30, 2003. Fifty evacuation incidents were selected for case study analysis. Findings revealed that large-scale evacuations in the United States have been very effective and successfully saved lives and reduced the potential number of injuries associated with the corresponding hazard. This analysis is featured in Volume I. Volume II contains the supporting data and information.
Topics: Annual Review of North American Natural Catastrophes 2004. 2005. 50 pp. Free. Available from American Re-Insurance Company (Am Re), 555 College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08543; (609) 243-5607; e-mail: jbradley@amre.com; http://www.amre.com/content/rl/topics04_amre.pdf. Written by American Re in cooperation with Munich Re, this publication provides information about significant U.S. natural catastrophes and related insurance issues in 2004. It is intended to provide insight and perspective about recent natural catastrophes as well as natural hazard risk and the underlying perils that influence the property and casualty insurance industry. This edition features articles on the impacts and lessons learned from Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne; the January 2004 freeze in the Northeast, the thunderstorm events of 2004, and the U.S. tsunami hazard.
When Their World Falls Apart: Helping Families and Children Manage the Effects of Disaster. Lawrence B. Rosenfeld, Joanne S. Caye, Ofra Ayalon, and Mooli Lahad. ISBN 0-87101-358-4. 2004. 488 pp. $54.99. Available from the National Association of Social Workers Press, 750 First Street NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002; (800) 227-3590; http://www.naswpress.org/. This book is a comprehensive examination of the effects of disasters on children and families from cognitive and behavioral, family systems, and ecological perspectives. It celebrates the resilience of people in their responsiveness to adversity and serves as a guide for action when crises disrupt lives and routine services. The book’s three parts cover understanding disasters, the effects of disasters, and disaster intervention. An accompanying CD-ROM features video clips of families affected by disaster.
Supporting Earth Observing Science 2004. 2005. 70 pp. Available free from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) National Snow and Ice Data Center; e-mail: nasadaacs@nsidc.org; http://nasadaacs.eos.nasa.gov/pdf/annual_2004.pdf. The 2004 edition of this annual multidisciplinary publication highlights new uses of data from NASA’s Earth Observing System and features a 10th anniversary section celebrating a decade of publishing the benefits and research uses of Earth science data and information products. Articles include “Sensing Remote Volcanoes,” “The Flood Hunters,” and more.
As part of a ProVention Consortium initiative to identify lessons learned from recovery efforts following major natural disasters, the World Bank has released the following reports. They are available free online from the Hazard Management Unit, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433; (202) 458-4500; e-mail: hazardmanagement@worldbank.org; http://www-wds.worldbank.org/.
Learning Lessons from Disaster Recovery: The Case of Bangladesh. Tony Beck. Disaster Risk Management Working Paper Series No. 11. 2005. 46 pp.
Learning Lessons from Disaster Recovery: The Case of Mozambique. Peter Wiles, Kerry Selvester, and Lourdes Fidalgo. Disaster Risk Management Working Paper Series No. 12. 2005. 99 pp.
The National Plan for Research and Development in Support of Critical Infrastructure Protection 2004. 2005. 96 pp. Available free online from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/ST_2004_NCIP_RD_PlanFINALApr05.pdf. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7) Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection directed the secretary of the DHS, in coordination with the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to prepare an annual research and development plan in support of the directive. This plan, the first of the required annual plans, focuses on the identification of capabilities, needs, and gaps based on known threats and serves as a baseline for future efforts.
Top Priority: A Fire Service Guide to Interoperable Communications. William L. Pessemier. 2005. 36 pp. Free. Available from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, 4025 Fair Ridge Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033; (703) 273-0911; e-mail: skalish@iafc.org; http://www.iafc.org/home/nextel_handbook.asp. The purpose of this guide is to provide fire and emergency service agencies with a comprehensive understanding of interoperability. This understanding, in turn, can form the foundation for increasing the effectiveness of emergency response services and improving the safety of emergency response personnel. The guide proposes a common operational definition of interoperability, discusses the foundation for interoperable communications, and provides direction to establish interoperability between and among public safety services. Although written from a fire-service perspective, it is recommended for use by fire departments, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, and emergency managers.
