Natural Hazards Observer
| November 2006 | Volume XXXI | Number 2 |
Below are brief descriptions of some of the resources on hazards and disasters that have recently come to the attention of the Natural Hazards Center. Direct Web links are provided for items that are available free online. Other materials can be purchased through the publisher and/or local and online booksellers.
Publications, Reports, and More
All Hazards • Severe Weather and Floods • Hurricane Katrina • Wildfire • Earthquakes and Volcanoes • Tsunamis • Climate/Environmental Change • Health • Hazardous Materials • Updates • GAO Reports • CRS Reports
Long-Term Community Recovery Planning Process: A Self-Help Guide. 2005. 106 pp. Free online. Federal Emergency Management Agency; www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/ltrc/selfhelp.pdf. This guide is intended to provide state, tribal, and local governments with a framework for implementing their own long-term community recovery (LTCR) planning process after a significant disaster event. It provides step-by-step guidance for implementing an LTCR planning program, incorporates case studies for each of the steps in an LTCR program, offers guidance and suggestions for involving the public in the recovery program, and provides a method for developing an LTCR plan that is a flexible and useable blueprint for community recovery.
Hazards, Vulnerability and Environmental Justice. Susan L. Cutter. ISBN 1-84407-311-4. 2006. 432 pp. $45.00.Earthscan; +44 (0)20 7387 8558 (United Kingdom); earthinfo@earthscan.co.uk; www.earthscan.co.uk. This collection of essays examines human vulnerabilities and environmental injustices that result from the geographical distribution of risks, hazards, and disasters. It comprises the top selections from the author’s 30 years of scholarship on the subject and tackles issues such as nuclear and toxic hazards, risk assessment, communication and planning, and societal responses.
The following textbooks are the first two in an emergency management series from Wiley Higher Education. They present the core concepts and principles that are essential in any position that requires emergency management and first responder training. Each book is supported by instructor manuals, test banks, PowerPoint presentations, and companion Web sites. John Wiley & Sons; (877) 762-2974; www.wiley.com/go/pathways/.
Disaster Response and Recovery. David A. McEntire. ISBN 0-471-78974-7. 2007. 504 pp. $51.95. This text, which is based on the academic literature and practical understanding, provides an overview of disasters, the actors that are involved in emergency management, and the diverse theoretical frameworks from which postdisaster activities may be approached. After addressing the most salient functions performed when disasters strike (e.g., warning, evacuation, search and rescue, debris removal, donations management, etc.), it examines typical challenges to be expected during response efforts along with tools and techniques to enhance the ability to protect lives, reduce property damage, and minimize disruption.
Emergency Planning. Ronald W. Perry and Michael K. Lindell. ISBN 0-471-92077-0. 2007. 519 pp. $51.95. In order for a community to be truly prepared to respond to any type of emergency, it must develop effective emergency planning. This textbook guides readers through the steps of developing these plans, offering a number of strategies that will help ensure success. It delves into the patterns of human disaster behavior, social psychology, and communication as well as the basics of generic protective actions, planning concepts, implementation, and action.
Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms. Risk Management Series. FEMA 453. 2006. 264 pp. Free. Federal Emergency Management Agency Publication Distribution Center; (800) 480-2520; www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/prevent/rms/453/fema453.pdf. The objective of this manual is to provide guidance to engineers, architects, building officials, and property owners to design shelters and safe rooms in buildings. This manual presents information about the design and construction of shelters in the work place, home, or community building that will provide protection from manmade hazards.
Americans at Risk: Why We Are Not Prepared for Megadisasters and What We Can Do Now. Irwin Redlener. ISBN 0-307-26526-9. 2006. 304 pp. $24.00. Alfred A. Knopf; www.aaknopf.com/. The central topic of this book is the nation’s inability to properly plan for large-scale disasters. The author begins with a discussion of Hurricane Katrina and moves into examples of where America is still vulnerable, focusing specifically on the health care system, the potential for megadisasters and terrorism, our crumbling infrastructure, and special populations. From there he turns to the barriers to readiness and why we are not prepared followed by what we need to do to make America safer.
White Paper on the SDR Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction. Michel Bruneau, Andre Filiatrault, George Lee, Thomas O’Rourke, Andrei Reinhorn, Masanobu Shinozuka, and Kathleen Tierney. 2005. 43 pp. $25.00. Free online. MCEER; www.mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/white_papers/05-SP09/default.asp. MCEER’s Executive Committee released this white paper to provide their perspective on factors to consider in the formulation of a national research strategy for disaster loss reduction. It is a commentary on the Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction report published by the Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction of the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. MCEER advocates that a critical part of this research should focus on the mitigation of and response to the impact of extreme events on critical facilities and lifelines and should seek all-hazards solutions.
State and Regional Responses to Disasters: Solving the 72-Hour Problem. Jill D. Rhodes and James Jay Carafano. 2006. 8 pp. Free online. Heritage Foundation; www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/bg1962.cfm. The authors of this “backgrounder” suggest that better planning at a regional level could prevent shortfalls in disaster response. Specifically, they recommend that a regional tier be added to the response process between the state and federal tiers. Regional programs, in conjunction with U.S. Department of Homeland Security regional offices, could then provide states with support during incidents that are too large for a state to manage on its own but that do not require a full federal response.
