Category: flood

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Himalayan landslide in Uttarakhand, India, leaving up to 150 feared dead in floods https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-08/himalayan-glacier-breaks-india-150-feared-dead-in-floods/13130866

Carnarvon residents take stock of flood damage in WA’s north-west https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-07/carnarvon-residents-assess-damage-bill-amid-flood-recovery/13130748

Guadeloupe – Flash Floods Hit Basse-Terre Island After 85mm of Rain in 6 Hours http://floodlist.com/america/guadeloupe-flash-floods-february-2021

Jordan and Saudi Arabia – 4 Dead, Several Rescued After Flash Floods http://floodlist.com/asia/jordan-saudi-arabia-floods-february-2021

France – 400 Evacuated as Floods Continue in South West http://floodlist.com/europe/france-floods-southwest-february-2021

At least 24 people died in Morocco after heavy rain flooded an illegal underground textile workshop https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/08/at-least-24-dead-in-morocco-underground-factory-flood

Southwest France hit by heavy floods, Paris area on flood alert https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-weather-floods-idUSKBN2A8191

Morocco – Deadly Flash Floods in Tangier http://floodlist.com/africa/morocco-flood-tangier-february-2021

Brutal Covid-19 Surge in the U.S. Weakens Significantly https://www.wsj.com/articles/brutal-covid-19-surge-in-the-u-s-weakens-significantly-11612913598

Severe flooding hits Belo Horizonte as more than a month’s worth of rain falls in 72 hours, Brazil https://watchers.news/2021/02/09/belo-horizonte-flood-brazil-february-7-2021/

Volcanic activity worldwide 10 Feb 2021: Popocatépetl volcano, Reventador, Raung, Sangay, Sinabung https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/121547/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-10-Feb-2021-Popocatepetl-volcano-Reventador-Raung-Sangay-Sinabung.html

Indonesia – 4 Dead, 1 Missing, 60,000 Displaced After Floods Across Java Island http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-java-february-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

UK climate data shows why Australia’s best bet is with wind and solar https://reneweconomy.com.au/uk-climate-data-shows-why-australias-best-bet-is-with-wind-and-solar/

Wealthy Victorians least likely to support climate action: poll https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/wealthy-victorians-least-likely-to-support-climate-action-poll-20210206-p57063.html

Sir David Attenborough warns of climate ‘crisis moment’ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51123638

Clear impact of climate change in Himalayan disaster https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75942

People matters – Why quantifying inclusion is key to climate adaptation https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75943

Melting glaciers, rising seas: Approaching climate tipping points https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/2/5/melting-glaciers-rising-seas-climate-tipping-points

More at risk of losing homes as climate change outpaces response, Fiji warns https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75946

A comparative analysis to depict underlying attributes that might determine successful implementation of local adaptation plans https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901120314040?via%3Dihub

Covid caused a coal-killing carbon crunch, and it could be permanent https://reneweconomy.com.au/covid-caused-a-coal-killing-carbon-crunch-and-it-could-be-permanent/

Australians should be worried about future emissions. To be told otherwise is absurd https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/09/australians-should-be-worried-about-future-emissions-to-be-told-otherwise-is-absurd

Severe flood threat caused by climate change – landmark Oxford study https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-02-04-severe-flood-threat-caused-climate-change-landmark-oxford-study

Fossil fuel pollution may have killed 8.7 million people in single year, says Harvard study https://reneweconomy.com.au/fossil-fuel-pollution-may-have-killed-8-7-million-people-in-single-year-says-harvard-study/

Big-emitting Australian businesses could soon face costly carbon levy in Europe https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/11/big-emitting-australian-businesses-could-soon-face-costly-carbon-levy-in-europe

Weatherwatch: latest sea level rise forecast alarms scientists https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/feb/09/weatherwatch-latest-sea-level-rise-forecast-alarms-scientists

Cooling La Niña is on the wane, but temperatures set to rise: UN weather agency https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75980

The effects of climate change are already making large tracts of Western Sydney uninhabitable https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/urban-heat-island-effect-western-sydney/

Disaster risk reduction

Archaeologist says he was hired as PR move over Warragamba Dam project https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/archaeologist-says-he-was-hired-as-pr-move-over-warragamba-dam-project-20210204-p56zi4.html

Water Warning: The Looming Threat of the World’s Aging Dams https://e360.yale.edu/features/water-warning-the-looming-threat-of-the-worlds-aging-dams

Innovative solutions for flood risk management http://vanrednesituacije.com/ojs/index.php/Vol1/article/view/23

Flooding in England 2019-21 report https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmenvfru/170/170.pdf

Severe Weather Caused $2.4 Billion in Insured Damage in Canada in 2020 http://www.ibc.ca/on/resources/media-centre/media-releases/severe-weather-caused-$2-4-billion-in-insured-damage-in-2020

The COVID-19 pandemic challenge to the All-Hazards Approach for disaster planning https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921000698

CSU civil engineers find link between hospitals and schools key to community resilience, develop tool for measuring social services stability https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75941

The Relative Value Of Fire Planning Alternatives https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-ecology-and-the-environment/158/23323

Hydroelectric power, dams and landslides in the Himalayas https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2021/02/10/himalayas-1/

Flood Data Improved: New Version of Live Stream Gauges in Living Atlas https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-living-atlas/public-safety/stream-gauges-living-atlas/

Logging increases bush flammability for 30 years, research shows https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/logging-increases-bush-flammability-for-30-years-research-shows-20210210-p5719c.html

Why it matters that British Columbians buy earthquake insurance; Washingtonians don’thttps://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75996

Emergency management

As Perth’s suburbs burn, the rest of Australia watches and learns https://theconversation.com/as-perths-suburbs-burn-the-rest-of-australia-watches-and-learns-154544?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

Syria: Floods affect nearly 70,000 displaced people https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/30056/syria-floods-affect-nearly-70-000-displaced-people

Dennis Mileti: November 7, 1945 to January 30, 2021 https://hazards.colorado.edu/news/center-news/dennis-mileti-november-7-1945-to-january-30-2021

The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California https://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/post-wildfire-damage

Uttarakhand disaster likely caused by landslide, not glacial outburst, satellite images reveal https://theprint.in/science/uttarakhand-chamoli-disaster-likely-caused-by-landslide-not-glacial-outburst-satellite-images-reveal/600859/

The catastrophic landslide and flood in Chamoli in Uttarakhand: the sequence of events https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2021/02/08/chamoli-2/

New bushfire prediction technology aims to help frontline emergency teams https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-05/csiro-bushfire-simulation-aims-to-help-frontline-emergency-crews/13110238?section=technology

Wearing a second face mask over the one you already have could help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 significantly https://www.fastcompany.com/90603537/wearing-only-one-mask-you-have-room-to-improve-says-the-cdc

An emergency response technology company that works with different providers in Kenya to put the best emergency responders onto the same map https://rescue.co/about/

Australia Considers New Covid-19 Quarantine Strategy: Outback Isolation https://www.wsj.com/articles/australia-considers-new-covid-19-quarantine-strategy-outback-isolation-11610704005?mod=wsjtwittertest19&twclid=11359978333824446465

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Evacuation behaviors and emergency communications: An analysis of real-world incident videos https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092575352030518X?via%3Dihub

Disaster Education For Young People newsletter https://mailchi.mp/7ddb99f1d1fd/aidr-education-newsletter-2021-t1

Articles and activities to aid any educator in tackling the challenging topic of climate change https://greenteacher.com/books/

A study published on Voluntary Commitments by landslide stakeholders https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75935

Not Risking It: Children and youth in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the education sector https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75956

40-Second Video Shows A Billion Years Of Shifting Tectonic Plates https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2021/02/09/40-second-video-shows-a-billion-years-of-shifting-tectonic-plates/?sh=407d92602298

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February 2021 https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75991

Psychology and disasters

Mental Health Needs in Large-Scale Shelters: Lessons From Dallas https://hazards.colorado.edu/news/research-counts/special-collection/mental-health-needs-in-a-large-scale-shelters-lessons-from-dallas

Dynamic Risk Perception and Behavior in Response to COVID-19 https://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/dynamic-risk-perception-and-behavior-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

Children affected by Black Saturday and other bushfires may experience trauma long after the blaze is extinguished https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-07/black-saturday-bushfires-victoria-kilmore-east-st-andrews-health/12967704

Poorer mental health smolders after deadly, devastating wildfire https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/poorer-mental-health-smolders-after-deadly-devastating-wildfire

Sociology and disasters

What Came After Hurricane Harvey for People With Disabilities? Restoring, Recovering, and Rebuilding https://hazards.colorado.edu/news/research-counts/special-collection/what-strike-comes-strike-came-after-hurricane-harvey-for-people-with-disabilities-restoring-recovering-and-rebuilding

Reference Guides on Gender and Disaster Series https://www.ucl.ac.uk/risk-disaster-reduction/research/centre-gender-and-disaster/resources

The role of social capital in disaster resilience in remote communities after the 2015 Nepal earthquake https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420921000789?via%3Dihub

Beyond disaster vulnerabilities: An empirical investigation of the causal pathways linking conflict to disaster risks https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921000583?dgcid=author

Gender, disaster management and the private sector: Mapping and analysis of existing resources and previous interventions https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75967

Please find below links to recent news about some aspects of disaster resilience…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Intensity of Cyclone Ana surprises many in Fiji https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/435540/intensity-of-cyclone-ana-surprises-many-in-fiji

Thousands left homeless by storms, floods in Syria’s Idlib https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/thousands-left-homeless-by-storms-floods-in-syrias-idlib/

Papua New Guinea – Deadly Landslide in Morobe Province http://floodlist.com/asia/papua-new-guinea-landslide-morobe-january-2021

Fiji – Tropical Cyclone Ana Leaves 1 Dead, 5 Missing http://floodlist.com/australia/fiji-tropical-cyclone-ana-january-2021

Burundi – Floods in Bujumbura Province Force Thousands From Their Homes http://floodlist.com/africa/burundi-floods-bujumbura-january-2021

Chile – Floods and Landslides After Record Rainfall http://floodlist.com/america/chile-floods-storm-january-2021

At least 85 homes lost in Perth bushfires https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-02/wooroloo-bushfire-emergency-in-perth-hills-enters-second-day/13111784

Greece – Firefighter Dies in Flash Floods in Evroshttp://floodlist.com/asia/greece-floods-evros-february-2021

France – Evacuations as Rivers Rise in North and South West http://floodlist.com/europe/france-floods-february-2021

Paraguay – Severe Floods Hit Central and Southern Areas http://floodlist.com/america/paraguay-severe-floods-hit-central-and-southern-areas

Indonesia – 25,000 Affected by Floods in East and Central Javahttp://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-flash-east-central-java-february-2021

Volcanic activity worldwide 4 Feb 2021: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Dukono, Reventador, Raung https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/120982/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-4-Feb-2021-Fuego-volcano-Popocatepetl-Dukono-Reventador-Raung-San.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

