Emergency Preparedness
Natural Hazard
All potential threats facing human society by events that originate in, and are transmitted through, the environment
How is the Fort Collins flooding an example of poor zoning?
Allowed dangerous infrastructure to be built in high risk areas. E.G. Trailer parks in flood prone areas
Engineering (2000BCE- 1950)
Built structures to protect people/property from disasters. The hazard itself is the most important determinant of disaster: Problem!
How are hurricanes classified on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale?
By category, example tropical storm, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
New Yorker's strength is in its integrated infrastructure. Describe how this infrastructure became a source of vulnerability during and after Hurricane Sandy.
Cables everywhere being hit by saltwater. People rely so much on the infrastructure that when it goes they panic
Disaster Relief Act (1974)
Created by President Richard Nixon as a United States federal law that established the process of presidential disaster declarations
Identify and explain three best practices for working internationally.
Cultural Understanding and Awareness, Appropriate Relief Effort, and Empowering locals
What is the difference between the deficit model of public understanding and the contextualized perspective?
Deficit- People make bad decisions because they don't know what they are doing is bad. Contextualized- is that people don't lack information but that people view it differently.
parasitic behavior
Exploitation and abuse of resources after a disaster. Increase in violence and chaos. Looting, re-selling vital supplies for profit.
What three important geographical characteristics influenced how he tsunami affected the coastline of Japan?
Flat farmland and low elevation Coastal shape affected waves, waves became higher in areas with coves than in areas with beaches Depth of the water at the coastline affected speed of wave
Who was Tim Samaras? Why was he an important figure in the meteorological community?
Founder of TWISTEX (Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment) Funded by National Geographic and featured on Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers
What is the Halifax explosion? How did it change the way we understand human behavior during a disaster?
French freighter Mont Blanc collided with the Belgium ship Imo in the Halifax Harbor. Mont Blanc carrying >2500 tons of explosives. 20 minutes later, the Mont Blanc exploded. 1963 people died; Halifax devastated. It was the first systematic analysis of human behavior in a disaster. Helped show therapeutic behavior aiding in recovery
optimistic bias
Individuals are more likely to perceive others as being at greater risk of injury or loss from hazards than themselves.
risk confirmation
Individuals often seek to confirm risk information before acting
Explain in detail why experts believe that there will be a future mega-event on the west coast of the United States.
Last major earthquake: 1700 (9.0 magnitude) (316 years ago...) Long history of devastating earthquakes 41 earthquakes over the last 10,000 years Recurrence interval: 1 in 243
What is the Big Thompson River Flood?
Rocky Mountains, Colorado, US. 31 July 1976 (Colorado's centennial celebration). Trigger: Thunderstorm (~12" rain in 4 hours). Upper versus lower section of the canyon. 9:00 pm - 20 ft wall of water 143 deaths, 100s injured. Over 460 buildings destroyed and washed out US Route 34
Provide three reasons why the Kobe earthquake was so destructive.
Shallow earthquake (16-20kms) Both vertical (4') and horizontal (6') movement 300 fires within minutes (ruptured gas lines) Valuable urban infrastructure +dense population Port city built on reclaimed land Soil liquefaction
What is the Evolution of the Natural Hazards Paradigm
1. Acts of God 2. engineering (2000BCE- 1950) 3. behvioral (1950-70) 4. development (1970-90) 5. Complexity (1990- present)
What is one strength and one weakness of the goals and priorities in the Hyogo Framework for Action?
A strength is that it takes a diverse perspective at the concept of resilience A Weakness is that the goals are very Broad and have no clear way to measure them
Mitigation
Any action taken to physically reduce the exposure of a community to a hazard. Often take the form of engineered structures, such as levees and dams.
adaptation
Any action taken to reduce the sensitivity of a community to a hazard (behavioral) Focus on improving education and communication, writing and enforcing zoning laws, and strengthening social networks.
Describe the process of hail formation.