Hazard & Risk Science Review 2006. Bill McGuire. 2006. 44 pp. Free online. Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre; +44 (0)20 7679 3637 (United Kingdom); info@benfieldhrc.org; www.benfieldhrc.org/activities/hrsr/h&rsr_2006/. Sponsored by Benfield and PartnerRe, this is the third edition of the annual digest of the latest academic and technical natural hazards research. It provides a synopsis of over 75 scientific papers published during the past 12 months and focuses on the four major areas of hazards relevant to catastrophe insurance and reinsurance: atmospheric, geological, hydrological, and climate change.
Natural Disaster Hotspots: Case Studies. Margaret Arnold, Robert S. Chen, Uwe Deichmann, Maxx Dilley, Arthur L. Lerner-Lam, Randolph E. Pullen, and Zoe Trohanis, editors. ISBN 0-8213-6332-8. Disaster Risk Management Series No. 6. 2006. 200 pp. $20.00. The World Bank; (703) 661-1580, (800) 645-7247; books@worldbank.org; http://publications.worldbank.org/. Free online from the ProVention Consortium; www.proventionconsortium.org/themes/default/pdfs/hotspots2.pdf. These case studies complement the earlier work of Natural Disaster Hotspots: A Global Risk Analysis published in 2005. Three case studies address specific hazards: landslides, storm surges, and drought. An additional three case studies address regional multihazard situations in Sri Lanka, the Tana River basin in Kenya, and the city of Caracas, Venezuela.
Light Our Way: A Guide for Spiritual Care in Times of Disaster for Disaster Response Volunteers, First Responders and Disaster Planners. Kevin Massey. 2006. 72 pp. Free online. National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; www.nvoad.org/articles/Light_Our_Way_LINKS.pdf. The purpose of this guide is to inform, encourage, and affirm the hundreds of thousands of people who respond to disasters. It is not a training manual; its intention is to encourage standards of best practice. Topics include basic concepts of spiritual care, types of spiritual care, emotional care and its relationship to spiritual care, spiritual care in long-term recovery, emotional and spiritual care for the care giver, and mitigation, preparedness, planning, and training as spiritual care components.
Field Guide to Emergency Response: A Vital Tool for Cultural Institutions. 2006. 58 pp. $29.95. Heritage Preservation; www.heritagepreservation.org/. Every year, hundreds of U.S. museums, libraries, archives, and historic sites experience emergencies large and small. This guide is designed to help these institutions prepare to respond to a disaster. It has four main sections: what to do first, the response team, top ten problems to expect, and resources. An instructional DVD illustrates typical problems after a disaster and demonstrates basic salvage techniques.
Disaster Prevention: A Role for Business? Alyson Warhurst. 2006. 24 pp. Free online. ProVention Consortium; www.proventionconsortium.org/themes/default/pdfs/business_case_DRR.pdf. This study was commissioned by the ProVention Consortium to examine how businesses can help reduce natural disaster risks in developing countries. It explores a corporate social responsibility perspective on disaster prevention and addresses, in particular, the potential for establishing partnerships between the private sector and the humanitarian system. It is intended to stimulate dialog and help catalyze new ideas and collaborative initiatives involving the business community.
Disaster Insurance for the Poor? A Review of Microinsurance for Natural Disaster Risks in Developing Countries. Reinhard Mechler, Joanne Linnerooth-Bayer, and David Peppiatt. 2006. 32 pp. Free online. ProVention Consortium; www.proventionconsortium.org/themes/default/pdfs/Microinsurance_study_July06.pdf. This report provides a review of the benefits and limitations of microinsurance. It suggests that microinsurance can be considered as an effective risk-transfer mechanism and an integral part of an overall disaster risk management strategy. However, the long-term viability of such programs is still to be determined. The study concludes with a number of key challenges and next steps for the evolving microinsurance agenda.
Ready New York for Pets. 2006. 2 pp. Free online. New York City Office of Emergency Management; (718) 422-4800; www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/ready/pets_guide.shtml. This new guide outlines steps pet owners can take to ensure their pets are prepared for all types of emergencies. It is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.
Weathering Corruption. Peter Leeson and Russell Sobel. 2006. 30 pp. Free online. Mercatus Center at George Mason University; (703) 993-4930; kmesa@gmu.edu; www.mercatus.org/Publications/pubID.2691/pub_detail.asp. This working paper investigates the hypothesis that bad weather is responsible for U.S. corruption (i.e., disaster relief increases corruption). To support this hypothesis, these authors researched the effect of disaster relief provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on public corruption. They found that eliminating FEMA disaster relief would reduce corruption more than 20 percent in the average state.
A People’s Guide to Building Damages and Disaster Safe Construction. Vivek Rawal, Dinesh Prajapati, and Balaji Joshi. 2006. 11 pp. Free online. UNNATI—Organisation for Development Education; www.unnati.org/pdfs/manuals/pgbdsc-1.PDF. UNNATI, a nonprofit organization based in India, developed this guidebook, which offers an elementary understanding of structural damages that can occur in a disaster due to the most common vulnerabilities in houses of poor quality construction and provides basic guidelines for safer methods of construction.