The Guardian view on climate progress: the need for speed https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/31/the-guardian-view-on-climate-progress-the-need-for-speed

As Biden hits the accelerator on climate action, Australia remains stuck in policy paralysis https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-31/biden-hits-accelerator-climate-action-australia-policy-paralysis/13103574

Climate change may change rainfall patterns in south India, intensify floods: Study https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/climate-change-may-change-rainfall-patterns-in-south-india-intensify-floods-study-101611040966201.htmlAustralia’s grid is reshaping itself around the surge in clean energy https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-grid-is-reshaping-itself-around-the-surge-in-clean-energy/

If the Science is Clear, Why Do We Need More Climate Research? https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2021/01/26/climate-research-solutions/

America needs a climate adaptation strategy https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/535200-america-needs-a-climate-adaptation-strategy#.YBcA1-am5qs.twitter

NUS researchers develop new urban planning GIS tool to improve urban climate resilience https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75785

Climate Risk in Africa https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030611590

Heat killed a record number of people in Arizona last year, ‘a staggering increase’ https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2021/01/31/heat-killed-record-number-people-arizona-last-year/4294654001/

World Losing Ice 57 Percent Faster Than In the 1990s, Study Finds https://e360.yale.edu/digest/world-losing-ice-57-percent-faster-than-in-the-1990s-study-finds

Australia needs to stop thinking that setting a target of zero emissions by 2050 is good enough https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2021/feb/02/australia-needs-to-stop-thinking-that-setting-a-target-of-zero-emissions-by-2050-is-good-enough

Living with water project explores coastal adaptation plans to address rising sea levels https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75817

Sea level rise could be worse than feared, warn researchers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/02/sea-level-rise-could-be-worse-than-feared-warn-researchers

As climate warms, summer monsoons to produce less streamflow https://www.dri.edu/as-climate-warms-summer-monsoons-to-produce-less-streamflow/

Florida Unveils New Statewide Sea Rise Mapping Tool https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-01-19/florida-unveils-new-statewide-sea-rise-mapping-tool

U.S. Cities Are Underestimating Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-cities-are-underestimating-their-greenhouse-gas-emissions/

Adults should listen to children to understand the severity of the climate crisis https://fortune.com/2021/01/24/climate-change-crisis-carbon-neutrality-children/

Why Learning Is Essential for Climate Adaptation Monitoring and Evaluation https://www.napglobalnetwork.org/2020/12/why-learning-is-essential-for-climate-adaptation-me/

Updated yardstick begs question: What’s ‘normal’ in a changing climate? https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/02/updated-yardstick-begs-question-whats-normal-in-a-changing-climate/

EU climate change plans will ripple through foreign policy, researchers say https://news.trust.org/item/20210203162038-oae5k/

Simultaneous drought and heat wave events are becoming more common https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75853

Risk of extreme droughts likely to increase in Scotland https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75851

Community based flood early warning systems: Improving climate change adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75878

For a City Staring Down the Barrel of a Climate-Driven Flood, A New Study Could be the Smoking Gun https://insideclimatenews.org/news/04022021/for-a-city-staring-down-the-barrel-of-a-climate-driven-flood-a-new-study-could-be-the-smoking-gun/

Increasing risk of floods as glaciers recede in Central Andes, South America https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75897

Disaster risk reduction

Scientists identify flank instability at a volcano with history of collapse https://geologyscience.info/scientists-identify-flank-instability-at-a-volcano-with-history-of-collapse/

Everbridge unveils next-generation front-end alerting interface for industry-leading global public warning platform https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75788

Indigenous rangers in WA north priced out of bushfire prevention by insurance price jump https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-01/indigenous-rangers-kimberley-bushfire-management/13090088

Homeowners who put in flood defences may pay less for insurance https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/01/homeowners-who-put-in-flood-defences-may-pay-less-for-insurance

The age of the “megafire” https://graphics.reuters.com/USA-WILDFIRES/EXTREMES/qzjvqmmravx/

UAE-India pact to help with forecast and early warnings on cyclones, tsunamis, sand storms https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75813

Indonesia and ASEAN usher in a new era of disaster readiness, response, and risk reduction https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75811

Hurricanes and typhoons moving 30km closer to coasts every decade https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75810

Urbanization impacts on flood risks based on urban growth data and coupled flood models https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-020-04480-0

Exposure to natural hazard events unassociated with policy change for improved disaster risk reduction https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20435-2

Assessment of trends in hydrological extremes using regional magnification factors https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0309170821000075?dgcid=author

Flooding risk rises as UK’s wetlands lost https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/feb/02/weatherwatch-flooding-risk-rises-as-uk-wetlands-lost

Resilience of SMEs https://www.undrr.org/publication/resilience-smes

Link between three typhoons that affected the Korean Peninsula in the summer of 2020 and wildfires in the western United States https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75842

Here’s why effective disaster management needs responsible AI https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75837

Latest edition of Molino Stewart’s Floodplain Manager newsletter https://www.molinostewart.com.au/editorial/floodplain-manager-january-2021/

Storms, tornadoes and explosions: Bushfires are getting stranger. How? https://www.smh.com.au/national/storms-tornadoes-and-explosions-bushfires-are-getting-stranger-how-20201214-p56n5j.html

2020 FM Global Resilience Index https://www.fmglobal.com/research-and-resources/tools-and-resources/resilienceindex

Canadian hail storm catastrophe marked as one of most severe in North America https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/catastrophe/canadian-catastrophe-marked-as-one-of-most-severe-in-north-america-245442.aspx#.YBreclC9RpQ.twitter

Resilient Shores: Vietnam’s Coastal Development Between Opportunity and Disaster Risk https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/vietnam/brief/vietnam-resilient-shores

Allianz Risk Barometer 2021: Covid-19 trio tops global business risks https://www.agcs.allianz.com/news-and-insights/news/allianz-risk-barometer-2021.html

Towards a multidimensional vulnerability index: Discussion paper https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75877

I lived through Hurricane Katrina and helped design the rebuild – floods will always come, but we can build better to prepare https://theconversation.com/i-lived-through-hurricane-katrina-and-helped-design-the-rebuild-floods-will-always-come-but-we-can-build-better-to-prepare-153452

Disaster risk reduction in India: Status report 2020 https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75756

Status of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia-Pacific 2020 https://www.undrr.org/publication/status-science-and-technology-disaster-risk-reduction-asia-pacific-2020

Overshadowed by COVID: the deadly extreme weather of 2020 https://theconversation.com/overshadowed-by-covid-the-deadly-extreme-weather-of-2020-151237

Scientists Are Looking Beyond Antibiotics to Stop the Drug-Resistant Bacteria Crisis https://gizmodo.com/scientists-are-looking-beyond-antibiotics-to-stop-the-d-1846184160

Anticipating the flood: Taking early actions at the Lower Limpopo in Mozambique https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75904

Emergency management

Navigating the complexities around a COVID vaccine in Africa https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/01/25/navigating-the-complexities-around-a-covid-vaccine-in-africa/?preview_id=1386109

Cyclone Eloise shatters Mozambique’s progress to recover from 2019 storms https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75784

Factors influencing acceptance or rejection regarding being the host community for post-disaster resettlements in developing countries https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75778

Canada to quarantine travelers, suspend flights south https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/source-canada-quarantine-travelers-hotels-75564671

What do new variants of the coronavirus mean for us? https://www.theage.com.au/national/what-do-new-variants-of-the-coronavirus-mean-for-us-20210126-p56wuo.html

The Complex Decisions Around Rebuilding After A Wildfire https://www.npr.org/2021/01/27/961097205/the-complex-decisions-around-rebuilding-after-a-wildfire

How to enhance community recovery after disasters https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75834

Blue Mountains did not receive a cent from $177m NSW bushfire disaster fund https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/04/blue-mountains-did-not-receive-a-cent-from-177m-nsw-bushfire-disaster-fund

Eloise Floods Mozambique https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/147866/eloise-floods-mozambique?src=eoa-iotd

The seven countries with better coronavirus responses than Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-30/seven-countries-with-better-coronavirus-response-than-australia/13102988

Disaster education, communications and engagement

After years of tough lessons, spanish-speaking communities rise to get wildfire information fast and in their language https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75783

Flood risk communication – final project report https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75786

Representation of disasters in school textbooks for children with intellectual disabilities in Iran: A qualitative content analysis https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75779

#SimulateThis Using role playing to help students gain experience for real-life crisis scenarios they may encounter in the future https://www.colorado.edu/cmcinow/2020/10/22/simulatethis

Demystifying learning https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-34/february-2021/demystifying-learning

‘Bring Your Own Brigade’: Film Review | Sundance 2021 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bring-your-own-brigade-film-review-sundance-2021

Help Callum 360 video tells the true story of a young boy whose house was flooded, using his own words and seeing through his own eyes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gpOOcQV1fw

New book: Children and Young People’s Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/children-and-young-peoples-participation-in-disaster-risk-reduction

Early warnings of COVID-19 outbreaks across Europe from social media https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-81333-1

Engaging with care: Incorporating ethics and compassion into disaster research https://hazards.colorado.edu/news/research-counts/engaging-with-care-incorporating-ethics-and-compassion-into-disaster-research

Psychology and disasters

Cooperative and competitive behaviour among passengers during the costa concordia disaster https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753520304525

About the Disaster Mental Health Hub https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/disaster-hub/about/

Migration not seen as solution by those in flood zone https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/02/migration-not-seen-solution-those-flood-zones

Survey finds low public trust in local officials, higher trust in first responders https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/communications/articles/survey-finds-low-public-trust-in-local-officials-higher-trust-in-first-responders-SRemSz85ri7Wo13X/

Sociology and disasters

The COVID-19 pandemic is shining an unforgiving light on the world’s most vulnerable and marginal people https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/71618

White people receiving coronavirus vaccine at higher rates than Black, Latino Americans https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/535992-white-people-receiving-coronavirus-vaccine-at-higher-rates-than-black

You can’t talk about disaster risk reduction without talking about inequality https://theconversation.com/you-cant-talk-about-disaster-risk-reduction-without-talking-about-inequality-153189

Checklist for gender equality and social inclusion in disaster/emergency preparedness in the COVID-19 context https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75820

Social capital in community response after Cyclone Winston: Case study of three different communities in Fiji https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349035180_Social_capital_in_community_response_after_Cyclone_Winston_Case_study_of_three_different_communities_in_Fiji

Underinsurance is entrenching poverty as the vulnerable are hit hardest by disasters https://theconversation.com/underinsurance-is-entrenching-poverty-as-the-vulnerable-are-hit-hardest-by-disasters-152083

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

At least 12 killed after Tropical Cyclone “Eloise” makes landfall near Beira, Mozambique https://watchers.news/2021/01/24/tropical-cyclone-eloise-landfall-aftermath-beira-mozambique-2021/

