Category: wildfire

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

WA weather warnings: Severe storms light up skies with over 2 million lightning strikes https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-14/perth-weather-severe-storms-light-up-skies/100829482

Brazil – Floods Affect Thousands in Minas Gerais and Rio De Janeiro States https://floodlist.com/america/brazil-floods-minas-gerais-rio-de-janeiro-february-2022

Oman – Dozens Rescued After Flash Floods in Muscat https://floodlist.com/asia/oman-floods-february-2022

Madagascar – Death Toll From Tropical Cyclone Batsirai Rises to 121 https://floodlist.com/africa/madagascar-death-cyclone-batsirai-update-february-2022

Honduras – Hundreds of Families Evacuate Floods in Atlántida https://floodlist.com/america/honduras-floods-atlantida-february-2022

Indonesia – Over 16,000 Affected by Floods in West Kalimantan https://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-west-kalimantan-february-2022

Guatemala earthquake kills two, triggers landslides https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/guatemala-earthquake-triggers-rockfalls-uproots-trees-2022-02-16/

Flooding in Brazil leaves 102 dead after landslide hits city of Petrópolis in Rio de Janeiro state https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-17/deadly-rains-in-brazil-leaves-dead-102-as-death-toll-rises/100838236

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

“Australia is falling behind:” Clean energy investment shackled by outdated rules https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-is-falling-behind-clean-energy-investment-shackled-by-outdated-rules/

Himalayas Are Experiencing an “Exceptional” Loss of Glacial Mass https://eos.org/articles/himalayas-are-experiencing-an-exceptional-loss-of-glacial-mass

Ice velocity and thickness of the world’s glaciershttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00885-z

Europeans more likely to vote green after extreme weather events https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/feb/12/europeans-more-likely-to-vote-green-after-extreme-weather-events

How the UK can cut carbon emissions and reduce household energy bills https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/13/how-the-uk-can-cut-carbon-emissions-and-reduce-household-energy-bills

Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles could be the hottest on record https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/02/09/super-bowl-heat-advisory-california/

Bushfires, dry lightning, rapid spark and spread all indicate climate change, southern fire chief says https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-14/bushfires-dry-lightning-indicate-climate-change/100829712

Stunning solar milestone as Australia passes 25GW mark https://reneweconomy.com.au/stunning-solar-milestone-as-australia-passes-25gw-mark/

Cold connections: Climate change challenges ice roads into remote communities https://www.thestar.com/autos/2022/02/12/cold-connections.html

Southwest experiencing driest conditions in at least 1,200 years due to climate change, new study finds https://abcnews.go.com/US/southwest-experiencing-driest-conditions-1200-years-due-climate/story?id=82881211

Experts say UN’s next climate change warning will be ‘a nightmare painted in the dry language of science’ https://www.marketwatch.com/story/experts-say-uns-next-climate-change-warning-will-be-a-nightmare-painted-in-the-dry-language-of-science-11644854819

Narrabri mine expansion would make it dirtiest thermal coalmine in Australia, environmentalists say https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/14/narrabri-mine-expansion-would-make-it-dirtiest-thermal-coalmine-in-australia-environmentalists-say

Global sea-level budget and ocean-mass budget, with a focus on advanced data products and uncertainty characterisation https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/14/411/2022/

Global sea level rise: All roads lead to one conclusion https://earthsky.org/earth/global-sea-level-rise-all-roads-lead-to-one-conclusion/

Explicit calculations of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature compared with approximations and why it matters for labor productivity https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF002334

Experts outline governing principles to fund climate loss and damage https://www.devex.com/news/experts-outline-governing-principles-to-fund-climate-loss-and-damage-102619

Sea level to rise one foot along U.S. coastlines by 2050, government report finds https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/02/15/sea-level-rise-2050-climate/

U.S. faces “significant consequences” from more severe coastal flooding https://www.axios.com/new-sea-level-rise-forecast-warns-increasing-flooding-759e812c-8f79-4115-80e9-b3099724e9d6.html

Flower growth in Antarctica is accelerating due to warming climate https://www.newscientist.com/article/2308214-flower-growth-in-antarctica-is-accelerating-due-to-warming-climate/

Rapid intensification of the emerging southwestern North American megadrought in 2020–2021 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01290-z

2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/sealevelrise/sealevelrise-tech-report.html

China’s rising influence on climate governance: Forging a path for the global South https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095937802200022X

The Effects of Climate Change https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

Antarctic Sea Ice Extent/Concentration https://sites.uci.edu/zlabe/antarctic-sea-ice-extentconcentration/

Fact check: Have we really avoided the ‘worst case’ climate change scenarios? https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/02/16/fact-check-have-we-really-avoided-the-worst-case-climate-change-scenarios

Oil majors ‘not walking the talk’ on climate action, study confirms https://www.carbonbrief.org/oil-majors-not-walking-the-talk-on-climate-action-study-confirms

How hot will the planet get? Public opinion is key factor, finds study https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/feb/16/how-hot-will-the-planet-get-climate-projections-social-attitudes

What drives sea level rise? US report warns of 1-foot rise within three decades and more frequent flooding https://theconversation.com/what-drives-sea-level-rise-us-report-warns-of-1-foot-rise-within-three-decades-and-more-frequent-flooding-177211

Western Sydney will swelter through 46 days per year over 35°C by 2090, unless emissions drop significantly https://theconversation.com/western-sydney-will-swelter-through-46-days-per-year-over-35-c-by-2090-unless-emissions-drop-significantly-177056

HeatWatch: Extreme heat in Western Sydney https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HeatWatch-2022-WEB.pdf

Disaster risk reduction

Why do landslides happen? https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2022/02/01/why-do-landslides-happen/

GLOBathy, the global lakes bathymetry dataset https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-022-01132-9#Abs1

Better prediction of megathrust earthquakes: Illuminating slow slip plate tectonics in south-western Japan https://phys.org/news/2022-02-megathrust-earthquakes-illuminating-plate-tectonics.html

As Australia faces new fire reality, forest restoration tactics reevaluated https://news.mongabay.com/2022/02/as-australia-faces-new-fire-reality-forest-restoration-tactics-reevaluated/

Tonga Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami: World Bank Disaster Assessment Report Estimates Damages at US$90M https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/02/14/tonga-volcanic-eruption-and-tsunami-world-bank-disaster-assessment-report-estimates-damages-at-us-90m

Improving the performance of city-scale hydrodynamic flood modelling through a GIS-based DEM correction method https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-022-05267-1

Mobile home residents face higher flood risk https://headwaterseconomics.org/natural-hazards/mobile-home-flood-risk/

Tongan volcano eruption leaves scientists with unanswered questions https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00475-y

Disasters Spur Planned UK Coastal Flood Barrier https://www.air-worldwide.com/blog/posts/2022/02/disasters-spur-uk-flood-barrier/

Human ignitions on private lands drive USFS cross-boundary wildfire transmission and community impacts in the western US https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-06002-3

Controversial floodplain harvesting regulations could soon be in place in NSW http://www.watercareer.com.au/news/nsw-preps-harvest-rules

Is flooding in England getting worse? https://policy.friendsoftheearth.uk/insight/flooding-england-getting-worse

Interior Announces Plan to Implement Historic Wildland Fire Management Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfire/news/interior-announces-plan-implement-historic-wildland-fire-management-funding

Emergency management

New Covid Variant: What We Know About the BA.2 Omicron Strain https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-we-know-about-the-ba-2-omicron-variant-11643300997

When communities lose affordable housing, it’s harder for businesses—and the entire economy—to recover from those disasters https://www.fastcompany.com/90721097/natural-disasters-can-wipe-out-affordable-housing-for-years

Can Haiti rebuild a food system broken by disaster, historical injustice, and neglect? https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2022/2/2/can-Haiti-rebuild-broken-food-system-disaster-historical-injustice-neglect

As bushfires tore through Bridgetown the power and phone lines were cut https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-15/bridgetown-bushfires-wa-led-to-power-an-phone-line-outages/100829974

We can’t surrender to COVID. Why ‘back to normal’ is a dangerous fantasy https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/02/15/opinion/we-cant-surrender-covid-why-back-normal-dangerous-fantasy

US has suffered more than 1m excess deaths during pandemic, CDC finds https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/17/us-excess-deaths-pandemic-cdc

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Free online tool identifies climate risks in your neighborhood https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/02/free-online-tool-identifies-climate-risks-in-your-neighborhood/

What happens to your home’s value when your neighbourhood floods? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-what-happens-to-your-homes-value-when-your-neighbourhood-floods/

What makes a climate story effective? https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-04392-4

Public asked to help build national flood photo database https://niwa.co.nz/news/public-asked-to-help-build-national-flood-photo-database

Psychology and disasters

One of the greatest assets following a disaster is the people who experience them. But this asset is hugely underutilised https://theconversation.com/disaster-survivors-feel-more-prepared-for-the-next-one-but-are-often-left-out-of-planning-176674

Disaster preparedness and resilience at household level in Yangon, Myanmar https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-022-05226-w

Can Empathy Grow in the Metaverse and Virtual Reality? https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/202202/can-empathy-grow-in-the-metaverse-and-virtual-reality

Overcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Black Communities https://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/overcoming-covid-19-vaccine-hesitancy-in-black-communities

Sociology and disasters

As climate change continues to spur more natural disasters, a new study found that Black Americans are likely to bear the brunt of the risks associated with floods over the next several decades https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2022/01/31/climate-study-flood-risk-black-americans-

Heat waves hit the poor hardest – a new study calculates the rising impact on those least able to adapt to the warming climate https://theconversation.com/heat-waves-hit-the-poor-hardest-a-new-study-calculates-the-rising-impact-on-those-least-able-to-adapt-to-the-warming-climate-175224

(In)visibilities About the Vulnerabilities of People with Visual Impairments to Disasters and Climate Change: A Case Study in Cuiabá, Brazil https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13753-022-00394-6

Social Capital and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Qualitative Analysis https://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/social-capital-and-the-covid-19-pandemic

Queer Communities Often Left Out of Disaster Planning, Research Shows https://www.kqed.org/science/1978439/queer-communities-often-left-out-of-disaster-planning-research-shows

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Cyclone Batsirai: Whole villages swept away in Madagascar https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60264389

‘Horrendous’ bushfires hit WA’s Wheatbelt in devastating weekend https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-07/bushfires-hit-wa-wheatbelt-in-devastating-weekend/100809216

South Africa – 3 Missing, Dozens Evacuated After Floods in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal https://floodlist.com/africa/south-africa-floods-gauteng-kwazulunatal-february-2022

United Nations says 13 million face hunger as Horn of Africa drought worsens https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-08/un-says-13-million-face-hunger-as-horn-of-africa-drought/100814832

Colombia – Heavy Rains Trigger Deadly Mudslide in Risaralda https://floodlist.com/america/colombia-floods-mudslide-risaralda-february-2022

Daily Noon Briefing Highlights: Horn of Africa, Ethiopia, Madagascar https://www.unocha.org/story/daily-noon-briefing-highlights-horn-africa-ethiopia-madagascar

Tropical Cyclone Dovi causes major flooding in Vanuatu https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/461257/tropical-cyclone-dovi-causes-major-flooding-in-vanuatu

Volcanic activity worldwide 9 Feb 2022: Semeru volcano, Reventador, Nyamuragira, Sangay https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/172384/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-9-Feb-2022-Semeru-volcano-Reventador-Nyamuragira-Sangay-Nevados-de-.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

US household air conditioning use could exceed electric capacity in next decade due to climate change https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220204093124.htm

Are winters losing their chill in the Kansas City region as the climate changes? https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article257768288.html

Robust but weak winter atmospheric circulation response to future Arctic sea ice loss https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-28283-y

Ice velocity and thickness of the world’s glaciers https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00885-z

