Natural Hazards Observer
| November 2006 | Volume XXXI | Number 2 |
2007 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction Nomination Process
The 2007 nomination process for the United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is underway. The intent of the prestigious award is to recognize individuals and institutions from around the world who contributed, through innovative practices and outstanding initiatives, to reducing the risk and vulnerabilities of communities to natural hazards. The award is worth approximately $50,000 and will be shared among the Sasakawa laureate and recipients of the Certificates of Distinction and Merit. It will be presented at a special ceremony on the International Day for Disaster Reduction, October 10, 2007. Nominations are due June 29, 2007. To find out more, download a nomination booklet from www.unisdr.org/eng/sasakawa/2007/Sasakwa-Award-2007-English.pdf.
Help Reestablish CHART’s Library
Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged the offices of the University of New Orleans’ Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology (CHART). Roof damage, broken windows, and leaky window seals resulted in water damage and widespread mold. Walls, files, upholstered furniture, and books were damaged. About half of CHART’s library was destroyed. The offices are still uninhabitable more than a year after the storm, but CHART has persevered and is committed to the recovery of metropolitan New Orleans, its neighborhoods, and the northern Gulf Coast.
In an effort to restore its library, CHART has registered a book wish list with online bookseller Alibris. If you would like to help the center recover their capacity, go to www.alibris.com/wish/donate-a-book.cfm and click on Louisiana. CHART also welcomes books from alternative sources but asks that you notify them of your intended donation at chart@uno.edu so that they can remove the title from the list.
World Bank Expands Disaster Role
The World Bank has established the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery to help meet the global demand for increased investment in disaster prevention and mitigation. Through partnerships with the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and others, it aims to boost national, regional, and global capacities to reduce disaster risks in low and moderate-income countries and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of national and international relief and reconstruction in postdisaster situations. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org/hazards/gfdrr/.
PERI/ICMA Launch Emergency
Management Network
The Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) have joined together to launch the National Emergency Management Network (NEMN)—a national network that enables local governments to work together to augment their emergency response and recovery capacity. The NEMN program includes a combination of training, information resources, and tools that prepare and link local governments and organizations.
Membership in the NEMN is available to public entities on an annual subscription basis and includes access to educational and training resources and NEMN software technologies that aid in visualizing, sharing, deploying, and managing emergency response and recovery resources. For more information and to join the NEMN, visit www.nationalemergencymanagementnetwork.com/ or call (866) 460-6366.
New ICC Disaster Certifications
The need for assistance during disaster recovery prompted the International Code Council (ICC) to offer two new professional certifications to assess practical competency in using codes and standards. The Disaster Response Inspector certification illustrates an individual’s ability to inspect, evaluate, and document structural damage and qualifies individuals to assist any community in its disaster assessments. The Coastal and Flood Plain Construction Inspector certification brings an added layer of protection to coastal developments and communities with designated floodplain zones and qualifies individuals to inspect coastal homes and businesses to ensure structures meet code requirements. To learn more, visit www.iccsafe.org/certification/ or call (888) 422-7233 x33806.
New Course to Serve People with
Disabilities after Disaster
Serving People with Disabilities following Disaster is a new course form the American Red Cross to better prepare employees and volunteers to serve victims of disasters. In developing the course, the Red Cross partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and organizations such as the National Organization on Disability and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association. The course consists of a 45-minute online self-study, an eight-hour instructor-led class, and a two-hour tabletop exercise. To learn more about this and other Red Cross courses, contact your local Red Cross chapter. To find your local chapter, visit www.redcross.org/where/where.html.