Please find below links to recent news about some aspects of disaster resilience…
Recent emergencies/disasters
Very deep M6.8 earthquake hits Chuquisaca, Bolivia https://watchers.news/2018/04/02/very-deep-m6-8-earthquake-hits-chuquisaca-bolivia/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Tropical Cyclone “Josie” claims 4 lives in Fiji https://watchers.news/2018/04/02/tropical-cyclone-josie-claims-4-lives-in-fiji/
Dust storm kills three in Uttar Pradesh, India https://watchers.news/2018/04/01/dust-storm-kills-three-in-uttar-pradesh-india/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Several rivers in the Balkans have broken their banks over the last few days, causing flooding in parts of northern Greece, southeastern Bulgaria and northwestern Turkey https://www.sott.net/article/381404-Rivers-overflow-flooding-areas-of-Greece-Bulgaria-and-Turkey
Flood warnings issued across UK as river levels rise after wet Easter https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/03/flood-warnings-issued-across-uk-as-river-levels-rise-after-wet-easter
Village near Ambae volcano faces relocation after flash flood, Vanuatu https://watchers.news/2018/04/03/vanuatu-village-faces-relocation-after-flash-floods/
Scientists keep close eye on Alpine Fault quake swarm http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12025977
Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Apr 2018: Fuego volcano, Dukono, Agung, Reventador, Turrialba https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/68344/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-5-Apr-2018-Fuego-volcano-Dukono-Agung-Reventador-Turrialba-Sakuraj.html
Cape Town ‘Day Zero’ pushed back to 2019 as dams fill up in South Africa https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-drought/cape-town-day-zero-pushed-back-to-2019-as-dams-fill-up-in-south-africa-idUKKCN1HA1LN
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Changes in climate extremes, fresh water availability and vulnerability to food insecurity projected at 1.5°C and 2°C global warming with a higher-resolution global climate model http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/376/2119/20160452
‘Extreme’ Changes Underway in Some of Antarctica’s Biggest Glaciers https://insideclimatenews.org/news/02042018/antarctica-ice-sheet-shelf-glaciers-grounding-line-receding-worst-case-sea-level-rise-risk
The number of new coal plants under development worldwide continues to fall dramatically http://reneweconomy.com.au/global-new-coal-plant-pipeline-keeps-shrinking-45886/
An alarming 10 percent of Antarctica’s coastal glaciers are now in retreat, scientists find https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/04/02/an-alarming-10-percent-of-antarcticas-coastal-glaciers-are-in-retreat-scientists-find/?utm_term=.66c3420b18a6
Ice-free Arctic summers could hinge on small climate warming range https://www.colorado.edu/today/2018/04/02/ice-free-arctic-summers-could-hinge-small-climate-warming-range
Reduced probability of ice-free summers for 1.5 °C compared to 2 °C warming https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-018-0127-8
Impact of Climate Change on Flood Frequency and Intensity in the Kabul River Basin http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/4/114
FEMA removed all reference to climate change from its planning document earlier this month https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/fema-climate-change-strategic-plan-ellison-letter_us_5abc16ede4b04a59a3143183
Fiji PM: Climate change threatens our survival http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43625608
The Climate Ex map will tell you what the weather will be like in 2070–and where to go to get the weather you like in 50 years https://www.fastcompany.com/40548716/these-maps-show-how-climate-change-will-mess-up-the-weather-where-you-live
At least 7 countries break monthly records as heat wave hits Asia https://mashable.com/2018/04/03/severe-heat-wave-asia-monthly-records/#ZVipSzSfMGqU
Senegal city races to move families as sea swallows homes https://www.zilient.org/article/senegal-city-races-move-families-sea-swallows-homes
Warmest March in Bahrain since 1902 https://watchers.news/2018/04/05/warmest-march-in-bahrain-since-1902/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
April snowstorm covers parts of Saudi Arabia in white https://watchers.news/2018/04/04/april-snowstorm-covers-parts-of-saudi-arabia-in-white/
New York City sees heaviest April snow since 1982 https://watchers.news/2018/04/04/new-york-city-sees-heaviest-april-snow-since-1982/
Five key lessons other cities can learn from Cape Town’s water crisis https://theconversation.com/five-key-lessons-other-cities-can-learn-from-cape-towns-water-crisis-94045
Arctic sea ice extent for March 2018 was the second lowest in the 1979 to 2018 satellite record http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2018/04/2018-winter-arctic-sea-ice-bering-down/
More than 100 cities now mostly powered by renewable energy, data shows https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/27/cities-powered-clean-energy-renewable