Glaciers of the world mapping https://ige-vis.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/glaciers/index.html

Lessons from New York: What makes a community turn against climate adaptation? https://grist.org/climate/lessons-from-new-york-what-makes-a-community-turn-against-climate-adaptation/

Non-state climate change action: Hope for just response to climate change? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901122000375?dgcid=author

Arctic Sea Ice extent is the highest since 2009, now above 14 million square kilometers. On the other side of the pond, Antarctic Sea Ice at an all-time low https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/arctic-sea-ice-extent-highest-since-2009-antarctic-sea-ice-all-time-low-january-rrc/

The Roles of Celebrities in Public Disputes: Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joms.12800

How Climate Change Could Impact Your Skin https://www.gearpatrol.com/style/grooming/a38953432/climate-change-skincare/

The world is on fire and our leaders are failing, poll finds https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/08/citizens-politicians-combat-climate-change-00004590

Making Indian cities climate and water resilient https://watersciencepolicy.com/article/making-indian-cities-climate-and-water-resilient-d22349e15819

CO₂ emissions dataset: Our sources and methods https://ourworldindata.org/co2-dataset-sources

Assessing extremes in hydroclimatology: A review on probabilistic methods https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022169421013524?via%3Dihub

Increasing Heat-Stress Inequality in a Warming Climate https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF002488

Disaster risk reduction

Failure to prevent pandemics at source is ‘greatest folly’, say scientists https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/04/failure-to-prevent-pandemics-at-source-is-greatest-folly-say-scientists

Daylighting Rivers and Streams http://nrcsolutions.org/daylighting-rivers/

Future hurricanes likely to pose much greater flood risk to U.S. East and Gulf coasts https://engineering.princeton.edu/news/2022/02/03/future-hurricanes-likely-pose-much-greater-flood-risk-u-s-east-and-gulf-coasts

Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Flood Risk (Part One) https://www.rms.com/blog/2022/02/01/five-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-flood-risk-part-one

Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Flood Risk (Part Two) https://www.rms.com/blog/2022/02/01/five-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-flood-risk-part-two

How countries can better cope with flood risk https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-countries-can-better-cope-flood-risk

Deforestation Is Flooding West African Coasts https://eos.org/articles/deforestation-is-flooding-west-african-coasts

Volcanoes, plague, famine, endless winter: Historians and scientists recall 536, the ‘worst year to be alive’ https://phys.org/news/2022-02-volcanoes-plague-famine-endless-winter.html

Researchers identify ‘double-hazard’ zones for wildfire in the West https://earth.stanford.edu/news/researchers-identify-double-hazard-zones-wildfire-west#gs.oflj37

NRDC Pushes FEMA for Climate-Smart Flood Maps and Standards https://www.nrdc.org/experts/joel-scata/nrdc-pushes-fema-climate-smart-flood-maps-and-standards

Flood Risk-Related Research Trends in Latin America and the Caribbeanhttps://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/1/10

Google Maps to fix directions after years of trapped travellers around Burketown https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-08/google-maps-to-fix-routes-trapped-travellers-queensland/100805884

What determines variation in remotely sensed fire severity? Consideration of remote sensing limitations and confounding factors https://www.publish.csiro.au/WF/justaccepted/WF21131

The role of the scientist in a post-truth world https://thebulletin.org/2022/02/the-role-of-the-scientist-in-a-post-truth-world/

JBA launches flood model for more effective risk pricing https://member.fintech.global/2022/02/07/jba-launches-flood-model-for-more-effective-risk-pricing/

Atlas provides districts maps on hazard events and vulnerability for all the calendar months and at annual scale in India https://imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas/index.html

Storm Ana’s devastation in southern Africa highlights need for early warnings https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/02/01/storm-anas-devastation-southern-africa-highlights-need-early-warnings/

US flood risk is about to explode — but not for the reasons you think https://grist.org/extreme-weather/flood-risk-growth-development/

Impacts of space weather https://thesciencebehindit.org/how-does-space-weather-affect-us-here-on-earth/

Earthquake early warning system could save lives in southern Europe https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2022/feb/earthquake-early-warning-system-could-save-lives-southern-europe

Why the Tongan eruption will go down in the history of volcanology https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00394-y

Rethinking resilience and development: A coevolutionary perspective https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-020-01485-8

The Canadian Partnership for Wildland Fire Science https://www.canadawildfire.org/

The benefits of strengthening buildings against earthquakes https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/112

Emergency management

How accurate are weather forecaster’s predictions, really, and how do they come up with them? https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/weather-forecasting-less-accurate/

The future of the pandemic is looking clearer as we learn more about infection https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/02/07/1057245449/the-future-of-the-pandemic-is-looking-clearer-as-we-learn-more-about-infection

Using drone technology in Africa’s devasting cyclones https://www.fairplanet.org/story/drone-technology-saves-thousands-from-devastating-cyclones/

Practice Makes Preparedness: NASA Participates in North Carolina Hurricane Exercise https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3144/practice-makes-preparedness-nasa-participates-in-north-carolina-hurricane-exercise/

Drawing disaster-preparedness lessons from Tonga’s volcano https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/drawing-disaster-preparedness-lessons-tongas-volcano

Increasing Public Criticism, Confusion Over COVID-19 Response in U.S. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/02/09/increasing-public-criticism-confusion-over-covid-19-response-in-u-s/

Wildfire smoke increases inflammation, lung disease risk https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/wildfire-smoke-increases-inflammation-lung-disease-risk/2022/02

Covid rules are to be axed in England, but is pandemic’s end really in sight? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/09/covid-rules-axed-england-is-pandemic-end-really-in-sight

Evacuation Planning Handbook review update https://www.aidr.org.au/news/evacuation-planning-handbook-review-update/

The INFORM Severity Index is a regularly updated, and easily interpreted model for measuring the severity of humanitarian crisis globally https://www.acaps.org/methodology/severity

Disaster education, communications and engagement

2022 Great Washington ShakeOut https://www.shakeout.org/washington/

Professionalization of community engagement in flood risk management: Insights from four European countries https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420922000309?via%3Dihub

Exploring Soils: A Living Treasure https://www.access-ed.ngo/exploring-soils-a-living-treasure

15 things not to do when using a rapid antigen test, from storing in the freezer to sampling snot https://theconversation.com/15-things-not-to-do-when-using-a-rapid-antigen-test-from-storing-in-the-freezer-to-sampling-snot-176364

The Invention of Disaster: Power and Knowledge in Discourses on Hazard and Vulnerability https://www.routledge.com/The-Invention-of-Disaster-Power-and-Knowledge-in-Discourses-on-Hazard-and/Gaillard/p/book/9781138805620

2022 Australia Digital report https://wearesocial.com/au/blog/2022/02/digital-2022-australia-online-like-never-before/

Naming Competition: National Large Air Tanker https://schools.aidr.org.au/national-lat-naming-competition/

Psychology and disasters

The Well-Being of Secondary School Principals One Year into the COVID-19 Pandemic https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA827-6.html

Virtual reality experiment shows most people living in high-risk fire zones are “woefully unprepared” https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2021/virtual-reality-experiment-shows-most-people-living-in-high-risk-fire-zones-are-woefully-unprepared/

‘Harrowing’: trauma caused by Morwell coalmine fire set high school students back 18 months https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/feb/03/harrowing-trauma-caused-by-morwell-coalmine-fire-set-high-school-students-back-18-months

Sociology and disasters

The U.S. Equity-First Vaccination Initiative https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1627-1.html

Unequal Impact: Putting Justice at the Heart of the Climate Fight https://e360.yale.edu/features/unequal-impact-putting-justice-at-the-heart-of-the-climate-fight

Fleeing the unsustainable city: soft policy and the dual effect of social capital in hurricane evacuation https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-022-01098-y

Social protection to ensure those most affected by climate change can strengthen their resilience capacity and avoid the worst impacts of disasters https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/early-action-and-climate-crisis-could-social-protection-be-game-changer

Poorer populations may be hit with a one-two punch of more heat waves from climate change due to their location and an inability to keep up with it as a result of lack of heat adaptations like air conditioning https://news.agu.org/press-release/poorest-people-bear-growing-burden-of-heat-waves-as-temperatures-rise/

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Massive eruption at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai produces huge shockwave and 1.2 m high tsunami, Tonga https://watchers.news/2022/01/15/massive-eruption-hunga-tonga-hunga-haapai-shockwave-tsunami-january-15-2022/

Pacific volcano: Ash-covered Tonga is like a moonscape say residents https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60009944

Widespread damage after winter storm spawns multiple tornadoes in Florida, U.S.https://watchers.news/2022/01/17/florida-tornado-damage-january-16-2022/

Peru – 2 Dead After Tonga Volcano Triggers Coastal Flooding https://floodlist.com/asia/tonga-volcano-tsunami-floods-january-2022

Madagascar – 10 Killed After Heavy Rains Trigger Floods and Landslides in Antananarivo https://floodlist.com/africa/madagascar-floods-january-2022

Uruguay – Floods in Montevideo After 150mm of Rain in 1 Hour https://floodlist.com/america/uruguay-floods-january-2022

South Africa – Dozens Evacuate Floods in KZN https://floodlist.com/africa/south-africa-floods-kzn-north-west-province-january-2022

Perth heatwave declared as firefighters contain blaze burning near Karrakatta cemetery on 42-degree day https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-19/perth-karrakatta-bushfire-warning/100767898

Volcanic activity worldwide 19 Jan 2022: Fuego volcano, Reventador, Sangay, Nevados de Chillán https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/170812/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-19-Jan-2022-Fuego-volcano-Reventador-Sangay-Nevados-de-Chillan-Nev.html

Iran – 1,200 Homes Damaged After More Floods in Kerman Provincehttps://floodlist.com/asia/iran-floods-kerman-january-2022

Zambia – Floods Affect Thousands in Southern Province https://floodlist.com/africa/zambia-floods-southern-province-january-2022

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Past seven years hottest on record, prompting calls for stronger climate action https://www.sbs.com.au/news/audiotrack/past-seven-years-hottest-record-prompting-calls-stronger-climate-action

South Australia breaks record by running for a week on renewable energy https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/south-australia-breaks-record-running-for-a-week-on-renewable-energy-20220116-p59omi.html

Record numbers of Americans are alarmed or concerned about climate change https://theplanet.substack.com/p/record-numbers-of-americans-are-alarmed

UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1047003/climate-change-risk-assessment-2022.pdf

Climate crisis could wipe 1% a year off UK economy by 2045, say ministers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jan/17/climate-crisis-1-percent-a-year-off-uk-economy-by-2045

Natural Disaster Costs Exceed $250 Billion in 2021 and Worse to Come, Scientists Warn https://www.theenergymix.com/2022/01/13/natural-disaster-costs-exceeded-250-billion-in-2021-and-worse-to-come-scientists-warn/

The problem with the carbon footprint https://www.mic.com/impact/forget-your-carbon-footprint-lets-talk-about-your-climate-shadow

‘Rivers’ in the sky likely to drench East Asia under climate change https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220118104112.htm#:~:text=%22’Rivers’%20in%20the%20sky,ScienceDaily.