Weather Safety: Hurricanes. 2006. 2 pp. Free online. National Weather Service (NWS); www.weather.gov/os/hurricane/pdfs/hurricane_safety.pdf. This new brochure details what to do before, during, and after a tropical storm or hurricane. Printed copies of a trifold version should be available at local NWS offices.
NOAA’s National Weather Service: Be A Citizen Scientist. 2006. 2 pp. Free online. National Weather Service (NWS); www.weather.gov/os/brochures/Citizen_Scientist.pdf. The National Weather Service (NWS) depends on support from the general public in providing vital, real-time observational data. This flyer describes the NWS’ SKYWARN and Coop programs, including what the jobs entail and how to get involved.
The Official Coastal Bend Hurricane Survival Guide: It Only Takes One. 2006. 24 pp. Free online. National Weather Service (NWS); www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/tropics/2006Guide/guide.php. This hurricane awareness guide for the Coastal Bend area of Texas was prepared and distributed by the NWS through a public-private partnership. It includes hazard information, preparedness tips, evacuation routes, insurance tips, and other tools to help individuals, families, and businesses prepare for a major storm.
Mississippi Hurricane Evacuation Guide. 2006. 9 pp. Free online. Mississippi Department of Transportation; (866) 521-6368; www.gomdot.com/cetrp/ms_coastal_hurricane_05_01_06.pdf. This guide features important contact information, alternate in-state hurricane evacuation routes, contraflow plans, maps, and more to help Mississippi residents prepare for an evacuation.
Expanding the Mitigation Toolbox: The Demolish/Rebuild Option. 2006. 8 pp. Free online. Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM); (608) 274-0123; asfpm@floods.org; www.floods.org/PDF/ASFPM_White_Paper_Demo-Rebuild_0806.pdf. The ASFPM has long been an advocate for mitigation and for an expandable mitigation “toolbox” from which states and communities can choose appropriate options to address the unique characteristics of the hazards and other issues they face. Alternatives to acquisition, elevation in place, and other more common approaches are increasingly important as hazards mitigation practices evolve. This white paper, based on comments from ASFPM members and mitigation professionals across the nation, summarizes the reasons for adding the demolish/rebuild option to the floodplain mitigation toolbox.
Liability for Water Control Structure Failure Due to Flooding. Edward A. Thomas. 2006. 25 pp. Free online. Association of State Floodplain Managers; (608) 274-0123; asfpm@floods.org; www.floods.org/PDF/NAI_Liability_Failure_Facilities_0906.pdf. This paper discusses standards used by U.S. courts to assess liability for damage due to the failure of flood control structures such as dams, levees, and other major nonnatural structures that store, divert, or transport large volumes of water.
Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security. Christopher Cooper and Robert Block. ISBN 0-8050-8130-5. 2006. 352 pp. $24.95. Times Books; (888) 330-8477; www.henryholt.com/. Based on exclusive interviews, this book relates the inside story of how America’s emergency response system failed in response to Hurricane Katrina and how it remains dangerously broken. Drawing on interviews with federal, state, and local officials, the authors take readers inside the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reveal the mismanagement and demonstrate the need to overhaul the nation’s emergency response system.
Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City. Jed Horne. ISBN 1-4000-6552-3. 2006. 432 pp. $25.95. Random House; www.randomhouse.com/. Metro editor at New Orleans’ Times-Picayune and part of the team of reporters who covered Katrina’s assault, this author tells the story of the disaster from the perspective of the private and public lives caught up in the chaos. From the storm’s first churnings to the attempts to repair the levees before the 2006 hurricane season, he recounts individual stories of aspiration and loss, of opportunities missed and exploited, and of rivalry among civic, state, and national leaders.
CNN Reports: Katrina—State of Emergency. ISBN 0-7407-5844-6. 2005. 176 pp. $19.95. Andrews McMeel Publishing; www.andrewsmcmeel.com/. This publication provides a chronological account of Hurricane Katrina through CNN transcripts and photos documenting all facets of the disaster, from past studies predicting such a tragedy to the path of the hurricane to the consequences surrounding the flooding and delayed rescue efforts. It includes first-hand accounts from many of the more than 200 CNN anchors, correspondents, and production members dispatched to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee to cover the aftermath. CNN will donate all royalties to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.
Grace Amid Tragedy: A Red Cross Volunteer on the Katrina Frontline. Jim D. Clark. ISBN 0-595-40098-1. 2006. 186 pp. $16.95. iUniverse; www.iuniverse.com/. In this memoir, the author relates his experiences managing two American Red Cross shelters in Gulfport, Mississippi. Looking beyond the catastrophic damage and human tragedies, he finds the silver lining: the Katrina response represents the largest outpouring of donations, volunteers, and compassion in U.S. history. Along with his broad perspective reporting of the events, he chronicles the courage and spiritual growth of a handful of victims over a five-month period. Fifty percent of this book’s profits will be donated to the rebuilding effort.