‘Summer-like’ heat to nudge late-season heat records across south-east https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/summer-like-heat-to-nudge-late-season-heat-records-across-south-east-20180405-p4z7x4.html
Global warming of 1.5°C is imminent, likely in just a decade from now https://reneweconomy.com.au/climate-change-1-5c-closer-imagine-44124/
Disaster risk reduction
How Overbuilt Levees Along the Upper Mississippi River Push Floods Onto Others https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/rockisland
World’s first 3D thermal image of volcano https://watchers.news/2018/04/02/first-3d-thermal-image-of-volcano/
Large crack in East African Rift is evidence of continent splitting in two https://watchers.news/2018/03/30/large-crack-in-east-african-rift-is-evidence-of-continent-splitting-in-two/
USGS Publishes Bulletin 17C, “Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency” https://www.floods.org/n-news-hottopics/article.asp?id=539
California Earthquake: Big Risk, Big Exposure http://www.rms.com/blog/2018/03/27/california-earthquake-big-risk-big-exposure/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=wcirb_eq
National flood insurance is underwater because of outdated science https://www.salon.com/2018/04/01/national-flood-insurance-is-underwater-because-of-outdated-science_partner/#.WsKdvAAdi6J.twitter
Atmosphere and land model development has historically been segregated but coupled processes crucial to prediction and extremes can be properly represented only with a holistic approach https://eos.org/editors-vox/coupled-from-the-start
Welcome Dutch fixes for Charleston’s flooding woes https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/welcome-dutch-fixes-for-charleston-s-flooding-woes/article_50d6006e-3375-11e8-9ebf-73482288f347.html
“Mitigation is most likely to occur soon after a flood, and is most successful when decisions are community-based” https://phys.org/news/2018-04-denial-coastal.html
Proposed Floodplain Changes to Raise Houston Elevations https://www.enr.com/articles/44236-proposed-floodplain-changes-to-raise-houston-elevations
Could Sydney be the next Houston? https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/news/2018/could-sydney-be-next-houston
FEMA Announces its Intent to Transfer NFIP Risk to the Capital Markets https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2018/04/02/fema-announces-its-intent-transfer-nfip-risk-capital-markets
Urban wetlands management in Colombo: a new model for urban flood resilience https://reliefweb.int/report/sri-lanka/urban-wetlands-management-colombo-new-model-urban-resilience
Landslides triggered by the 14 November 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake, New Zealand https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2018/04/03/bssa-mw-7-8-kaikoura-earthquake-1/
FG installs flood warning system in 5 Niger Delta states http://ndlink.org/2018/04/03/fg-installs-flood-warning-system-in-10-states/
“The next generation of flood-risk assessment models should integrate better knowledge of how people deal with risk and damage” https://www.cmcc.it/article/human-behavior-is-the-key-to-reducing-flood-risk
Houston City Council adopts stricter flood plain development rules https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Houston-City-Council-adopts-stricter-flood-plain-12805504.php?src=hp_totn
Ecosystem-based adaptation to increase flood resilience of vulnerable people – Evidence from central Vietnam https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/57603?&a=email&utm_source=pw_email
Forecasting and warning system for Sava River almost complete https://www.deltares.nl/en/news/forecasting-warning-system-sava-river-almost-complete/
Skilful seasonal forecasts of streamflow over Europe? https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/22/2057/2018/hess-22-2057-2018.pdf
Will a Huge New Flood Barrier Save Venice? https://www.citylab.com/environment/2018/04/will-a-huge-new-flood-barrier-save-venice/556226/
Government dedicates £36 million to new UK flood defence schemes https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/government-dedicates-36-million-to-new-uk-flood-defence-schemes/70004548
In conversation with the next generation of flood engineers https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2018/03/19/in-conversation-with-the-next-generation-of-flood-engineers/
Study: flood control engineering likely has worsened floods http://www.wbrz.com/news/study-flood-control-engineering-likely-has-worsened-floods/
Climatic control of Mississippi River flood hazard amplified by river engineering https://www.nature.com/articles/nature26145
Bushfire Prevention — Data-Driven Powerline Installation and Brush Monitoring https://medium.com/planet-os/bushfire-prevention-data-driven-powerline-installation-and-brush-monitoring-d7919e8d1e7e
Two of the more interesting landslides from the Papua New Guinea earthquake https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2018/04/04/papua-new-guinea-earthquake/
