This example from Japan illustrates the complexities of providing replacement housing. See: Seven Percent of Public Housing Units for disaster Victims Unoccupied. [Thanks to Chris Jones for the citation.]
And for some information about the U.S. problems with replacement housing, I call you attention to this posting almost two years ago, titled Lament re Disaster Recovery Housing Programs.
On this election day, it is worth considering this New Yorker article on leadership. It is a bit long, but parts of it are priceless. See: Shut Up and Sit Down; Why the leadership industry rules.
California gas leak was the worst man-made greenhouse-gas disaster in U.S. history, study says
The massive leak that vented millions of pounds of natural gas from a Los Angeles storage facility now appears to have been the worst accidental discharge of greenhouse gases in U.S. history, scientists concluded in an analysis released Thursday.
Here is another article with details of some of the scientific work done so far.
Homeland Security: Oversight of Neglected Human Resources Information Technology Investment Is Needed. GAO-16-253: Publicly Released: Feb 25, 2016.
From the NY Times: Scientists Protest Cuts and Commercialization at Australian Climate Center
New tool for coastal planners preparing for sea level rise
Scientists have developed a new model to help coastal planners assess the risks of sea level rise. Put to use on a global scale, it estimates that the oceans will rise at least twenty-eight centimeters on average by the end of this century — and as much as 131 cm if greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow unchecked.
Environment and Disaster Management Help Desk. Great idea. Help is available by phone or by email.
WWF/US has established an Environment & Disaster Management Help Desk. The Help Desk (accessible via email and phone) is intended to assist individuals who need quick information on questions or challenges related to disaster management and environment, including risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery.
The Help Desk was established to respond to the realization that most individuals involved in disaster management do not have the time to research environmental issues linked to their work, and often can’t access expert advice in a timely manner. The frequent result is that the environmental issues fall by the wayside, to the ultimate disadvantage of disaster-affected populations.
The parent site, Envirodm.org (http://envirodm.org/), also contains links to the Green Recovery and Reconstruction Training Toolkit and the forthcoming Flood Risk Management: Guidelines to Natural and Nature-Based Methods.
Once again the Diva is straying from the main focus to share an interesting report. From MIT press, this article titled Sadly the Internet isn’t Making the World a Better Place. Here is the direct URL to full World Bank report (359 pp.) From the article lead in:
A brave new digital world is rapidly emerging as Internet access, smartphones, and other technologies spread quickly through less wealthy nations. But could this sometimes be doing more harm than good?
A fascinating new report from the World Bank examines the impact that these digital technologies are having around the world. It’s a sobering reminder that the spread of technology often isn’t the panacea that many hope it will be.
Most of us tend to underestimate the difficulties and duration of the recovery after a major disaster. Here are some details about the Christchurch experience:
‘Long way to go’: Christchurch fights to emerge from shadow of 2011 earthquake
Five years on, Christchurch pauses to remember the 185 people who died, as questions endure over what will become of the battered garden city.
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Thanks to Franklin McDonald for the citation. ( You have to love the Internet which allows a Canadian reader to send an American blogger a useful article from a British publication on a NZ topic! )
New Open Access Journal Article. Do not be put off by the title; the article is interesting and original. See: Critical infrastructure, panarchies and the vulnerability paths of cascading disasters.
If you do not know what panarchy means, and I did not, see this explanation from the Resilience Alliance.
Recovery Diva 