High Heat and Drought Are Serious Threats

Posted on August 9, 2012 by recoverydiva

Two new articles in the past few days highlight the heat and drought threats.

NOAA said July 2012 was the hottest month ever in U.S. history–even out-doing the Dust Bowl years.
Heat can be deadly, as noted in an article by HSWire, August 7. A few excerpts are included here:

Disasters: Forget blizzards and hurricanes, heat waves are deadliest

Tornadoes, blizzards, and hurricanes get most of our attention because their destructive power makes for imagery the media cannot ignore; for sheer killing power, however, heat waves do in far more people than even the most devastating hurricane; Hurricane Katrina and its floods, which devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in 2005, exacted a death toll of 1,836 people; the heat wave which enveloped Europe during the course of three excruciating weeks in August 2003 of that year, killed an estimated 70,000 people

Lately a lot of people have been comparing the current U.S. drought situation to the Dust Bowl, which occurred in the 1930s. . For a full account of that disaster see chapter 3 of “Emergency Management; the American Experience, 1900-2010.” It is available from The Disaster Bookstore, our sponsor.

Climate Change is Here – Sooner and Worse than Expected

Posted on August 6, 2012 by recoverydiva

In a preview of a major report due out Monday, comments from the lead author are noted here:

The full text of the report, Perception of Climate Change, issued by the NAS, is now available. [August 6, 2012]

Important New Resilience Study

Posted on August 4, 2012 by recoverydiva

The National Academy of Sciences just released a major report that has been in preparation for at least two years. The lead author, Prof. Susan Cutter, talked about the forthcoming report at the annual hazards conference in Colorado last month, but she could not reveal the recommendations at that time. She assured me this is a major study because it was funded by 9 federal agencies, and the likelihood of them paying attention and implementing the results is greater than usual.

The one page press release, issued August 1, is here. The full text report ( 250 pp.) and the Exec. Summary (15 pp.) can be found here.

The Diva has not yet had time to read and reflect on it, but comments may be forthcoming soon.

New Design Revealed for Christchurch Rebuild

Posted on August 4, 2012 by recoverydiva

It has been almost 1 1/2 years since the Feb. 2011 earthquake, and its many aftershocks. Here is the latest on their redevelopment planning effort. This article was in the Washington Post.

A related article from the NZ newspaper is here.

Is Chronic Drought the New Normal?

Posted on July 31, 2012 by recoverydiva

From the Homeland Security News Wire, July 30. Chronic 2000-4 U.S. drought, worst in 800 years, may be the “new normal;”

The chronic drought that hit western North America from 2000 to 2004 left dying forests and depleted river basins in its wake and was the strongest in 800 years, scientists have concluded, but they say those conditions will become the “new normal” for most of the coming century

The chronic drought that hit western North America from 2000 to 2004 left dying forests and depleted river basins in its wake and was the strongest in 800 years, scientists have concluded, but they say those conditions will become the “new normal” for most of the coming century.

US warns drought will push up food prices in 2013 – BBC News (bbc.co.uk)
Impacts of 2012 Drought, Heat Thus Far (livescience.com)

Do voters punish politicians for natural disasters?

Posted on July 29, 2012 by recoverydiva

See the article Do voters punish politicians for natural disasters? for a discussion of a long-debated topic.
Washington Post, July 28, 2012. Actually, the last paragraph says it all:

So, to sum up the relevant advice for any incumbent politician trying to win reelection: Natural disasters can cost votes, but a competent disaster-relief effort will usually help with voters. There’s no electoral upside to making preparations beforehand for a disaster. And better hope the local football team does well in late October.

Another Critical Assessment of Fukishima Response

Posted on July 28, 2012 by recoverydiva

Japan Fukushima probe panel urges new disaster prevention steps, mindset. An abstract of the new report:

A government-appointed inquiry into Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis raised doubts on Monday about whether other atomic plants were prepared for massive disasters despite new safety rules, and delivered a damning assessment of the regulators and the station’s operator.

Beijing Example: How NOT to Do Flood Recovery

Posted on July 26, 2012 by recoverydiva

Anger over Beijing’s flooding response. Details of recent flooding (CNN, July 26) indicate that more than 800,00 people were affected. Bad planning for infrastructure construction seems to be the root cause, but the response and recovery apparently are as disastrous as the flood waters. Here is a example noted in the article:

Zhang and her neighbors alike remember a fearful night spent in dark attics or higher ground after carrying the elderly and children out of fast-rising water — all the while unable to reach anyone at the city’s flood control hotline.

One neighbor, Gao Liying, added that she feels even more shaken by the village officials’ response when she told them the flood has ruined almost all her worldly possessions. “They actually said: ‘If your house didn’t collapse and nobody died, then you’re not a victim,'” she said, raising her voice. “I asked: are you still human?”

Rumors swirl over flooding death toll in Beijing (utsandiego.com)
Fury after 37 killed in Beijing floods (edition.cnn.com)

FEMA Adds “Recovery Lessons Learned & Information Sharing” section to its website

Posted on July 25, 2012 by recoverydiva

Count on the Diva to provide the latest information – quicker than FEMA! There’s a new element in the recovery component of FEMa’s website. It is hard to find so you may want to bookmark the URL. Recovery Lessons Learned & Information Sharing. The agency describes it as follows:

This page will serve as a national online network for the exchange of ideas surrounding the Disaster Recovery Community. We encourage feedback and contributions to help develop a “one stop shop” for those involved in planning, capacity building and disaster recovery operations. Please submit your comments or materials via the e-mail address to Kevin.Burr@fema.dhs.gov.

Speaking as someone who has spent decades collecting useful resources, I give Kevin and FEMA credit for a good start. Feel free to make suggestions to him.

Recovery Diva

Long-Term Recovery from Disasters

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