Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…
Recent emergencies/disasters
US averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-b0811d7287ef240ae619ba1e385e0a63
Greece wildfires: Hundreds more evacuated as uncontrolled fires rage https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58138614
Dangerous fire conditions continue as dozens of wildfires devastate the West https://abcnews.go.com/US/dangerous-fire-conditions-continue-dozens-wildfires-devastate-west/story?id=79351500
El Salvador – Heavy Rain and Flash Floods Affect 4 Departments https://floodlist.com/america/el-salvador-floods-august-2021
India – Madhya Pradesh Floods Death Toll Rises to 24 https://floodlist.com/asia/india-madhya-pradesh-floods-update-august-2021
South Sudan – 90,000 Affected by Floods Since Start of Rainy Season https://floodlist.com/africa/south-sudan-floods-august-2021
Mexico – Homes Destroyed by Flash Floods in Coahuila and Durango https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-floods-coahuila-durango-august-2021
Indonesia – 2 Dead After Floods and Landslides in 5 Provinces https://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-landslides-august-2021
Thousands forced to evacuate as massive wildfire spreads through Greek island of Evia https://watchers.news/2021/08/09/evia-wildfire-greece-august-2021/
Over 350 villages inundated across Uttar Pradesh, India https://watchers.news/2021/08/09/350-villages-inundated-uttar-pradesh-india-august-2021/
Severe flash floods hit Coahuila and Durango, Mexico https://watchers.news/2021/08/08/severe-flash-floods-hit-coahuila-and-durango-mexico/
China – 80,000 Evacuate Floods in Sichuan https://floodlist.com/asia/china-floods-sichuan-august-2021
USA – Flash Floods Hit Omaha, Nebraska After Heavy Rain https://floodlist.com/america/usa/floods-omaha-nebraska-august-2021
Floods in North Korea destroy hundreds of homes https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/08/06/nkorea-North-Korea-flood-disaster-South-Hamgyong-province/9071628260499/
India – Hundreds of Villages Flooded in Uttar Pradesh, 9 People Dead https://floodlist.com/asia/india-floods-uttar-pradesh-august-2021
Russia – Far East Faces Another Wave of Floods as Rivers Rise Again https://floodlist.com/asia/russia-far-east-floods-august-2021
Ethiopia – Hundreds Displaced by Floods in Afar Region https://floodlist.com/africa/ethiopia-floods-afar-region-august-2021
China – 80,000 Evacuate Floods in Sichuan https://floodlist.com/asia/china-floods-sichuan-august-2021
Death toll rises in Sudan floods https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/death-toll-rises-in-sudan-floods
Floods hit Turkey’s north after south ravaged by wildfires https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/11/floods-hit-turkeys-north-after-south-ravaged-by-wildfires
Destructive wildfires leave at least 65 dead in northern Algeria https://watchers.news/2021/08/12/wildfires-tizi-ouzu-kabylie-algeria-august-2021/
Volcanic activity worldwide 12 Aug 2021: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Merapi, Shiveluch https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/138180/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-12-Aug-2021-Fuego-volcano-Popocatepetl-Merapi-Shiveluch-Rincon-de.html
Turkey – Floods in Black Sea Region Leave 6 Dead, 1 Missing, Dozens Injured https://floodlist.com/asia/turkey-black-sea-floods-update-august-2021
India – 7 Rivers Above Danger Mark in Bihar, Floods Affect Over 250,000 https://floodlist.com/asia/india-floods-bihar-august-2021
Central African Republic – Thousands Affected After Floods and Rain Destroy Homes in Bangui https://floodlist.com/africa/central-african-republic-floods-bangui-august-2021
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
‘Insanely cheap energy’: how solar power continues to shock the world https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/25/insanely-cheap-energy-how-solar-power-continues-to-shock-the-world
Apocalyptic fire and rain as UN climate report looms https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0806/1239496-weather-climate-change/
Italy and Spain are next: brutal heatwave with near +46 °C will be baking southern Europe https://www.severe-weather.eu/europe-weather/heat-dome-mediterranean-extreme-heatwave-italy-spain-mk/
World’s climate scientists to issue stark warning over global heating threat https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/08/worlds-climate-scientists-to-issue-stark-warning-over-global-heating-threat
Australia ‘lagging at the back of the pack’ of OECD countries on climate action, analysis finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/09/australia-lagging-at-the-back-of-the-pack-of-oecd-countries-on-climate-action-analysis-finds
The world is on the brink of ‘catastrophe,’ leader of next UN climate talks warns https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/08/world/climate-warning-alok-sharma-cop26-ipcc-intl/index.html
234 scientists read 14,000+ research papers to write the IPCC climate report – here’s what you need to know and why it’s a big deal https://theconversation.com/234-scientists-read-14-000-research-papers-to-write-the-ipcc-climate-report-heres-what-you-need-to-know-and-why-its-a-big-deal-165587
Reduce methane or face climate catastrophe, scientists warn https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/06/reduce-methane-or-face-climate-catastrophe-scientists-warn
Climate Change 2021: IPCC Sixth Climate Change Assessment Report https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
Major climate changes inevitable and irreversible – IPCC’s starkest warning yet https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/aug/09/humans-have-caused-unprecedented-and-irreversible-change-to-climate-scientists-warn
Some Past Sea Levels May Not Have Been as High as Thought, Says Study of Rising and Sinking Landmasses https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news-events/some-past-sea-levels-may-not-have-been-high-thought-says-study-rising-and-sinking