Statewide Communication Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology: An Approach Based on the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Planning Process. 2004. 154 pp. Available free online from SAFECOM, PO Box 57243, Washington, DC 20037; (866) 969-7233; http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/9628BE4B-E7A5-4F1B-9179-2CFCF2653CA9/0/SCIPMethodology.pdf. With the support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SAFECOM program, the Commonwealth of Virginia recently completed the first phase of an effort to enhance interoperability through the development of a strategic plan for improving statewide interoperable communications. SAFECOM believes the Virginia planning process can be useful in the development of other statewide plans because it describes a process that builds support at all levels of government. Therefore, SAFECOM developed this methodology as a model that other states may adapt to their particular needs.
Telecommunications Infrastructure in Disasters: Preparing Cities for Crisis Communications. Anthony M. Townsend and Mitchell L. Moss. 2005. 45 pp. Available free online from the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, 295 Lafayette Street, Room 3090, New York, NY 10012; (212) 998-7526; http://hurricane.wagner.nyu.edu/pickup/report1.pdf. This report examines how telecommunications networks contribute to prevention, response, and recovery related to major urban disasters. It describes how telecommunication infrastructure fails during urban disasters; examines the role of telecommunications infrastructure and the consequences of failure during emergency response, restoration and repair, reconstruction, and redevelopment; and suggests areas in which urban telecommunications infrastructure and disaster communications practices can be strengthened to increase their effectiveness in future disasters.
Surviving Disasters and Supporting Recovery: A Guidebook for Microfinance Institutions. Eileen Miamidian, Margaret Arnold, Kiendel Burritt, and Marc Jacquand. Disaster Risk Management Working Paper Series No. 10. 2005. 51 pp. Available free from the Hazard Management Unit, The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433; e-mail: hazardmanagement@worldbank.org; http://www.worldbank.org/hazards/files/disasterguidefinal.pdf. Published by The World Bank’s Hazard Management Unit, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund, this guidebook is part of an initiative to develop mechanisms for poor households and communities to better manage disaster risk. Since microfinance institutions (MFI) work with the poor, it is critical that they are prepared for upheavals, such as natural disasters, to protect their clients as well as themselves. Guidance for MFIs is offered through chapters dedicated to assessment of risk, institutional preparedness, client preparedness, emergency response, and recovery.
Disaster Reduction: Living in Harmony with Nature. Julio Kuroiwa. ISBN 9972-9999-0-4. 2004. 513 pp. $79.00. Available from the International Code Council, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478; (800) 786-4452; http://www.iccsafe.org/. A product of the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction, this book takes a multidisciplinary and practical approach to disaster reduction, blending science with humanitarianism. Contents include discussions on sustainable cities; geological, climatic, and technological hazards; economic and social impact of disasters; and reduction of social vulnerability.
Connecticut Emergency Broadcast System Survey: Public Reaction to the Erroneous Statewide Broadcast of February 1, 2005. 2005. 35 pp. Available free online from the Public Entity Risk Institute, 1350 Random Hills Road, Suite 210, Fairfax, VA 22030; (703) 352-1846; http://www.riskinstitute.org/newsite/uploads/Conn_Emergency_Broadcast_Survey.pdf. A recent survey gauged Connecticut residents’ reactions to an erroneous Emergency Alert System alert that aired statewide in February 2005. The message, which ran on television and radio stations for about three minutes on a Tuesday afternoon, advised residents to evacuate the state. The message was general and did not specify an affected area or give any details about the emergency. Researchers concluded that specific information about a threat or emergency situation, as well as the source of the information, are key factors in the public’s reaction to emergency alert messages. Absent specific information, people are likely to either dismiss the message or to seek further information from additional sources before taking any action.
Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis
The San Simeon, California, Earthquake: December 22, 2003. ISBN 1-932884-06-8. 2005. 78 pp. $10.00. Available from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, 499 14th Street, Suite 320, Oakland, CA 94612; (510) 451-0905; e-mail: eeri@eeri.org; http://www.eeri.org/cds_publications/catalog/. This Learning from Earthquakes report documents the Mw=6.5 earthquake that struck the central coast of California in a region of sparse development and low population density in December 2003. While the damage was less than expected given the magnitude of the earthquake, the event has relevance as a characteristic scenario anticipated for moderate risk regions in other parts of the country that have similar seismic risk, infrequent earthquakes, and a largely unretrofitted building stock. Through examination of structural and nonstructural performance; seismological, geological, and geotechnical effects; performance of lifelines; emergency response and recovery; and public policy implications, the report offers lessons learned that could help improve the mitigation of future loss of life and property.
Echoes of Fury: The 1980 Eruption of Mount St. Helens and the Lives it Changed Forever. Frank Parchman. ISBN 0-974504-3-3. 2005. 432 pp. $24.95. Available from Epicenter Press, PO Box 82368, Kenmore, WA 98028; (425) 485-6822, (800) 950-6663; e-mail: info@epicenterpress.com; http://www.epicenterpress.com/. Twenty-five years after the eruption of Mount St. Helens, this new account of the event examines the effects it had on the land, the people, and America’s national psyche. The author tells this tale of terror, survival, and recovery through the experiences of eight individuals whose lives were irrevocably changed by the events of March 20, 1980.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the following reports. They are available free online from UNESCO; http://ioc.unesco.org/INDOTSUNAMI/.
International Coordination Meeting for the Development of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the Indian Ocean Within a Global Framework. IOC Workshop Report No. 196. 2005. 103 pp.
Second International Coordination Meeting for the Development of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for the Indian Ocean. IOC Workshop Report No. 198. 2005. 74 pp.
Developing Tsunami-Resilient Communities: The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. E.N. Bernard, editor. ISBN 1-4020-3353-2. 2005. 186 pp. $99.00. Available from Springer New York, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013; (212) 460-1500; e-mail: service-ny@springer-sbm.com; http://www.springeronline.com/. This volume chronicles the development and accomplishments of a joint state/federal partnership that was forged to reduce tsunami hazards along U.S. coastlines—the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. By integrating hazard assessment, warning guidance, and mitigation activities, the program has created a roadmap and a set of tools to make communities more resilient to local and distant tsunamis. Among the set of tools are tsunami forecasting, educational experiments, early alerting systems, and design guidance for tsunami-resilient communities. The book was written for coastal community planners, emergency managers, responders, policy makers, educators, and researchers and practitioners in the field of natural hazards impacts and risk assessment.
Landslides and Debris Flows
Partnerships for Reducing Landslide Risk: Assessment of the National Landslide Hazards Mitigation Strategy. ISBN 0-309-09140-3. 2005. 144 pp. $31.75. Available free online from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street NW, Box 285, Washington, DC 20055; (202) 334-3313, (800) 624-6242; http://books.nap.edu/catalog/10946.html. This report reviews the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Landslide Hazards Mitigation Strategy, which was created in response to a congressional directive for a national approach to reducing losses from landslides. Components of the strategy include basic research activities, improved public policy measures, and enhanced mitigation of landslides. The report suggests that substantially increased funding will be required to implement a national landslide mitigation program and that as part of a 10-year program the funding mix should transition from research and guideline development to partnership-based implementation of loss reduction measures.
Debris-Flow Hazards and Related Phenomena. Matthias Jakob and Oldrich Hungr. ISBN 3-540-20726-0. 2005. 760 pp. $229.00. Available from Springer New York, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013; (212) 460-1500; e-mail: service-ny@springer-sbm.com; http://www.springeronline.com/. With climate change and deforestation, debris flows and debris avalanches have become the most significant landslide hazards in many countries. In recent years, there have been numerous debris flow avalanches in Southern Europe, South America, and the Indian Subcontinent that have resulted in major catastrophes and large loss of life. Such hazards are thus major problems for governments worldwide and for the engineers and scientists concerned. This text was written for advanced undergraduates, postgraduates, and researchers studying engineering, geosciences, and water resources as well as water resource managers and engineers.
