Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…

Recent emergencies/disaster

Taal Volcano erupts in Philippines https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-13/philippines-warns-of-explosive-eruption-as-volcano-spews-ash/11861640

U.S. winter storms cause 10 deaths, flight cancellations, power outages https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-weather/u-s-winter-storms-cause-10-deaths-flight-cancellations-power-outages-idUSKBN1ZA0U3?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews

Flooding hits Grand River Watershed hard https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/flooding-hits-grand-river-watershed-hard-1.4763862

Extreme weather leaves Congo capital residents underwater https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-congo-floods/extreme-weather-leaves-congo-capital-residents-underwater-idUSKBN1Z81BN

Dubai airport flooding: Flights delayed or cancelled https://www.thenational.ae/uae/transport/dubai-airport-flooding-flights-delayed-or-cancelled-1.962820

Indonesia – Flash Floods in South Sulawesi http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-south-sulawesi-january-2020

Iran and UAE – Deadly Floods After Days of Heavy Rain http://floodlist.com/asia/iran-uae-floods-january-2020

Kashmir avalanches and landslides leave 62 people dead https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51104299

UAE smashes 24-year-old rainfall record, widespread flooding and destruction reported https://watchers.news/2020/01/13/uae-smashes-24-year-old-rainfall-record-widespread-flooding-and-destruction-reported/

New eruption at Fernandina volcano (Cerro la Cumbre), lava flows descending to the coast – Galapagos, Ecuador https://watchers.news/2020/01/13/new-eruption-at-fernandina-cerro-la-cumbre-volcano-lava-flows-descending-to-the-coast-galapagos-ecuador/

Strong explosion at Popocatepetl volcano, ash to 11.3 km (37 000 feet) a.s.l., Mexico https://watchers.news/2020/01/09/strong-explosion-at-popocatepetl-volcano-january-9-2020/

Extreme cold and heavy snow hit Afghanistan, killing at least 17 people https://watchers.news/2020/01/13/extreme-cold-snap-lashes-afghanistan-killing-at-least-17/

Iran – Floods in South Leave 3 Dead, Hundreds Rescued http://floodlist.com/asia/iran-floods-kerman-sistan-and-baluchestan-hormozgan-january-2020

Indonesia – Samarinda Floods Again, Thousands Affected http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-samarinda-floods-january-2020

Namibia – Overflowing Zambezi River Leaves Communities Cut Off http://floodlist.com/africa/namibia-zambezi-river-floods-january-2020

Peru – 2 Dead After Rivers Flood in Pasco and Puno Departments http://floodlist.com/america/peru-floods-pasco-puno-january-2020

Oman hit by 4 months’ worth of rain in 1 day, severe flash floods and freezing temperatures https://watchers.news/2020/01/16/oman-hit-by-4-months-worth-of-rain-in-1-day-severe-flash-floods-and-below-freezing-temperatures/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Volcanic activity worldwide 16 Jan 2020: Klyuchevskoy volcano, Popocatépetl, Dukono, Reventador https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/96125/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-16-Jan-2020-Klyuchevskoy-volcano-Popocatepetl-Dukono-Reventador-Sa.html

Brutal cold snap brings death toll to at least 170 in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan https://watchers.news/2020/01/16/brutal-cold-snap-brings-death-toll-afghanistan-india-pakistan/

 

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Study Confirms Climate Models are Getting Future Warming Projections Right https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2943/study-confirms-climate-models-are-getting-future-warming-projections-right/

Some say we’ve seen bushfires worse than this before. But they’re ignoring a few key facts https://theconversation.com/some-say-weve-seen-bushfires-worse-than-this-before-but-theyre-ignoring-a-few-key-facts-129391?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twitterbutton

Ocean temperatures hit record high as rate of heating accelerates https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/13/ocean-temperatures-hit-record-high-as-rate-of-heating-accelerates?CMP=share_btn_tw

Anomalously warm temperatures are associated with increased injury deaths https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-019-0721-y

Studying Asian glaciers provides glimpse into future of extremes https://horizon.scienceblog.com/1112/studying-asian-glaciers-provides-glimpse-into-future-of-extremes/

The ice we’ve lost to climate change this past decade, visualized https://www.vox.com/2019/12/23/21030500/climate-change-ice-thaw-arctic-antarctica-greenland

Australia is no longer the lucky country https://www.ft.com/content/9849e366-35e4-11ea-a6d3-9a26f8c3cba4

Despite the political smokescreen, scientists are in no doubt that global heating has contributed to Australia’s fire emergency https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/13/explainer-what-are-the-underlying-causes-of-australias-shocking-bushfire-season?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell slightly in 2019 https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-fell-slightly-in-2019/2020/01/06/568f0a82-309e-11ea-a053-dc6d944ba776_story.html