Unacceptable: The Federal Response to Katrina. Walter M. Brasch. ISBN 1-4196-1839-3. 2006. 100 pp. $12.99. Booksurge; (866) 308-6235; orders@booksurge.com; www.booksurge.com/. The emergency management response to Hurricane Katrina revealed the inadequacies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency as well as systemic problems in all levels of government. This book explores the facts of the disaster and why the federal response was inefficient.
Continuing Progress: A 1-Year Update on Hurricane Recovery and Rebuilding. 2006. 23 pp. Free online. U.S. Department of Homeland Security; www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/GulfCoast_Katrina1yearFactSheet.pdf. This document contains a partial list of the work federal agencies have accomplished toward recovery of the Gulf Coast region.
Broken Promises: The Republican Response to Katrina. 2006. 19 pp. Free online. U.S. Senate and House of Representatives Democrats; www.democraticleader.house.gov/pdf/Katrina1Year.pdf. Arguing that one year after Katrina every facet of life on the Gulf Coast is still marred by remnants of the storm and suffers from a failed Republican response marked by unfulfilled promises, cronyism, waste, fraud, and abuse, this report outlines some of the major problems still confronting the region.
One Year After Katrina: Progress Report on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal. 2006. 46 pp. Free online. Office of Governor Haley Barbour, Mississippi; http://governorbarbour.com/recovery/documents/oneyearafterkatrina.pdf. This report describes the State of Mississippi’s efforts and major accomplishments in recovery during the past year. It explains actions taken and funds used to confront recovery problems in categories such as housing, public infrastructure, economic development, human services, public safety, and environmental restoration and natural storm defenses. A discussion of important next steps is also included.
Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later; What Must We Do Next? 2006. 13 pp. Free online. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); (800) 548-2723; www.asce.org/files/pdf/Ch9_What%20Must%20We%20Do%20Next.pdf. The members of the ASCE Hurricane Katrina External Review Panel conducted an in-depth review of the work of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce. This statement outlines ten critical actions the panel believes are necessary to prevent a tragedy such as Katrina from happening in the future. Each action falls under one of four required shifts in thought and approach: understand risk and embrace safety, reevaluate and fix the hurricane protection system, revamp the management of the hurricane protection system, and demand engineering quality.
A Year of Healing: A Red Cross Report on Katrina, Rita & Wilma. 2006. 20 pp. Free online. American Red Cross; www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf. This report reviews the 2005 hurricane season and the work of the American Red Cross and its partners in four areas: people, ideas, resources, and experience. It also reports the status of relief and how the 2005 hurricane season has changed the future of emergency response.
Special Edition of the Katrina Index: A One-Year Review of Key Indicators of Recovery in Post-Storm New Orleans. Amy Liu, Matt Fellowes, and Mia Mabanta. 2006. 16 pp. Free online. The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program; (202) 797-6139; www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/200512_KatrinaIndex.htm. This paper builds on the Katrina Index, a monthly snapshot launched in December 2005 to monitor the state of recovery in Louisiana and Mississippi. This special edition of the Katrina Index focuses solely on the recovery progress in the New Orleans metro area, highlighting key trends in housing, services and infrastructure, the economy, and the federal emergency response.
Building a Better New Orleans: A Review of and Plan for Progress One Year after Hurricane Katrina. Amy Liu. 2006. 48 pp. Free online. The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program; (202) 797-6139; www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20060822_Katrina.htm. This paper reviews the federal, state, and local post-hurricane recovery effort, highlights areas of progress, and offers a plan for ensuring that future actions create a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous New Orleans region.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a multidisciplinary team of investigators from MCEER conducted field reconnaissance to examine the storm’s impact on physical engineered systems and the response and recovery efforts. The findings are being released as part of an “Engineering and Organizational Issues Before, During, and After Hurricane Katrina” series of publications. MCEER; (716) 645-3391; mceer@acsu.buffalo.edu; www.mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/Katrina/default.asp.
Hospital Decision Making in the Wake of Katrina—The Case of New Orleans. Lucy A. Arendt and Daniel B. Hess. 2006. 90 pp. $25.00. Free online.
Integrating Remote Sensing and VIEWS Field Reconnaissance. J. Arn Womble, Shubharoop Gosh, Beverley J. Adams, and Carol J. Friedland. 2006. 154 pp. $35.00. Free online.
Overview of Baseline Survey Results: Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group. 2006. 108 pp. Free online. Harvard Medical School, Department of Health Care Policy; hurricanekatrina@hcp.med.harvard.edu; www.hurricanekatrina.med.harvard.edu/pdf/baseline_report%208-25-06.pdf. In order for government policy makers to better understand the problems faced by Gulf Coast residents affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Harvard Medical School’s Department of Health Care Policy has created a Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group. This report presents overview results from the baseline survey of the group. The topics covered include evacuation preparation, postevacuation stress, current practical problems of survivors, rating the helpers, residential mobility plans, negative emotional reactions, and positive reactions.
GulfGov Reports: One Year Later. Karen Rowley. 2006. 62 pp. Free online. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government; (518) 443-5285; stubbleb@rockinst.org; http://rockinst.org/GulfGov/. This report is the first of a three-year longitudinal project to examine how several communities across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are dealing with the challenges created by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It examines communities from the perspective of their changed economic conditions, their rebuilding process, the obstacles hampering their recovery, and the roles local and state governments and nonprofit organizations are playing in the process.