Drought, Climate Change, and Severe Weather
From Disaster Response to Risk Management: Australia’s National Drought Policy. Linda Courtenay Botterill and Donald A. Wilhite, editors. Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research 22. ISBN 1-4020-3123-8. 2005. 212 pp. $129.00. Available from Springer New York, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013; (212) 460-1500; e-mail: service-ny@springer-sbm.com; http://www.springeronline.com/. In 1992, Australia’s commonwealth and state governments announced the introduction of a national drought policy, adopting an innovative risk management approach that received broad support from Australia’s major political parties and the policy community. The implementation of this policy over the past decade, which has not been without problems, has intrigued the international scientific and policy communities. This book brings together a range of perspectives to illustrate the challenges that Australian policy makers have faced in implementing a national drought policy, something few other nations have made much progress on.
Drought and Water Crises: Science, Technology, and Management Issues. Donald A. Wilhite, editor. ISBN 0-8247-2771-1. 2005. 432 pp. $139.95. Available from CRC Press, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487; (561) 994-0555, (800) 272-7737; e-mail: orders@crcpress.com; http://www.crcpress.com/. This compilation of research efforts from more than three dozen scientists and engineers across numerous disciplines explains the complexities of drought and the role of science, technology, and management in resolving many of the issues associated with the world’s expanding water crises. It brings together considerable information with the goal of reducing societal vulnerability to drought. Featuring case studies and stressing new technologies, the book seeks to encourage nations to adopt a more risk-based, proactive policy for water and drought management.
Beyond Kyoto—A New Global Climate Certificate System. Lutz Wicke. ISBN 3-540-22482-3. $2005. 320 pp. $119.00. Available from Springer New York, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013; (212) 460-1500; e-mail: service-ny@springer-sbm.com; http://www.springeronline.com/. The author of this book argues that a global climate certificate system (GCCS) can achieve what neither the Kyoto-Protocol Climate Protection System nor the various proposals for improving the commitment system can: the prevention of dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. In doing so, he shows that this interference can also be avoided without harm to the global economic system. He recognizes that extremely high hurdles will have to be overcome to implement the GCCS, but believes a small chance exists that mankind will manage to prevent dangerous climate change.
Changing Sea Levels: Effects of Tides, Weather, and Climate. David Pugh. ISBN 0-521-53218-3. 2004. 280 pp. $60.00. Available from Cambridge University Press, 100 Brook Hill Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994; (845) 353-7500; e-mail: orders@cup.org; http://us.cambridge.org/. Flooding of coastal communities is one of the major causes of environmental disasters worldwide. This undergraduate textbook explains how sea levels are affected by astronomical tides, weather effects, ocean circulation, and climate trends. It introduces measurement techniques, tidal analysis and prediction, storm surges, and flood risks and how they are estimated. Hydrographers, coastal engineers, geologists, biologists, coastal planners, and economists may also find this book of interest.
Hurricane Isabel Assessment: Review of Hurricane Evacuation Study Products and Other Aspects of the National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program (NHMPP) in the Context of the Hurricane Isabel Response. 2005. 301 pp. Available free online from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management; http://www.vdes.state.va.us/library/postisabelreport.cfm. This post-Isabel assessment, which is a cooperative study of hurricane response done by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state and local emergency managers, offers more than 30 recommendations for improving disaster response in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina coastal areas. It explores many areas of hurricane response during Hurricane Isabel, such as communication with non-English speaking people, sheltering problems, evacuation rates, and storm surge issues.
Wildfire
Mimicking Nature’s Fire: Restoring Fire Prone Forests in the West. Stephen F. Arno and Carl E. Fiedler. ISBN 1-55963-143-0. 2005. 256 pp. $24.95. Published by Island Press. Available from the University of Chicago, Distribution Center, 11030 South Langley Avenue, Chicago, IL 60628; (800) 621-2736; e-mail: custserv@press.uchicago.edu; http://www.islandpress.org/. The stands of old-growth trees that characterize the forests of western North America depend on periodic fires for their creation and survival. Deprived of that essential disturbance process they will eventually die, leaving an overcrowded growth of smaller trees vulnerable to intense blazes and epidemics of insects and disease. To address this problem, the authors of this book advocate “restoration forestry,” an ecologically based approach that seeks to establish forest structures in which fire can once again serve as a beneficial process. To do so, they introduce the fundamentals of restoration forestry and use profiles of restoration forestry projects to demonstrate how this type of forestry management is being implemented.
