All hazards
Below are a few of the more useful disaster Internet resources reported in the Natural Hazards Observer (January 2000). For a comprehensive list of selected Internet sites dealing with hazards and disasters, see: http://ww.colorado.edu/hazards/sites/sites.html
All hazards
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)http://www.fema.gov/disasters
On its Web site, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has posted a map of the United States that lists federally declared disasters for each state in 1999. The site links to descriptions of FEMA response and other information about these disasters.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)http://www.cbo.gov/byclasscat.cfm?class=O&cat=7
At this address, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has published two reports, entitled Emergency Spending Under the Budget Enforcement Act andEmergency Spending Under the Budget Enforcement Act: An Update, which provide useful data on federal expenditures for natural disasters.
Model Office of Emergency Management Web Sitehttp://www.ci.fort-collins.co.us/c_safety/oem/index.htmhttp:/www.ci.fort-collins.co.us/c_safety/oem/ndic.htm
The city of Fort Collins, Colorado, a FEMA Project Impact demonstration community, has a model Office of Emergency Management Web site that includes breaking news; a calendar of events; individual pages and brochures on severe thunderstorms, lightning, hail, tornadoes, flooding, and the many other hazards that threaten the community; photos and other information about the 1997 flash floods that inundated Fort Collins; sections on emergency preparedness, family disaster planning, and the preparation of an emergency supplies kit; a description of the city's Project Impact initiative; and much other information. Of particular note is a recently released "Natural Disaster Information Cards (NDIC) System for 911 Dispatchers". The system, provided in down-loadable PDF format, is intended to be used for in-service training of 911 dispatchers, as refresher information when an event is anticipated, and as guidance for use during a disaster.
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation http://www.unesco.org/culture/heritage-risk/index.html
This United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO) Web site on "Cultural Heritage at Risk" has been updated recently with information derived from the International Congress on Cultural Heritage at Risk held in September 1999. The site is intended to be a source of information on this topic, as well as a "discussion platform" wherein specialists and professionals can exchange views on various aspects of preserving and protecting cultural heritage. The site developers also hope to create a list of specialists in this field and affiliated professions who can be consulted in times of need. For more information, or to contribute to the site,contact Hideo Noguchi, UNESCO, Division of Cultural Heritage, 1 rue Miollis,75015 Paris, France. Tel: 0033-1 45 68 44 18; Fax: 0033-1 45 68 55 96; e-mail: h.noguchj@unesco.org
Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre http://www.bghrc.com
Founded in 1997 the Benfield Greig Hazard Research Centre at University College London has become the largest multidisciplinary academic hazard research centre in Europe. It now incorporates over 40 staff, associates, and affiliates in numerous projects ranging from long-term seasonal prediction of hurricanes and other severe storms to landslide and volcano hazard mitigation. With this impressive growth, the centre has revamped its Web site, which now includes descriptions and results of many of the organisation's projects (including the long-range forecasts mentioned above), as well as a comprehensive publications list, a photo gallery, an entire section dedicated to the centre's Disaster Management Unit, and other information about the centre, its staff, and programs.
Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DiMP)http://www.egs.uct.ac.za/dimp
The Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DiMP) at the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Cape Town,South Africa, promotes the integration of disaster mitigation with development programs, particularly those targeted at economically vulnerable communities. DiMP carries out its mission in three principal areas: collaborative research,policy advocacy, and education and training.
In 1997, the Overseas Development Administration of the British government funded DiMP to establish a regional network of organisations committed to strengthening disaster mitigation research, training, education, and practice. This work resulted in the creation of "Periperi" (Partners Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risks) – a network of organisations and institutions in southern Africa that work together across disciplines and national borders. The Southern African Risk Reduction Network is now supported by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, United States Agency for International Development (OFDA/USAID) and the Department for International Development of the British government.
The new DiMP Web site provides a description, background information, and details about current interests of the program; more information about Periperi;a list of DiMP publications; and links to related regional and international organisations. For additional information about DiMP, contact the Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. Tel: 27 (0)21 650 2987, 27 (0) 21 650 4115, or 27 (0)21 650 4116; Fax:27 (0)21 689 1217; e-mail: nomdo@enviro.uct.ac.za
Unit for Disaster Studies, Department of Geography and Geologyhttp://isis.uwimona.edu.jm/index.html
The new Web site of the Unit for Disaster Studies, Department of Geography and Geology, University of the West Indies, offers scientific information, data,and references to promote better understanding of natural hazards in the Caribbean. The site has sections entitled Natural Hazards and Disasters (showing the various hazards to which the islands of the region are vulnerable),Caribbean Geology, Jamaica, Other Islands, Organisations, Bibliography, Maps,Announcements, Miscellaneous, and News.
"Masters of Disaster", American Red Crosshttp://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters
The American Red Cross has undertaken a project to assemble "Masters of Disaster" curriculum components to help teachers integrate disaster safety into their regular lesson plans. For example, if a teacher needs to teach how to plot latitude and longitude on a map, he or she can offer a lesson on how to track a hurricane. Information about this new resource is available from the Web site above.
The Masters of Disaster materials are being designed to be flexible, so that teaching teams can integrate hazard-related lessons into the core academic subjects of science, math, social studies, and language arts (including reading,word comprehension, and spelling). Hazard and safety content will be available for teachers to supplement their lessons. The curriculum components will include a teacher's guide for lower elementary (K-2), upper elementary (3-5), and middle school (6-8), as well as numerous other teaching materials. The topics covered will include general disaster safety (such as family disaster planning,maintaining disaster supplies, and conducting a home "hazard hunt"),earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and lightning.
Masters of Disaster is in the final stages of development, and the Red Cross anticipates releasing it in the summer of 2000. Interested persons should check the Web site above for details about availability and ordering. The site also includes a form for submitting or requesting information about the Masters of Disaster curriculum aids.
