Please find below links to some aspects of disaster resilience that were in the news recently…
Recent emergencies/disasters
Hurricane Hilary claims first victim as it closes in on Mexico and California https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-20/hurricane-hilary-mexico-and-california/102752538
Thousands evacuated as fires rage in Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/19/thousands-evacuated-as-fires-rage-in-tenerife-in-spains-canary-islands
Canada deploys armed forces as wildfires rage out of control https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/canada-deploys-armed-forces-as-wildfires-rage-out-of-control/xbo9u5bog
Sweltering temperatures bake central US as heatwave expected to continue https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/20/high-temperatures-central-us
A powerful and long-lasting heatwave has developed over south-central Europe and is forecast to peak this week https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/heat-dome-powerful-heatwave-update-forecast-europe-summer-season-2023-mk/
Canadian wildfires prompt evacuation of 20 000 as flames approach Yellowknife https://watchers.news/2023/08/19/canadian-wildfires-prompt-evacuation-of-20-000-as-flames-approach-yellowknife/
Mexico – Floods in Sinaloa and Baja California Sur After Hurricane Hilary Brings Heavy Rain https://floodlist.com/america/mexico-hurricane-hilary-floods-august-2023
Hilary becomes the fourth tropical storm or hurricane to reach California intact, brings record-breaking rains https://watchers.news/2023/08/21/hilary-becomes-the-fourth-tropical-storm-or-hurricane-to-reach-california-intact-brings-record-breaking-rains/
Zero-degree line at record height above Switzerland as heat and fire hit Europe https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/21/zero-degree-line-record-height-switzerland-heatwave-wildfire-europe
‘Bleak reality’: Greece wildfires kill 20 with dozens of firefighters injured https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/08/23/bleak-reality-fire-in-northwest-greece-rages-for-a-fourth-day-after-18-bodies-found
Hilary becomes the fourth tropical storm or hurricane to reach California intact, brings record-breaking rains https://watchers.news/2023/08/21/hilary-becomes-the-fourth-tropical-storm-or-hurricane-to-reach-california-intact-brings-record-breaking-rains/
Volcanic activity worldwide 23 Aug 2023: Fuego volcano, Klyuchevskoy, Popocatépetl, Karangetang https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/219164/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-23-Aug-2023-Fuego-volcano-Klyuchevskoy-Popocatepetl-Karangetang-As.html
Dominican Republic – Hundreds Displaced as Tropical Storm Franklin Triggers Floods and Landslides https://floodlist.com/america/dominican-republic-tropical-storm-franklin-floods-august-2023
USA – Dozens Evacuate Flash Floods in Arizona After 60mm of Rain in 2 Hours https://floodlist.com/america/usa/floods-coconino-arizona-hilary-august-2023
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Trillion-dollar cost of climate change will challenge federal budget https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/trillion-dollar-cost-of-climate-change-will-challenge-federal-budget-20230818-p5dxji.html
Greater Snowfall Speeds the Melting of Arctic Tundra, Study Finds https://e360.yale.edu/digest/arctic-snow-emissions-climate-change
Can we expect Atlantic hurricanes to change over the coming century due to global warming? https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/can-we-expect-atlantic-hurricanes-change-over-coming-century-due-global-warming
The ocean’s fever https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-21/ocean-tempertature-records-2023/102701172
Rising methane could be a sign that Earth’s climate is part-way through a ‘termination-level transition’ https://theconversation.com/rising-methane-could-be-a-sign-that-earths-climate-is-part-way-through-a-termination-level-transition-211211
Mountain treelines are rising due to climate crisis, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/19/mountain-treelines-rising-climate-crisis-study
The Climate Crisis and Colonialism Destroyed My Maui Home. Where We Must Go From Here https://time.com/6305817/maui-wildfires-climate-change-colonialism-essay/
Climate change impacts increase in South-West Pacific https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/climate-change-impacts-increase-south-west-pacific
Models suggest Grand Canyon could see increase in heat-related illnesses due to climate change https://phys.org/news/2023-08-grand-canyon-heat-related-illnesses-due.html
Throwing shade: Model maps NYC street trees’ cooling benefits https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/08/throwing-shade-model-maps-nyc-street-trees-cooling-benefits
The intergenerational report says climate is a ‘profound’ risk to Australia. But the full picture may be even worse https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/24/intergenerational-report-jim-chalmers-climate-change
Extreme weather events and public attention to climate change in Australia https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-023-03601-5
Canadian wildfires fueled by climate change, study shows https://www.dw.com/en/canadian-wildfires-fueled-by-climate-change-study-shows/a-66601298
Fossil fuels being subsidised at rate of $13m a minute, says IMF https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/24/fossil-fuel-subsidies-imf-report-climate-crisis-oil-gas-coal
Support for Australia’s UN climate bid should be linked to ceasing fossil fuel expansion, Pacific leaders say https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/24/pacific-island-leaders-say-support-for-australias-un-climate-bid-should-be-linked-to-ceasing-fossil-fuel-expansion