Painting Barcelona’s rooftops could lower temperatures by up to five degrees, say experts https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/01/11/painting-barcelona-s-rooftops-could-lower-temperatures-by-up-to-five-degrees-say-experts

‘We have a lot to lose’: 16 Minnesota cities declare climate emergency, urge legislative action https://www.startribune.com/we-have-a-lot-to-lose-16-minnesota-cities-declare-climate-emergency-urge-legislative-action/600137514/

New Research Shows How Health Risks to Children Mount as Temperatures Rise https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/climate/children-climate-change.html

Warm Season and Emergency Department Visits to U.S. Children’s Hospitals https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP8083

Giant canyon discovered underneath Vanderford Glacier in Antarctica, revealing history behind rising sea levels https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-21/canyon-discovered-underneath-vanderford-glacier-antarctica/100770634

2021 was one of the hottest years on record – and it could also be the coldest we’ll ever see again https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/2021-was-one-of-the-hottest-years-on-record-and-it-could-also-be-the-coldest-well-ever-see-again/articleshow/89011720.cms

Disaster risk reduction

Why the volcanic eruption in Tonga was so violent, and what to expect next https://theconversation.com/why-the-volcanic-eruption-in-tonga-was-so-violent-and-what-to-expect-next-175035

First-ever 3D compound inland-coastal flooding guidance system https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/-/when-water-is-coming-from-all-sides

Building a Resilient Canada https://cca-reports.ca/reports/disaster-resilience/

Shock waves, landslides may have caused ‘rare’ volcano tsunami: experts https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220117-shock-waves-landslides-may-have-caused-rare-volcano-tsunami-experts

Flood risk management plans are Scotland’s route map for reducing the effects of flooding on our communities https://www2.sepa.org.uk/frmplans/

How Volcanologists Tracked a Violent, Months-Long Eruption https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/la-palma-volcanology

30th Anniversary Disaster Prevention Management Virtual Issue https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/dpm/30th-anniversary-disaster-prevention-management-virtual-issue

US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet suburbia https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/us-plans-wildfire-fight-where-160352657.html

Hard truths about a hard time: Marshall Fire devastation illustrates conditions leading to wildfire disaster https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/Fire-Break/Blog-Posts/2022/01/03/Hard-truths-about-a-hard-time-Marshall-Fire-devastation-illustrates-conditions

Severe Weather in 2021 Caused $2.1 Billion in Insured Damage in Canada http://www.ibc.ca/on/resources/media-centre/media-releases/severe-weather-in-2021-caused-2-1-billion-in-insured-damage

State agencies among groups to criticise Warragamba Dam proposal https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/state-agencies-among-groups-to-criticise-warragamba-dam-proposal-20220118-p59p3l.html

“Spacing here was a problem”: Closely built homes helped Marshall firestorm spread, researchers say https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/15/marshall-fire-insurance-losses-housing-density/

The ‘Disasterology’ author wants us to rethink emergency management https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/disasterology-author-wants-us-to-rethink-emergency-management

Scientists Are Racing to Understand the Fury of Tonga’s Volcano https://www.wired.com/story/tonga-volcano-eruption-science/

New simulations can improve avalanche forecasting https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220119135042.htm

Emergency management

Waves from the Tonga tsunami are still being felt in Australia – and even a 50cm surge could knock you off your feet https://theconversation.com/waves-from-the-tonga-tsunami-are-still-being-felt-in-australia-and-even-a-50cm-surge-could-knock-you-off-your-feet-175056

The Tonga volcanic eruption has revealed the vulnerabilities in our global telecommunication system https://theconversation.com/the-tonga-volcanic-eruption-has-revealed-the-vulnerabilities-in-our-global-telecommunication-system-175048

Hong Kong quarantine rules are no longer just an inconvenience https://www.ft.com/content/394e7e58-e7da-4386-aa49-be800a9585a3

Israeli trial, world’s first, finds 4th dose ‘not good enough’ against Omicron https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-trial-worlds-first-finds-4th-dose-not-good-enough-against-omicron/

The pandemic’s true death toll: millions more than official counts https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00104-8

Living with endemic Covid will not be painless https://www.ft.com/content/90c0d2e5-063e-44d1-9acf-d603aeafd41d

FEMA Strategic Plan https://www.fema.gov/about/strategic-plan

All plan B Covid restrictions, including mask wearing, to end in England https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/19/boris-johnson-announces-end-to-all-omicron-covid-restrictions-in-england?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

This Guidebook describes institutional options, successful characteristics and management lessons based on real-world experience with disaster recovery operations https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/handbook-recovery-institutions-guidebook-recovery-practitioners

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Creating effective emergency alerts https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/creating-effective-emergency-alerts

The words used in warning communications can powerfully convey risk and encourage immediate behaviours such as moving to a safer area or avoiding floodwaters https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/choosing-powerful-words-signal-risk-and-encourage-action

Collaborating With Communities: Citizen Science Flood Monitoring in Urban Informal Settlements https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/4648

New Zealanders need to understand the hazards of volcanoes here https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/459805/new-zealanders-need-to-understand-the-hazards-of-volcanoes-here-eqc

Mauna Loa:Preparing for the next eruption of Earth’s largest active volcano https://geonarrative.usgs.gov/maunaloa/

How to Plan a Tsunami Walk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYbK8lZsrsc

Province’s new interactive flood-predicting map ‘basic’ but valuable, says advocate https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/flood-predicting-map-1.6315647

Psychology and disasters

Repeated exposure to major disasters does not make people mentally stronger https://www.preventionweb.net/news/repeated-exposure-major-disasters-has-long-term-mental-health-impacts

Sociology and disasters

The crisis forces us to consider what kind of society we want to have https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-crisis-forces-us-to-consider-what-kind-of-society-we-want-to-have-20220113-p59nzt.html

Equitable Community Resilience: The Case of Winter Storm Uri in Texas https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.06652

Coldhearted Policies Put People at Risk of Extreme Heat Work Hazards https://blog.ucsusa.org/alicia-race/coldhearted-policies-put-people-at-risk-of-extreme-heat-work-hazards/

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Brazil – Dam collapses prompting urgent evacuation https://rsoe-edis.org/eventList/details/144175/1

Spain declares end to La Palma volcano eruption https://www.dw.com/en/spain-declares-end-to-la-palma-volcano-eruption/a-60256505

9 feet of snow wallops California mountains as brutal cold invades U.S. https://www.axios.com/snow-totals-california-sierra-brutal-cold-hits-94cc9975-ec4f-4d02-b17f-bae8e0561ea3.html

Extreme rainfall hits Brazilian state of Bahia, causing catastrophic damage https://watchers.news/2021/12/27/bahia-flood-casualties-damage-december-2021/

Very strong M7.3 earthquake hits Barat Daya Islands at intermediate depth, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2021/12/29/m7-3-earthquake-barat-daya-islands-indonesia-december-29-2021/

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

New Data on Earth’s Youngest Glacier Reveals a Healthy Fellow, while Earth’s Ice Elsewhere is Losing its Battle Against Global Warminghttps://www.severe-weather.eu/cryosphere/earth-youngest-glacier-healthy-cryosphere-losing-battle-global-warming-rrc/

2021’s climate disasters revealed an east-west weather divide, with one side of the country too wet, the other dangerously dry https://theconversation.com/2021s-climate-disasters-revealed-an-east-west-weather-divide-with-one-side-of-the-country-too-wet-the-other-dangerously-dry-173402

Floods getting bigger and more frequent, says river expert https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-59726441

Affluent seaside landowners plead for help in SC’s battle against rising ocean https://www.thestate.com/news/local/environment/article256773047.html

A new report by Christian Aid, Counting the cost 2021: a year of climate breakdown identifies 15 of the most destructive climate disasters of the year https://reliefweb.int/report/world/counting-cost-2021-year-climate-breakdown-december-2021

Social Cost of Carbon https://impactlab.org/research-area/social-cost/

Why WA’s south-west is drying out at one of the worst rates in the world https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-28/why-south-west-wa-is-drying-out/100625142

The US could reliably run on clean energy by 2050 https://www.popsci.com/science/clean-grid-renewable-energy-goals/

Deadly heat and extreme rainfall: This is what the world will be like if the temperature rises by 3 degrees, according to researchers https://sciencenorway.no/climate-climate-change/deadly-heat-and-extreme-rainfall-this-is-what-the-world-will-be-like-if-the-temperature-rises-by-3-degrees-according-to-researchers/1950125

2021 Arctic Report Card: image highlights https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/2021-arctic-report-card-image-highlights

It Keeps on Raining Too Much Too Fast https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/12/new-york-city-rain-sewage-system-flood/621129/

Rainfall in the Arctic will soon be more common than snowfall https://news.umanitoba.ca/rainfall-in-the-arctic-will-soon-be-more-common-than-snowfall/

Three loud climate warning signals https://www.axios.com/three-climate-warning-signals-9f930b4e-110a-4225-9eb9-c63a22993b82.html

In Australia’s climate wars, delay and deception are the new denial https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/30/in-australias-climate-wars-delay-and-deception-are-the-new-denial

Poleward expansion of tropical cyclone latitudes in warming climates https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00859-1

Alaska ‘Icemageddon’ warning follows heat record https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59820999

World’s largest offshore wind farm generates first power https://reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-largest-offshore-wind-farm-generates-first-power/

Disaster risk reduction

The pandemic is a warning: we must take care of the earth, our only home https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/24/pandemic-earth-lockdowns-climate-crisis-environment

The Cost of Natural Disasters on Communities, the Environment https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/the-cost-of-natural-disasters-on-communities-the-environment/

Canada wasn’t prepared for natural disasters in 2021 — and next year threatens a repeat https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-emergency-preparation-1.6285724#:~:text=Politics-,Canada%20wasn’t%20prepared%20for%20natural%20disasters%20in%202021%20%E2%80%94%20and,increasingly%20volatile%20and%20dangerous%20climate.

We can build homes to survive tornadoes like Kentucky suffered. We just haven’t https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/12/27/we-can-build-homes-survive-tornadoes-like-kentucky-suffered-we-just-havent/

No brainer’ to raise Warragamba Dam wall https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/no-brainer-to-raise-warragamba-dam-wall/video/e590ad65056bc9a6acb3eeb464d1e6c3

Prediction of severe adverse events, modes of action and drug treatments for COVID-19’s complications https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00368-6

The increased number and severity of wildfires increase in recent years had led to a sharp rise in insurers’ decisions not to renew homeowners’ policies in California or to write new business there https://resilience.iii.org/resilience-blog/wildfires/fewer-california-homeowners-non-renewed-in-2020-but-more-pushed-into-fair-plan/

New Bradfield scheme on agenda as north Queensland prepares for floods https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/new-bradfield-scheme-on-agenda-as-north-queensland-prepares-for-floods-20211228-p59kjs.html

Catalogue of Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience https://www.gfdrr.org/en/publication/catalogue-nature-based-solutions-urban-resilience

2021: The Year in Volcanic Activity https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2021/12/photos-volcanoes-2021/621139/

A Numerical Investigation of the Characteristics of Seismic Signals Induced by Rockfalls https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.761455/full

Flood disaster takes bite out of B.C. economy, sends infrastructure wake-up call https://www.cheknews.ca/flood-disaster-takes-bite-out-of-b-c-economy-sends-infrastructure-wake-up-call-2-930818/

Transposing flood risk from extreme rainfall events: A case study of Hurricane Harvey https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12778

Equilibrium/Sustainability — Dam failures cap a year of disasters https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/587425-equilibrium-sustainability

Emergency management

More than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-95565-8

Omicron escapes the majority of existing SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03796-6

Christmas miracle: German flood victims receive tiny houses https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/christmas-miracle-german-flood-victims-receive-tiny-houses-2021-12-23/

Simultaneous compound disasters from COVID-19 and catastrophic flooding https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12779

FEMA offers cash to cover COVID-19 funeral costs https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-19-funeral-costs-fema-federal-assistance/

Fauci suggests people steer clear from large New Year’s Eve parties: “I would stay away from that” https://www.businessinsider.com.au/fauci-stay-away-from-large-new-years-eve-parties-2021-12

The virus antidote: political leadership, progressive government, public services https://socialeurope.eu/the-virus-antidote-political-leadership-progressive-government-public-services

CDC: Omicron made up 59% of virus cases last week https://www.ems1.com/coronavirus-covid-19/articles/cdc-omicron-made-up-59-of-virus-cases-last-week-cfFV1mQYlcOH2uK1/