Begins as a small ice pellet that moves up and down in a thunderstorm. In lower altitudes, the ice pellet gets coated in water. At higher altitudes, the water freezes. The process repeats itself until the ice pellet is too heavy to remain aloft, and it falls as a hailstone.
Acts of God
Belief that disasters are caused by supernatural beings (gods, spirits, demons). Punishments for sinful or immoral behavior, rather than a consequence of human use of the earth.
What is the cone of influence?
Big white cone on map. Shows with 66% certainty where the eye of the storm will fall.
What are the three gains from disasters?
Environmental replenishing, disaster tourism, and employment from rebuilding
bilateral aid
Government-to-government aid Canada: CIDA, Britian: ODA, US: USAID
Explain how Facebook was used as a recovery tool after the Goderich tornado
Groups would post on Facebook where they were going to remove tree stumps or go out and plant new trees and groups would meet up at the site
What are the four stages of the disaster response cycle?
Mitigation, Preparation, Response, and recovery
What is the psychometric paradigm of risk perception? Does it conceptualize risk as objective or subjective?
Model of risk that uses explanatory scales and multivariate analysis to quantify risk perception. Has dread risk and unknown risk. Is both quantifiable and predictable
weather watch
Risk of hazardous weather has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, or timing is still uncertain. Hazardous weather is possible. Stay aware and stay informed.
Resilience
The ability of a system to experience a perturbation, and quickly return to its pre-disaster state.
What is the difference between a hurricane, a cyclone, and a typhoon?
The location in which the storm occurs.
particularly dangerous situation
Used in tornado watches and warnings for rare situations where wide-spread, long track, intense tornadoes are likely
unnatural disaster
a growing share of the devastation triggered by "natural" disasters stem from ecologically destructive practices and putting ourselves in harm's way"
risk perception
how the average person views risk
dread risk
lack of control in a situation which creates a risk for individuals involved
subjective risk
social science and varies by perception
What is the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters' (CRED) definition of significant disaster?
≥100 deaths or ≥1% population affected or ≥1% GDP lost.
multilateral aid
$ from countries --> international organizations World Bank, UNDRO, Asian Development Bank
Why would a person "do nothing" to reduce or prevent losses from a natural hazard?
'powerful structural forces' influence LDC citizens and make hazards impossible to share or reduce Poverty and powerlessness Population/land pressure Employment dependence on primary industry Lack of education/information Lack of access to credit
Federal Response Plan (1992)
(now called National Response Framework) listed 12 functions that needed to be managed during an event: 1. Transportation 2. Communication 3. Public works and engineering 4. Firefighting 5. Information & disaster planning 6. Mass care 7. Resource support 8. Health and medical services 9. Urban search and rescue 10. Hazardous materials 11. Food 12. Energy
What are three goals of the ISDR?
- Increase public awareness of hazard & risk - Obtain government commitments to risk reduction - Disaster-resistant communities (reduce vulnerability) - To reduce economic & social losses (GDP & deaths)
Explain what emergency management initiatives existed during WWII and the Cold War. Were they effective in improving national defense?
-Civil Defense initiatives Blackouts, watching for submarines -"Duck and cover", bomb shelters -Little contribution to national defense, but built awareness -Disaster management was responsibility of local and state governments -Federal involvement was done through ad hoc legislation -Decentralized, therefore challenges with communication and inefficiency (until Carter centralized disaster relief efforts
Provide one example of how disaster can (1) increase vulnerability, (2) decrease vulnerability, (3) set back development, and (4) create development opportunities.
1, Creates panic and causes destruction 2, People are more aware of the disaster and how to prepare for it 3, The disaster causes damage to structures being worked on 4, Creates the opportunity to build back stronger so the damage can be mitigated in the future
Identify and explain three issues that influence the response process.
1. Coordination- You have to know what and where you are going to help. 2. Sovereignty of the state- Have to make sure its ok to go into the country and help them out. 3. Equality in relief distribution- You have to make sure everyone is getting the same amount of resources
What are the four conditions necessary for the formation of a tropical cyclone?