Massive economic pain for Australia if temperature rises exceed 2C, intergenerational report predicts https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/23/massive-economic-pain-for-australia-if-temperature-rises-exceed-2c-intergenerational-report-predicts
New modeling method helps to understand extreme heat waves https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/08/new-modeling-method-helps-understand-extreme-heat-waves
New test chamber created to find better ways to keep people cool https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2023/08/17/new-test-chamber-created-to-find-better-ways-to-keep-people-cool/
Disaster risk reduction
Giving Power to Communities for Fire Resilience https://fireadaptednetwork.org/giving-power-to-communities-for-fire-resilience/
Carolina researchers examine new construction in floodplains https://www.unc.edu/posts/2023/02/15/carolina-researchers-examine-new-construction-in-floodplains/
The Temi landslide – an ancient, valley-blocking failure in Sichuan Province, China https://eos.org/thelandslideblog/the-temi-landslide-an-ancient-valley-blocking-failure-in-sichuan-province-china
B.C. Forests Minister blames communities for slow progress on clearing wildfire fuel https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-forests-minister-blames-communities-for-slow-progress-on-wildfire-prevention
Maui dodged catastrophe in wildfires five years ago but missed an opportunity to prevent future disaster, residents say https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maui-officials-warned-lahaina-wildfires-2018-critics-rcna101515
Homebuyers have a right to know about past flood damage https://coastalreview.org/2023/08/homebuyers-have-a-right-to-know-about-past-flood-damage/
Living with wildfire: How to protect more homes as fire risk rises in a warming climate https://theconversation.com/living-with-wildfire-how-to-protect-more-homes-as-fire-risk-rises-in-a-warming-climate-208652
Emergency management
How communities can improve warning systems and disaster responses https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-communities-can-improve-warning-systems-and-disaster-responses
Native Hawaiian leaders demand say in how fire-ravaged Lahaina is rebuilt https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/08/19/native-hawaiian-leaders-demand-say-rebuilding-fire-ravaged-lahaina/
Why was there no water to fight the fire in Maui? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/17/hawaii-fires-maui-water-rights-disaster-capitalism
NSW fire crews work through weekend to contain more than 70 blazes across the state https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-20/nsw-fire-season-starts-as-crews-battle-70-blazes-in-strong-winds/102752616
N.W.T. fire crews eye direct attack on Yellowknife wildfire as warm, windy weather resumes https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-yellowknife-fire-update-august-20-2023-1.6941967
Canada is experiencing its worst wildfire season. This is what’s happening and what it looks like on the ground https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-21/canada-wildfires-what-we-know/102754712
Wildfires: EU mobilises new planes and firefighters for Greece https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/news/wildfires-eu-mobilises-new-planes-and-firefighters-greece-2023-08-21_en
EU Civil Protection Mechanism https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en
Preparing for wildfires: EU supports simulation exercise for Eastern Partnership region https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/stories/preparing-wildfires-eu-supports-simulation-exercise-eastern-partnership-region_en
Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement
Lost in translation? Climate experts aim to break language barrier https://www.context.news/just-transition/lost-in-translation-climate-experts-aim-to-break-language-barrier
Online posts spread misinformation about FEMA aid following Maui wildfires https://apnews.com/article/maui-wildfires-hawaii-fema-misinformation-8562e2e81e03626acc5be30700d73120
Does your newsroom have plans for how to cover sudden disasters? Editors share ideas https://www.preventionweb.net/news/does-your-newsroom-have-plans-how-cover-sudden-disasters-editors-share-ideas
Giving Power to Communities for Fire Resilience https://fireadaptednetwork.org/giving-power-to-communities-for-fire-resilience/
FEMA spokesperson looks to dispel rumors, distrust of organization in Maui https://www.kitv.com/news/lahaina/fema-spokesperson-looks-to-dispel-rumors-distrust-of-organization-in-maui/article_e46e04d2-409b-11ee-b4fb-8341803ded84.html
Disaster psychology
Bushfires focus public attention on climate change for months, but it’s different for storms and floods https://theconversation.com/bushfires-focus-public-attention-on-climate-change-for-months-but-its-different-for-storms-and-floods-212096
Sociology and disasters
Hurricanes Have Become Deadlier, Especially for Socially Vulnerable https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/hurricanes-have-become-deadlier-especially-socially-vulnerable
Extreme Heat May Hasten Cognitive Decline in Vulnerable Populations https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2023/august/extreme-heat-cognitive-decline.html
Social capital and its transition that enabled long-distance collective relocation after disasters -the case of 1889 flood reconstruction and domestic migration in Japan https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420923004259
Disaster Resilience News 