Burundi – Floods in Bujumbura Province Force Thousands From Their Homes http://floodlist.com/africa/burundi-floods-bujumbura-january-2021

‘Like a bomb went off’: 1 dead, at least 30 injured after tornado rips through parts of Alabama https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/01/26/alabama-tornado-1-dead-several-injured-birmingham/4256808001/

Brazil – Deadly Floods and Landslides in Santa Catarina After 40mm of Rain in 1 Hour http://floodlist.com/america/brazil-floods-landslides-santacatarina-january-2021

Southern Africa – Tropical Cyclone Eloise Triggers Floods in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa http://floodlist.com/africa/storm-eloise-floods-mozambique-zimbabwe-southafrica-january-2021

Wildfire Ravages 10,000 Hectares of Forest in Argentina https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/-Wildfire-Ravages-10000-Hectares-of-Forest-in-Argentina-20210127-0009.html

Volcanic activity worldwide 27 Jan 2021: Etna volcano, Pacaya, Fuego, Popocatépetl, Merapi, Dukono https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/120319/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-27-Jan-2021-Etna-volcano-Pacaya-Fuego-Popocatepetl-Merapi-Dukono.html

USA – California Storm Triggers Mudslides, Prompts Evacuation Orders in Burn Areas http://floodlist.com/america/usa/california-storm-mudslides-janaury-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Heatwaves may mean Sydney is too hot for people to live in ‘within decades’ https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-01-24/heatwaves-sydney-uninhabitable-climate-change-urban-planning/12993580

America needs a climate adaptation strategy https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/535200-america-needs-a-climate-adaptation-strategy

Climate change must get the same scientific response as coronavirus, Australian Nobel winner says https://www.sbs.com.au/news/climate-change-must-get-the-same-scientific-response-as-coronavirus-australian-nobel-winner-says?cid=news:socialshare:twitter

How to make your home more resilient to heatwaves and severe storms in summer https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-01-25/making-your-home-resilient-to-heatwaves-and-severe-storms/12880698?nw=0

As heatwaves become more extreme, which jobs are riskiest? https://theconversation.com/as-heatwaves-become-more-extreme-which-jobs-are-riskiest-151841?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

Mitigation, adaptation or do nothing: Responding to climate change https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/mitigation-adaptation-or-do-nothing-responding-to-climate-change,14732#.YBBpLix7wJY.twitter

Australia could take massive economic hit from climate-fuelled extreme weather, report warns https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-could-take-massive-economic-hit-from-climate-fuelled-extreme-weather-report-warns

Hitting Home: The Compounding Costs of Climate Inaction https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/hitting-home-compounding-costs-climate-inaction/

‘The science is real’: Coastal experts hope Biden will partner to combat sea level rise https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2021/01/18/coastal-experts-hope-biden-partner-combat-sea-level-rise/6559610002/

Global ice loss accelerating at record rate, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/25/global-ice-loss-accelerating-at-record-rate-study-finds

Climate adaptation summit hears dire warnings but misses action to match https://news.trust.org/item/20210125184715-myc21/

Biden’s new climate orders to include suspension of federal oil and gas leasing – sources https://news.trust.org/item/20210126162840-3ix33/

40 Governments and Leading Institutions Commit to Support Locally Led Climate Adaptation https://www.wri.org/news/2021/01/release-40-governments-and-leading-institutions-commit-support-locally-led-climate

“Now it’s unpredictable”: Young people face climate change in Papua New Guinea https://www.adaptation-undp.org/young-people-face-climate-change-in-papua-new-guinea

Global climate risk index 2021 https://germanwatch.org/sites/germanwatch.org/files/Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202021_1.pdf

Impacts of Climate Change on Hydroclimatic Conditions of U.S. National Forests and Grasslands https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/2/139

With 1.2 million respondents, the Peoples’ Climate Vote is the largest survey of public opinion on climate change ever conducted https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/climate-and-disaster-resilience-/The-Peoples-Climate-Vote-Results.html

Climate change brings challenges for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75722

‘Resilient recovery’: Cities link pandemic, climate adaptation responses https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75712

New climate panel says Australia needs to aim for net zero emissions by 2035 https://reneweconomy.com.au/new-climate-panel-says-australia-needs-to-aim-for-net-zero-emissions-by-2035/

Global Ice Loss on Pace to Drive Worst-Case Sea Level Rise https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25012021/global-ice-loss-sea-level-rise/

UK electricity from renewables outpaces gas and coal power https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/28/uk-electricity-from-renewables-outpaces-gas-and-coal-power

Climate change is now a national security priority for the Pentagon https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2021/01/27/climate-change-is-now-a-national-security-priority-for-the-pentagon/

Climate Adaptation Summit: Invest in early warnings and early action https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75749

What you need to know about the climate change resilience rating system https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75774

“World first”: South Australia achieves 100pct solar, and lowest prices in Australia https://reneweconomy.com.au/world-first-south-australia-achieves-100pct-solar-and-lowest-prices-in-australia/

Disaster risk reduction

‘Inadequate’: Indigenous survey for Warragamba Dam plan found wanting https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/inadequate-indigenous-survey-for-warragamba-dam-plan-found-wanting-20210123-p56wc7.html

Native American fire management at an ancient wildland–urban interface in the Southwest United States https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2018733118

How Africa’s largest city is staying afloat https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210121-lagos-nigeria-how-africas-largest-city-is-staying-afloat

The Australian flammability monitoring system: Providing a clear picture of landscape dryness https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/88

Simulating 800,000 years of California earthquake history to pinpoint riskshttps://phys.org/news/2021-01-simulating-years-california-earthquake-history.html

3 Shifts to Advance Adaptation and Resilience in 2021 https://www.wri.org/blog/2021/01/3-shifts-advance-adaptation-and-resilience-2021

Ageing Dams Pose Growing Threat: UN https://inweh.unu.edu/ageing-dams-pose-growing-threat-un/

Thousands of crucial flood defences across England were in poor condition last year https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2021/01/24/floods-northern-england-storm-christoph/

Increasing numbers of U.S. residents live in high-risk wildfire and flood zones. Why? https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2021/01/22/high-risk-wildfire-flood-zones/

Atlas of the human planet 2020: Open geoinformation for research, policy, and action https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75673

Natural disasters data book 2019: An analytical overview https://www.adrc.asia/publications/databook/ORG/databook_2019/pdf/DataBook2019.pdfWeather, climate & catastrophe insight: 2020 annual report http://thoughtleadership.aon.com/Documents/20210125-if-annual-cat-report.pdf

Hazard definition and classification review https://www.undrr.org/publication/hazard-definition-and-classification-review

Status of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia-Pacific 2020 https://www.undrr.org/publication/status-science-and-technology-disaster-risk-reduction-asia-pacific-2020

De Blasio’s $1 Million Flood Plan Shelved and Hidden From High-Risk East Harlem https://www.thecity.nyc/2021/1/25/22245050/de-blasio-hides-flood-climate-plan-from-east-harlem-resiliency

New warning system in Bangladesh to tackle rising landslide risk https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75708

Managing flood risk https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75715

UNESCO provides Morocco with 7 earthquake early warning equipment https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75748

Lessons for future disasters https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75677

Disaster risk reduction in Australia: Status report 2020 https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75765

How heatwaves and drought combine to produce the perfect firestorm https://theconversation.com/how-heatwaves-and-drought-combine-to-produce-the-perfect-firestorm-153890

Emergency management

Doctors Begin to Crack Covid’s Mysterious Long-Term Effects https://www.wsj.com/articles/doctors-begin-to-crack-covids-mysterious-long-term-effects-11604252961

How a Himalayan community kept Covid-19 under check https://scroll.in/article/984960/how-a-himalayan-community-kept-covid-19-under-check

Anticipation in Emergency Management: Shifting from Crisis Response to Shaping Future Resilience http://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/3182/

UK Covid deaths: Why the 100,000 toll is so bad https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55757790

All countries should pursue a Covid-19 elimination strategy: here are 16 reasons why https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/jan/28/all-countries-should-pursue-a-covid-19-elimination-strategy-here-are-16-reasons-why

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Understanding Visual Risk Communication Messages: An Analysis of Visual Attention Allocation and Think-Aloud Responses to Tornado Graphics https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/wcas/13/1/wcas-d-20-0042.1.xml

Information is power: Connecting local responders to the risk information that they need https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75630

Participatory mapping and visualization of local knowledge: An example from Eberbach, Germany https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75705

Homeowners guide to property flood resilience https://www.knowyourfloodrisk.co.uk/sites/default/files/FloodGuide_ForHomeowners.pdf

Evaluating learning spaces in flood risk management in Germany: Lessons for governance research https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12682

Psychology and disasters

Warning over mental health effects of floods in the UKhttps://www.inkl.com/news/warning-over-mental-health-effects-of-floods-in-the-uk?share=rdMRglizvxJ

Insurance firm offers mental health support as UK flood risk surges https://news.trust.org/item/20210120141437-dr738/

Using virtual reality to study pedestrian exit choice behaviour during evacuations https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925753521000011

The importance of public risk perception for the effective management of pluvial floods in urban areas: A case study from Germany https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12688

Domestic violence soars after natural disasters. Preventing it needs to be part of the emergency response https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75697

Sociology and disasters

The Sociology of Structural Disaster https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/sociology-structural-disaster-miwao-matsumoto/10.4324/9781315386188

Winter weather brings fresh disaster to Gaza https://electronicintifada.net/content/winter-weather-brings-fresh-disaster-gaza/32191

Vulnerability assessment of households to flash floods and landslides in the poor upland regions of Vietnam https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221209632030005X?via%3Dihub

‘49% more likely to die’ – racial inequalities of COVID-19 laid bare in study of East London hospitals https://theconversation.com/49-more-likely-to-die-racial-inequalities-of-covid-19-laid-bare-in-study-of-east-london-hospitals-153834

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Massive pyroclastic flow at Semeru volcano, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2021/01/17/massive-pyroclastic-flow-semeru-volcano-january-16-2021/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Severe floods hit Bolivia and Paraguay https://watchers.news/2021/01/20/bolivia-paraguay-floods-january-2021/

New paroxysmal eruptive episode at Etna’s Southeast Crater, Italy https://watchers.news/2021/01/19/etna-eruption-january-18-2021/

Indonesia earthquake rescuers hampered by damaged infrastructure after dozens killed https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/16/indonesia-earthquake-rescuers-hampered-by-damaged-infrastructure-after-dozens-killed

Syria – Floods in Displacement Camps in Idlib and Aleppo http://floodlist.com/asia/syria-floods-idlib-aleppo-january-2021

Indonesia – Deadly Floods and Landslides in South Kalimantan and North Sulawesi http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-southkalimantan-northsulawesi-january-2021

Powerful M7.1 earthquake hits off the coast of Mindanao, Philippines https://watchers.news/2021/01/21/m7-1-earthquake-philippines-indonesia-january-21-2021/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Around 2,000 homes and businesses in Manchester told to evacuate due to flooding fears https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/around-2000-homes-businesses-manchester-19668489

