Floods and weather

Citation

(2004), "Floods and weather", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 13 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2004.07313bag.004

Floods and weather

Floods and weather

National Weather Servicewww.csc.noaa.gov/ncflood/

This Web site profiles examples of future National Weather Service (NWS) forecast products that will enable communities to better prepare for floods. They are the result of a NWS project to develop effective ways to display flood forecast information disseminated by the service in a graphical, easy-to- read format that will enable emergency managers and disaster planners to prepare better.

The Weather Channelwww.weatherclassroom.com

The Weather Channel has recently unveiled a Web site: Weatherclassroom.com, to serve as a resource for educators, students, and parents. The site offers a comprehensive collection of interactive weather-related content and educational tools, including lesson plans for educators, an interactive weather forecast for students, and a weather word glossary and storm encyclopedia for parents.

“Hurricane Watch Net”www.hwn.org/

“Hurricane Watch Net” is an organization of amateur radio and weather enthusiasts who disseminate hurricane advisory information, as promulgated by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, to marine interests, Caribbean Island nations, emergency operations centers, and others in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific.

Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centrewww.benfieldhrc.org

The Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre has changed its name to the Benfield Hazard Research Centre and established its Web site at the address above. The center comprises of three groups (geological hazards, meteorological hazards and seasonal forecasting, and disaster studies and management) all of which contribute much information to the site. Via this URL, the center now offers weather forecasts, access to its many publications, entry into the center's extensive library database, announcements of upcoming events and training, and information on its work regarding a host of hazards: windstorms, climate change, earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, and multiple impact events. For more information from or about the Benfield Hazard Research Centre, visit the Web site or contact: the center at the Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, 136 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Tel.: +44 (0)20 7679 3449/ 3637; Fax: +44 (0)20 7679 2390; E-mail: anna.mcguire@ucl.ac.uk

Besides the latest issue of the Benfield Centre's excellent Alert newsletter, available at www.benfieldhrc.org/CentreNews/Newsletters/Alert10_email.pdf, there are several other new publications available from the Benfield Web site.

Indigenous Early Warning Indicators of Cyclones: Potential Application in Coastal Bangladesh, by Philippa Howell (Disaster Studies Working Paper No. 6, 2003, p. 10): www.benfieldhrc.org/DMU/WorkingPapers/workingpaper6.pdf

Social Vulnerability, Sustainable Livelihoods and Disasters, by Terry Cannon, John Twigg, and Jennifer Rowel (Report to the (UK) Department for International Development, 2003, p. 63): www.benfieldhrc.org/DMU/OtherPublications/DFIDVulandLiveRepFin0303.pdf

Federal Alliance for Safe Homeswww.nws.noaa.gov/om/water/turnaround.shtml

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than any other thunderstorm-related hazard. “Turn Around Don't Drown” is a new campaign begun by the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and the National Weather Service to educate people about flood risks. This site includes information about the program along with downloadable signs and brochures.

West Virginiawww.wvca.us/flood.php

The West Virginia statewide flood protection task force is in the final stages of developing a state-wide flood protection plan. This site presents the draft plan. For additional information, Contact: Russ Campbell. E-mail: rcampbell@wvca.us; or Richard Drum. E-mail: richard.g.drum@lrh01.usace.army.mil

Netherlands Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societieswww.climatecentre.org

The Netherlands Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies recently signed an agreement confirming cooperation for a new “Center on Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness” to facilitate working relationships between Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and country or regional climate experts in areas relevant to disaster preparedness. Along with a variety of projects, the center has already conducted climate change and disaster preparedness assessments in Vietnam, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and locations in the Pacific. Work is continuing in Nicaragua (through the Nicaraguan Red Cross) in three communities to raise awareness about risks due to climate change, train volunteers to assist with emergency response, and strengthen partnerships with government agencies and others already working on these issues.