Omicron Variant Might Help Defend Against Delta, Lab Study Suggests https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/health/covid-omicron-antibodies-delta.html

French daily Covid cases above 200,000 as Italy introduces stricter green pass https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/29/french-daily-covid-cases-above-200000-as-italy-considers-stricter-green-pass

Brazil government to send relief funds to flood-ravaged northeast https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/brazil-government-send-relief-funds-flood-ravaged-northeast-2021-12-28/

Malaysia floods: Country seeks UN climate adaptation funds for the first time https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/12/27/malaysia-floods-country-seeks-un-climate-adaptation-funds-for-first-time

With omicron, it may be harder to tell if you have COVID, the common cold or flu https://www.startribune.com/with-omicron-it-may-be-harder-to-tell-if-you-have-covid-the-common-cold-or-flu/600131056/

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Engaging communities with Canada’s earthquake early warning system https://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/engaging-communities-with-canadas-earthquake-early-warning-system-13556/

School Pupils in Osaka are Champions for Avoidable Deaths from Tsunamis http://www.avoidable-deaths.net/2020/10/29/school-pupils-in-osaka-are-champions-for-avoidable-deaths-from-tsunamis/

Stories of cultural burning in southern Australia https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/news/2021/stories-cultural-burning-southern-australia

Psychology and disasters

The pandemic has caused nearly two years of collective trauma. Many people are near a breaking point https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/24/collective-trauma-public-outbursts/

Worry and behaviour at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak: results from three UK surveys https://osf.io/3qbca/

A lesson in tornadoes’ wake: Warnings work, but human response is key https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2021/1214/A-lesson-in-tornadoes-wake-Warnings-work-but-human-response-is-key

Flood Disaster Risk, Sense of Place, and Preparedness of Entrepreneurs in Communities along a River http://www.cddjournal.org/article/view/vol05-iss1-1

Sociology and disasters

Has the pandemic fundamentally changed our ethics? https://theconversation.com/has-the-pandemic-fundamentally-changed-our-ethics-171304

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Intense deluge forces evacuations in Francehttps://www.rt.com/news/542841-heavy-rains-trigger-flooding-france/

‘Quad-State Tornado’ crossed four states in four hours, a rare December tornado https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/quad-state-tornado-crossed-four-states-four-hours-leaving-trail-death-rcna8465

Violent tornado outbreak hits U.S. South and Midwest, leaving up to 100 people dead https://watchers.news/2021/12/11/us-tornado-outbreak-damage-fatalities-december-2021/

Intense Storms Cause Flooding, Bridge Collapse in Western Greece https://greekreporter.com/2021/12/12/storms-flooding-bridge-collapse-greece/

Spain – Rain Triggers Deadly Floods and Landslides in Navarre https://floodlist.com/europe/spain-floods-navarre-december-2021

More than 835 000 people affected by floods in South Sudan https://watchers.news/2021/12/15/more-than-835-000-people-affected-by-floods-in-south-sudan/

Severe thunderstorms hit Eastern Cape, claiming 6 lives and damaging more than 1 000 homes, South Africa https://watchers.news/2021/12/15/eastern-cape-thunderstorms-casualties-damage-december-2021/

Congo-Brazzaville – Floods in Leave 15 Dead, 9 Missing and Thousands Displaced https://floodlist.com/africa/congo-brazzaville-floods-november-december-2021

Papua New Guinea – Coastal Floods Affect Thousands https://floodlist.com/australia/papua-new-guinea-high-tide-floods-december-2021

Severe damage across Visayas from Typhoon Odette’s rampage https://www.rappler.com/nation/severe-damage-across-visayas-from-typhoon-odette-rampage/

Volcanic activity worldwide 16 Dec 2021: Santiaguito volcano, Fuego, Reventador, Sangay, Ruapehu https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/161212/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-16-Dec-2021-Santiaguito-volcano-Fuego-Reventador-Sangay-Ruapehu-Ne.html

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Fleeing global warming? ‘Climate havens’ aren’t ready for you yet https://grist.org/migration/fleeing-global-warming-climate-havens-arent-ready-for-you-yet/

The Politics of Our Climate Attribution Obsession https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/the-politics-of-our-climate-attribution

Explainer: Was Deadly Tornado Storm System Related To Climate Change? https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tornado-kentucky-climate-change-storms_n_61b60745e4b0b50268a7678c

Scientists Find a New Source of a Greenhouse Gas Emissions in The Siberian Permafrost https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-find-a-new-source-of-a-greenhouse-gas-in-the-siberian-permafrost

FEMA chief says powerful storms ‘new normal’ in era of climate change https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/12/politics/deanne-criswell-fema-climate-change-cnntv/index.html

Protect or retreat: rising seas threaten Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific Coasts https://uwaterloo.ca/news/media/protect-or-retreat-rising-seas-threaten-canadas-atlantic-and

‘2.4C is a death sentence’: Vanessa Nakate’s fight for the forgotten countries of the climate crisis https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/13/24c-is-a-death-sentence-vanessa-nakates-fight-for-the-forgotten-countries-of-the-climate-crisis

“This Isn’t a Natural Disaster”: Climate Scientist Michael Mann on Deadly Tornadoes in 8 States https://www.democracynow.org/2021/12/13/michael_mann_on_climate_crisis_tornadoes

A new report outlines how Australia is being left behind in the global race to urgently reduce emissions during the 2020s to avoid catastrophic climate change https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/crunch-time-glasgow-climate-pact-national-climate-decade/

Canada on track to reduce fossil fuel use by 62% by 2050 https://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insurance/canada-on-track-to-reduce-fossil-fuel-use-by-62-by-2050-1004215443/

Thwaites: Antarctic glacier heading for dramatic change https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59644494

Landfills Belch Climate-Warming Methane. Even the EPA Doesn’t Know How Much https://truthout.org/articles/landfills-belch-climate-warming-methane-even-the-epa-doesnt-know-how-much/

The Arctic has a new record high temperature, according to the U.N. https://www.npr.org/2021/12/14/1064042128/arctic-heat-record-siberia-climate-change

2021 was a remarkable year for Earth’s climate https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/12/2021-was-a-remarkable-year-for-earths-climate/

Near-term transition and longer-term physical climate risks of greenhouse gas emissions pathways https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01236-x

Conversations, culture and constructive climate action https://www.greenbiz.com/article/conversations-culture-and-constructive-climate-action

November 2021: Earth’s 4th-warmest November on record https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/12/november-2021-earths-4th-warmest-november-on-record/

How rising groundwater caused by climate change could devastate coastal communities https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/13/1041309/climate-change-rising-groundwater-flooding/

How Climate Change is Impacting Extreme Weather Events in Germany https://www.ambientalrisk.com/how-climate-change-is-impacting-extreme-weather-events-in-germany/

Tornadoes and climate change: What a warming world means for deadly twisters and the type of storms that spawn them https://theconversation.com/tornadoes-and-climate-change-what-a-warming-world-means-for-deadly-twisters-and-the-type-of-storms-that-spawn-them-173645

Australia forecast to have summer of extreme heatwaves and floods https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/15/australia-forecast-to-have-summer-of-extreme-heatwaves-and-floods

Climate of chaos: Stanford researchers show why heat may make weather less predictable https://news.stanford.edu/2021/12/14/warming-makes-weather-less-predictable/

In praise of ‘Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction’ https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/12/in-praise-of-climate-change-a-very-short-introduction/

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world https://www.science.org/content/article/arctic-warming-four-times-faster-rest-world#.YbufK1ezJv0.twitter

Here’s what we know about corporate climate ambition https://www.greenbiz.com/article/heres-what-we-know-about-corporate-climate-ambition

2021 Arctic Report Card: Winter sea ice pack likely thinnest on recordhttps://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/2021-arctic-report-card-winter-sea-ice-pack-likely-thinnest-record

Time lag between intervention and actual CO2 decrease could still lead to climate tipping point https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211215132705.htm

This BAMS special report presents assessments of how human-caused climate change may have affected the strength and likelihood of individual extreme events https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/publications/bulletin-of-the-american-meteorological-society-bams/explaining-extreme-events-from-a-climate-perspective/

Disaster risk reduction

How the ‘deadly December tornado’ carved a 250-mile path through 4 states https://www.livescience.com/deadly-december-tornado-four-states-midwest

Indigenous-led action plan focused on flood strategy for entire Lower Mainland https://www.peacearchnews.com/news/indigenous-led-action-plan-focused-on-flood-strategy-for-entire-lower-mainland/

A framework for global science in support of risk-informed sustainable development and planetary health https://www.undrr.org/publication/framework-global-science-support-risk-informed-sustainable-development-and-planetary

Why the southern US is prone to December tornadoes https://theconversation.com/why-the-southern-us-is-prone-to-december-tornadoes-173643

Three Questions About Last Weekend’s Devastating Tornado Outbreak https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/12/14/three-questions-about-last-weekends-devastating-tornado-outbreak/

Evidence for Shared Earthquakes Between San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/evidence-shared-earthquakes-between-san-andreas-and-san-jacinto-faults

Estimation of levee breach discharge hydrographs: comparison of inverse approaches https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02626667.2021.1996580

As floods slam more U.S. firms, $50 billion economic drag expected in 2022 https://news.trust.org/item/20211213093834-8tw2h/

How to select the most suitable fuel management strategies to reduce bushfire risk https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/108

Environmental Sensors to improve bushfire prediction capabilities https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/news/article/1386/environmental-sensors-to-improve-bushfire-prediction-capabilities

Malawi: New early warning system to reduce mortalities and loss https://diraj.org/stories/malawi-new-early-warning-system-to-reduce-mortalities-and-loss/

A massive underground tunnel may be the way to alleviate Houston’s flooding, Army Corps says https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/A-massive-underground-tunnel-may-be-the-way-to-16703473.php

Chennai’s floods: the city has learned nothing from the past – here’s what it can do https://theconversation.com/chennais-floods-the-city-has-learned-nothing-from-the-past-heres-what-it-can-do-172254

Emergency management

Grenfell delivers yet more horrors. But the guilty still fail to take responsibility https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/12/grenfell-delivers-yet-more-horrors-but-the-guilty-still-fail-to-take-responsibility

Crews search for the missing in Kentucky after devastating tornadoes https://www.ems1.com/search-and-rescue/articles/crews-search-for-the-missing-in-kentucky-after-devastating-tornadoes-DKuDN4WUKnNM0wfl/

Caldor Fire suspects: Son converted firearm into a machine gun, district attorney says https://news.yahoo.com/caldor-fire-suspects-son-converted-033149721.html

Latest edition of Fire Australia magazine https://www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/magazine

A new set of evidence-based resources for people and organisations engaged in disaster recovery https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/recovery-matters-webinar-series/#capitals

What South Africa needs to do to exit the pandemic state of disaster https://theconversation.com/what-south-africa-needs-to-do-to-exit-the-pandemic-state-of-disaster-172781

Why did the early warning system fail to save the lives of residents around Mount Semeru? https://theconversation.com/why-did-the-early-warning-system-fail-to-save-the-lives-of-residents-around-mount-semeru-173428

The NSW and Australian Government have committed over $790 million to support recovery, repair and rebuilding efforts of storm and flood impacted regions https://www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/regional-recovery-programs/storm-and-flood-recovery

S. Africa reports record daily COVID-19 cases as Omicron spreads https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-reports-record-daily-covid-19-infections-2021-12-15/

U.K. Sets New Record For Daily Covid-19 Cases https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2021/12/15/uk-sets-new-record-for-daily-covid-19-cases/

Broadly neutralizing antibodies overcome SARS-CoV-2 Omicron antigenic shift https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.12.472269v1

B.C. paramedics, firefighters to be given more medical powers to assist in emergencies https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2021/12/03/bc-paramedics-medical-scope/