Madagascar – Tropical Storm Eloise Leaves Homes Destroyed, Hundreds Displaced http://floodlist.com/africa/madagascar-tropical-storm-eloise-january-2021

Brazil – Flash Floods and Landslides in São Paulo and Minas Gerais http://floodlist.com/america/brazil-floods-landslides-sao-paulo-minas-gerais-january-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Climate change blamed for a third of U.S. flood losses in past 3 decades https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/climate-change-blamed-for-a-third-of-us-flood-losses-in-past-3-decades/2021/01/15/398728a2-544c-11eb-a817-e5e7f8a406d6_story.html

Powerful winds spark new blazes in California’s year-round fire ‘season’ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/19/california-fire-climate-crisis-high-winds

Health warnings as ‘intense’ heatwave to hit NSW until Australia Day https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/health-warnings-as-intense-heatwave-to-hit-nsw-until-australia-day-20210121-p56vuf.html

Biden hits reset on US climate action – and turns up the heat on Morrison https://reneweconomy.com.au/biden-hits-reset-on-us-climate-action-and-turns-up-the-heat-on-morrison/

Biden returns US to Paris climate accord hours after becoming president https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/paris-climate-accord-joe-biden-returns-us

Legal bid to stop UK building Europe’s biggest gas power plant fails https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/21/climate-crisis-uk-legal-bid-stop-biggest-gas-power-station-europe-fails

Five reasons to be optimistic about clean energy in 2021 https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2020/five-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-clean-energy-in-2021.html

Keeping it local: Engaging communities in climate resilience projects in Yangon https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75601

Disaster risk reduction

The link between tropical cyclones and heatwaves https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/the-link-between-tropical-cyclones-and-heatwaves/533345

Accurate forecasts of rainfall can help save lives and livelihoods from drought in Sub-Saharan Africa https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75614

These are the world’s greatest threats in 2021 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/world-greatest-threats-2021/

NZ landslides more dangerous than quakes https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/123927961/nz-landslides-more-dangerous-than-quakes

Invited perspectives: Building sustainable and resilient communities – recommended actions for natural hazard scientistshttps://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75594

A risk analysis of COVID‐19 infections in Kolkata Metropolitan City: A GIS based study https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75602

The global risks report 2021, 16th edition https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75580

The National Risk Index: Discover the landscape of natural hazard risk in the United States https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75535

Emergency management

A Really Bad Idea! “Caught on video: Japan emergency callers will be able to send footage to police” https://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.com/2020/12/a-really-bad-idea-caught-on-video-japan.html

Mask-wearing and control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA: a cross-sectional study https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30293-4/fulltext#.YAnbH_IniZ0.twitter

Biden outlines vaccine plan, requires masks on flights https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/01/21/covid-news-vaccine-shortages-us-response-joe-biden-california/4237433001/

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Disaster season is here — do you have a Resilience Action Plan? Here’s how the small town of Tarnagulla built theirs https://theconversation.com/disaster-season-is-here-do-you-have-a-resilience-action-plan-heres-how-the-small-town-of-tarnagulla-built-theirs-151570

Individual action, community good: coming together to save ourselves and the planet https://www.theguardian.com/bank-australia-collective-good/2020/nov/19/individual-action-community-good-coming-together-to-save-ourselves-and-the-planet?CMP=share_btn_tw

For eyewitness accounts of earthquake shaking, representation matters https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75613

Using community resilience vision statements to engage communities in Bangladesh https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75596

Sociology and disasters

The dual effect of social ties on COVID‑19 spread in Japan https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-81001-4.epdf

Strengthening urban resilience in Amman, Jordan, to mitigate flash floods and protect vulnerable communities https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75581

Please find below links to recent news about some aspects of disaster resilience…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Landslides kill 11, injure 18 in Indonesia’s West Java https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/10/indonesia-landslides-kill-11-injure-18-in-west-java

Coronavirus crisis worsens with global surges and fresh outbreaks https://www.newscientist.com/article/2264060-coronavirus-crisis-worsens-with-global-surges-and-fresh-outbreaks/

Deadly avalanche strikes ski resort in the world’s northernmost city of Norilsk, Russiahttps://watchers.news/2021/01/10/deadly-avalanche-strikes-ski-resort-in-the-world-s-northernmost-city-of-norilsk-russia/

Record rains hit southern Thailand, leaving 3 dead and more than 58 000 households affected by floods https://watchers.news/2021/01/10/southern-thailand-flood-january-2021/

Albania – Families Evacuated After Floods in Northhttp://floodlist.com/europe/albania-floods-january-2021

Jamaica – Flash Floods in Montego Bay http://floodlist.com/america/jamaica-flash-floods-montego-bay-january-2021

Philippines – Thousands Hit by More Floods in Central Regions http://floodlist.com/asia/philippines-negros-occidental-floods-january-2021

Worst flooding in 50 years leaves 6 dead, 50 000 displaced in Malaysia https://watchers.news/2021/01/11/malaysia-flood-january-2021/

Spain – Deadly Flash Floods in South After Heavy Rain From Storm Filomena http://floodlist.com/europe/spain-floods-malaga-storm-filomena-january-2021

Indonesia – Thousands of Homes Flooded in Bandung Regency, West Java Province http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floodsbandung-regency-west-java-january-2021

Malaysia – Almost 2,000 Displaced by Floods in Sabah http://floodlist.com/asia/malaysia-floods-sabah-january-2021

Southeastern Europe – Floods Prompt Evacuations in Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania and Kosovo http://floodlist.com/europe/serbia-bulgaria-albania-kosovo-floods-january-2021

Turkey drought: Istanbul could run out of water in 45 days https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/13/turkey-drought-istanbul-run-out-water-45-days

Category 5 atmospheric river brings flooding rain and strong winds to Oregon and Washington, U.S. https://watchers.news/2021/01/13/category-5-atmospheric-river-oregon-washington-january-2021/

Namibia – Heavy Rain Continues, Flash Floods in Windhoek http://floodlist.com/africa/namibia-floods-windhoek-january-2021

Indonesia – Thousands of Homes Damaged After Floods in West Sumatra http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-solok-january-2021

Volcanic activity worldwide 14 Jan 2021: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Merapi, Reventador, Sangay https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/119146/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-14-Jan-2021-Fuego-volcano-Popocatepetl-Merapi-Reventador-Sangay-S.html

USA – 1 Missing After Rains Trigger Floods and Landslides in Oregon http://floodlist.com/america/usa/floods-landslides-oregon-january-2021

Tanzania – Severe Flooding in Mtwara Region After Torrential Rainfall http://floodlist.com/africa/tanzania-flood-mtwara-january-2021

Indonesia – Thousands of Families Affected by Floods in South Kalimantan Province http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-south-kalimantan-january-2021

Turkey – Flash Floods in Izmir http://floodlist.com/asia/turkey-floods-izmir-january-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Cities could get more than 4°C hotter by 2100. To keep cool in Australia, we urgently need a national planning policy https://theconversation.com/cities-could-get-more-than-4-c-hotter-by-2100-to-keep-cool-in-australia-we-urgently-need-a-national-planning-policy-152680

Global heating could stabilize if net zero emissions achieved, scientists say https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/07/global-heating-stabilize-net-zero-emissions

2020 ties with 2016 as world’s hottest year on record, EU climate change service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-08/2020-ties-with-2016-as-worlds-hottest-year-on-record-eu-climate/13043854

Climate change activists want COP26 to build on the momentum of 2020 https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2021-01-10/Climate-change-activists-want-COP26-to-build-on-the-momentum-of-2020-WTidDY7c0E/index.html

CO2 levels seen more than 50% above pre-industrial levels in 2021 https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/8/co2-levels-seen-more-than-50-above-pre-industrial-levels-in-2021

Climate change: Africa’s green energy transition ‘unlikely’ this decade https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55620848

UN chief calls for ‘urgent transition’ from fossil fuels to renewable energy https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081802

Retrofitting unused spaces can help South African cities adapt to climate change https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75467

Norway’s comprehensive climate action plan https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75464

Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call https://climateextremes.org.au/australias-black-summer-a-climate-wake-up-call/

Awareness of urban climate adaptation strategies – An international overview https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75463

As the Arctic melts, a regime shift is taking place https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-13/regime-shift-is-taking-place-as-arctic-sea-ice-melts/12956328?nw=0

Decoupling of the Arctic Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation in a warmer climate https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-00966-8

New Zealand records seventh-hottest year, with extreme weather more likely https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/new-zealand-records-seventh-hottest-year-with-extreme-weather-more-likely

The cities most impacted by sea level rise https://heraldcourier.com/lifestyles/the-cities-most-impacted-by-sea-level-rise/article_aec6d1d8-fa9b-5065-88d9-ae7d3e111dde.html

Ghosts of Glaciers Past Hint at Future Climate Challenges https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news-events/ghosts-glaciers-past-hint-future-climate-challenges

The state of the climate in 2021 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210108-where-we-are-on-climate-change-in-five-charts

Climate change is responsible for billions of dollars in flood costs, study says https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-flood-costs-study/

Hurricanes, wildfires, and heat dominated U.S. weather in 2020 https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/hurricanes-wildfires-and-heat-dominated-u-s-weather-in-2020/

Rising sea levels visibly transforming parts of coastal region around Kakadu National Park https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-13/rising-sea-levels-visible-in-kakadu-national-park/12292646

Climate crisis: record ocean heat in 2020 supercharged extreme weather https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/13/climate-crisis-record-ocean-heat-in-2020-supercharged-extreme-weather?CMP=share_btn_tw

Earth to reach temperature tipping point in next 20 to 30 years, new study finds https://phys.org/news/2021-01-earth-temperature-years.html

Locally led adaption to climate change: the start of a 10-year learning journey https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75503

‘Heat refuges’ may be one solution to Western Sydney’s climate emergency https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-14/western-sydney-heat-refuge-strategy-needed-for-summer-heatwaves/13026882

If we want to understand global heating, we have to examine ocean temperature trends https://www.theguardian.com/global/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2021/jan/13/why-are-ocean-warming-records-being-broken-year-after-year?CMP=share_btn_tw

The world is facing ‘catastrophic’ global warming, with 2020 among the hottest years on record, UN warns https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-world-is-facing-catastrophic-global-warming-with-2020-among-the-hottest-years-on-record-un-warns?cid=news:socialshare:twitter

2020 was hottest year on record by narrow margin, Nasa says https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/14/2020-hottest-year-on-record-nasa

Report says not enough funding is being made available to deal with effects of extreme weather https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/14/countries-adapting-too-slowly-to-climate-breakdown-un-warns?CMP=share_btn_tw

UN Adaptation Gap Report 2020 https://www.unep.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2020