1. Latitude: Between 5° and 20° latitude. If less, Coriolis effect is too weak. If more, the water is too cool. 2. Wind shear: Wind shear destroys an emerging system of rising warm, moist air. 3. Humidity: Atmosphere must have high relative humidity to avoid "drying out". 4. Sea Surface Temperature: > 26°C, to a depth of at least 60m to provide the energy for the hurricane.
What are four lessons that were learned from Hurricane Katrina (specifically), in respect to emergency management?
1. Newfound attention placed on those who could not evacuate. 1. Many states revised their evacuation and shelter plans 3. Local, state, and Federal branches of disaster relief practiced drills 4. Appreciation that pets must be accommodated, both during evacuation and in shelter plans.
Provide three reasons why the IDNDR was ultimately unsuccessful.
1. Scientific/ technological/ engineering bias - Too expensive for LDCs - Often a reflection of 'tied-aid' (DCs benefit financially) - Hard to implement 2. No training and education - e.g. Political dimensions of famine - e.g. Awareness, education, participation 3. Did not address Man made hazards - Environmental degradation 4. Failed to strengthen local capacities 5. Ignored 'slow onset hazards' - Famine, drought, erosion
Complexity (1990- present)
Complex and reciprocal relationship between nature and human society. Attempts to incorporate risk reduction strategies within a realistic and sustainable development agenda.
What causes a severe thunderstorm to weaken and eventually "rain itself out"?
During the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm, the warm air updraft stops and causes the thunderstorm to just "rain itself out"
What is shadow evacuation and why is it dangerous?
Evacuating people on the outskirts of a disaster. Could impact with people leaving the actual disaster site. Causes backup and people dying in cars.
What is the political incentive for declaring a disaster?
Federal aid, assistance, and resources which are obtainable faster than if a local or state community were the only responders
Creating reading materials is one example of a public education campaign. Identify one other way that we can raise awareness and/or improve understanding of hazards.
Having experts come into elementary or middle schools and educate children. They will then go home and tell their parents what they have learned
weather warning
Hazardous weather is occurring, imminent, or likely. Weather conditions pose a threat to life or property. Take protective action!
Gilbert F. White
Human Adjustment to Floods in 1945. Expressed scepticism regarding the ability of engineered structures to reduce flood damages and loss of life "Floods are acts of God, but flood losses are largely acts of man" Advocated: the adaptation to or accommodation of flood hazards rather than relying solely on structural solutions.
Why is risk perception research important for policy?
If successful, [risk perception] research should aid policy-makers by improving the communication between them and the public, by directing educational efforts, and by predicting public responses to new technologies, events, and new risk management strategies. Ironically, education campaigns may actually increase social vulnerability through a process called risk compensation
Explain why the conservation of angular momentum is important for tornado formation.
If the storm wants to intensify, the area of rotation must decrease, otherwise the tornado will never form
What is pre-impact mobilization?
Includes all of those actions taken prior to disaster that facilitate coordination and communication, preparation, decision-making.
Identify three strategies to improve disaster preparedness at the household level
Insurance, Flood pumps, Hurricane proof windows
What are the three goals in the Hyogo Framework for Action?
Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into sustainable development policies and planning Development and strengthening institutions, mechanisms, and capacities to build resilience to hazards Risk reduction approaches into the implementation of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery programs
What was the purpose of creating the FEMA in 1979?
Purpose: Coordinate disaster response when local and state governments have been overwhelmed. Requires: Governor of the State to declare state of emergency and formally request FEMA response
What is the difference between reconstruction and restoration? Rehabilitation? Restitution?
Reconstruction: Rebuilding infrastructure. Opportunity to build back better. Restoration: returning to the way things were before, especially in terms of historical or cultural elements. Rehabilitation: Make things better, although potential for unequal distribution of benefits. Restitution: Legal action, compensation
shadow evacuation
Refers to those people who evacuate despite being outside of the evacuation zone.
cry wolf symdrome
Repeat false warning trigger non-evacuation response (apathy)
What is the difference between short-term and long-term recovery?