Climate change has already hit Australia. Unless we act now, a hotter, drier and more dangerous future awaits, IPCC warns https://theconversation.com/climate-change-has-already-hit-australia-unless-we-act-now-a-hotter-drier-and-more-dangerous-future-awaits-ipcc-warns-165396
A New Climate Change Report Without Much New Overall https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disaster-choice/202108/new-climate-change-report-without-much-new-overall
Yes, a few climate models give unexpected predictions – but the technology remains a powerful tool https://theconversation.com/yes-a-few-climate-models-give-unexpected-predictions-but-the-technology-remains-a-powerful-tool-165611
Sea level projection tool https://sealevel.nasa.gov/ipcc-ar6-sea-level-projection-tool
‘We’re not about to back down’: how climate experts hold hope despite the IPCC report https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/10/were-not-about-to-back-down-how-climate-experts-hold-hope-despite-the-ipcc-report
Climate change: IPCC report is ‘code red for humanity’ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58130705
How Do We Predict Climate Change? https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/topics/sustainability/climate-change-predictions
How we can transform our energy system to achieve net-zero emissions https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25133463-600-how-we-can-transform-our-energy-system-to-achieve-net-zero-emissions/
United States of Wildfire https://apps.npr.org/us-wildfires-impact-environment-climate-change/
The water cycle is intensifying as the climate warms, IPCC report warns – that means more intense storms and flooding https://theconversation.com/the-water-cycle-is-intensifying-as-the-climate-warms-ipcc-report-warns-that-means-more-intense-storms-and-flooding-165590
Future-Proofing Cities Against Climate Change https://www.archdaily.com/966045/future-proofing-cities-against-climate-change
What does the latest IPCC report mean for Australia? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-11/what-does-the-ipcc-report-mean-for-australia/100364884
Mediterranean faces fiercer heatwaves, drought, fires: UN draft report https://phys.org/news/2021-08-mediterranean-fiercer-heatwaves-drought.html
Insurers Won’t Save a Heating World From Floods and Fire https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-07-25/insurers-won-t-keep-bailing-out-climate-disasters-like-these-fires-and-floods
New heat record in Italy as ‘Lucifer’ sweeps in https://amp.france24.com/en/live-news/20210811-new-heat-record-in-italy-as-lucifer-sweeps-in
Italy may have registered Europe’s hottest temperature on record https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58130893
‘How high above sea level am I?’ If you’ve googled this, you’re likely asking the wrong question — an expert explains https://theconversation.com/how-high-above-sea-level-am-i-if-youve-googled-this-youre-likely-asking-the-wrong-question-an-expert-explains-165882
Greenhouse gas emissions must peak within 4 years, says leaked UN report https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/12/greenhouse-gas-emissions-must-peak-within-4-years-says-leaked-un-report
Defunct NSW coal mine belches 1 million tonnes of CO2 without penalty https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/defunct-nsw-coal-mine-belches-1-million-tonnes-of-co2-without-penalty-20210811-p58huv.html
Insights for African countries from the latest climate change projections https://theconversation.com/insights-for-african-countries-from-the-latest-climate-change-projections-165944
Disaster risk reduction
Here’s why $1.7 billion in hurricane levee work is needed in the New Orleans area https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_027011c4-f6fb-11eb-b8a1-3bb8f37aad3a.html
Uttarakhand CM launches India’s first earthquake early warning mobile app developed by IIT-Roorkee https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/uttarakhand-cm-launches-indias-first-earthquake-early-warning-mobile-app-developed-by-iit-roorkee/articleshow/85036170.cms?from=mdr
China’s high-tech anti-flood efforts show innovation strengths https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-08-06/China-s-high-tech-anti-flood-efforts-show-innovation-strengths-12vxIvbGfAc/index.html
3 wildfire lessons for forest towns as Dixie Fire destroys historic Greenville, California https://theconversation.com/3-wildfire-lessons-for-forest-towns-as-dixie-fire-destroys-historic-greenville-california-165718
York flooding: Build defences outside city, council says https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-58092514
Turkey spent only fraction of forest protection budget before wildfires erupted https://news.trust.org/item/20210806070027-z7yg8/
Global catastrophic risk from lower magnitude volcanic eruptions https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25021-8
Satellite-based tools provide regional perspectives on landslide hazards, help assess risks in near-real time, and guide emergency responses https://www.preventionweb.net/news/satellites-support-disaster-response-storm-driven-landslides
Cost–benefit analysis of flood mitigation measures: a case study employing high-performance hydraulic and damage modelling https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-021-04814-6
Integrating Multiple Research Methods to Unravel the Complexity of Human-Water Systems https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021AV000473
Navigating trade-offs between dams and river conservation https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/global-sustainability/article/navigating-tradeoffs-between-dams-and-river-conservation/6ADB5F2FB8C7D5B3B35AEF5F87541F22
Stanford researchers use artificial intelligence to unlock extreme weather mysteries https://woods.stanford.edu/news/stanford-researchers-use-artificial-intelligence-unlock-extreme-weather-mysteries