As World’s Deltas Sink, Rising Seas Are Far from Only Culprit https://e360.yale.edu/features/as-worlds-deltas-sink-rising-seas-are-far-from-only-culprit

Can SE Asian workers take the heat? Researchers tackle rising temperatures https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75515

Disaster risk reduction

In 2020, there were 22 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/

Natural hazard figures for 2020 https://www.munichre.com/en/company/media-relations/media-information-and-corporate-news/media-information/2021/2020-natural-disasters-balance.html

Monitoring rainfall for early warning: Peru’s ingenious solutions https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75452

Practical action and early warning systems https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75445

Long-term improvement in precautions for flood risk mitigation: A case study in the low-lying area of central Vietnam https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75438

Exposure to natural hazard events unassociated with policy change for improved disaster risk reductionhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20435-2

ASEAN achieves a milestone towards regional disaster risk reduction https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75462

Australian bushfires 2019–20: Exploring the short-term health impacts https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75469

The changing risk and burden of wildfire in the United States https://www.pnas.org/content/118/2/e2011048118

Contribution of historical precipitation change to US flood damages https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2017524118

Has Haiti built back better? 11 years after the devastating earthquake https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75495

Advanced tools reveal critical infrastructure connections and help mitigate disasters https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75493

How do we limit the impact of disasters in a country with a very high risk index? https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75511

The European Commission publishes the new report on disaster risks in the EU https://ec.europa.eu/echo/news/european-commission-publishes-new-report-disaster-risks-eu_en

Emergency management

One in five in England have had Covid, modelling suggests https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/jan/10/one-in-five-have-had-coronavirus-in-england-new-modelling-says

The Japanese authorities understood covid-19 better than most https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/12/12/the-japanese-authorities-understood-covid-19-better-than-most

Southern Queensland still in drought while northern region battles floods https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-10/southern-queensland-still-in-drought-while-north-floods/13039008

After a record 22 billion-dollar disasters in 2020, it’s time to overhaul US disaster policy – here’s how https://theconversation.com/after-a-record-22-billion-dollar-disasters-in-2020-its-time-to-overhaul-us-disaster-policy-heres-how-152439

Asking people to prepare for fire is pointless if they can’t afford to do it. It’s time we subsidised fire prevention https://theconversation.com/asking-people-to-prepare-for-fire-is-pointless-if-they-cant-afford-to-do-it-its-time-we-subsidised-fire-prevention-151913

Disaster during a pandemic: Lessons from 2020 flooding in South Japan https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75482

Droughts, floods, super typhoons. But 2020’s extreme weather was eclipsed by COVIDhttps://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/2020-covid-deadly-extreme-weather-events

Literature review on law and disaster recovery and reconstruction https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75510

COVID-19 impact in India https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75507

Disaster education, communications and engagement

How the children of Cobargo are moving on from a year marked by bushfires and a pandemic https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-27/year-on-cobargo-black-summer-bushfires-recovery-children/13006836

How does drowning happen and how can you prevent it? https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-does-drowning-happen-and-how-can-you-prevent-it-20201123-p56h2o.html

Creating virtual geologic mapping exercises in a changing world https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article/doi/10.1130/GES02308.1/593592/Creating-virtual-geologic-mapping-exercises-in-a

What you do makes a difference: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day 2021 launches to help protect homes and neighborhoods https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/Fire-Break/Blog-Posts/2021/01/11/Wildfire-Community-Preparedness-Day-2021-launches-to-help-protect-homes-and-neighborhoods

Citizen science is booming during the pandemic https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22177247/citizen-science-amateur-backyard-birding-astronomy-covid-pandemic

Muntinlupa inaugurates its Mobile Learning Hub, the first innovative roving ‘learning bus’ in Metro Manila to teach disaster resilience https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/muntinlupas-1st-learning-bus-teaches-disaster-preparedness-to-residents/

How To Build A 2 Week Emergency Food Supply https://ineedthattoprep.com/how-to-build-a-2-week-emergency-food-supply/

From Grug to The Fire Wombat: six books to help kids deal with bushfire anxiety https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jan/12/from-grug-to-the-fire-wombat-six-books-to-help-kids-deal-with-bushfire-anxiety

Here’s how Seattleites should prepare for an earthquake https://www.seattlepi.com/local/seattlenews/article/how-to-prepare-for-earthquake-in-seattle-2021-15848429.php

Psychology and disasters

How students are making sense of the Black Summer bushfires https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-28/how-students-are-making-sense-of-the-black-summer/13017302?nw=0

How do people perceive flood risk? Findings from a public survey in Tuscany, Italy https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12694

Sociology and disasters

How racial and gender equality are critical for building climate resilience https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75442

Learning from population displacement in the Pacific: Case study of the 2017-2018 eruption of the Ambae volcano, Vanuatu https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75498

Social Ties, Mobility, and COVID-19 spread in Japan https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342113382_Social_Ties_Mobility_and_COVID-19_spread_in_Japan

Please find below links to recent news about some aspects of disaster resilience…

Recent emergencies/disasters

Tropical Cyclone Imogen, the first of the season, forms over Gulf, crosses coast north of Karumba https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-03/first-cyclone-of-the-season-expected-to-form/13027724

At least 2 dead & over 10,000 people evacuated from floods across Johor, Pahang & Terengganu https://mothership.sg/2021/01/malaysia-floods-10000-evacuated/

Deadly flash floods affect more than 15 000 families in Central Philippines https://watchers.news/2021/01/04/deadly-flash-floods-affect-more-than-15-000-families-in-central-philippines/

Massive landslide at Mount Silberhorn, New Zealand https://watchers.news/2021/01/04/massive-landslide-at-mount-silberhorn-new-zealand/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Papua New Guinea – Deadly Landslide in Central Province http://floodlist.com/australia/papua-new-guinea-deadly-landslide-in-central-province

Emergency warning issued as fast-moving bushfire advances north of Perth https://www.sbs.com.au/news/emergency-warning-issued-as-fast-moving-bushfire-advances-north-of-perth

Caribbean volcano rumbles back to life, MSM fake news about evacuation orders spread panichttps://www.rt.com/news/511498-caribbean-volcano-msm-fake-evacuation-order-panic/

Bolivia – Hail and Flash Floods in Sucre Leave 4 Dead, 6 Missing http://floodlist.com/america/bolivia-flash-floods-sucre-january-2021

North Queensland hit with intense rainfall causing flooding as BOM issues severe storm warning https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-06/queensland-rain-ingham-area-hit-with-intense-rainfall/13035302

Indonesia – Deadly Floods in North Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-northsulawesi-westnusatenggara-january-2021

Sri Lanka – Thousands Affected by Floods in Batticaloa http://floodlist.com/asia/sri-lanka-floods-batticaloa-january-2021

Chennai records heaviest 24-hour January rain since 1915, India https://watchers.news/2021/01/06/chennai-records-heaviest-24-hour-january-rain-since-1915-india/

Bushfire emergency continues north of Perth as firefighters brace for worsening conditions https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-07/hot-windy-weather-as-bushfire-emergency-continues-north-of-perth/13038462

North Queensland rain will continue into next week, BOM warns https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-07/flooding-more-storms-brings-rainfall-queensland-north/13036168

More than 500 evacuated after new eruption at Merapi volcano, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2021/01/07/more-than-500-evacuated-after-new-eruption-at-merapi-volcano-indonesia/

Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Jan 2021: Fuego volcano, Klyuchevskoy, Popocatépetl, Reventador https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/118428/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-5-Jan-2021-Fuego-volcano-Klyuchevskoy-Popocatepetl-Reventador-Sang.html

Namibia – Flooding in South as Rivers Overflow http://floodlist.com/africa/namibia-floods-south-january-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Five reasons to be optimistic about climate action https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2020/five-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-climate-action.html/

Greta Thunberg turns 18, hopes 2021 will be the ‘year of awakening’ https://www.sbs.com.au/news/greta-thunberg-turns-18-hopes-2021-will-be-the-year-of-awakening?cid=news:socialshare:twitter

Last year was dismal in many respects but it was a landmark for renewables in Australia https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/02/last-year-was-dismal-in-many-respects-but-it-was-a-landmark-for-renewables-in-australia?CMP=share_btn_tw

Australia records fourth-warmest year in 2020, despite La Niña https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/01/australia-records-fourth-warmest-year-in-2020-despite-la-nina

Many Indian districts ‘hotspots’ of climate change https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/many-indian-districts-hotspots-of-climate-change/article33303346.ece

Many Scientists Now Say Global Warming Could Stop Relatively Quickly After Emissions Go to Zero https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03012021/five-aspects-climate-change-2020/

‘The sea is rising, the climate is changing’: the lessons learned from Mozambique’s deadly cyclone https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75357

Rising seas threaten China’s long, low, and crowded coast https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75359

‘Snub’: Australia leaves 2030 climate goals unchanged in UN submission https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/snub-australia-leaves-2030-climate-goals-unchanged-in-un-submission-20210104-p56rng.html

Dozens of nations miss deadline to boost climate ambition https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210105-dozens-of-nations-miss-deadline-to-boost-climate-ambition

New data-driven global climate model provides projections for urban environments https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75380

Summer temperatures could rise faster in the UK than average global rates https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75382

Uzbekistan advances its climate change adaptation planning https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75383

Impacts of climate change on Georgia’s coastal zone: Vulnerability assessment and adaptation options https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75392

Climate adaptation solution for informal settlers in Asian coastal cities https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75399

What can COVID-19 teach us about preparing for climate risks in Europe? https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75393

Who should pick up the tab for the costs of climate change in north Queensland? https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/06/who-should-pick-up-the-tab-for-the-costs-of-climate-change-in-north-queensland?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Assessing Shifts in Regional Hydroclimatic Conditions of U.S. River Basins in Response to Climate Change over the 21st Century https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020EF001657

How Australia can phase out coal power while maintaining energy security https://theconversation.com/how-australia-can-phase-out-coal-power-while-maintaining-energy-security-152747?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

Connections of climate change and variability to large and extreme forest fires in southeast Australia https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00065-8

Building resilience in India https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75432

As climate risks rise, U.S. urged to update flood maps and building rules https://news.trust.org/item/20210106194055-fi3zz/

Australia’s Annual Climate Statement 2020 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/aus/

Disaster risk reduction

Catastrophic bushfires have led to a heightened interest in Indigenous burning practices. How do Aboriginal experts use fire to care for their land? https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/what-is-cultural-burning-20200228-p545e2.html

A new measure that can predict whether a city is prone to rain- or tide-based flooding https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/a-new-measure-that-can-predict-whether-a-city-is-prone-to-rain-or-tide-based-flooding/article33482930.ece

Public ‘Lost Confidence’ in Authorities as Floods Displace a Million People in South Sudan – Report https://sputniknews.com/africa/202101021081633935-public-lost-confidence-in-authorities-as-floods-displace-a-million-people-in-south-sudan–report/