Short term recovery: Restoring key utilities and infrastructure, housing. Long-term recovery: Organizing people, resources, organizations to decide how, when, where to rebuild.
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of television/social media/radio as a risk communication medium.
Social media can be rapidly and continuously updated by numerous end-users through a severe weather event. Information can propagate rapidly on social media websites, reaching thousands (sometimes millions) of users within a relatively short timeframe. CHALLENGES: Difficult to evaluate credibility and validity of user-generated content Gossip and misinformation (either intentional or unintentional) are a common issue on social media websites. Information can become quickly out-of-date and inaccurate. Once released, information is difficult (impossible) to control. Social media is accessed in different ways by various end-users.
Explain how risk communication has changed over time.
Started out with very narrow and short range of communication, Very one way. Now it is much more dynamic can express ideas across multiple platforms.
Which hurricane hazard is the greatest potential threat to life and property?
Storm Surge: A "bulge" of water pushed ahead of the tropical cyclone caused by low atmospheric pressure and high winds.
theraputic behavior
Surge in cooperation and unity after a disaster. Relief workers, rescuers, and residents come together to help recover from a crisis. Increase in altruistic behavior.
What are the four priorities for action in the Sendai Framework?
Understanding disaster risk Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction
Stafford Act (1988)
United States federal law designed to bring an orderly and systemic means of federal natural disaster assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens.
International Disaster
When the response capacity of the entire nation's emergency management structure is exceeded, that event becomes known as an international disaster, and involvement of the international community of responders is required
What qualifies an event as an international disaster?
When the response capacity of the entire nation's emergency management structure is exceeded, that event becomes known as an international disaster, and involvement of the international community of responders required. Varies by country
Why was the appointment of James Lee Witt as FEMA director an important step for emergency preparedness?
Witt had extensive experience working within the realm of emergency management and disaster response Witt emphasized disaster mitigation and preparedness, over response and recovery
Explain two ways that taxation can be used to discourage construction in hazard-prone regions.
You can make people pay higher taxes to build a house they're because of the known risk of flooding. You can also make them build the house up to a certain code so it can withstand flooding and get lots of permits. You can also deny insurance to people who would develop in these areas
resilience
ability of a system to experience a pertubation, and quickly return to its pre-disaster state. 3 Characteristics: the amount of change a system can experience and still retain the same controls on function and structure. the degree to which the system is capable of self organization. the community's ability to build and increase its capacity for learning and adaptation.
Disaster response
actions taken at a time a disaster strikes that are intended to reduce threats to life safety, to care for victims, and to contain secondary hazards and community losses
duel risk thesis
combination of objective and subjective risk; "an accurate and reasonably complete characterization of risk must refer both to the objective facts about the physical world and to value statements that do not refer to objective facts about the physical world"
paradigm
created by Paul Slovic, the model is used to calculate risk; which uses explanatory scales and multivariate analysis to quantify risk perception
hazard
event of phenomenon with potential to create damage or loss. Source of danger and a trigger
Risk communication
exchange of information among individuals, groups, and institutions related to the assessment, characterization, and management of risk
Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
humanitarian crisis in a country of region where there is total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from the internal and/or external conflict and which requires an international response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of any single [UN] agency
What is an example of a complex humanitarian emergency?
humanitarian crisis in a country of region where there is total or considerable breakdown of authority resulting from the internal and/or external conflict and which requires an international response that goes beyond the mandate or capacity of any single [UN] agency. Genocide in Rwanda
impact based warning
more information through the warnings in order to facilitate improved pubic response and decision making, and to better meet the societal needs in the most life-threatening weather events
technological hazards
not a natural hazard, these are also defined by a physical agent
new media
on-demand access to content at any time, anywhere through any digital device. New media is characterized by its interactive nature, and by the ability of end-users to generate and share content.
risk propensity
people either avoid risk as much as possible, or they tend to seek out risks for thrill
vulnerability
potential for loss; reflective of exposure and sensitivity of a system to hazardous conditions, and the ability of the system to cope, adapt, or recover
objective risk
quantifiable and measurable
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)
reduce the loss of life, property damage and social and economic disruption by natural disasters in Countries across the world
risk
the probability of a hazard occurring and creating loss of people, goods (houses, businesses, belongings), and the environment (flora, fauna and amenity)
Disaster
the realization of hazard; when damage is caused by a hazard
unknown risk
threats that people are unaware of, psychometric
social media
web-based and mobile services that allow end-users to generate and share content, and to browse other users' generated content.