Planning for Wildfires. James Schwab and Stuart Meck. Planning Advisory Service Report Number 529/530. ISBN 1-932364-07-2. 2005. 120 pp. $60.00. Available from the Planners Book Service, American Planning Association, 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60603; (312) 786-6344; bookservice@planning.org; http://www.planning.org/bookservice/. Wildfires are both dangerous and costly, yet people continue to build in wildfire-prone areas. This poses challenges for governments and planners, who must decide whether to permit development in such areas and how best to design developments that are allowed. Underwritten by the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program, a cooperative interagency program operated by the National Fire Protection Association, this report explores both issues, outlining how knowledge of wildfire risks can be incorporated into comprehensive planning and identifying best practices for development in at-risk areas. It also looks at how residents in the wildland/urban interface can play an integral role in mitigating damage by maintaining their property.
Public Health
Public Health Risks of Disasters: Communication, Infrastructure, and Preparedness. ISBN 0-309-09542-5. 2005. 88 pp. $18.00. Available free online from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street NW, Box 285, Washington, DC 20055; (202) 334-3313, (800) 624-6242; http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11201.html. The National Research Council’s Disasters Roundtable and the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine, convened a workshop for the stakeholders from both roundtables to come together to consider issues related to health risks of disasters and to explore capacity needs. This workshop summary captures the discussions and presentations by the speakers and participants who identified the areas in which additional research is needed, the processes by which changes can occur, and the gaps in the knowledge.
Altered Standards of Care in Mass Casualty Events. 2005. 53 pp. Free. Available from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850; (800) 358-9295; e-mail: ahrqpubs@ahrq.gov; http://www.ahrq.gov/research/altstand/. The result of an expert panel convened by the AHRQ and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, this report offers a framework for how to provide optimal care during a potential bioterrorism or other public health emergency involving thousands, or even tens of thousands, of victims.
Public Health Response to Biological and Chemical Weapons: WHO Guidance. Second edition. ISBN 92-4-154-615-8. 2004. 359 pp. $34.20. Available from the World Health Organization Publications Center USA, 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210; (518) 436-9686; e-mail: QCORP@compuserve.com; http://www.who.int/bookorders/. Originally published in 1970, this book contains information designed to guide preparedness for and response to the deliberate release of biological or chemical agents. It underscores the magnitude of potential impacts on civilian populations and the corresponding need for public health authorities, in close cooperation with other parts of government, to develop contingency plans. It describes how biological and chemical agents may endanger public health, provides the standard principles of risk analyses that may be undertaken to prepare for a deliberate release, and covers the preventive legal framework provided by treaties as well as international sources of assistance.
Hazardous Materials and Terrorism
Hazardous Materials Response Special Teams Capabilities and Contact Handbook 2005. 2005. 196 pp. Available free online from the U.S. Coast Guard; http://www.uscg.mil/HQ/G-M/2005SpecialTeamsHandbook.pdf. Intended for use as a reference job aid for U.S. Coast Guard federal on-scene coordinators and other federal, state, and local responders and planners, this handbook provides quick access to the capabilities of various special teams related to oil, hazardous material, and weapons of mass destruction response. It is designed so that responders can easily locate response components or categories of technical expertise and ascertain which teams have the capability and resources to execute the relevant response actions. For planning purposes, additional narrative information describes the level of each team’s capability in performing the necessary functions of response.
Project Responder: National Technology Plan for Emergency Response to Catastrophic Terrorism. Thomas M. Garwin, Neal A. Pollard, and Robert V. Tuohy, editors. 2004. 304 pp. Available free online from the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism, PO Box 889, 621 North Robinson, 4th Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73101; (405) 232-5121; http://www.mipt.org/pdf/Project-Responder-National-Technology-Plan.pdf. The guiding vision for this technology roadmap was “emergency responders should have the capability to prevent or mitigate terrorist use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high explosive/incendiary (CBRNE) devices and emerging threats.” The plan focuses on technology investment to improve capabilities within 12 national terrorism response objectives that cover the anticipated scope of emergency responders’ requirements for dealing with CBRNE attacks on the United States. As new capabilities and threats emerge, this plan will change. Thus, it is the first contribution in an ongoing process to continually improve responders’ capabilities.