Priorities and Effectiveness in Wildfire Management: Evidence from Fire Spread in the Western United States https://media.rff.org/documents/WP_20-21.pdf

Northern Australian communities need more affordable insurance https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75352

Integrating wildfire risk management and spatial planning – A historical review of two Australian planning systems https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75358

Embracing a new approach to flood risk management across socio-economic environments https://environmentjournal.online/articles/rethinking-flood-risk-management/

This is Cat Tales, the e-newsletter of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, for November/December 2020 https://issuu.com/iclr/docs/cat_tales_novdec_2020

SERVIR Flood Mapping Service Brings Speed to Cambodia Disaster Managementhttps://www.climatelinks.org/blog/servir-flood-mapping-service-brings-speed-cambodia-disaster-management

USF volcanology team develops new approach to understanding massive volcanic eruptions https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75378

How wildfires in the Americas and tropical Africa in 2020 compared to previous years https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/how-wildfires-americas-and-tropical-africa-2020-compared-previous-years

What if Typhoon Jebi had been stronger and taken a different path? https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75411

How scientists are identifying ways to prevent the next pandemic https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75409

Strengthening disaster risk reduction and management at the local level: A report on capacity and needs assessment of six rural and urban municipalities of Nepal https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75403

Why hurricane risk modelling has to change https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75418

Global map shows nineteen percent of the global population may face a high probability of subsidence https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75433

Yet more wildfires https://www.swissre.com/risk-knowledge/mitigating-climate-risk/yet-more-wildfires.html

Flood damage and mortgage credit risk: A case study of Hurricane Harvey https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10527001.2020.1840131

Macroeconomic modeling of managing hurricane damage in the Caribbean: The case of Jamaica https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75423

Emergency management

Recommitting to help countries recover fairly from COVID-19, and with climate-resilient economies https://feature.undp.org/2020-year-in-review/

Understanding what data tell us about COVID-19’s socio-economic impact https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2020/understanding-what-data-tell-us-about-covid-19s-socio-economic-i.html/

Study Confirms New U.K. Coronavirus Variant Is Substantially More Transmissible https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2021/01/01/study-confirms-new-uk-coronavirus-variant-is-substantially-more-transmissible/?sh=416c462d2e96

Africa Left With Few Options for Vaccines, South Africa Sayshttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-03/pfizer-to-supply-african-health-care-workers-with-vaccines?sref=7YQGdXLq

As victims of typhoon-prone Philippines’ worst floods in 50 years clean up and rebuild, its disaster-risk management is back under the spotlight https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75353

Africa’s confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 2.85 mln: Africa CDC http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-01/06/c_139644193.htm

One American dies from Covid-19 every 33 seconds as the vaccine rollout hits snagshttps://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/04/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html

South Sudan floods displace a million as hunger and diseases loom https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/1/our-children-die-in-our-hands-floods-ravage-south-sudan

Expressways to host more disaster shelter areas https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/04/national/japan-expressways-disaster-shelters/

Getting ahead of crises: A thesaurus for anticipatory humanitarian action https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75407

Coronavirus variant: Europe needs to coordinate lockdowns now to control it https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75416

Practical lessons for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic: Principles for recovery https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75428

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Volcano Series 1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08xc2v8

The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook https://hackmd.io/@scibehC19vax/home

Helping Our Senior Community Prepare https://fireadaptednetwork.org/helping-our-senior-community-prepare/

Psychology and disasters

Mental health is one of the biggest pandemic issues we’ll face in 2021 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/04/health/mental-health-during-covid-19-2021-stress-wellness/index.html

Pandemic Kindness Movement https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/kindness

Sociology and disasters

1.47 billion people face flood risk worldwide: for over a third, it could be devastating https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/147-billion-people-face-flood-risk-worldwide-over-third-it-could-be-devastating?cid=ccg_tt_climatechange_en_ext

Flood exposure and social vulnerability in the United States https://www.preventionweb.net/files/75365_floodexposureandsocialvulnerability.pdf

To build back from COVID-19, don’t overlook informal workers https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75417

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Flood and wind warnings across UK as Storm Bella sweeps in https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/26/flood-and-wind-warnings-across-uk-as-storm-bella-sweeps-in

Deadly flooding hits Rio de Janeiro, Brazil https://watchers.news/2020/12/24/deadly-flooding-hits-rio-de-janeiro-brazil/

Strong and shallow M6.7 earthquake hits off the coast of Los Lagos, Chile https://watchers.news/2020/12/27/los-lagos-earthquake-december-27-2020-chile/

Tropical Storm “Chalane” to make landfall over Madagascar, head toward Mozambique https://watchers.news/2020/12/25/tropical-cyclone-chalane-landfall-madagascar-mozambique/

Portugal – Evacuations After Floods and Landslides in Madeira http://floodlist.com/europe/portugal-floods-madeira-december-2020

Croatia earthquake leaves children among dead, forcing hospital evacuation and nuclear plant shutdown https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-30/croatia-petrinja-earthquake-shakes-slovenia-injuries-death/13020682

Strong eruption at Suwanosejima volcano, Alert Level raised, Japan https://watchers.news/2020/12/28/suwanosejima-volcano-alert-level-december-2020/

At least 12 climbers dead as heavy snow hits Tehran, Iran https://watchers.news/2020/12/29/12-climbers-dead-heavy-snow-tehran-iran/

Ecuador – Flood Damage Leaves Thousands Without Drinking Water in Azuay Province http://floodlist.com/america/ecuador-azuay-province-floods-december-2020

DR Congo – Deadly Floods Strike Again in Uvira http://floodlist.com/africa/dr-congo-floods-uvira-december-2020

Madagascar – Tropical Storm Chalane Triggers Minor Flooding http://floodlist.com/africa/madagascar-tropical-storm-chalane-december-2020

Neighbourhood evacuated as landslide buries houses, destroys buildings in Norway https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-31/landslide-buries-houses-gjerdrum-norway/13022952

Sleeping volcanoes rumble to life in the eastern Caribbean https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/30/v

Volcanic activity worldwide 31 Dec 2020: Fuego volcano, Karymsky, Popocatépetl, Reventador, Sangay https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/118019/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-31-Dec-2020-Fuego-volcano-Karymsky-Popocatepetl-Reventador-Sangay.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

From bushfires to flash flooding, what will the Australian summer of the future look like? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-28/bushfires-flash-flooding-what-will-summer-of-future-look-like/12989778

Climate of change puts business and Coalition at odds https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/climate-of-change-puts-business-and-coalition-at-odds-20201218-p56oqb.html

India achieves record low price for large scale solar plant https://reneweconomy.com.au/india-achieves-record-low-price-for-large-scale-solar-plant-51986/

New Zealand readers say ‘everything’ must be prioritised in battle against climate change https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/26/new-zealand-readers-say-everything-must-be-prioritised-in-battle-against-climate-change

Oregon wildfires are adding more fuel to young activists’ legal climate battle https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/23/oregon-wildfires-climate-crisis-juliana-v-us

Project Drawdown https://drawdown.org/

New climate models suggest faster melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet https://www.carbonbrief.org/new-climate-models-suggest-faster-melting-of-the-greenland-ice-sheet

WMO: Siberian heatwave put 2020 among three hottest years on record https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/12/02/wmo-siberian-heatwave-put-2020-among-three-hottest-years-record/

2020 closes a decade of exceptional heat https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/2020-closes-decade-of-exceptional-heat

Climate change: Extreme weather causes huge losses in 2020 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55416013

Australia’s bushfires among the world’s worst weather disasters ‘boosted’ by climate change, report finds https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-bushfires-among-the-world-s-worst-weather-disasters-boosted-by-climate-change-report-finds?cid=news:socialshare:twitter

Counting the cost 2020: A year of climate breakdown https://reliefweb.int/report/world/counting-cost-2020-year-climate-breakdown-december-2020

Sea-level rise from climate change could exceed the high-end projections, scientists warn https://www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-rising-sea-levels-worst-case-projections/

Australia trails Pacific nations in fight against climate change https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/australia-trails-pacific-nations-in-fight-against-climate-change-20201229-p56qms.html

‘We cannot make it without science’: Greta Thunberg says climate experts are being ignored https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/29/we-cannot-make-it-without-science-greta-thunberg-says-climate-experts-are-being-ignored?CMP=share_btn_tw

Experts should lead climate change response: NSW Environment Minister https://www.afr.com/politics/experts-should-lead-climate-change-response-nsw-environment-minister-20201228-p56qen

Floods, storms and searing heat: 2020 in extreme weather https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/30/floods-storms-and-searing-heat-2020-in-extreme-weather?CMP=share_btn_tw

Tampa addresses chronic flooding as climate challenges loom https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2020/12/27/tampa-addresses-chronic-flooding-as-climate-challenges-loom/

2020 Broke All These Environmental Records Despite The Pandemic https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/2020-climate-change-records-covid-pandemic_uk_5fc62d73c5b61d04bfad3c77

Cambridge becomes the 1st US city to require stickers warning the threat of climate change at gas pumps https://www.businessinsider.com/cambridge-gas-pumps-post-warning-climate-change-2020-12?r=AU&IR=T

Disaster risk reduction

This year wasn’t unprecedented. If anything, it set the precedent https://www.smh.com.au/national/this-year-wasn-t-unprecedented-if-anything-it-set-the-precedent-20201224-p56pzt.html

Evolution of a pyrocumulonimbus event associated with an extreme wildfire in Tasmania, Australia https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/20/1497/2020/

The top 10 weather and climate events of a record-setting year https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/12/the-top-10-weather-and-climate-events-of-a-record-setting-year/

The anatomy of a firestorm: Researchers use radar to peer into a bushfire phenomenon https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-27/tasmania-anatomy-dunalley-fire-thunderstorm-revealed/13016480

Rising to meet the tide https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/rising-meet-tide

Could Covid lockdown have helped save the planet? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/could-covid-lockdown-have-helped-save-the-planet

Billion-Dollar Disasters: The Costs, in Lives and Dollars, Have Never Been So High https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29122020/billion-dollar-weather-disasters-climate-change-wildfire-hurricane-storms/

Overshadowed by COVID: the deadly extreme weather of 2020 https://theconversation.com/overshadowed-by-covid-the-deadly-extreme-weather-of-2020-151237

California must burn more of its forests to save them. Is the public ready?https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/California-must-burn-more-of-its-forests-to-save-15829961.php

ACCC inquiry finds northern Australia properties difficult to insure due to flood and cyclone risks https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/northern-australia-insurance-inquiry-final-report

Emergency management

Withstanding winter vulnerabilities: A way of life in a northern seaside community https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343874277_Withstanding_winter_vulnerabilities_A_way_of_life_in_a_northern_seaside_community_OPEN_ACCESS

Covid pandemic turned 2020 into deadliest year in U.S. history, CDC finds https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-pandemic-turned-2020-deadliest-year-u-s-history-cdc-n1252078?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