UN chief: ‘We cannot defeat a pandemic in an uncoordinated way’ https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108092

Cautious clean-up on La Palma as hopes rise for end to volcano eruption https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/la-palma-volcanos-underground-vents-are-solidifying-lava-dries-up-2021-12-16/

Disaster education, communications and engagement

National Award Winners and Finalists https://www.aidr.org.au/resources/2021-resilient-australia-national-awards/

Australian Warning System: Know the signs https://www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/newsletter/article/australian-warning-system-know-the-signs

Improving Tornado Warnings Will Help Save Lives https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/disaster-choice/202112/improving-tornado-warnings-will-help-save-lives

Not just the weather: How TV meteorologists influence the public’s views on climate https://thebulletin.org/2021/12/not-just-the-weather-how-tv-meteorologists-influence-the-publics-views-on-climate/

Psychology and disasters

Survivors describe the fear and horror they endured as tornadoes tore through the southern and central US https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/12/us/survivors-deadly-storm-kentucky/index.html

Exploring the Long-Term Impact of Cascading Disasters in the U.S. Virgin Islands on High School Student and Teacher Mental Health and Resilience https://hazards.colorado.edu/public-health-disaster-research/exploring-the-long-term-impact-of-cascading-disasters-in-the-u-s-virgin-islands

Black Dog Institute Bush Fire Support Service https://www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/newsletter/article/black-dog-institute-bush-fire-support-service

Prepare for the upcoming disaster season with free trauma training https://www.afac.com.au/auxiliary/publications/newsletter/article/prepare-for-the-upcoming-disaster-season-with-free-trauma-training

6 Ways to Help Someone with PTSD https://psychcentral.com/ptsd/how-to-help-someone-with-ptsd

Brain study on how to slow down climate change https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211215113240.htm

Mental health during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/infographic-mental-health-second-wave-covid-19-pandemic.html

Sociology and disasters

NZ’s social cohesion post-Covid still unclear — researchers https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/12/12/nzs-social-cohesion-post-covid-still-unclear-researchers/

New Research Shows Household Income Impacts of Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, Need for More Equitable Climate Resilience Planning for Cities https://www.iit.edu/news/new-research-shows-household-income-impacts-hurricane-katrina-and-superstorm-sandy-need-more

Informal social support and disaster preparedness: Mediating roles of perceived collective efficacy and self-efficacy https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420921006956

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

At least 15 killed, 27 missing and 57 injured after massive eruption at Semeru volcano, Indonesia https://watchers.news/2021/12/05/semeru-volcano-eruption-damage-casualties-indonesia-december-2021/

Floods cut off communities in South Sudan’s Unity state https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/floods-cut-off-communities-south-sudans-unity-state-2021-12-03/

Indonesia volcano erupts again, hampering rescue operations https://phys.org/news/2021-12-indonesia-volcano-erupts-hampering.html

Omicron looks set to cause a huge wave of covid-19 around the world https://www.newscientist.com/article/2300375-omicron-looks-set-to-cause-a-huge-wave-of-covid-19-around-the-world/

Bus carrying members of choir is swept away by raging flood in Kenya killing more than 20 people https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10277193/Bus-carrying-members-choir-swept-away-raging-flood-Kenya-killing-20.html

Storm Barra hits: Forty flood alerts as UK battered by 70mph winds https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/07/storm-barra-uk-weather-flood-rain-snow-power-latest-updates/

Indonesia – Floods in West Nusa Tenggara Affect Over 60,000 https://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-west-nusa-tenggara-floods-december-2021

Emergency services are fighting two out of control bushfires in WA’s South West https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-10/emergency-services-are-fighting-two-out-of-control/13671362

Volcanic activity worldwide 9 Dec 2021: Fuego volcano, Semeru, Reventador, La Palma https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/151755/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-9-Dec-2021-Fuego-volcano-Semeru-Reventador-La-Palma-Nevados-de-Chil.html

Brazil – Deadly Floods and Landslides in Bahia After Heavy Rain https://floodlist.com/america/brazil-floods-landslides-bahia-november-december-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Earth is getting a black box to record our climate change actions, and it’s already started listening https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-12-06/climate-change-earth-black-box-recorder/100621778

Climate inaction will cost G7 countries ‘billions’ https://www.dw.com/en/climate-inaction-will-cost-g7-countries-billions/a-57800168

Around the world, these are just some of the cities at risk of rising sea levels https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/12/coastal-cities-underwater-climate-change/

From Siberia to the U.S, wildfires broke emissions records this year https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/siberia-us-wildfires-broke-emissions-records-this-year-2021-12-06/

Picturing the future of complex, cascading climate risks https://council.science/current/blog/picturing-the-future-of-complex-cascading-climate-risks/

The world’s newest nation is both drying up and drowning https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/06/africa/south-sudan-floods-climate-cmd-intl/index.html

California’s water supplies are in trouble as climate change worsens natural dry spells, especially in the Sierra Nevada https://theconversation.com/californias-water-supplies-are-in-trouble-as-climate-change-worsens-natural-dry-spells-especially-in-the-sierra-nevada-173142

Firestorm, Greg Mullins: Former Commissioner is ready to face firestorm againhttps://www.northernbeachesreview.com.au/story/7539023/hes-been-targeted-before-but-ex-commissioner-will-face-firestorm-again/

Dictionary update shows how changing climate changes language, and much more https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/12/dictionary-update-shows-how-changing-climate-changes-language-and-much-more/

Extreme lack of sea ice in Hudson Bay puts polar bears under pressure https://www.newscientist.com/article/2300385-extreme-lack-of-sea-ice-in-hudson-bay-puts-polar-bears-under-pressure/

FEMA resources for climate resilience https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_resources-climate-resilience.pdf

Climate Avisory Council Annual Review https://www.climatecouncil.ie/media/climatechangeadvisorycouncil/Climate%20Change%20Advisory%20Council%20Annual%20Review%202021.pdf

U.S. had its 3rd-warmest autumn on record, 7th-warmest November https://www.noaa.gov/news/us-had-its-3rd-warmest-autumn-on-record-7th-warmest-november

As climate ‘net-zero’ plans grow, so do concerns from scientists https://phys.org/news/2021-12-climate-net-zero-scientists.html

Disaster risk reduction

An interview with dendrochronologist and fire historian Tom Swetnam https://www.panarchiccodex.com/thomas-swetnam

Pandemic exposed UK is vulnerable to variety of extreme risks without adequate Government planninghttps://committees.parliament.uk/committee/483/risk-assessment-and-risk-planning-committee/news/159374/pandemic-exposed-uk-is-vulnerable-to-variety-of-extreme-risks-without-adequate-government-planning/

Did poor government handling in Kerala cause 2018 floods? Yes, says CAG https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/governance/did-poor-government-handling-in-kerala-cause-2018-floods-yes-says-cag-80494

Research into ground improvement technique ahead of earthquakes https://phys.org/news/2021-12-ground-technique-earthquakes.html

New type of earthquake discovered https://phys.org/news/2021-12-earthquake.html

Payouts may keep climbing due to severe weather https://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insurance/payouts-may-keep-climbing-due-to-severe-weather-1004215130/

To Counter Rise in Flooding From Mountains to the Coast, North Carolina Looks to Nature https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2021/12/03/to-counter-rise-in-flooding-from-mountains-to-the-coast-north-carolina-looks-to-nature

Understanding the effects of partisan identity on climate change https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352154621000619

Preparing for Extreme Risks: Building a Resilient Society https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5802/ldselect/ldrisk/110/110.pdf

Mount Semeru’s deadly eruption was triggered by rain and storms, making it much harder to predict https://theconversation.com/mount-semerus-deadly-eruption-was-triggered-by-rain-and-storms-making-it-much-harder-to-predict-173240

Is “Fuel Reduction” Justified as Fire Management in Spotted Owl Habitat? https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/2/4/29

New research makes waves tackling the future of tsunami monitoring and modeling https://phys.org/news/2021-12-tackling-future-tsunami.html

Simulations show how earthquake early warning might be improved for magnitude-9 earthquakes https://phys.org/news/2021-12-simulations-earthquake-early-magnitude-earthquakes.html

La Niña expected to intensify global rain and drought after second consecutive year https://www.ft.com/content/c745f2b9-1cbc-4f59-9f21-b4f7c75d9e60

Asia Pacific Typhoon Collaborative Research Centre launched https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/asia-pacific-typhoon-collaborative-research-centre-launched

We are professional fire watchers, and we’re astounded by the scale of fires in remote Australia right now https://theconversation.com/we-are-professional-fire-watchers-and-were-astounded-by-the-scale-of-fires-in-remote-australia-right-now-172773

Bottom-up innovations in natural hazard risk management in Austria https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006506?via%3Dihub

Use the interactive mapping tools to better visualize the frequency and cost of billion-dollar weather and climate events https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/mapping

Real-time coastal flood hazard assessment using DEM-based hydrogeomorphic classifiers https://nhess.copernicus.org/preprints/nhess-2021-359/

Wildfire Resilience and the Role of Landscapes https://www.facilitiesnet.com/groundsmanagement/article/Wildfire-Resilience-and-the-Role-of-Landscapes–19441

Emergency management

Doctors ‘incredibly frustrated’ that unvaccinated Covid patients are delaying NHS operations https://inews.co.uk/news/health/doctors-incredibly-frustrated-unvaccinated-covid-patients-delaying-nhs-operations-1336507

Omicron variant found in at least 15 US states https://www.rawstory.com/omicron-variant-found-in-at-least-15-u-s-states-cdc-chief/

Omicron Cases at Norway Christmas Party Provide Clues on New Variant’s Spread https://www.wsj.com/articles/omicron-cases-at-norway-christmas-party-provide-clues-on-new-variants-spread-11638554033

2 Louisiana insurance companies fail after Hurricane Ida https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/louisiana-insurance-companies-fail-hurricane-ida-81568598

Sydney and Melbourne office workers slowly returning after COVID lockdowns https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/sydney-and-melbourne-office-workers-slowly-returning-20211206-p59f55

In the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion, The Salvation Army’s emergency disaster services was born https://salvationist.ca/articles/halifax-explosion-salvation-army/

Omicron’s less severe cases prompt cautious optimism in South Africa https://www.ft.com/content/d315be08-cda0-462b-85ec-811290ad488e

The herd-immunity threshold must be updated for multi-vaccine strategies and multiple variantshttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-00083-2

Six months after Melamchi floods in Nepal, no respite for displaced people https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/livelihoods/melamchi-floods-in-nepal-six-months-on/

B.C. moves to recovery management phase after floods; most military leaving province https://www.canadianunderwriter.ca/insurance/b-c-moves-to-recovery-management-phase-after-floods-most-military-leaving-province-1004215298/

Females more likely than males to experience long-term COVID-19 symptoms, small study suggests https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/females-more-likely-than-males-to-experience-long-term-covid-19-symptoms-small-study-suggests-1.5701073

Newfound flavor of omicron variant may be harder to track https://www.livescience.com/second-version-omicron-variant-ba2

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Pro-Trump counties now have far higher COVID death rates. Misinformation is to blamehttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/05/1059828993/data-vaccine-misinformation-trump-counties-covid-death-rate

Crowdsourcing triggers rapid, reliable earthquake locations https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aau9824

Why e-learning is key to building disaster-proof education https://blog.neolms.com/why-e-learning-is-key-to-building-disaster-proof-education/

Role of frequency modulation radio in disaster communication: A case study of Pakistan earthquakehttps://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1047

Taking protective action during floods and storms https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/casestudy/floodriskcsas

Making the shaking count — high schoolers in Puerto Rico set up earthquake alerts with Raspberry Shake https://temblor.net/earthquake-insights/making-the-shaking-count-high-schoolers-in-puerto-rico-set-up-earthquake-alerts-with-raspberry-shake-13513/