What is a supercell thunderstorm?
• An isolated and extremely powerful thunderstorm dominated by its overall rotation. • Has an intense, long-lived rotating updraft that sustains the storm in its mature age for up to six hours or more. • These storms can produce: • destructive tornadoes (20%), • extremely large hailstones (~3.5 inches), • straight-line winds (>80 mph), and • flash floods
What is maladaptation?
Adopting or taking on a habit that proves to be negative
transform plate boundaries
when two plates slide past one another
15% of residents in Breezy Point opted not to evacuate despite being located within the evacuation zone. List five reasons why these individuals stayed behind.
1. Pets, 2. A man's home is his castle 3. Unable to leave due to age 4. Irene wasn't that bad 5. Not having anywhere else to go 6. If one person stays they all stay (family bonds)
What is the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake, and why was it an important event for risk communication?
2009 L'Aquila Earthquake Occurred in central Italy on April 6th, 2009 Main shock: 3:32 pm local time Magnitude: 5.8 on the Richter Scale 297 known fatalities, >1500 injured, 65,000 homeless Six seismologists and one ex-government official were tried and convicted of manslaughter for their failure to warn the public of the impending earthquake.
Explain why seismologists believe another large quake may soon strike Tokyo
2011 EQ was so bad that it diminished structure of Japan, near Tokyo, so that the probability has risen and it is now a question of when not if.
What is a hook echo, and why is it concerning for meteorologists?
A hook shaped weather radar detection that is an indicator that a superstorm is forming.
What is "Flash Flood Alley", and why don't local residents know about the existing flood risk in this region?
Austin-San Antonio is flash flood alley.
Why were there only five fatalities on Simeulue Island as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?
Because residents immediately sought higher ground
levee effect
Believe that levees will work, and build new developments.
Describe the physical conditions that caused Hurricane Sandy to veer northwest into New York, instead of northeast into the Atlantic Ocean.
Bermuda high was absent and the storm kept moving. Got caught it in a gulf stream that fed the storm a lot of energy. The extra heat is absorbed by the storm as it moves, making it stronger. Noreaster large stormfront combined with hurricane Sandy.
Classification of tornadoes
Classified based on the damage they produce as determined during post-storm damage surveys. Wind speed is inferred from damage done, rather than directly measured. Most common: the Enhanced Fujita Scale of Tornado Intensity (EF-scale).Placement on the EF-scale involves expert judgment of eight levels of damage 28 indicators, including: homes and other buildings, towers, poles, and trees.
Explain how subsidence caused by the EQ exacerbated tsunami damage in certain regions
EQ shifted Japan 3 meters, which gave the tsunami a place to go because tsunami walls were lowered and the drawback of the ocean in certain regions caused the trough of the wave to hit land first.
List and describe 3 mitigation/ preparedness measures that helped reduce tsunami damage.
Early Warning System monitored its path 10 m tsunami walls- tsunami drills Building codes Automatic alerts system
Development (1970-90)
Emerged because of slow progress in reducing disaster losses. Focus on LDCs. Disasters caused by marginalization, socio-economic conditions, political will.
Does the IDNDR have an engineering or a social science emphasis?
Engineering, they were more focused on the physical things that could be done to prevent damage done by storms.
What is earthquake intensity?
How It feels during, effects on people and buildings
What is earthquake magnitude?
How big it is, Quantitative measure of energy released
Behavioral (1950-70)
Human behavior plays key role. Focus on MDCs Gilbert F. White
How did Hurricane Irene influence people's decisions whether to evacuate during Hurricane Sandy?