Here’s a Plan to Stop the Coronavirus From Mutating https://www.wired.com/story/heres-a-plan-to-stop-the-coronavirus-from-mutating/

Covid world map: which countries have the most coronavirus cases and deaths? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/covid-world-map-which-countries-have-the-most-coronavirus-cases-and-deaths

With the new Covid variant everywhere, it’s not enough to just wait for the vaccine https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/28/covid-vaccine-uk-restrictions-independent-sage

Theodore, the first Queensland town to be totally evacuated, reflects on flood disaster 10 years on https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-28/decade-on-from-devastating-thedore-flood-entire-town-evacuated/12985622

Where Year Two of the Pandemic Will Take Us https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/12/pandemic-year-two/617528/

Vaccination no guarantee of virus eradication: WHO officials https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75345

Early Action Protocol activated as Tropical Cyclone Chalane approaches Mozambique https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75341

Silence of the bush: Mallacoota residents look back over a year of loss and regrowth after fire devastation https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/01/silence-of-the-bush-mallacoota-residents-look-back-over-a-year-of-loss-and-regrowth-after-fire-devastation?CMP=share_btn_tw

How do the COVID-19 variants found in the UK and South Africa affect the illness? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-31/what-are-the-south-african-and-uk-variants-of-covid-19/13022430

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Taiwan dispatches its first volcano drill alert https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75334

Role of pre-disaster discussions on preparedness on consensus-making of integrated flood management (IFM) after a flood disaster, based on a case in the Abukuma River Basin, Fukushima, Japan https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75337

Psychology and disasters

Reasons to be hopeful in 2021 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/27/reasons-to-be-hopeful

Covid poses ‘greatest threat to mental health since second world war’ https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/dec/27/covid-poses-greatest-threat-to-mental-health-since-second-world-war

Eight Persistent COVID-19 Myths and Why People Believe Them https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/eight-persistent-covid-19-myths-and-why-people-believe-them/

The lost summer https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-30/cate-tregellas-family-secrets-mallacoota-bushfires-black-summer/13006130

Sociology and disasters

COVID-19 and inequality: A review of the evidence on likely impact and policy options https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75319

Regional differences in resilience of social and physical systems: Case study of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2399808320980744

Disasters and Demographic Change of ‘Single-Industry’ Towns—Decline and Resilience in Morwell, Australia https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344435575_Disasters_and_Demographic_Change_of_%27Single-Industry%27_Towns-Decline_and_Resilience_in_Morwell_Australia

Regional differences in resilience of social and physical systems: Case study of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347827130_Regional_differences_in_resilience_of_social_and_physical_systems_Case_study_of_Puerto_Rico_after_Hurricane_Maria

People in harm’s way: Flood exposure and poverty in 189 countries https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/74356

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

UK weather: Landslides and flooding after half a month’s rain falls in one day https://news.sky.com/story/uk-weather-landslides-and-flooding-after-half-a-months-rain-falls-in-one-day-12168053

European neighbours shut doors to Britain amid alarm over new coronavirus strain https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-britain-travel-idUSKBN28U0GZ

Philippines – 8 Killed in Floods and Landslides, Thousands Evacuate http://floodlist.com/asia/philippines-floods-caraga-cagayan-december-2020

Malaysia – Thousands Evacuate Floods in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang http://floodlist.com/asia/malaysia-floods-kelantan-terengganu-pahang-december-2020

Brazil – 12 Dead, 9 Missing After Floods in Santa Catarina http://floodlist.com/america/brazil-floods-santa-catarina-december-2020

Thailand – 1 Dead After Further Floods and Landslides in South http://floodlist.com/asia/thailand-floods-narathiwat-yala-pattani-december-2020

Hawaii residents told to stay home as Kilauea volcano erupts https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/21/us/kilauea-hawaii-volcano-eruption/index.html

Antarctica reports first coronavirus cases https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-22/coronavirus-cases-confirmed-in-antarctica/13007596

U.S. loses one life every 33 seconds to COVID-19 in deadliest week so far https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-trends-graphic/u-s-loses-one-life-every-33-seconds-to-covid-19-in-deadliest-week-so-far-idUSKBN28W01Q

Large landslides cause major damage in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland https://watchers.news/2020/12/21/iceland-landslide-december-2020/

New eruption at Kilauea’s summit caldera, Aviation Color Code raised to Red, Hawai’I https://watchers.news/2020/12/21/eruption-kilauea-volcano-hawaii-december-2020/

UK records 744 more Covid deaths, the highest since 29 April https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/23/uk-records-744-more-covid-deaths-the-highest-since-29-april?CMP=share_btn_tw

Endless wildfire season in California https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/23/california-wildfires-power-outages-possible-santa-ana-winds-threaten/4024825001/

Volcanic activity worldwide 22 Dec 2020: Etna volcano, Klyuchevskoy, Popocatépetl, Shiveluch https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/117087/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-22-Dec-2020-Etna-volcano-Klyuchevskoy-Popocatepetl-Shiveluch-Reven.html

Algeria – Vehicles Swept Away by Flash Floods in Jijel Province http://floodlist.com/africa/algeria-floods-jijel-december-2020

Brazil – Deadly Flash Floods in Rio De Janeiro State http://floodlist.com/america/brazil-floods-baixada-fluminense-december-2020

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Will the Mediterranean become too hot for tourists? https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/dec/19/will-the-mediterranean-become-too-hot-for-tourists

Activists hail ‘historic win’ as NSW environment court rejects Bylong Valley coalmine https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/18/activists-hail-historic-win-as-nsw-environment-court-rejects-belong-valley-coalmine

Wetlands, not walls, may be key to managing flooding as sea levels rise https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/wetlands-not-walls-may-be-key-to-managing-flooding-as-sea-levels-rise

Floods, droughts and heat waves herald a changing climate https://datatopics.worldbank.org/sdgatlas/goal-13-climate-action/

Angry Weather https://greystonebooks.com/products/angry-weather

B.C. lacks plans for rising seas, flooding: coastal adaptation researcher https://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insurance/b-c-lacks-plans-for-rising-seas-flooding-coastal-adaptation-researcher-1004201727/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Rethinking migration and (mal)adaptation to climate change https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75266

Grid operators turn to wind, solar and batteries as system issues grow https://reneweconomy.com.au/grid-operators-turn-to-wind-solar-and-batteries-as-system-issues-grow-98646/

Taiwan may face fewer typhoons – but harsher drought – as planet warms https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75288

Climate risks to health set to worsen inequity, harm children https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75287

2020 in review: Extreme weather seen around the world as climate warms https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833130-100-2020-in-review-extreme-weather-seen-around-the-world-as-climate-warms/

Warming Arctic with less ice heats up Cold War tensions https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/warming-arctic-with-less-ice-heats-up-cold-war-tensions

New research exposes the harsh realities of hurricanes in a warmer world https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75305

Scientists use new methods to better forecast atmospheric rivers https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75302

Climate change and the European water dimension: Enhancing resilience https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75296

2020 closes a decade of exceptional heat https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75315

Disaster risk reduction

Rural Resilience: Disaster Preparedness for Communities Off the Beaten Path https://hazards.colorado.edu/news/research-counts/rural-resilience-disaster-preparedness-for-communities-off-the-beaten-path

Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study of Loss Prevention https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-science/building-codes-save-study

Probable maximum precipitation (PMP) as it relates to climate variability and change https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29HE.1943-5584.0002003

Words Whispered in Water; Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina https://levees.org/2020/12/18/commissioner-of-post-katrina-levee-board-praises-book/

Open data shows lightning, not arson, was the likely cause of most Victorian bushfires last summer https://theconversation.com/open-data-shows-lightning-not-arson-was-the-likely-cause-of-most-victorian-bushfires-last-summer-151912

Barriers to enhancing disaster risk reduction and community resilience: evidence from the L’Aquila disaster https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75250

The influence of prescribed burning and wildfire on lidar-estimated forest structure of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/WF20037

Global Volcanism Program https://volcano.si.edu/gvp_currenteruptions.cfm

Interactive map: which areas of Australia were hit by multiple disasters in 2020? https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2020/dec/22/interactive-map-which-areas-of-australia-were-hit-by-multiple-disasters-in-2020?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Pathological (Im)mobilities: managing risk in a time of pandemics https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17450101.2020.1862454?src=&journalCode=rmob20

Changes caused by worsening wildfires in California forests will last centuries https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-12-21/worst-california-wildfire-season-has-altered-forests-for-centuries-to-come

Colombo declaration of multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk reduction: 2020 https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75270

New Volcano, Old Caldera https://eos.org/articles/new-volcano-old-caldera

Launch of the first parametric tropical cyclone risk insurance product in Africa https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75279

Predictive deep learning for flood evacuation planning and routing https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75285

Colombo declaration of multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk reduction: 2020 https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75270

Status of Science and Technology in Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia-Pacific 2020 https://www.undrr.org/publication/status-science-and-technology-disaster-risk-reduction-asia-pacific-2020

Human cost of disasters (2000-2019) https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75317

 Emergency management

ShakeAlert—Earthquake Early Warning System for the West Coast of the U.S. (2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq7eQ6kBgxA

RecovUS: An Agent-Based Model of Post-Disaster Household Recovery https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345120410_RecovUS_An_Agent-Based_Model_of_Post-Disaster_Household_Recovery

Disaster Law https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/what-we-do/disaster-law/

Deadly Tropical Cyclone Yasa leaves ‘devastation’ across Fiji’s north https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-20/tropical-cyclone-yasa-leaves-devastation-in-fiji/13001014

EU records fewer fires in 2020 despite monstrous blazes https://www.enca.com/news/eu-records-fewer-fires-2020-despite-monstrous-blazes

Top-down reconstruction and the failure to “build back better” resilient communities after disaster: lessons from the 2009 L’Aquila Italy earthquake https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75249

Pacific nations brace for first major cyclones of the season https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/press-release/pacific-nations-brace-first-major-cyclones-season/

Six humanitarian lessons from the COVID-19 crisis https://unocha.medium.com/six-humanitarian-lessons-from-the-covid-19-crisis-fd9acde995a5

‘People-to-people’ support – An exemplary contribution towards Nepal’s recovery efforts https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75294

US deaths in 2020 top 3 million, by far most ever counted https://apnews.com/article/us-coronavirus-deaths-top-3-million-e2bc856b6ec45563b84ee2e87ae8d5e7

How Vietnam fought a pandemic and won https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/how-vietnam-fought-a-pandemic-and-won-4209547.html

Disaster education, communications and engagement

The Mortality Risk Calculator calculates risk of mortality from COVID-19 in currently uninfected individuals https://covid19risktools.com:8443/

The structuralization of risk communication work and objectives in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347216690_The_structuralization_of_risk_communication_work_and_objectives_in_the_aftermath_of_the_Fukushima_nuclear_disaster

Communication missteps during COVID‐19 hurt those already most at risk https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75258

