All hazards

Citation

(1999), "All hazards", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 8 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.1999.07308eag.001

All hazards

ALL HAZARDS

1997 Summary of US Natural Hazard Statistics

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.htm

OM has completed the "Summary of US Natural Hazard Statistics for 1997," a report of fatalities, injuries and damage costs caused by severe weather in 1997. The report is compiled using Storm Data, information submitted electronically by NWS forecast offices in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. The 1997 summary can be accessed at the Web address shown above.

Here are some key facts:

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  Weather and flood-related hazards claimed 600 lives. The average number of deaths for 1988-1997 is 524.

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  Floods accounted for the greatest number of fatalities: 118, followed by winter storms and blizzards: 84.

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  The total number of weather-related injuries in 1997 climbed to 3,799, compared to 2,711 in 1996.

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  Tornadoes caused the most injuries with 1,033.

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  Damage caused by severe weather cost the USA nearly $10.8 billion in 1997.

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  Flooding caused the greatest amount of property damage: $6.9 billion.

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  Extreme cold was responsible for the greatest amount of crop damage: $304.3 million.

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  Of the 600 weather-related fatalities, almost two-thirds were males. A total of 69 percent of the male fatalities were between the ages of 20 to 70. Male deaths out-paced female deaths in all age categories except the 80 to 90 age group.

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  The deadliest weather month in 1997 was January with 108 deaths, followed by July with 91 and March with 85.

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  The 30-year average (1968-1997) for flash floods/flood fatalities rose slightly from 138 in 1996 to 140. The 30-year average fatality rate for lightning is 81; tornadoes, 69; and hurricanes, 24. The ten-year average (1988- 1997) for cold-related deaths is 38; for heat, 131.

Guide for Standard Disaster Safety Messages just released!

http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/guide.htnd

Major national organizations that study and communicate about disaster safety have joined to produce a new resource guide, Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages.

This Guide provides standardized safety messages for 13 natural hazards and general disaster preparedness topics. The messages have been reviewed and approved by the National Disaster Education Coalition, which delivers disaster preparedness information to the public. Following each message are explanations, statistics, or reasons to reinforce the credibility of the message and correct myths and information. This project was undertaken because research shows when the public receives consistent information, it will prepare and respond when disaster threatens.

The Coalition includes the American Red Cross, FEMA, Institute for Business and Home Safety; IAEM; National Fire Protection Association; NWS; US Department of Agriculture/Cooperative State Research, Education and Education Service; and the USGS.

Users of this resource may include emergency managers, meteorologists, teachers, disaster and fire educators, public affairs/public relations personnel, mitigation specialists, managers and officers, media personnel and/or any other person in the severe weather, earthquake, disaster, or communications communities. The safety information is intended for dissemination to the general public. All content is in the public domain. The Lowes Home Safety Council provided support for development of the Guide.

Any local American Red Cross chapter can order additional copies of this Guide from the Red Cross central warehouse: stock number A4461M. The cost is $3 per copy. You can access it at the Web address given above.

The Hazards Center

http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/o/oquery.htmlhttp://www.colorado.edu/hazards/dr/drquery.html

Last year, the Hazards Center added two search engines to its Web site to help users locate information either within the entire site (http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/litbase/hazlit.htm). Recently, we added two more search facilities to enable Net surfers to search back issues of either the Natural Hazards Observer or Disaster Research (our e-mail rag).

Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)

http://www.ibhs.orghttp://www.ibhs.org/ibhs11971html/informationcenter.htm

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Information Center has a large collection of books, periodicals, videos, slides, and other resources regarding the mitigation of natural hazard damage to structures. These materials are available on loan to members, associate members, and the general public. The subject areas of the IBHS collection include:

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  insurance and natural disasters;

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  business interruption;

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  disaster preparedness;

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  retrofitting structures;

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  building codes; and

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  emergency management.

The information center can also research questions concerning all of these areas and provide information via e-mail, phone, fax, or postal mail. The IBHS Web site now includes a searchable Annotated Planning and Hazards Bibliography at the second URL above. For more information about IBHS services, contact Karen Gahagan, IBHS Assistant Vice President-Information Services (e-mail: kgahagan@ibhs.org) or Patricia Hatch, Librarian (e-mail: phatch@ibhs.org).

The information center can also be reached at IBHS, 175 Federal Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02110-2222. Tel: +61 (7) 292 2003; Fax: +61 (7) 292 2022.

Natural Hazards Project

http://www.oas.org/en/prog/nhp

The Natural Hazards Project (NHP) of the Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment of the Organization of American States (OAS) recently announced its new Web page at the URL above. The page contains information, in Spanish and English, about the project's various natural hazard mitigation activities - including projects in the areas of transportation vulnerability reduction, educational sector vulnerability reduction, and flood-plain management - as well as announcements about forthcoming activities, the project's internship program and contact information.

As a response to hurricanes Georges and Mitch, the Natural Hazards Project is developing a school building construction and maintenance resource Web page within the education section of the NHP site. The resource page will include technical documents, contact information for groups and individuals working on school reconstruction and retrofitting, and links to relevant Web sites. The objective is to provide information that will facilitate the rebuilding of schools so that they are hazard-resistant. The project is open to suggestions regarding Web links and other information that should be added to the site and is looking for technical documents in electronic form about school building reconstruction, retrofitting, site selection, or related materials. The project is also seeking information about any individuals, organizations, or networks of groups that are, or might potentially become, involved in school reconstruction. Comments should be directed to the Natural Hazards Project, Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment, Organization of American States, 1889 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20008. Tel: (202) 458-6803; Fax: (202) 458-3560; e-mail: natural-hazards-project@oas.org

AlertNet

http://www.alertnet.org

AlertNet is an on-line news and communication service for the international disaster relief community. The public pages, accessible to any Internet user, feature news from Reuters, press releases from relief organizations, and emergency information for disaster victims and their families. The private area, the password-protected core of the service, is open only to members, primarily voluntary, non-governmental organizations actively engaged in international relief work. It contains specialist news, relevant reference material, and an area for members to exchange views and share information.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

http://www.fema.gov/mit/handbook/index.html

As we have said before, the mitigation section of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Web site is a trove of useful information and resources on the reduction of hazards and their impacts. FEMA recently added its Property Acquisition Hand-book for Local Communities (FEMA 317) to this section. This is a "how to" guide to help communities implement one specific mitigation alternative-property acquisitions or "buyouts". It is in four parts, representing the four phases of the property acquisition process: "To buy or not to buy", "Application", "Implementation", and "Open space management". An accompanying "Tool kit" contains forms and other tools to aid the acquisition process.