Please find links below to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…
Recent emergencies/disaster
Afghanistan floods kill 32, worsen already desperate situation https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-floods-idUSKCN1RB068
Iran calls emergency in flood-threatened southwest province https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-floods-idUKKCN1RB0FJ
Severe thunderstorm in Nepal leaves 25 dead, hundreds injured http://news.trust.org/item/20190331193946-kc1mu/
China forest blaze: 30 firefighters killed in Sichuan https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-47772483
Strong dust devil hits playground in China’s Henan, 18 children injured https://watchers.news/2019/03/31/dust-devil-playground-china-march-31-2019/
Floods Demolish 25,000 Houses Across Iran, Damage 60,000 Others https://en.radiofarda.com/a/floods-demolish-25-000-houses-across-iran-damage-60-000-others/29854736.html
At least 180 people in Zimbabwe known to have been killed by landslides triggered by Idai https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/02/terrawatch-cyclone-idai-reveals-secondary-impact-of-climate-change
Flash Floods Hit Iran Again as Western Province Submerged https://www.voanews.com/a/flash-floods-hit-iran-again-as-western-province-submerged/4857979.html
Peru – Thousands Hit by Floods in San Martín and Junín Regions http://floodlist.com/america/peru-san-martin-junin-march-april2019
Indonesian Mount Agung erupts again, sparking panic among locals, Bali https://watchers.news/2019/04/04/agung-eruption-april-3-2019/
Flooding in Paraguay’s capital http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/flooding-in-paraguay-s-capital-due-to-heavy-rain/article/546829
Volcanic activity worldwide 4 Apr 2019: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Krakatau, Ibu, Dukono https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/78096/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-4-Apr-2019-Fuego-volcano-Popocatepetl-Krakatau-Ibu-Dukono-Reventa.html
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
A record share of Australians say humans cause climate change: poll https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/a-record-share-of-australians-say-humans-cause-climate-change-poll-20190328-p518go.html
Cyclone Idai and the New Reality of Climate Change in Africa https://www.cfr.org/blog/cyclone-idai-and-new-reality-climate-change-africa?utm_medium=social_share&utm_source=tw
Climate change and when human nature can lead to rejection of science https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-31/climate-change-when-human-nature-leads-to-rejection-of-science/10952244
Islands are just disappearing https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/are-islands-disappearing
New report launch: Climate change – Liability risks https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/64534
Australia swelters through the warmest March on record https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-01/2019-hottest-march-on-record-in-australia/10959828
Changing the National Flood Insurance Program for a Changing Climate https://www.eli.org/sites/default/files/images/49.10320_.pdf
When the dike breaks: How climate change threatens Maritime lowlands https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/climate-change-threatens-dikes-1.5077253
Canada warming at twice the global rate, leaked report finds https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/canada-warming-at-twice-the-global-rate-leaked-report-finds-1.5079765
Building For An Uncertain Future: Miami Residents Adapt To The Changing Climate https://www.npr.org/2019/03/31/706940085/building-for-an-uncertain-future-miami-residents-adapt-to-the-changing-climate
UK Climate Projections 2018: From science to policy making https://cabot-institute.blogspot.com/2019/04/uk-climate-projections-2018-from.html
In ‘The Wall,’ Climate Change Pushes Us Further Apart https://chireviewofbooks.com/2019/03/27/in-the-wall-climate-change-pushes-us-further-apart/
For a flooded Midwest, climate forecasts offer little comfort https://theconversation.com/for-a-flooded-midwest-climate-forecasts-offer-little-comfort-114140
2018 was boom year for renewables despite political chaos, report finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/04/2018-was-boom-year-for-renewables-despite-political-chaos-report-finds?CMP=share_btn_tw
How tribes are harnessing cutting-edge data to plan for climate change https://www.nationofchange.org/2019/04/01/how-tribes-are-harnessing-cutting-edge-data-to-plan-for-climate-change/
Personalized risk messaging can reduce climate concerns https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959378018304655?dgcid=raven_sd_via_email
“The Invading Sea” wins national journalism award for editorial leadership https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2019/04/02/the-invading-sea-wins-national-journalism-award-for-editorial-leadership/?fbclid=IwAR1J31GBBvsClzS3udyjsusA_d_Ybx3lufWCTfcS-dd31Bg6vBqZgpS4fuI
Last time CO2 levels were this high, there were trees at the South Pole https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/apr/03/south-pole-tree-fossils-indicate-impact-of-climate-change
Iceberg History May Explain Climate Change http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/19387/20190330/iceberg-history-may-explain-climate-change.htm
It’s raining on Greenland’s ice sheet. That’s a big problem https://grist.org/article/its-raining-on-greenlands-ice-sheet-thats-a-big-problem/
Insurers slam budget’s ‘short-sighted’ climate measures https://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/insurers-slam-budget-s-short-sighted-climate-measures-20190403-p51a93
7 American cities that could disappear by 2100 https://www.businessinsider.com.au/american-cities-disappear-sea-level-rise-2100-2019-3?