Psychology and disasters

Climate Extremes Can Produce ‘Vicarious Trauma’, Even From a Distance https://www.theenergymix.com/2021/12/05/climate-extremes-can-produce-vicarious-trauma-even-from-a-distance/

New research reveals the economic costs of behavioral responses to the pandemic in the U.S. https://www.sra.org/2021/12/02/the-human-and-economic-impacts-of-covid-19/

Sociology and disasters

COVID-19 Vaccinations: Visualizing a Year of Global Progress and Inequity https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/covid-19-vaccinations-visualizing-year-global-progress-and-inequity

National Narcissism predicts the Belief in and the Dissemination of Conspiracy Theories During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From 56 Countries https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/SCGP33XJINCICDCNFYMF/full

Modeling the Impacts of Urban Flood Risk Management on Social Inequality https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020WR029024

New research demonstrates the inherent inequities of flood protection and offers a better understanding of flooding cost and health impacts https://www.sra.org/2021/12/02/tracking-inequities-and-health-impacts-of-flooding/

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Severe flood hits Malta during one of the country’s worst storms ever https://watchers.news/2021/11/26/severe-flood-malta-november-25-2021/

Powerful M7.5 earthquake hits northern Peruhttps://watchers.news/2021/11/28/peru-m7-5-earthquake-november-28-2021/

Canberra’s rainiest November on record https://watchers.news/2021/11/26/canberra-rainiest-november-record-2021/

NSW floods and wet weather: towns along Hunter River ordered to evacuate https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/28/nsw-floods-and-wild-weather-towns-along-hunter-river-ordered-to-evacuate

Malta – Dramatic Flood Rescues After Month’s Worth of Rain in 24 Hours https://floodlist.com/europe/malta-floods-november-2021

La Palma, Canary Islands: eruption Sep 2021 – updates https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/lapalma/sep2021seismic-crisis/current-activity.html

Strong and shallow M6.6 earthquake hits Izu Islands, Japan https://watchers.news/2021/11/29/strong-and-shallow-m6-6-earthquake-hits-izu-islands-japan/

Thirty year flood record smashed as hundreds flee homes in Queensland https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-floods-inglewood-declared-an-emergency-zone-as-waters-rise/43d55725-ffd8-446d-a198-a8136b8dd3ae

Spain – Dozens Evacuated After More Floods in North https://floodlist.com/europe/spain-floods-cantabria-basque-november-2021

Prepare for more extreme weather, Britons warned in wake of Storm Arwen https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/01/storm-arwen-uk-must-prepare-for-more-extreme-weather

Vietnam – Floods leave 10 dead, missing in central Vietnam https://rsoe-edis.org/eventList/details/137670/1

Queensland floods: second death in six days after 73-year-old’s ute swept into creek https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/01/queensland-floods-950-evacuated-from-inglewood-as-rising-rivers-threaten-towns

All of southwest B.C. under flood watch as 3rd consecutive storm rolls through https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/wyntk-bc-floods-dec-1-1.6269084

Volcanic activity worldwide 1 Dec 2021: Vulcano volcano, Fuego, Popocatépetl, Merapi, Grímsvötn https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/149265/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-1-Dec-2021-Vulcano-volcano-Fuego-Popocatepetl-Merapi-Grimsvoetn-.html

Vietnam – 18 Dead or Missing as Floods Worsen https://floodlist.com/asia/vietnam-floods-december-2021

Colombia – Flash Floods Damage Dozens of Homes in Medellín https://floodlist.com/america/colombia-medellin-floods-december-2021

Thailand – Floods Affect 100,000 in Southern Provinces https://floodlist.com/asia/thailand-floods-southern-provinces-november-december-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Megafires that burn more than a million hectares increasing due to climate change, CSIRO finds https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-26/climate-change-increases-risk-of-megafires-csiro/100653146

Top climate scientists are sceptical that nations will rein in global warming https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02990-w

Relentless Drought, Fatal Flooding: Kenyans Find Climate Solutions Under Threat of Extreme Weather https://www.theenergymix.com/2021/11/25/relentless-drought-fatal-flooding-kenyans-find-climate-solutions-under-threat-of-extreme-weather/

Demand-side solutions to climate change mitigation consistent with high levels of well-being https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01219-y

New research links Australia’s forest fires to climate change https://www.csiro.au/en/news/News-releases/2021/New-research-links-Australias-forest-fires-to-climate-change

Climate change and community flood resilience in Tabasco, Mexico https://floodresilience.net/blogs/climate-change-and-community-flood-resilience-in-tabasco-mexico/

Rain to replace snow in the Arctic as climate heats, study finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/30/rain-replace-snow-arctic-climate-heats-study

Quest begins to drill Antarctica’s oldest ice https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59475410

Gamifying tools to improve the resilience of Europe’s historic areas to climate change https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/435389-gamifying-tools-to-improve-the-resilience-of-europe-s-historic-areas-to-climate-change

Coal use to peak in 2026 as renewables surge past forecasts https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/coal-use-to-peak-in-2026-as-renewables-surge-past-forecasts-20211201-p59duh.html

The rising cost of the climate crisis in flooded South Sudan https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/nov/30/the-rising-cost-of-the-climate-crisis-in-flooded-south-sudan-in-pictures

Upping the ante? The effects of “emergency” and “crisis” framing in climate change news https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-021-03219-5

A changing climate is transforming the risk landscape that countries and companies are facing all over the world https://www.fmglobal.com/insights-and-impacts/2021/how_a_changing_climate_is_heightening_unseasonal_weather_trends

Avoiding temperature ‘overshoot’ reduces multiple climate change risks, say scientists https://www.carbonbrief.org/avoiding-temperature-overshoot-reduces-multiple-climate-change-risks-say-scientists

Study finds Atlantic hurricanes becoming more frequent, destructive https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/02/atlantic-hurricanes-increasing-frequency-climate/

Using AIR’s New Modeling Framework to Understand Climate Change Impacts https://www.air-worldwide.com/publications/air-currents/2021/using-airs-new-modeling-framework-to-understand-climate-change-impacts/

Disaster risk reduction

Recent changes to Arctic river dischargehttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27228-1

How do trees help mitigate flood risk? https://slowtheflow.net/how-do-trees-help-mitigate-flood-risk/

We Really Can’t Stop Natural Disasters, We Can Only Hope to Contain Them https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/we-really-cant-stop-natural-disasters-we-can-only-hope-to-contain-them

Disaster risk reduction and the limits of truisms: Improving the knowledge and practice interface https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006221?via%3Dihub

Yes, it’s rocket science: Australia needs eyes in space to monitor our tinderbox landscape https://theconversation.com/yes-its-rocket-science-australia-needs-eyes-in-space-to-monitor-our-tinderbox-landscape-166667

Glacial lake outburst floods: A shared risk across the Hindu Kush Himalayas https://www.sei.org/featured/glacial-lake-outburst-floods-hindu-kush-himalayas/

After Wildfire, How Do We Rebuild for a “Resilient Recovery”? https://www.ppic.org/blog/after-wildfire-how-do-we-rebuild-for-a-resilient-recovery/

Mainstreaming forecast based action into national disaster risk management systems: experience from drought risk management in Kenya https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17565529.2021.1984194?src=

Why are homes still being built along rivers? Flooded residents disagree on the solution https://theconversation.com/why-are-homes-still-being-built-along-rivers-flooded-residents-disagree-on-the-solution-171660

South Korea all set to get ‘world’s first sustainable floating city’ https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/worlds-first-floating-city-south-korea-busan-7640853/

As floods worsen, Uganda moves to protect its vanishing wetlands https://news.trust.org/item/20211129131100-5ogs4/

How Can FEMA and Flood Insurance Keep Up with Rising Flood Risks? https://www.gao.gov/blog/how-can-fema-and-flood-insurance-keep-rising-flood-risks

COVID-19: How much will it cost to prepare the world for the next pandemic? https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/preparing-for-next-pandemic-covid-19/

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

Emergency management

Why WHO chose ‘Omicron’ not ‘Xi’ for new COVID variant https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/why-who-chose-omicron-not-xi-for-new-covid-variant-20211128-p59cu0.html

Biden’s Response To Omicron Covid Variant Underscores Best Practices For Managing A Crisis https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardsegal/2021/11/26/bidens-response-to-omicron-covid-variant-underscores-best-practices-for-managing-a-crisis/

Covid: Travel and mask rules tightened over Omicron variant https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59445124

Omicron COVID variant underlines need for global ‘pandemic treaty’ https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/11/1106722

Omicron throws spotlight on South Africa’s faltering vaccination campaign https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2021/11/29/Omicron-throws-spotlight-on-South-Africas-vaccination-campaign

What happened to our national emergency stockpiles? https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2849

First U.S. Case of Omicron Variant Found in California https://www.kqed.org/science/1977807/first-u-s-case-of-omicron-variant-found-in-california

Australian doctors have made a dire prediction on bushfire deaths https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australian-doctors-have-made-a-dire-prediction-on-bushfire-deaths/4d59fc74-8f4c-4c23-b9a7-a444d4c45606

We saw Omicron coming, but we didn’t think to act https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-saw-omicron-coming-but-we-didn-t-think-to-act-20211202-p59e1h.html

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Entertainment-Education Campaigns and COVID-19: How Three Global Organizations Adapted the Health Communication Strategy for Pandemic Response and Takeaways for the Future https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10410236.2020.1847451

Comic worksheets for integrated disaster risk reduction learning in the subject of Geography https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1149

No time for complacency about flooding https://www.gov.uk/government/news/no-time-for-complacency-about-flooding

How to tell a compelling story in scientific presentations https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03603-2

Psychology and disasters

Heavy rains drench British Columbians with more climate anxiety https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/heavy-rains-drench-british-columbians-with-more-climate-anxiety-1.6265115

The effects of a hurricane don’t end when the wind stops blowing https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/hurricane-ida-aftermath/

Sociology and disasters

Hurricanes may not discriminate, but governments and utility companies do, our research finds https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/23/hurricanes-may-not-discriminate-governments-utility-companies-do-our-research-finds/

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Uncovering ties between Social Capital and COVID-19 Outcomes at Local Levels https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349651780_Won’t_You_Be_My_Neighbor_Uncovering_ties_between_Social_Capital_and_COVID-19_Outcomes_at_Local_Levels

When ‘hunker down’ isn’t an option: The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season showed how low-income communities face the highest risks https://theconversation.com/when-hunker-down-isnt-an-option-the-2021-atlantic-hurricane-season-showed-how-low-income-communities-face-the-highest-risks-169075

Communities of color lead the way to a resilient future https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/583441-communities-of-color-lead-the-way-to-a-resilient-future-congress

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

NSW and Victoria floods: rivers break banks as rain and wind lash Australia’s eastern states https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/13/major-flood-warnings-for-parts-of-nsw-and-victoria-as-rain-and-strong-winds-batter-east-coast

River towns Forbes, Cowra, Cottons Weir and Nanami brace for flooding as dam spills https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/inland-new-south-wales-towns-brace-for-major-flooding/100618014

Strong and shallow M6.0 and M6.4 earthquakes hit southern Iran https://watchers.news/2021/11/14/southern-iran-earthquake-november-14-2021/

Floods overwhelm Lagos communities, wreck 25 vehicles https://punchng.com/floods-overwhelm-lagos-communities-wreck-25-vehicles/

Italy – 1 Dead, Many Rescued After Floods in Sardinia https://floodlist.com/europe/italy-floods-sardinia-november-2021

Egypt – 3 Dead, Hundreds Injured After Floods Trigger Scorpion Infestation https://floodlist.com/africa/egypt-aswan-floods-scorpions-november-2021

Torrential rain, floods and mudslides cut Vancouver off from rest of Canada by road https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/torrential-rain-floods-and-mudslides-cut-vancouver-off-from-rest-of-canada-by-road/ar-AAQM7L9