After the Storm: Social Capital Regrouping in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina. Emily Chamlee-Wright. 2006. 40 pp. Free online. Mercatus Center at George Mason University; (703) 993-4930; kmesa@gmu.edu; www.mercatus.org/repository/docLib/20060823_After_the_Storm.pdf. This paper examines the role social capital is playing in the post-Katrina recovery process, in particular, how social capital resources are being deployed to overcome the collective-action problem associated with postdisaster recovery. It identifies four patterns by which residents and business owners are creating and leveraging social capital assets and concludes that government disaster response and redevelopment policy should not unduly inhibit civil society’s ability to respond.
Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness and Response during Recent Hurricanes. OEI-06-06-00020. 2006. 48 pp. Free online. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; www.oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-06-06-00020.pdf. Findings and recommendations in this report reflect the objectives of the study, which were to determine the national and Gulf state incidence of nursing home deficiencies for lack of emergency preparedness, examine the experiences of selected Gulf state nursing homes during recent hurricanes, and review the emergency preparedness plans of selected Gulf state nursing homes and their use.
Two new publications from the National Council on Disability report on how Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected people with disabilities.
The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities: A Look Back and Remaining Challenges. 2006. Free online. www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/hurricanes_impact.htm.
The Needs of People with Psychiatric Disabilities during and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Position Paper and Recommendations. 2006. Free online. www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2006/peopleneeds.htm.
Two briefing papers from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research examine the multiple disadvantages experienced by women who lived in the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
The Women of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast: Multiple Disadvantages and Key Assets for Recovery— Part I. Poverty, Race, Gender and Class. Barbara Gault, Heidi Hartmann, Avis Jones-DeWeever, Misha Werschkul, and Erica Williams. 2006. 12 pp. Free online. www.iwpr.org/pdf/D464.pdf.
The Women of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast: Multiple Disadvantages and Key Assets for Recovery—Part II. Gender, Race, and Class in the Labor Market. Erica Williams, Olga Sorokina, Avis Jones-DeWeever, and Heidi Hartmann. 2006. 32 pp. Free online. www.iwpr.org/pdf/D465.pdf.
The Calm in the Storm: Women Leaders in Gulf Coast Recovery. Sarah Vaill. 2006. 20 pp. Free online. Ms. Foundation for Women and Women’s Funding Network; www.ms.foundation.org/user-assets/PDF/WFNMFW
katrina_report_1.pdf. Women have become a critical force in the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast after being disproportionately affected by Katrina. This report reveals that, while the lens of race and class were applied to the natural disaster early on, the gender dimensions of poverty and recovery on the Gulf Coast have largely been overlooked. It includes stories of women survivors, outlining postdisaster challenges they face and the actions they have taken as leaders in the rebuilding process in partnership with women’s organizations and women’s foundations.
Forgotten Communities, Unmet Promises: An Unfolding Tragedy on the Gulf Coast. Tony Pipa and Steve Greene. 2006. 52 pp. Free online. Oxfam America; www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/publications/
briefing_papers/briefing_paper.2006-08-21.1978258942?unique=1993460895. This briefing paper tells the story of three diverse places—two in rural Louisiana and one in urban Mississippi—and their struggle to restore all that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed. It takes a probing look at how poor policy decisions, initiated at the highest levels of government and carried out through its lowest ranks, are pushing low-income families to the sidelines.
The Race to Rebuild: The Color of Opportunity and the Future of New Orleans. 2006. 52 pp. Free online. Center for Social Inclusion; (212) 248-2785; www.centerforsocialinclusion.org/PDF/racetorebuild.pdf. This report analyzes existing data on the progress of rebuilding New Orleans’ communities. It also examines existing rebuilding policies to show that current policies are insufficient to help black New Orleanians return or rebuild their lives. A recovery report card on indicators such as housing, health care, education, and utilities is included and will be updated monthly.
Envisioning a Better Mississippi: Hurricane Katrina and Mississippi—One Year Later. 2006. 81 pp. Free online. Mississippi State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; (601) 353-6906; www.naacp.org/advocacy/gcac/ms_report/. A compilation of nine papers, this report focuses on key challenges and opportunities facing the State of Mississippi in the next eighteen months.
Hurricane Katrina: Natural Disaster, Human Catastrophe. Eric Lotke and Robert L. Borosage. 2006. 26 pp. Free online. Campaign for America’s Future; (202) 955-5665; http://home.ourfuture.org/reports/stl_confailure_katrina.pdf. This report argues that the federal government’s failure to prepare, respond, and rebuild the Gulf Coast stems from conservative policies that shrunk indispensable government services, promoted cronyism over professionalism, outsourced government responsibility to the private sector, and backed pay-to-play politics.
Covering Katrina: Trends in Katrina Media Coverage; Initial Analysis from the Top Ten National Newspapers and Ten Gulf Coast Newspapers. Tom Freedman, Nick Gossen, Matt Lindsey, and Ed Gerrish. 2006. 5 pp. Free online. Partnership for Public Service; www.governmentafterkatrina.org/research/Reports/KatrinaMediaCoverage.pdf. The report examines the media coverage from the top ten U.S. newspapers (by circulation) and a sampling of ten Gulf Coast papers near areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The analysis covers the time period between August 24, 2005, a few days before the storm made landfall, and July 21, 2006.