Great Lakes are rapidly warming, likely to trigger more flooding and extreme weather https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/great-lakes-climate-warming-1.5065922
Disaster risk reduction
‘Breaches Everywhere’: Flooding Bursts Midwest Levees, and Tough Questions Follow https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/31/us/midwest-floods-levees.html
New Report Calls for Different Approaches to Predict and Understand Urban Flooding http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=25381#.XJ5VP1vLYEI.twitter
The multibillion disaster centered in Nebraska will spread this spring https://earther.gizmodo.com/how-historic-flooding-in-the-midwest-could-fuel-the-gul-1833615535?IR=T
Answer to Missouri River flood control found in serene waters of Cora Island https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/tony-messenger/messenger-answer-to-missouri-river-flood-control-found-in-serene/article_9706ea70-8f4b-5590-ab17-28dd87631fc4.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=user-share
The Mocoa Debris Flow: an analysis of the causes and effects https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2019/03/29/mocoa-debris-flow/
Colombia: Merged satellite, ground data may forecast volcanic eruptions https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/64529
An Update from 100 Resilient Cities http://100resilientcities.org/update-from-100rc/
Earthquake safety law could put California’s hospitals in ‘financial distress,’ report warns https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/article228588474.html
California Earthquake Early Warning System Gets an Early Test https://www.govtech.com/em/preparedness/California-Earthquake-Early-Warning-System-Gets-an-Early-Test.html
Large volcanic eruptions can alter hurricane strength and frequency https://phys.org/news/2019-04-large-volcanic-eruptions-hurricane-strength.html
Corps studies improving New Orleans levees to keep pace with hurricane flood risk https://www.nola.com/environment/2019/04/corps-studies-improving-new-orleans-levees-to-keep-pace-with-hurricane-flood-risk.html
An Unmitigated Disaster: Shifting from Response and Recovery to Mitigation for an Insurable Future https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/s13753-019-0214-0?