Severe damage after cricket ball-sized hail hits Lydenburg, South Africa https://watchers.news/2021/11/16/severe-damage-lydenburg-south-africa-november-2021/

Canada and USA – Hundreds Rescued or Evacuated After Floods and Landslides in West https://floodlist.com/america/canada-floods-british-columbia-washington-november-2021

Bolivia – Deadly Flash Floods in La Paz Department https://floodlist.com/america/bolivia-floods-la-paz-november-2021

Destructive tornado hits Sicily, killing one and injuring 2 others, Italy https://watchers.news/2021/11/18/tornado-sicily-italy-november-17-2021/

Colombia – Floods and Landslides in Quindio, Antioquia, Risaralda and Cauca https://floodlist.com/america/colombia-floods-quindio-antioquia-risaralda-cauca-november-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Pacific Island leaders vow to ‘phase up’ climate diplomacy after COP26 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/pacific-island-leaders-vow-to-phase-up-climate-diplomacy-after-cop26/2548784a-d4c5-40fc-8a53-212f4a532c39

‘You can’t live in a swamp’: Virginia fishing village threatened by rising sea levels https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/11/you-cant-live-in-a-swamp-virginia-fishing-village-threatened-by-rising-sea-levels.html

COP26 Wrap: Australian and global reactions to the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ https://reneweconomy.com.au/cop26-wrap-reactions-to-the-glasgow-climate-pact/

Cop26: the goal of 1.5C of climate heating is alive, but only just https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/13/cop26-the-goal-of-15c-of-climate-heating-is-alive-but-only-just

New Ways for Dynamical Prediction of Extreme Heat Waves https://www.aps.org/newsroom/vpr/dfd/2021/09-11-2021-1.cfm

‘Ultimately uninhabitable’: western Sydney’s legacy of planning failure https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/16/ultimately-uninhabitable-western-sydneys-legacy-of-planning-failure

‘Watered-down hope’: Experts wanted more from climate pact https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-business-united-kingdom-scotland-dfa88827e163534ca46c7e32d239f9ef

The Keeling Curve is a daily record of global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration maintained by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego https://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/

Greta Thunberg: ‘COP26 even watered down the blah, blah, blah’ https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-59298344

COP26 deal: how rich countries failed to meet their obligations to the rest of the world https://theconversation.com/cop26-deal-how-rich-countries-failed-to-meet-their-obligations-to-the-rest-of-the-world-171804

We need to design housing for Indigenous communities that can withstand the impacts of climate change https://theconversation.com/we-need-to-design-housing-for-indigenous-communities-that-can-withstand-the-impacts-of-climate-change-171203

Climate change is supercharging the water cycle, making the heaviest rains of each year heavier https://medialibrary.climatecentral.org/resources/record-rain

Dark roofs ditched, commercial buildings must be net-zero from 2022: NSW Planning Minister https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/dark-roofs-ditched-commercial-buildings-must-be-net-zero-from-2022-nsw-planning-minister-20211117-p599pm.html

UK Institutions Are Woefully Underestimating the Risks They Face From Climate https://floodresilience.net/blogs/uk-institutions-underestimating-climate-risks/

Global warming speeds up the frequency of extreme hot weather and rainfall https://phys.org/news/2021-11-global-frequency-extreme-hot-weather.html

Deforestation can raise local temperatures by up to 4.5℃ – and heat untouched areas 6km away https://theconversation.com/deforestation-can-raise-local-temperatures-by-up-to-4-5-and-heat-untouched-areas-6km-away-163584

Did COP26 deliver for flood prone communities across the globe? https://floodresilience.net/blogs/did-cop26-deliver-for-flood-prone-communities/

5 sustainable solutions to help tackle extreme heat in South Asia https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/5-sustainable-cooling-solutions-tackle-extreme-heat-south-asia/

Climate hazards are increasing in frequency and severity across Europe; new regional overview published https://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/climate-hazards-are-increasing-in/

Disaster risk reduction

Flood control lessons from the Dutch as we enter a wetter future https://www.wrvo.org/2021-11-12/flood-control-lessons-from-the-dutch-as-we-enter-a-wetter-future

Hewlett Packard Enterprise builds supercomputer to improve weather predictions for Denmark, Iceland, Ireland and The Netherlands https://www.hpe.com/us/en/newsroom/press-release/2021/11/hewlett-packard-enterprise-builds-supercomputer-to-improve-weather-predictions-for-denmark-iceland-ireland-and-the-netherlands.html

Fifth Arab Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Rabat https://www.preventionweb.net/news/rabat-declaration-disaster-risk-reduction-milestone-embodying-political-commitment-governments

Does Future Miami Really Flood Like That? https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/does-future-miami-really-flood-reminiscence-fact-check-movie-science

Natural hazards and climate change are not drivers of disasters https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11069-021-05100-1

Coastal defences need $30bn boost to prevent Australian homes becoming uninhabitable https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/17/coastal-defences-need-30bn-boost-to-prevent-australian-homes-becoming-uninhabitable

Tropical cyclone frequency https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021EF002275

Using risk management principles to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related disasters https://www.icf.com/insights/disaster-management/risk-management-principles-vulnerable

Global patterns of disaster and climate risk—an analysis of the consistency of leading index-based assessments and their results https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10584-021-03209-7

Seismic shockwave pattern may be redirecting earthquake damage https://phys.org/news/2021-11-seismic-shockwave-pattern-redirecting-earthquake.html

8 major cities that are threatened by wildfires right now https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/cities-most-threatened-by-wildfires-right-now

How bad is the Pacific north-west flooding and what caused it? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/17/pacific-north-west-flooding-british-columbia-washington-state-canada

Expanding our ML-based flood forecasting https://blog.google/technology/ai/expanding-our-ml-based-flood-forecasting/

Forecasting Compound Floods in Complex Coastal Regions https://eos.org/science-updates/forecasting-compound-floods-in-complex-coastal-regions

Using Drones to Fight Floods https://www.floodpanel.com/using-drones-to-fight-floods/

Europe’s COVID death toll could rise by hundreds of thousands https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03455-w

Canada struggles to reach 18,000 stranded by flood waters https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/receding-waters-help-flood-hit-canadian-town-avoid-disaster-2021-11-18/

Valuing the Impacts of Landslides: A Choice Experiment Approach https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs41885-021-00101-7

Emergency management

Covid is surging in Europe. Experts say it’s a warning for the U.S.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/covid-surging-europe-experts-say-s-warning-us-rcna4666

Experts say B.C. rainstorms highlight increasing flood risks and need to prepare https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/experts-say-b-c-rainstorms-highlight-increasing-flood-risks-and-need-to-prepare-1.5668375

Germany: Building back sustainably after a flood https://www.dw.com/en/climate-change-flooding-germany-dernau-rebuilding-homes/a-59640272

Disaster-Related Giving Reached $32 Billion Globally in 2019 https://www.barrons.com/articles/disaster-related-giving-reached-32-billion-globally-in-2019-01636584865

No, vaccinated people are not ‘just as infectious’ as unvaccinated people if they get COVID https://theconversation.com/no-vaccinated-people-are-not-just-as-infectious-as-unvaccinated-people-if-they-get-covid-171302

U.S. Forest Service: We do not have a ‘let it burn’ wildfire policy. We never have https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article255850681.html

Europe’s least-vaccinated countries are back in pandemic crisis https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-europes-least-vaccinated-countries-are-back-in-pandemic-crisis/

Agricultural disaster after record rains cause catastrophic floods in British Columbia, Canadahttps://watchers.news/2021/11/18/agricultural-disaster-record-rainfall-flood-british-columbia-november-2021/

It could take weeks to begin repairing ‘unprecedented’ damage to B.C.’s highway system, experts say https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-floods-highways-repairs-1.6253636

Disaster education, communications and engagement

The Behaviors and Attitudes of U.S. Adults on Twitter https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/11/15/the-behaviors-and-attitudes-of-u-s-adults-on-twitter/

cop26 Twitter NodeXL SNA Map and Report https://nodexlgraphgallery.org/Pages/Graph.aspx

Run Uphill for a Tsunami, Downhill for a Landslidehttps://issues.org/sitka-alaska-landslide-warning-system/

Mobile Alert and Warning in the United States and Japan: Confronting the Challenges of International Harmonization https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13753-021-00380-4

Psychology and disasters

B.C. farmers in a terrible dilemma: Stay to protect their animals or leave them behind https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/b-c-farmers-in-a-terrible-dilemma-stay-to-protect-their-animals-or-leave-them-behind

Correlating heatwaves and relative humidity with suicide (fatal intentional self-harm) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01448-3

Sociology and disasters

Will the Climate Crisis Cause the Collapse of Society? https://lithub.com/will-the-climate-crisis-cause-the-collapse-of-society/

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

Indonesia – Thousands Hit by Floods in West Kalimantan, Deadly Landslides in Central Kalimantan https://floodlist.com/asia/indonesia-floods-kalimantan-october-2021

Iraq – Severe Floods Hit Erbil, Kurdistan https://floodlist.com/asia/iraq-floods-erbil-kurdistan-october-2021

Guatemala – Floods and Landslides in 2021 Rainy Season Leave 12,000 Displaced and 32 Dead https://floodlist.com/america/guatemala-2021-rainy-season

Peru – Deadly Flash Floods Sweep Through Jaén, Cajamarca https://floodlist.com/america/peru-floods-jaen-cajamarca-november-2021

Ash from erupting volcano forces Spanish islanders indoors https://phys.org/news/2021-11-ash-erupting-volcano-spanish-islanders.html

Storms, strong winds prompt Venice to activate flood defence https://nordot.app/828231571237715968

Volcanic activity worldwide 4 Nov 2021: Fuego volcano, Karymsky, Semeru, Reventador, Turrialba https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/146421/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-4-Nov-2021-Fuego-volcano-Karymsky-Semeru-Reventador-Turrialba-Kila.html

Colombia – 11 Killed After Rain Triggers Landslide in Nariño, Many Still Missing https://floodlist.com/america/colombia-landslide-narino-november-2021

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

How Australia earned its climate change reputation https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-01/australia-climate-change-reputation-ahead-of-cop26-warming-talks/100579386

Reaching net zero is every minister’s problem. Here’s how they can make better decisions https://theconversation.com/reaching-net-zero-is-every-ministers-problem-heres-how-they-can-make-better-decisions-170633

Climate change: Extreme weather events are ‘the new norm’ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59105963

COP26: Boris Johnson says ‘no excuses’ for not tackling climate change https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59113676

Climate experts warn world leaders 1.5C is ‘real science’, not just talking point https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/climate-experts-warn-world-leaders-15c-is-real-science-not-just-talking-point

Cop26: polling data is overwhelming – people want leaders to act https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/cop26-polling-data-is-overwhelming-people-want-leaders-to-act

What happened at Cop26 today – day one at a glance https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/what-happened-at-cop26-day-one-at-a-glance

State of the Global Climate 2021 https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/state-global-climate-2021-wmo-provisional-report

The death toll of Europe’s heat wave https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-mediterranean-heatwaves-excess-deaths-climate-change-cop26-glasgow-ipcc/

Solar and wind keep getting cheaper, and crush coal, gas and nuclear on costs https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-and-wind-keep-getting-cheaper-and-crush-coal-gas-and-nuclear-on-costs-lazard/

Australia could become a net negative emissions economy. The technology already exists https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/02/australia-could-become-a-net-negative-emissions-economy-the-technology-already-exists

Climate-vulnerable countries float ’emergency’ timetable to cut emissions https://news.trust.org/item/20211028164444-vs1lk/

What are the economic effects of extreme weather caused by climate change? https://www.economicsobservatory.com/what-are-the-economic-effects-of-extreme-weather-caused-by-climate-change