Psychology and disasters

Trajectories of International Student Psychological Functioning and Pandemic Preparedness During COVID-19 https://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/trajectories-of-international-student-psychological-functioning-and-pandemic-preparedness-during-covid-19

Sociology and disasters

Unity is Strength: Community Resilience in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria https://hazards.colorado.edu/news/research-counts/unity-is-strength-community-resilience-in-puerto-rico-after-hurricane-maria

Gender, Working Parents, and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Stateshttps://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/gender-working-parents-and-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-united-states

Women’s resilience to disasters https://www.preventionweb.net/wrd/

Covid-19 and the Social Scienceshttps://items.ssrc.org/category/covid-19-and-the-social-sciences/

Building a Disaster-Resilient Community in Taiwan: A Social Capital Analysis of the Meizhou Experience https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/3106

Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project empowering women and girls https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75259

Fighting a Pandemic Requires Trust https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-10-23/coronavirus-fighting-requires-trust

Livelihood Resilience Measurement Framework for Dam-Induced Displacement and Resettlement https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346994038_A_Livelihood_Resilience_Measurement_Framework_for_Dam-Induced_Displacement_and_Resettlement

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

The number of people with the coronavirus in the United States who have died passed 300,000 https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/12/14/world/covid-19-coronavirus?referringSource=articleShare#the-number-of-people-with-the-virus-who-died-in-the-us-passes-300000

Turkey – 2 Missing After Flash Floods in Izmir Provincehttp://floodlist.com/asia/turkey-flash-floods-izmir-december-2020

Colombia – Deadly Landslide in San Luis, Antioquia http://floodlist.com/america/colombia-landslide-san-luis-antioquia-december-2020

NSW severe wet weather continues for fifth day as people in Tweed, Northern Rivers told to evacuate https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-15/nsw-severe-weather-continues-flooding-evacuation-warnings/12982944

Indonesia – Thousands Hit by Floods on Java and Sumatra Islands http://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-java-sumatra-december-2020

Cyclone Yasa: Fiji prepares for category 5 storm as Tonga braces for Zazu https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/cyclone-yasa-fiji-prepares-for-category-5-storm-as-tonga-braces-for-zazu

Snow piling up at an unprecedented rate in Japan https://watchers.news/2020/12/16/snow-piling-up-unprecedented-rate-japan-december-2020/

Intense Strombolian activity continues at Etna’s Southeast Crater, lava emission resumes https://watchers.news/2020/12/15/intense-strombolian-activity-etna-italy-december-15-2020/

Tropical Cyclone Yasa hits Fiji, Government declares state of disaster https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-17/fiji-curfew-natural-disaster-super-storm-tropical-cyclone-yasa/12994846

Volcanic activity worldwide 16 Dec 2020: Santiaguito volcano, Fuego, Klyuchevskoy, Popocatépetl https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/116526/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-16-Dec-2020-Santiaguito-volcano-Fuego-Klyuchevskoy-Popocatepetl-Re.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Increasing importance of temperature as a contributor to the spatial extent of streamflow drought https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abd2f0

Climate change: Have countries kept their promises? https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55222890

World is in danger of missing Paris climate target, summit is warned https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/12/world-is-in-danger-of-missing-paris-climate-target-summit-is-warned

The Marshall Islands could be wiped out by climate change – and their colonial history limits their ability to save themselves https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75125

Bangladesh’s hidden climate costs https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75122

Climate-related hazard indices for Europe https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75141

Bushfire science information report 1: Does climate affect bushfire risks in the native forests of eastern Australia? https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75115

Morrison government should be ‘doing more’ with states driving 33% cut in emissions by 2030 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/15/morrison-government-should-be-doing-more-with-states-driving-33-cut-in-emissions-by-2030

Jamaica kicks off new climate plan, undeterred by pandemic and floods https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75174

Rethinking Climate Change Adaptation https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75165

Preparing India for extreme climate events: Mapping hotspots and response mechanisms https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75162

The vanishing Arctic https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-16/arctic-sea-ice-dramatic-transformation-as-seen-by-satellites/12961584?nw=0

Earth may be even closer to 1.5°C of global warming than we thought https://www.newscientist.com/article/2262953-earth-may-be-even-closer-to-1-5c-of-global-warming-than-we-thought/#ixzz6giLhR9XX

Loss and damage from climate change has pushed Sierra Leoneans far beyond their ability to adapt https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75185

How is Modern Climate Change Affecting Landscape Processes? https://eos.org/editors-vox/how-is-modern-climate-change-affecting-landscape-processes

Tip of the iceberg: Navigating the known and unknown costs of climate change for Canada https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75205

Groundwater Beneath Your Feet Is Rising With the Sea. It Could Bring Long-Buried Toxins With It https://www.kqed.org/science/1971582/groundwater-beneath-your-feet-is-rising-with-the-sea-it-could-bring-long-buried-toxins-with-it

Disaster risk reduction

Ten steps to increasing bushfire resilience https://ecos.csiro.au/ten-steps-to-increasing-bushfire-resilience/

Economic footprint of California wildfires in 2018 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-00646-7

Patterns and trends in simultaneous wildfire activity in the United States from 1984 to 2015 https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/WF19150

NSW regulator investigates 1000 dams for alleged breaches https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/nsw-regulator-investigates-1000-dams-for-alleged-breaches-20201211-p56mrx.html

Coming back stronger: A city-driven infrastructure agenda for a cleaner, more resilient, more equitable America https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75117

Byron Bay beach damage ‘worst in a generation’ as storms batter 1,000km of coastline https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/14/byron-bay-beach-damage-worst-in-a-generation-as-storms-batter-1000km-of-coastline?CMP=share_btn_tw

This river in New Zealand is legally a person. Here’s how it happened https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/11/asia/whanganui-river-new-zealand-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

How Science Beat the Virus https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/01/science-covid-19-manhattan-project/617262/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Hydrological Benefits of Restoring Wildfire Regimes in the Sierra Nevada Persist in a Warming Climate https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022169420312695

Earthquakes with a chance of… volcanoes? https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75170

Sink or swim? A historic year of floods in South Asia https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75177

An asset-based participatory community analysis of natural hazards in Naphuno, Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75169

Comparing the scale of modelled and recorded current flood risk: Results from England https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12685

Western U.S. wildfires cost insurers up to $13 billion in 2020 https://news.trust.org/item/20201215181934-2ltap/

The stochastic impact of extreme weather events https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75195

Seismic hazard assessment of Campotosto, Italy https://phys.org/news/2020-12-seismic-hazard-campotosto-italy.html

‘Nanolites’ Can Trigger Dangerous Volcanic Explosions https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nanolites-can-trigger-dangerous-volcanic-explosions/

A.I. model shows promise to generate faster, more accurate weather forecasts https://www.washington.edu/news/2020/12/15/a-i-model-shows-promise-to-generate-faster-more-accurate-weather-forecasts/

When preparing for earthquakes, don’t forget the small ones https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75214

Nature-based solutions for landslide risk management: Policy brief summary https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75211

Disaster risk reduction in bushfire prone areas: Challenges for an integrated land use planning policy regime https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/24/10496

Innovation, development and COVID-19: Challenges, opportunities and ways forward http://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/innovation-development-and-covid-19-challenges-opportunities-and-ways-forward-0c976158/

Geosciences and the Sustainable Development Goals https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030388140

Emergency management

The coronavirus is ravaging the world. But life looks almost normal in much of Africa https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/africa-coronavirus-low-cases-deaths/2020/12/10/e907a1c2-3899-11eb-aad9-8959227280c4_story.html

California Wildfires Killed 106 People Two Years Ago. Researchers Say the Smoke Killed 3,652 https://www.kqed.org/science/1971666/california-wildfires-killed-106-people-two-years-ago-researchers-say-the-smoke-killed-3652

New Zealand travel bubble with Australia coming in early 2021, NZ PM confirms https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/new-zealand-travel-bubble-with-australia-coming-in-early-2021-nz-pm-confirms-20201214-p56na6.html

‘New variant’ of coronavirus identified in England https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/432859/new-variant-of-coronavirus-identified-in-england

FEMA Wants to Cut Disaster Aid at the Worst Possible Time https://earther.gizmodo.com/fema-wants-to-cut-disaster-aid-at-the-worst-possible-ti-184587776

Record climate disasters in Asia-Pacific push millions to ‘breaking point’ https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75228

Disaster education, communications and engagement

The winners of the 2020 Resilient Australia Awards were announced at the National Ceremony in Canberra https://www.aidr.org.au/news/resilient-australia-awards-2020-winners-announced/

The Color of Rivers https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2020GL088946

What is complex systems science? https://www.santafe.edu/what-is-complex-systems-science

The development of Disaster Preparedness and Safety School model: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420920315065?via%3Dihub

The influence of local flood histories on community engagement in flood risk management and its sustainability over time https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420920314825?via%3Dihub

Tropical Cyclone Knowledge Centre http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/tropical-cyclone-knowledge-centre/

Psychology and disasters

Intellectually arrogant people typically have more anti-vaccination attitudes, study finds https://www.psypost.org/2020/06/intellectually-arrogant-people-typically-have-more-anti-vaccination-attitudes-study-finds-57170

‘I felt immense grief’: one year on from the bushfires, scientists need mental health support https://theconversation.com/i-felt-immense-grief-one-year-on-from-the-bushfires-scientists-need-mental-health-support-148251

Don’t just think about earthquakes, prepare for them https://phys.org/news/2020-12-dont-earthquakes.html

Mental health and well-being of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: contrasting guidelines with experiences in practice https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/mental-health-and-wellbeing-of-healthcare-workers-during-the-covid19-pandemic-in-the-uk-contrasting-guidelines-with-experiences-in-practice/

Long-Term Drought Harms Mental Health in Rural Communities https://eos.org/articles/long-term-drought-harms-mental-health-in-rural-communities

Public behaviour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: understanding the role of group processes https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/public-behaviour-in-response-to-the-covid19-pandemic-understanding-the-role-of-group-processes/C64F5D829F100ED0D052923F8CD7A7B8#.X9uYdPfMS8Q.twitter

Sociology and disasters

Inclusive practices in disaster risk management. Experiences of social actors and government entities in Latin America https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75121

Understanding vulnerability and resilience in Somalia https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/75167

Global Launch of the 2020 Human Development Report http://hdr.undp.org/en/2020-report

How does social capital shape the response to environmental disturbances at the local level? Evidence from case studies in Mexico https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346901176_How_does_social_capital_shape_the_response_to_environmental_disturbances_at_the_local_level_Evidence_from_case_studies_in_Mexico

The Covid pandemic is both a troubling glimpse into what our new normal could be and a gateway to change https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/darkest-hour-dawn-2020-could-mark-humanitys-sunrise-instead/

Somalia’s perfect storm https://thephoenix.substack.com/p/somalias-perfect-storm

When wildfires hit, richer and whiter neighborhoods are more likely to get government support https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/75227