The Face of Disasters 2019 http://www.seedsindia.org/faceofdisasters/
Asia must prioritize disaster resilience in face of growing risks https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/64601?platform=hootsuite
A ‘seiche’ wave can outpace a tsunami, and both can be triggered by meteorites and earthquakes https://theconversation.com/a-seiche-wave-can-outpace-a-tsunami-and-both-can-be-triggered-by-meteorites-and-earthquakes-114753
Using Drones to Improve Flood Forecasts https://www.uasvision.com/2019/04/04/using-drones-to-improve-flood-forecasts/
Limitations of FEMA flood maps https://www.globalweatherclimatecenter.com/flood-events-topics/limitations-of-fema-flood-maps-credit-science
Emergency Management
In major change, feds could pay less to victims https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060131529
Puerto Rican families fled Hurricane Maria’s destruction to Panama City. Months later, Michael struck https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-hurricane-survivors-maria-michael-20190328-story,amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
Dramatic drone footage reveals Cyclone Idai’s devastating power https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/26/africa/mozambique-drone-footage-cyclone-idai-intl/index.html
Governments meet in Fiji to address displacement caused by disasters and climate change in Pacific island States https://reliefweb.int/report/world/governments-meet-fiji-address-displacement-caused-disasters-and-climate-change-pacific
The National Disaster Resilience Strategy sets New Zealand’s vision and long-term goals for civil defence emergency management https://www.civildefence.govt.nz/cdem-sector/plans-and-strategies/proposed-national-disaster-resilience-strategy/
The role of businesses in community recovery https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/64528
According To Satellite Data, “At Least 1 Million Acres Of U.S. Farmland” Have Been Devastated By Floods https://www.activistpost.com/2019/03/according-to-satellite-data-at-least-1-million-acres-of-u-s-farmland-have-been-devastated-by-floods.html
‘We have lost everything’: Afghans describe deadly floods https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/south-central-asia/227120-afghanistan-deadly-floods-aftermath-march-2019
Iran Estimates Agricultural Losses from Floods at $180 Million https://www.voanews.com/a/iran-estimates-agricultural-losses-from-floods-at-180-million/4854788.html
Flood-hit Territory cattle station owner calls for government support https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-31/cattle-station-inundated-cyclone-trevor-nt-government-assistance/10956714?smid=ABCRural-Twitter_Organic&WT.tsrc=Twitter_Organic&sf210191675=1
Townsville flooding crisis leaves almost 1,000 homeless two months on https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-02/townsville-flooding-leaves-a-thousand-homeless-two-months-on/10959250
Record Floods in Iran Kill 62, Cause Over $1 Billion in Damage https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Record-Floods-Iran-Kill-62-Cause-Over-1-Billion-Damage
The Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park acts as a central base of operations for disaster prevention in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/showa/tokyorinkai/english/index.htm
Flood toolkit for public health and emergency response https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p0/p00631.pdf
Cyclone Idai: After the Storm https://dec.shorthandstories.com/cyclone-idai-after-the-storm/
Disaster education, communications and engagement
Don’t panic, but ‘The Big One’ podcast helps us face the crazy quake that’s on the way https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-big-one-podcast-20190329-story.html
Coping With Distress after International Disasters: Tips & Resources for Individuals, Families & Communities https://www.vibrant.org/coping-with-distress-after-international-disasters-tips-resources-for-individuals-families-communities/
The Art of Resilience Exhibition https://www.gfdrr.org/en/art-of-resilience
Social media can help identify evacuation patterns https://wildfiretoday.com/2019/04/01/social-media-can-help-identify-evacuation-patterns/
A continual challenge for preparedness and response leaders is communicating their story. Here’s some hints. https://soundcloud.com/harvard/whats-your-story?in=harvard/sets/leader-readycast
Crowdsourcing speeds up earthquake monitoring https://phys.org/news/2019-04-crowdsourcing-earthquake.html
“What makes the #SafePlaceSelfie campaign so powerful is its simple message and call to action” https://www.noaa.gov/stories/where-will-you-be-on-safeplaceselfie-day
Disaster psychology
Flooding can take toll on mental health https://www.ksnblocal4.com/content/news/Flooding-can-take-toll-on-mental-health-507856721.html
New book: ‘Disaster Mental Health Case Studies’ https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781351252256
Conflicting cues with emergency warnings impacts protective action http://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/59?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=haznote59
Sociology and Disasters
Time to enhance global support to the most vulnerable communities https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/politics-climate-change/news/time-enhance-global-support-the-most-vulnerable-communities-1722937
Charting the new norm? Local leadership in the first 100 days of the Sulawesi earthquake response https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/64520
More socially aware, community-based urban planning https://thecityfix.com/blog/socially-aware-planning-key-building-sustaining-communities-hillary-smith/
When Storms Hit Cities, Poor Areas Suffer Most https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-storms-hit-cities-poor-areas-suffer-most/?amp
Flattened by Hurricane Michael, Florida Town Tries to Stave Off Big Development https://www.wsj.com/articles/flattened-by-hurricane-michael-florida-town-tries-to-stave-off-big-development-11554296401?
Disaster Resilience News 