World leaders announce plan to make green tech cheaper than alternatives https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/02/world-leaders-announce-plan-to-make-green-tech-cheaper-than-alternatives

Australia has taken a new climate adaptation blueprint to Glasgow. It’s a good start but we need money and detail https://theconversation.com/australia-has-taken-a-new-climate-adaptation-blueprint-to-glasgow-its-a-good-start-but-we-need-money-and-detail-170879

‘Nothing left to burn’: wildfires and floods could turn the tide on Turkey’s climate policy https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/02/turkey-climate-policy-wildfires-floods

The science everyone needs to know about climate change, in 6 charts https://theconversation.com/the-science-everyone-needs-to-know-about-climate-change-in-6-charts-170556

Cop26 emission pledges may limit global heating to below 2C https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/cop26-emission-pledges-could-limit-global-heating-to-below-2c-india

Has COP26 put the world on track for holding global warming to 1.5°C? https://www.newscientist.com/article/2296169-has-cop26-put-the-world-on-track-for-holding-global-warming-to-1-5c/

Survey identifies prescribed fire training needs in the Southeast https://wildfiretoday.com/2021/11/03/survey-identifies-prescribed-fire-training-needs-in-the-southeast/

On ancient Earth, it never rained but it poured https://phys.org/news/2021-11-ancient-earth.html

Europe’s record summer ‘impossible’ without global heating https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/03/europe-record-summer-global-heating-cop26

Dozens of nations pledge to phase out coal at COP26, but Australia not on the list https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-04/australia-not-among-nations-to-commit-to-phase-out-coal-cop26/100596222

Poor countries need 5 to 10 times more funding to adapt to climate risks they did not create https://grist.org/cop26/report-poor-countries-need-5-to-10-times-more-funding-to-adapt-to-climate-risks-they-did-not-create/

2021: A year of wild weather https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-59135039

Globe bounces back to nearly 2019 carbon pollution levels https://apnews.com/article/climate-science-business-scotland-pollution-04a455d42fb66b61330b47b308e80498

Step up climate change adaptation efforts or face huge disruption: UN report https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/step-climate-change-adaptation-efforts-or-face-huge-disruption-un

Ithaca, New York becomes first U.S. city to begin 100% decarbonization of buildings, an urban climate change milestone https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/04/ithaca-is-first-us-city-to-begin-100percent-decarbonization-of-buildings.html

‘Great distress’: Bangladesh bears brutal cost of climate crisis https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/3/bangladesh-global-warming-climate-crisis-seawater-agriculture

Disaster risk reduction

Latest edition of ‘Floodplain Manager’ newsletter https://www.molinostewart.com.au/editorial/floodplain-manager-october-2021/

Revealed: a third of England’s vital flood defences are in private hands https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/31/revealed-a-third-of-england-vital-flood-defences-are-in-private-hands

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

There have been so many Atlantic storms this year, forecasters have run out of names https://www.npr.org/2021/11/02/1051420610/tropical-storm-wanda-atlantic-hurricane-season-names

RegioFEM — Applying a floodplain evaluation method to support a future-oriented flood risk management (Part II) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfr3.12758

New York Needs to Become a City That Floods Now and Then https://www.curbed.com/2021/10/kian-goh-flood-nyc-plans.html

Connecting Space to Village to Reduce Flood Impacts https://www.climatelinks.org/blog/connecting-space-village-reduce-flood-impacts

This report summarizes the risks posed on Australia’s climate, ecosystems, food and water systems, and citizens by climate impacts https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/g20-climate-risk-atlas-australia

Emergency management

Helicopter fire trail inspections take off https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/lands/news/helicopter-fire-trail-inspections-take-off

Under-resourced SES leaves large stretches of NSW far west with no local rescue services, ex-volunteers say https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/05/under-resourced-ses-leaves-large-stretches-of-nsw-far-west-with-no-local-rescue-services-ex-volunteers-say

Two months later, Hurricane Ida still rages for some across south Louisiana https://www.nola.com/article_6f08e1fc-3842-11ec-bf4e-2fc1356dd3cc.html

Disaster education, communications and engagement

World of Thermo: Thermometer Rising https://www.amazon.com.au/World-Thermo-Thermometer-Guy-Walton/dp/1724917269

Learning from the Climate Change Debate to Avoid Polarisation on Negative Emissions https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17524032.2019.1630463

Review of ‘Disaster Education, Communication and Engagement’ book https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-october-2021-book-review-disaster-education-communication-and-engagement/

Burning review – the searing black summer documentary that Australia deserves https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/05/burning-review-the-searing-black-summer-documentary-that-australia-deserves

Psychology and disasters

Practical lessons for creating affordance-based interventions for sustainable behavior change https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355807772_Practical_lessons_for_creating_affordance-based_interventions_for_sustainable_behavior_change

Simulation of tsunami evacuation behavior considering inland direction https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921005276?via%3Dihub

Rethinking the share of responsibilities in disaster preparedness to encourage individual preparedness for flash floods in urban areas https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420921006245

7 Resources to Help You Cope With Climate Anxiety https://time.com/6112146/climate-anxiety-resources/

Sociology and disasters

A growing group of laborers is trailing hurricanes and wildfires the way farmworkers follow crops, contracting for big disaster-recovery firms https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/08/the-migrant-workers-who-follow-climate-disasters

Networks of recovery: Remittances, social capital and post-disaster recovery in Tacloban City, Philippines https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420921006026

Peru faces a surge of climate migrants https://en.unesco.org/courier/2021-4/peru-faces-surge-climate-migrants

Mahila Housing SEWA Trust is empowering women in seven Indian cities to tackle heat stress in their homes and settlements https://ashden.org/winners/mahila-housing-trust/ How women leaders emerged from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami https://www.preventionweb.net/news/how-women-leaders-emerged-great-east-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami

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

Recent emergencies/disasters

La Palma island braces for more quakes as volcano roars on https://news.yahoo.com/la-palma-island-braces-more-134546537.html

Massive floods hit Catania after entire year’s worth of rain in just 2 days, Italy https://watchers.news/2021/10/27/catania-flood-october-2021-medistorm-gloria/

Thailand Swamped by Monsoon Flooding https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/148983/thailand-swamped-by-monsoon-flooding

Vietnam – 7,000 People Displaced by Floods in Central Provinces https://floodlist.com/asia/vietnam-floods-october-2021

USA – Atmospheric River Causes Floods and Mudflows in California https://floodlist.com/america/usa/atmospheric-river-floods-mudflows-california-october-2021

Major flooding incident declared in Scotland as town is evacuated https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/10/28/uk-weather-life-threatening-floods-set-hit-parts-england-scotland/

Volcanic activity worldwide 28 Oct 2021: Fuego volcano, Popocatépetl, Ibu, Reventador, Sangay https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano-activity/news/145695/Volcanic-activity-worldwide-28-Oct-2021-Fuego-volcano-Popocatepetl-Ibu-Reventador-Sangay-La-P.html

Colombia – Damaging Floods and Landslides in Antioquia, Meta and Putumayo https://floodlist.com/america/colombia-damaging-floods-and-landslides-in-antioquia-meta-and-putumayo

Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Climate migration doesn’t have to be a crisis https://news.yahoo.com/climate-migration-doesnt-have-to-be-a-crisis-202028939.html

The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: code red for a healthy future https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01787-6/fulltext

State of the Cryosphere 2021 Report http://iccinet.org/statecryo21/

Climate change: UN emissions gap report a ‘thundering wake-up call’ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59049770

India, the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, rejects net zero emissions target https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/27/asia/india-net-zero-target-intl/index.html

Impact of climate change on volcanic processes: current

understanding and future challenges https://eartharxiv.org/repository/view/2752/

UN warns world set for 2.7C rise on today’s emissions pledges https://www.sbs.com.au/news/un-warns-world-set-for-2-7c-rise-on-today-s-emissions-pledges/a3b50642-f083-425f-b9c1-2f6d933b555a

The International Order Isn’t Ready for the Climate Crisis https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2021-10-19/climate-crisis-international-order-isnt-ready

State and Trends in Adaptation Report 2021: Africa https://gca.org/reports/state-and-trends-in-adaptation-report-2021/

Islanders sue Australia for inaction on climate change https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/27/australia/islanders-sue-australia-climate-change-intl-hnk/index.html

What L.A. County will look like with sea level rise, according to scientific projections https://ktla.com/news/what-la-county-will-look-like-with-sea-level-rise-according-to-scientific-projections/

China’s new climate plan falls short of Cop26 global heating goal, experts say https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/disappointing-but-not-unexpected-china-climate-goal-leaves-experts-unsatisfied

World is failing to make changes needed to avoid climate breakdown, report finds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/28/world-failing-make-changes-avoid-climate-breakdown-report

A dress rehearsal for disruption: Why Covid-19 has been a sustainability wake-up call https://www.ft.com/partnercontent/reckitt/a-dress-rehearsal-for-disruption-why-covid-19-has-been-a-sustainability-wake-up-call.html

The UN News COP26 climate quiz https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/10/1104202?123

Could AI Be Useful for Arctic Communities Facing Sea Ice Loss? https://eos.org/articles/could-ai-be-useful-for-arctic-communities-facing-sea-ice-loss

Drying land and heating seas: why nature in Australia’s southwest is on the climate frontline https://theconversation.com/drying-land-and-heating-seas-why-nature-in-australias-southwest-is-on-the-climate-frontline-170377

Disaster risk reduction

Linking hydrologic signatures to hydrologic processes: A review https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hyp.13632

Climate + Financial Resilience: Innovative Solutions to Flood Risk https://www.americaadapts.org/episodes/climate-financial-resilience-innovative-solutions-to-flood-risk-ep-2

Weather and climate extremes in Asia killed thousands, displaced millions and cost billions in 2020 https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/weather-and-climate-extremes-asia-killed-thousands-displaced-millions-and-cost

Reconciling well-being and resilience for sustainable developmenthttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00790-8

Australia is fighting fire with fire, but running out of time https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/27/australia-climate-change-fires/

The Ripple Factor: Economic losses from weather extremes can amplify each other across the world https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/the-ripple-factor-economic-losses-from-weather-extremes-can-amplify-each-other-across-the-world

Uncertainties with assessing flood loss and damage https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/certainty-about-communicating-uncertainty-assessment-flood-loss-and-damage

Emergency management

Ensuring equity in disaster preparedness, response and recovery https://homeland.house.gov/activities/hearings/ensuring-equity-in-disaster-preparedness-response-and-recovery

US and Mexico to take a more ‘holistic’ approach to public safety https://www.courthousenews.com/us-and-mexico-to-take-a-more-holistic-approach-to-public-safety/

Disaster education, communications and engagement

Urban Heat Islands: The Main Issues and What is Being Done to Combat Them https://www.lahomes.com/urban-heat-island-effect/

Africa’s first continent-wide survey of climate change literacy finds education is key https://theconversation.com/africas-first-continent-wide-survey-of-climate-change-literacy-finds-education-is-key-169426

Psychology and disasters

The Pandemic Broke Kids’ Sleep Schedules. Here’s How to Fix Themhttps://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/pandemic-broke-kids-sleep-schedules-heres-how-fix-them

How to respond to heightened emotions when talking about the COVID-19 vaccine https://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/share/talking-about-the-covid-19-vaccine/

Addiction & Mental Health Resources for First Responders https://firstcityrecoverycenter.com/resources/first-responders/

Sociology and disasters

Climate change and disaster impacts disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable populations, especially in low- and middle-income countries https://www.preventionweb.net/publication/adaptation-and-resilience-priority-development-and-poverty-reduction

To improve disaster outcomes for persons with disabilities in Africa, disaggregate data https://blogs.worldbank.org/nasikiliza/improve-disaster-outcomes-persons-disabilities-africa-disaggregate-data