Hurricane forecasters see above-average 2018 U.S. storm season http://news.trust.org/item/20180405173130-fo5zg/
Tokyo’s enormous underground flood protection system pumps excess water out of the metropolitan area into the sea but climate change might take it to its limits http://www.acclimatise.uk.com/2018/03/29/tokyos-massive-flood-protection-facility-might-not-be-enough-cdue-to-climate-change/
Emergency Management
Mudslide losses top $421 million in hard-hit California town https://apnews.com/9b8ef4351765428e9f57beeb4781cf15/Mudslide-losses-top-$421-million-in-hard-hit-California-town?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=APWestRegion
Global disaster response needs at networked approach https://news.northeastern.edu/2018/03/30/global-disaster-response-needs-a-networked-approach/
A model for relief and recovery https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/resilienceindex?utm_source=Twitter&utm_term=0_f923f18da4-7eaf9480f4-555353465&utm_content=can-atmospheric-science-improve-global-disaster-resilience
Municipal plans to fight wildfire and floods in focus as draft bill hits the road http://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/municipal-plans-to-fight-wildfire-and-floods-in-focus-as-draft-bill-hits-the-road
Victoria has gained approval to conduct night time firebombing operations next summer season https://www.emv.vic.gov.au/news/night-time-firebombing-approved
Namibia: Floods DREF MDRNA010 Emergency Plan of Action Final Report https://reliefweb.int/report/namibia/namibia-floods-dref-mdrna010-emergency-plan-action-final-report
Are we leading enough in the emergency services? https://www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/newsletter/article/afac-ceo-are-we-leading-enough
How Cyclone Alby 40 years ago caught WA off-guard, with deadly consequences http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-04/a-look-at-cyclone-alby-40-years-on/9614592
Bureau of Meteorology blames late cyclone warning on ‘staffing issue’ https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/04/04/06/21/cyclone-iris-queensland-wild-winds-flooding-as-storm-moves-southeast
Aid distribution underway in Fiji post cyclone http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/354003/aid-distribution-underway-in-fiji-post-cyclone?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Rewiring Puerto Rico: Power and Empowerment After Hurricane Maria https://medium.com/@dangerbui/rewiring-puerto-rico-power-and-empowerment-after-hurricane-maria-7efdff23da6d
Earthquake warning system expands with the help of federal funding http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/early-earthquake-system-expands-with-the-help-of-federal-funding
Puerto Rico says tourism has roared back to life http://money.cnn.com/2018/04/03/news/puerto-rico-tourism/index.html
Disaster education, communications and engagement
The information needs of women during disasters http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-02/helping-women-overcome-disaster-preparedness-gaps/9549862
Facilitating Dialogue in Communities: Using the FAC Self-Assessment Tool https://fireadaptednetwork.org/using-fac-self-assessment-tool/?platform=hootsuite
Children aren’t liabilities in disasters – they can help, if we let them https://theconversation.com/children-arent-liabilities-in-disasters-they-can-help-if-we-let-them-93794
Social Media and Emergency Management
Countering False Information on Social Media in Disasters and Emergencies https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/SMWG_Countering-False-Info-Social-Media-Disasters-Emergencies_Mar2018-508.pdf
Social Media Analysis During Disasters online course https://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dis_courses/social-media/index.html
What strategies do public service media have for news distribution on social media? https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/public-service-news-and-social-media
Psychology and disasters
The impact on mental health has been greatest among people who were affected by flood damage in a variety of ways http://ucrh.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/After-the-Flood-Research-Seminar-22-Mar-2018-flyer_.pdf
Climate changes mental health https://apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/topics/climate/climate_changes_mental_health.ashx?la=en&hash=AFF50C8C183A2846372355AB2B438A1157E1B3AE
Sociology and Disasters
“Building that connectedness before a disaster happens is an important part of preparedness so it naturally happens in response to a disaster” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-29/natural-disaster-impact-on-mental-health-costly/9597104
When the flood that resulted from last year’s Cyclone Debbie swept through, the community of Murwillumbah didn’t wait for the wheels of government bureaucracy to act http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-01/murwillumbah-the-town-that-refuses-to-define-itself-by-disaster/9602180
Disaster Resilience News 