GAO Reports
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports provide background information and insight into key issues and concerns of the U.S. Congress. The office frequently publishes studies regarding hazards and disaster policy. Some recent GAO reports and testimonies that might interest Observer readers are listed below. Summaries and full text are available on the Web at http://www.gao.gov/. Printed copies are also available. The first copy is free. Additional copies are $2.00 each. To order, contact the GAO, 441 G Street NW, Room LM, Washington, DC 20548; (202) 512-6000; TDD: (202) 512-2537; http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/ordtab.pl.
National Flood Insurance Program: Oversight of Policy Issuance and Claims. GAO-05-532T. 2005. 15 pp.
Wildland Fire Management: Progress and Future Challenges, Protecting Structures, and Improving Communications. GAO-05-627T. 2005. 23 pp.
Technology Assessment: Protecting Structures and Improving Communications During Wildland Fires. GAO-05-380. 2005. 114 pp.
Bioterrorism: Information on Jurisdictions’ Expenditure and Reported Obligation of Program Funds. GAO-05-239. 2005. 34 pp.
Homeland Security: Overview of Department of Homeland Security Management Challenges. GAO-05-573T. 2005. 17 pp.
Homeland Security: Much is Being Done to Protect from a Terrorist Attack, but Important Challenges Remain. GAO-05-214. 2005. 95 pp.
Homeland Security: Federal and Industry Efforts Are Addressing Security Issues at Chemical Facilities, but Additional Action is Needed. GAO-05-631T. 2005. 15 pp.
Department of Homeland Security: A Comprehensive and Sustained Approach Needed to Achieve Management Integration. GAO-05-139. 2005. 33 pp.
Results-Oriented Government: Improvements to DHS’ Planning Process Would Enhance Usefulness and Accountability. GAO-05-300. 2005. 20 pp.
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Department of Homeland Security Faces Challenges in Fulfilling Cybersecurity Responsibilities. GAO-05-434. 2005. 73 pp.
Hazardous Waste Sites: Improved Effectiveness of Controls at Sites Could Better Protect the Public. GAO-05-163. 2005. 60 pp.
Continuity of Operations: Agency Plans Have Improved, but Better Oversight Could Assist Agencies in Preparing for Emergencies. GAO-05-577. 2005. 80 pp.
Call for Papers: Natural Hazards Review
The Natural Hazards Review is the first cross-disciplinary journal to bring together engineering, the regulatory and policy disciplines, and the social, behavioral, and physical sciences to natural hazards loss and cost reduction. Extending well beyond the boundaries of a single traditional field, it serves as a forum for holistic approaches to natural hazards mitigation. The journal publishes original, peer-reviewed papers on every aspect of loss reduction. Articles containing detailed case studies are complemented by ones reporting original research findings to describe both practical projects and the latest cutting-edge knowledge on significant hazards issues.
The Natural Hazards Review is a publication of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The editors are currently seeking submissions. Send manuscript submissions, editorial inquiries, comments, or suggestions to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Journals Production Department, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, VA 20191. For more information, visit http://scitation.aip.org/nho/.
IBHS Wants Small Businesses
Open for Business
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.7 percent of all employers in the United States. Small businesses are especially at risk from disaster since, unlike their larger counterparts, few have the resources or knowledge to develop full-scale property protection and continuity plans.
To help these small businesses become better prepared, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) created Open for Business, a comprehensive disaster-planning toolkit in booklet and CD-ROM formats. The guide helps business owners reduce the potential for loss should disaster strike and reopen quickly should they be forced to close. This creates a savings for the business and also benefits the employees and customers who rely on it.
Download the toolkit at http://www.ibhs.org/publications/view.asp?id=556. To request a free single copy, write info@ibhs.org or call (866) 657-4247.