Integrated management of surface water and groundwater to mitigate flood risks and water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12720
Seismic risk management through insurance and its sensitivity to uncertainty in the hazard model https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-021-04748-z
Why understanding community behaviour matters for flood risk management? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jfr3.12724
The East Asian Covid-19 Paradox https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/east-asian-covid19-paradox/766AD8C7829F8A36A6232E399B2A9503
Italy’s Mount Etna – Europe’s Tallest Active Volcano Has A New Summit https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2021/08/11/italys-mount-etnaeuropes-tallest-active-volcano-has-a-new-summit/?sh=7140b2a46aab
Watch Venice’s new $7 billion Flood Defense System in action https://www.openculture.com/2021/08/watch-venices-new-7-billion-flood-defense-system-in-action.html
Coral Reef Restorations Can Be Optimized to Reduce Coastal Flooding Hazards https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.653945/full
Planning and Suitability Assessment of Large-scale Nature-based Solutions for Flood-risk Reduction https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11269-021-02848-w
Emergency management
Fires in Europe: EU steps up its aid and sends planes and firefighters https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2021-08-09-fires-in-europe–eu-steps-up-its-aid-and-sends-planes-and-firefighters.BJXGBu5RyF.html
Government publishes detailed list of countries helping in fire-fighting https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1165995/government-publishes-detailed-list-of-countries-helping-in-fire-fighting/
Long wait for flood compensation was ‘not acceptable’: Manitoba auditor general https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/long-wait-for-flood-compensation-was-not-acceptable-manitoba-auditor-general/ar-AAN6C5M?ocid=st
Method to extract difficult-to-evacuate areas by using tsunami evacuation simulation and numerical analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921004477?via%3Dihub
Russian AN-124 to Deliver Australian Water Bombers to Greece to aid in wildfire Emergency https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/08/12/russian-an-124-to-deliver-australian-water-bombers-to-greece-to-aid-in-wildfire-emergency/
Israel to expand use of COVID drug that gets 88% of patients out of hospital https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israel-to-expand-use-of-covid-drug-that-gets-88-percent-of-patients-out-of-hospital-676397
Car ‘graveyard’ a monument to the power of China’s record floods https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world/car-graveyard-a-monument-to-the-power-of-china-s-record-floods/ar-AANegDD?ocid=ob-tw-ensg-489
What can we improve now to prepare for future catastrophic and cascading disasters? https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/what-can-we-improve-now-prepare-future-catastrophic-and-cascading-disasters
Disaster education, communications and engagement
These games will test your know-how in a wide range of emergencies and teach you how to build the emergency kit https://www.ready.gov/kids/games
Adaptive governance and community resilience to cyclones in coastal Bangladesh: Addressing the problem of fit, social learning, and institutional collaboration https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353780006_Adaptive_governance_and_community_resilience_to_cyclones_in_coastal_Bangladesh_Addressing_the_problem_of_fit_social_learning_and_institutional_collaboration
Australians back science and scientists to lead recovery https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/australians-back-science-and-scientists-to-lead-recovery/
Psychology and disasters
‘People can’t sleep’: Rhondda valley flood leaves climate fear in its wake https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/08/people-cant-sleep-rhonda-valley-flood-leaves-climate-fear-wake
There Are More Than 50 Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 https://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2021/08/10/there_are_more_than_50_long-term_effects_of_covid-19_789293.html
‘We can’t let this happen’: How ordinary people handle climate distress https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-can-t-let-this-happen-how-ordinary-people-handle-climate-distress-20210811-p58hpw.html
Resources for working with climate emotions https://gendread.substack.com/p/resources-for-working-with-climate
Why understanding community behaviour matters for flood risk management? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jfr3.12724
Sociology and disasters
In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, women are risking to pay a higher price for the crisis than men https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/how-will-covid-19-crisis-affect-existing-gender-divides-europe
Hispanic people more likely to die at home from COVID-19 in North Carolina https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hispanic-people-more-likely-to-die-at-home-from-covid-19-in-north-carolina/ar-AAN6U6X?ocid=st
Does social capital contribute to prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic? Empirical evidence from China https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353664300_Does_social_capital_contribute_to_prevention_and_control_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_Empirical_evidence_from_China
Bleak future feared for Asia’s disaster-prone poor after UN climate report https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/bleak-future-feared-asia-disaster-prone-poor-climate-report
Infographic: Understanding societal resilience & risk awareness https://www.project-engage.eu/outcomes-results/infographic-understanding-societal-resilience-risk-awareness/
Disaster Resilience News 