Hurricane Irene was a dub and did not hit people so they had a lax policy on what was happening with Sandy.
What is the risk perception paradox?
If someone perceives a risk as high they will perceive it that way. People who know they are building in a flood prone area still build there. They know they are building in dangerous areas and don't care
conservation of angular momentum
In order for the storm to intensify, the area of rotation must decrease.
The 1998 flooding in New Braunfels, Texas was described by politicians and policymakers as an "unprecedented freak event". How do we know that this was not an unprecedented event, but actually one event in a series of devastating floods?
Long history of flooding in New Braunfels, Texas.
Why do policy makers in Flash Flood Alley allow residents to build (and re-build) their homes and businesses in highly flood-prone regions?
MONEY!!!!! Contractors, construction workers, real estate worker, everyone benefits from disaster. Stepping up after a disaster also makes the policymakers reputation better.
What are the three types of convergence, and why are they an important consideration during a disaster?
Material- Sending physical aid to an area. Human- Sending people into an area, Knowledge,
What is the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" campaign? Why is it so necessary?
NOAA National Weather Service campaign to warn people of the hazards of walking or driving a vehicle through flood waters.Over half of all flood-related drowning occurs when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. A mere six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes only two feet of rushing water to carry away most vehicles.Water can be deceptively deep and fast flowing. It can also scour away roads!
Provide three reasons why the Elie, Manitoba tornado is remarkable.
Only one of eight tornadoes to reach EF5 intensity since 1999. Wind speeds of 400Km/Hr Lasted 40 minutes
How can color influence a risk message?
People perceive certain colors to indicate certain things. For example, they might associate the color green as good for an incoming storm and red as bad
Describe three benefits associated with flood hazards
Provide sediment that maintains wetlands, Recharges aquifers, Improves soil fertility, Flushes away salt and contaminants, Provides natural irrigation, Maintains river health, Creates new habitat.
flash flood
Rapid onset & dissipation. Canyon, Urban, Ice jam, Landslide, Dam break
convergent plate boundaries
when two plates move towards each other, which results in subduction zones.
Which country has the greatest number of tornadoes worldwide? Why is this so?
The United States, we have 95% of the worlds tornadoes. The US has the perfect combination of horizontal winds with vertical winds
What is earthquake resonance and why is it important for earthquake mitigation?
The amount of time it takes for a building to vibrate back and forth. It's so important because if an earthquake goes off and building has the wrong resonance it has a much higher chance of collapsing
Have the number of reported tornadoes decreased or increased over time? Why?
The number of total tornadoes has increased over time. Because of internet and social or mass media
recurrence interval
is the average time between floods of a given size. Larger floods on particular stream or river have longer recurrence intervals
Why is time of day so critical in determining casualties from earthquakes?
The time of day determines how many people will be out on the street and how many lives will be affected or in high risk areas.
What does it mean to "build back better"? Provide one example, as discussed in class.
To reduce vulnerability while recovering. Building houses a few feet off the ground to reduce future risk of flooding
When does a tropical cyclone receive a name?
When it becomes a tropical storm
Who is the current FEMA Administrator?
William Brock Long
Describe the physical aspects (3) that caused storm surge to be so severe in New York
Wind was stacking the water on top of itself and pushing it towards the land. The tide was at its highest and peak winds. Full moon high tide, created a funnel due to shape of coastline.
Divergent plate boundaries
when two plates move away from each other, most often at mid-ocean spreading centers.
How much money was budgeted for flood awareness and safety education in Texas (2005)?
ZERO!
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
a comprehensive, action-oriented response to international concern about the growing impacts of disasters on individuals, communities and national development
signal word
an alert to the audience that something will happen. examples: deadly, danger, warning, caustion
wavelength
distance between 2 analog points (crests, troughs)
wave height
distance between trough and crest
liquefction
the process whereby soil saturated with water is shaken by an earthquake, causing the soil to lose its ability to support loads and begin to behave like a liquid
What is the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters' (CRED) definition of disaster?
≥10 deaths or ≥100 affected