US National Climate Report – Annual 2019 https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201913

Climate change: Australia fires will be ‘normal’ in warmer world https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51094919

ScienceBrief Review: Climate Change Increases the Risk of Wildfires https://sciencebrief.org/briefs/wildfires

Australia’s Wildfires Might Intensify Future Climate Crises https://www.wired.com/story/australias-wildfires-might-intensify-future-climate-crises/

Inaction over climate emergency ‘not an option’ says UN Assembly chief https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1055171

2019 capped off the world’s hottest decade in recorded history https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/2019-capped-off-the-worlds-hottest-decade-in-recorded-history-20200116-p53ru7.html

Injuries and Deaths Could Rise with Climate Change in the U.S., a New Study Finds https://time.com/5764673/injuries-deaths-climate-change/

Climate Change Brings Geopolitical Complications for Australia https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/climate-change-brings-geopolitical-complications-for-australia/

Climate change to be brought into new flooding guidance maps for Wales https://www.savills.co.uk/insight-and-opinion/savills-news/294682-0

Climate change to be key element in next Canadian budget: finance minister https://ca.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1ZC2EO

New climate models suggest Paris goals may be out of reach https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1176930.shtml?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

5 states had the wettest year on record in 2019 https://www.farmprogress.com/weather/5-states-had-wettest-year-record-2019

Climate change is making Australia’s weird weather even weirder https://www.vox.com/2020/1/15/21065557/australia-fires-climate-change-weather-extreme-heat-drought-flood

For the first time, the Alarmed are now the largest of Global Warming’s Six Americas https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/for-the-first-time-the-alarmed-are-now-the-largest-of-global-warmings-six-americas/

Glacial Lake Outburst Floods: A New Climate-Related Threat from Above https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/glacial-lake-outburst-floods-a-new-climate-related-threat-from-above/

 

Disaster risk reduction

Ten years after earthquake, Haiti still vulnerable to disasters http://news.trust.org/item/20200110103517-4plm7/

Disaster by Choice https://global.oup.com/academic/product/disaster-by-choice-9780198841340?cc=jp&lang=en&

In January 2020, Jakarta experienced its worst rainfall in more than a decade https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146113/torrential-rains-flood-indonesia

Australia fires: Aboriginal planners say the bush ‘needs to burn’ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51043828

How Cities are Using Architecture to Combat Flooding https://www.archdaily.com/931720/how-cities-are-using-architecture-to-combat-flooding

Massive new rooftop farm helps reduce flooding in Bangkok https://www.fastcompany.com/90449898/this-massive-new-rooftop-farm-helps-keep-bangkok-from-flooding

To fix a flood-prone neighborhood, Dubuque planners use 3D GIS watershed models https://www.esri.com/about/newsroom/blog/dubuque-tackles-chronic-flooding/

U.S. flood risk model to be publicly available in boon for homebuyers https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-floods-realestate-idUSKBN1ZD1G0?taid=5e1dd1a82f317700010a826f&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

The gathering firestorm in southern Amazonia https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/2/eaay1632?utm_campaign=SciMag&utm_source=JHubbard&utm_medium=Twitter

Colorado has seen the largest increase in natural disasters, study says https://www.reporterherald.com/2020/01/11/colorado-has-seen-the-largest-increase-in-natural-disasters-study-says/

Taal Eruption and Ashfall Continue; Thousands Still at Risk https://eos.org/articles/taal-eruption-and-ashfall-continue-thousands-still-at-risk

Jakarta’s flood costs will increase by up to 400% by 2050, research shows https://theconversation.com/jakartas-flood-costs-will-increase-by-up-to-400-by-2050-research-shows-129698

Planning an International Magma Observatory https://eos.org/science-updates/planning-an-international-magma-observatory

Tourists are abandoning regional Victoria and NSW in droves, with cancellation rates of more than 60 per cent even in towns outside the bushfire zones causing economic damage of up to $1 billion https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/tourism-industry-takes-1b-hit-as-australians-cancel-their-holidays-20200115-p53rr1.html

Gorkha aftershocks reveal seismic hazard in Nepal https://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/gorkha-aftershocks-reveal-seismic-hazard-in-nepal-10175/

Environment Agency announces updated plans for York flood scheme https://www.gov.uk/government/news/environment-agency-announces-updated-plans-for-york-flood-scheme

How can we stop our village flooding again? https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-51008272

ARC Linkage funds research on early warning system for bushfires https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/more_news_stories/arc_linkage_bushfire

The danger of the Taal Volcano https://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/philippine-volcano-taal-erupts-with-a-fury-of-earthquakes-and-ash-10371/