Forest Fires: A Reference Handbook. Philip N. Omi. ISBN 1-85109-438-5. 2005. 347 pp. $55.00. ABC-CLIO; (805) 968-1911, (800) 368-6868; orders@abc-clio.com; www.abc-clio.com/. The purpose of this book is to explore the many dimensions of forest fires and their impacts in North America and elsewhere. Offering insights into current practice and historical precedents, it is aimed at those who seek an overview reference to fire science and management.
Firewise: Community Solutions to a National Problem. 2006. 61 pp. Shipping and handling only. National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program; www.firewise.org/. This book is a complete revision of Fire in the Wildland/Urban Interface: Everyone’s Responsibility and is a resource for residents, community officials, land managers, firefighters, insurers, and others who have a role to play and choices to make in reducing the risk from wildfire. Using examples from Firewise communities in Florida, New Mexico, Minnesota, Washington, Colorado, and Arizona, it provides insight, information, and inspiration for taking action to become safer from wildfire.
The Still-Burning Bush. Stephen Pyne. ISBN 1-920769-75-7. 2006. 144 pp. Au$22.00. Scribe; info@scribepub.com.au; www.scribepublications.com.au/. With bushfires, fire institutions, fire scholarship, and vigorous fire politics, Australia is one of the world’s fire powers. This book traces the environmental and social significance of the use of fire to shape the environment through Australian history, focusing primarily on the last two decades (picking up where the author’s previous book, Burning Bush: A Fire History of Australia, left off).
NFPA Firewise ArcView Lessons Learned Research Project. ECONorthwest. 2006. 43 pp. Free online. Fire Protection Research Foundation; www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Research/ArcView_report.pdf. Between 2000 and 2004, the National Firewise Communities Program worked with 27 U.S. communities to train staff in the use of geographic information systems (GIS), specifically ESRI’s ArcView, to identify and reduce wildfire risk and manage wildfire emergencies. This report is designed to help the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team and other stakeholders better understand participants’ experiences with the program. It highlights implementation issues, lessons learned, and recommendations for other communities interested in using GIS to map wildfire risk for mitigation or to manage wildfire emergencies.
The 1976 Great Tangshan Earthquake: 30-Year Retrospective. Patricia Grossi, Domenico del Re, and Zifa Wang. 2006. 20 pp. Free online. Risk Management Solutions; (510) 505-2500; info@rms.com; www.rms.com/Publications/1976Tangshan.pdf. Published to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Tangshan Earthquake (the deadliest earthquake in modern times with an official death count of approximately 242,400), this report reminds us of the event so that lessons from the tragedy continue to be learned and emphasizes the ongoing need for worldwide collaboration in research on earthquake engineering.
Volcanoes and the Environment. Joan Martí and Gerald G.J. Ernst. ISBN 0-521-59254-2. 2006. 488 pp. $90.00. Cambridge University Press; (845) 353-7500; orders@cup.org; www.cambridge.org/. This book, featuring contributions from top volcanology authorities, is a guide for those interested in how volcanism affects Earth’s environment. It spans a wide variety of topics, from geology to climatology and ecology, and considers the economic and social impacts of volcanic activity on humans. Topics include how volcanoes shape the environment, the health impacts of living on active volcanoes, effects of eruptions on plant and animal life, large eruptions and mass extinctions, and the impact of volcanic disasters on the economy.
Seaside, Oregon Tsunami Pilot Study—Modernization of FEMA Flood Hazard Maps. Open-File Report 2006-1234. 2006. 161 pp. Free online. U.S. Geological Survey; http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1234/. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance rate map guidelines do not currently exist for conducting and incorporating tsunami hazard assessments that reflect the substantial advances in tsunami research achieved in the last two decades. This report documents the results of a tsunami pilot study carried out in Oregon as part of FEMA’s Map Modernization program to develop an improved probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment methodology and to provide recommendations for improved tsunami hazard assessment guidelines.
Joint Evaluation of the International Response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami: Synthesis Report. John Telford, John Cosgrave, and Rachel Houghton. 2006. 178 pp. Free online. Tsunami Evaluation Coalition; +44 (0)20 7922 0300 (United Kingdom); alnap@odi.org.uk; www.tsunami-evaluation.org/. This report synthesizes five Tsunami Evaluation Coalition thematic evaluation reports, their substudies, and other materials related to the humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. It provides a brief overview of the impact of the event on the affected region and presents an account of the response, from the immediate relief phase through stabilization to the beginnings of recovery. Lessons and recommendations are based on the principle recommendation for a fundamental reorientation of the humanitarian sector to shift emphasis from delivery to support and facilitation of the relief and recovery priorities of affected populations. Also available are the thematic evaluations: Coordination of International Humanitarian Assistance in Tsunami-Affected Countries (91 pp.); The Role of Needs Assessment in the Tsunami Response (123 pp.); Impact of the Tsunami Response on Local and National Capacities (120 pp.); Links between Relief, Rehabilitation and Development in the Tsunami Response (102 pp.); and Funding the Tsunami Response (59 pp.).
Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Wolfgang Cramer, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Tom Wigley, and Gary Yohe, editors. ISBN 0-521-86471-2. 2006. 406 pp. $130.00. Cambridge University Press; orders@cup.org; (845) 353-7500; www.cambridge.org/. In 2005, the government of the United Kingdom hosted the Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change conference to take an in-depth look at the scientific issues associated with climate change. This book presents the most recent findings from the leading international scientists that attended the conference. Topics include critical thresholds and key vulnerabilities of the climate system, impacts on human and natural systems, socioeconomic costs and benefits of emissions pathways, and technological options for meeting different stabilization levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The Ravaging Tide. Mike Tidwell. ISBN 0-7432-9470-X. 2006. 208 pp. $24.00. Free Press; www.simonsays.com/. In this book, the author, an advocate for the environment and an award-winning journalist, brings attention to the issue of climate change and predicts that ocean levels will rise by three feet in the coming decades, endangering coastal populations in North America and around the world. He blames the U.S. government and the energy choices it has encouraged Americans to make over the decades. Nevertheless, he does believe that such drastic change is avoidable and that if we take action now, we can change the future.
Natural Disasters as Interactive Components of Global Ecodynamics. Kirill Ya. Kondratyev, Vladimir F. Krapivin, and Costas A. Varotsos. ISBN 3-540-31344-3. 2006. 579 pp. $209.00. Springer; (212) 460-1500, (800) 777-4643; service-ny@springer.com; www.springeronline.com/. Written for applied mathematicians, geophysicists, hydrologists, socioeconomists, and other researchers of global change, this book is a comprehensive survey of the present-day understanding of large-scale natural catastrophes and their relation to interactive global ecodynamics. It provides a new approach to the simulation modeling of natural disasters as components of global ecodynamics, demonstrates the interactivity of global climate change and the occurrence of natural disasters, highlights the value of the interactive modeling of natural disasters, gives an up-to-date summary of the statistics of natural disasters, and presents a number of case studies relating to specific natural catastrophes.
Climate Change: Adapt or Bust. 2006. 27 pp. Free online. Lloyd’s; 360@lloyds.com; www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/Features_from_Lloyds/Climate_change
_adapt_or_bust.htm. As part of Lloyd’s new 360 Risk Project, which aims to generate debate on key industry issues, this report urges insurers to face up to the growing threat of climate change. The report also says that the industry needs to figure out how to work in partnership with governments and businesses to look for practical solutions to help society adapt to climate change.
Emergency Management Principles and Practices for Health Care Systems. 2006. ≈850 pp. Free online. Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA); www1.va.gov/emshg/page.cfm?pg=122. This compendium of texts was developed by the Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management at George Washington University under contract to the VHA. The contract requested the identification and validation of emergency response and recovery competencies for four job groups within health care organizations and the development of a curriculum that included emergency management programs, incident management systems and processes, and organizational learning strategies. While developed for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the content is generic to all health care systems.
Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials. ISBN 1-55877-402-5. 2006. 32 pp. Free online. National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices; (202) 624-5300; www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0607PANDEMICPRIMER.PDF. This document offers an overview of issues governors and state officials must consider as they develop plans to respond to pandemic influenza or other disease outbreaks. It focuses on state policies and responsibilities and is intended to complement the federal guidance issued by the White House Homeland Security Council, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Local Health Department Guide to Pandemic Influenza Planning. 2006. 60 pp. Free online. National Association of City and County Health Officials; (202) 783-5550; www.naccho.org/topics/infectious/influenza/LHDPanFluGuide.cfm. This guide is intended for use by local health departments as part of a multisector effort to coordinate planning for and response to a pandemic influenza outbreak. It features an overview of key issues that should be considered for inclusion in a local jurisdiction’s pandemic influenza plan, an examination of questions that should be asked, examples of ways in which other jurisdictions have addressed the topics described in the guide, and tools and resources for additional information.
State Pandemic Influenza Summits: Building Partnerships for Pandemic Preparedness. 2006. 14 pp. Free online. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; (202) 371-9090; publications@astho.org; www.astho.org/pubs/StateSummitReport.pdf. All U.S. states and territories were asked to hold a pandemic influenza planning summit during the first half of 2006 as part of the national pandemic influenza planning process. This report presents an overview of the trends, experiences, and outcomes of the summits, highlighting innovative planning mechanisms that may be adapted for other health-related purposes.
Clinical Guidelines for Physicians Treating Adults Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster. 2006. 13 pp. Free online. New York City Department of Health and Hygiene; www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/chi/chi25-7.pdf. This issue of City Health Information contains guidelines to help physicians treating adults exposed to the World Trade Center disaster detect, diagnose, treat, and, if necessary, refer patients for additional evaluation and treatment.
2006 Hazardous Materials Team Leaders Roundtable. 2006. 12 pp. Free online. International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC); (703) 273-0911; www.iafc.org/associations/4685/files/HazMat_Roundtable_Final_Report_06.pdf. In April, the IAFC’s Hazardous Materials Committee convened a Hazardous Materials Team Leaders Roundtable with 40 of the nation’s leading authorities on hazardous materials response to review the current state of the hazardous materials response community and recommend future strategies. This report establishes the direction for action and discussion by the community.
Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe. Stephen R. Melvin. ISBN 0-9765442-0-2. 2005. 83 pp. $3.95. SRM Associates; www.oursafetowns.com/. This booklet was designed to make antiterrorism accessible to everyone. It puts antiterrorism concepts into everyday language and provides resources for more information on how families can prepare for, respond to, and recover from a terrorism incident. An audio version is also available.
Disaster Assistance: A Guide to Recovery Programs. FEMA-229. 2005. 147 pp. Free. Federal Emergency Management Agency Publication Distribution Center; (800) 480-2520; www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/ltrc/recoveryprograms229.pdf.
Government Accountability Office Reports
The following Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports are available free online at www.gao.gov/. Printed copies are also available (first copy is free, additional are $2.00 each). To order, contact the GAO; (202) 512-6000, TDD (202) 512-2537; www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/ordtab.pl.
Catastrophic Disasters: Enhanced Leadership, Capabilities, and Accountability Controls Will Improve the Effectiveness of the Nation’s Preparedness, Response, and Recovery System. 2006. GAO-06-618. 147 pp.
Disaster Relief: Governmentwide Framework Needed to Collect and Consolidate Information to Report on Billions in Federal Funding for the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes. 2006. GAO-06-834. 37 pp.
Hurricane Katrina: Strategic Planning Needed to Guide Future Enhancements Beyond Interim Levee Repairs. 2006. GAO-06-934. 53 pp.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Unprecedented Challenges Exposed the Individuals and Households Program to Fraud and Abuse; Actions Needed to Reduce Such Problems in Future. 2006. GAO-06-1013. 110 pp.
Hurricane Katrina: Status of Hospital Inpatient and Emergency Departments in the Greater New Orleans Area. 2006. GAO-06-1003. 44 pp.
Climate Change: Federal Agencies Could Do More to Make Funding Reports Clearer and Encourage Progress on Two Voluntary Programs. 2006. GAO-06-1126T. 21 pp.
Climate Change: Greater Clarity and Consistency Are Needed in Reporting Federal Climate Change Funding. 2006. GAO-06-1122T. 27 pp.
Biscuit Fire Recovery Project: Analysis of Project Development, Salvage Sales, and Other Activities. 2006. GAO-06-967. 74 pp.
Congressional Research Service Reports
The Public Health and Medical Response to Disasters: Federal Authority and Funding. Sarah A. Lister. August 4, 2006. RL33579. 32 pp. www.opencrs.com/document/RL33579/.
Federal and State Quarantine and Isolation Authority. Kathleen S. Swendiman and Jennifer K. Elsea. August 16, 2006. RL33201. 24 pp. www.opencrs.com/document/RL33201/.
Web Sites of Interest
All Hazards • Hurricanes • Earthquakes • Fire • Health
Disastersrus.org
www.disastersrus.org/
SustainLane.com: Natural Disaster Risk for U.S. Cities
http://sustainlane.com/article/840/Cities+by+Category+Ranking%3A+Natural
+Disaster+Risk.html
American Red Cross Capital Area Chapter (Florida): Disaster Education, Preparedness, Planning, and Mitigation Library
www.tallytown.com/redcross/educate.html
New Magazine: Emergency Management
www.emergencymgmt.com/
Old Journal Now Online: Mass Emergencies
www.massemergencies.org/
Online Database: International Projects and Concepts for Disaster Prevention
http://database-dkkv.dyndns.org/
Lloyd’s 360 Risk Project
www.lloyds.com/News_Centre/360_risk_project/
Partnership for Public Service’s Improving Government Performance: Government after Katrina
www.governmentafterkatrina.org/
Hurricane Insurance Information Center
www.disasterinformation.org/
Insurance Information Institute: Hurricane Readiness Index
www.iii.org/media/updates/press.757472/
Earth Policy Institute: Hurricane Damages and Insurance
www.earth-policy.org/Updates/2006/Update58.htm
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Hurricane Katrina—One Year Later
www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/2005katrina/anniversary.shtm
White House Speeches and News Releases: Hurricane Katrina—Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Region
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/katrina/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Hurricane Katrina Web Portal
www.katrina.noaa.gov/
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Katrina Accomplishments—One Year Later
www.hud.gov/news/katrina05response.cfm
U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Centers: Hurricane Katrina—Coastal Protection and Reconstruction Efforts
http://fpc.state.gov/fpc/71049.htm
The Times-Picayune: Katrina—One Year Later
www.nola.com/katrina/
MercatusCenter: Crisis, Preparedness, and Response in the Wake of Katrina
www.mercatus.org/programs/pageID.504,programID.6/default.asp
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Project
http://lacpr.usace.army.mil/
Video Highlights: 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference
www.1906eqconf.org/Video_Files/web-content/
PowerPoint: 1908 Lakeview Elementary School Fire
www.errata-llc.com/blog/files/Collinwood.ppt
Business Continuity Planning Workgroup for Healthcare Organizations
www.bcpwho.org/