$9.5 Million In Grants Awarded To Australian Researchers For Bushfire Forecast Project https://www.intelligentliving.co/9-5-million-grants-bushfire-forecast-project/

Tourism loses $4.5b to bushfires as overseas visitors cancel https://www.afr.com/companies/tourism/tourism-loses-4-5b-to-bushfires-as-overseas-visitors-cancel-20200116-p53s0s

Residents’ flood-risk fears resurface over new Chorley housing development https://www.lep.co.uk/news/environment/residents-flood-risk-fears-resurface-over-new-chorley-housing-development-1-10203641

This map presents a selection of regions likely to encounter significant water anomalies during the one year period beginning in October 2019 and running through September 2020 https://www.isciences.com/blog/2020/1/15/isciences-worldwide-water-watch-list-january-2020

Disasters, climate change failure and extreme weather three of the top risks facing the world in 2020 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/global-risks-climate-change-cyberattacks-economic-political/

 

Emergency management

Bushfire lessons available to act on ahead of royal commission, experts say https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-14/bushfires-lessons-ready-to-act-on-before-inquiry-experts-say/11851554?pfmredir=sm

As flood waters recede, Jakarta residents file lawsuit against governor https://www.reuters.com/article/indonesia-climatechange-lawsuit/as-flood-waters-recede-jakarta-residents-file-lawsuit-against-governor-idUSL8N29J07K

Smoke from Australia’s fires will make ‘full circuit’ around the world https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/14/australia/nasa-smoke-full-circuit-intl-scli-scn/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_term=link&utm_content=2020-01-14T19%3A50%3A03&utm_source=twCNN

Shealing: Post‐disaster slow healing and later recovery https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/area.12605

Canada to send 69 more fire personnel to Australia to battle wildfires, minister says https://globalnews.ca/news/6410492/australia-canada-firefighters-deployed/

American firefighters deployed to fight Australia fires met with cheers in Sydney https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australia-fires-firefighters-team-up-with-americans-to-fight-bushfires/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=80630431

More than 20,000 children evacuated from the ‘danger zone’ around erupting volcano https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/more-20000-children-evacuated-danger-zone-around-erupting-volcano

Fire services are facing a ‘toxic’ culture of ‘bullying and harassment’ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7891279/Fire-services-facing-toxic-culture-bullying-harassment.html

Flooding becomes politicized as Anies faces criticism https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/01/15/flooding-becomes-politicized-as-anies-faces-criticism.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Of potential use in emergency management the V-Coptr Falcon is a bi-copter drone that has a 50-minute battery life https://www.dpreview.com/news/1349415399/the-v-coptr-falcon-is-a-bi-copter-drone-that-has-a-50-minute-battery-life

Prehistoric Wollemi pines saved by firefighters from Australia’s bushfires https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2020/jan/16/prehistoric-wollemi-pines-saved-by-firefighters-from-australias-bushfires-video

Australian bushfires from the air: before and after images show scale of devastation https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/17/before-and-after-images-show-scale-of-bushfire-devastation?CMP=share_btn_tw

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience is developing Knowledge-into-Action briefs for people who are supporting communities to recover from the bushfire crisis https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/knowledge-into-action-briefs/

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Australians must learn a fine-grained language of fire in all its different localities https://insidestory.org.au/savage-summer/

Beyond lava and ash: What makes volcanoes dangerous? https://earth.stanford.edu/news/beyond-lava-and-ash-what-makes-volcanoes-dangerous#gs.s9kphb

Children’s book inspired by Somerset’s 1607 killer wave https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-50642915

Artists help communities during a crisis, not hinder. Why are we still told they don’t matter? https://theconversation.com/artists-help-communities-during-a-crisis-not-hinder-why-are-we-still-told-they-dont-matter-129695

Kobe commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake and through education is working to remind younger generations of the past devastation — and the importance of disaster preparedness https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/01/16/national/25-years-after-kobe-quake/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#.XiDTxX8zbIU

Victoria Police rejects social media campaign claiming arson caused fires https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-police-rejects-social-media-campaign-claiming-arson-caused-fires-20200108-p53pwj.html

Conceptualizing community in disaster risk management https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338552762_Conceptualizing_community_in_disaster_risk_management

Creating a business contingency plan for flooding https://www.anthonyjones.com/flooding-business-contingency-planning/

 

Psychology and Disasters

Geopolitical factors and mental health https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0020764018808548?journalCode=ispa

The role of risk perception in influencing flood losses over time http://hydrosocialextremes.org/the-role-of-risk-perception-in-influencing-flood-losses-over-time/

 

Sociology and disasters

Beware of bushfire scams: how fraudsters take advantage of those in need https://theconversation.com/beware-of-bushfire-scams-how-fraudsters-take-advantage-of-those-in-need-129549

Global problems need social science https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00064-x