"Sandy's Watery Wake-up Call"

Check out the new Spring issue of Oculus featuring the article "Sandy's Watery Wake-up Call", written by DfRR co-chairs, Lance Jay Brown FAIA & Illya Azaroff AIA.  The article discusses and explores steps that must be taken to prevent future loss and devastation.

For the full article, click HERE.

Tune in...

Tune in to NY1 this coming Monday 1/28/13 @ 8:30pm to view Budd Mishkin's One on 1 interview with Klaus Jacob.  Discussion to include climate change and Hurricane Sandy.
Click Here for Link to Interview

Hurricane Sandy: Estimated Losses Now Up to $50 Billion

Economic damages inflicted by Hurricane Sandy could reach $50 billion, according to new estimates that are more than double a previous forecast. Some economists warned on Thursday that the storm could shave a half percentage point off the nation’s economic growth in the current quarter.

Mike Groll/Associated Press

Link:  New York Times Article

Upcoming 2012 Conferences: Disaster Planning, Urban Resilience, Adaptation & Mitigation

This list is a sampling of 2012 upcoming conferences in the fields of design, planning, building, science, government, business, and finance, and their overlapping need for disaster planning, risk analysis, urban resilience, and adaptation and mitigation.

Most are still open to attendees and some are still accepting abstracts. Let's get the DFRR community involved. Click "read more" to see conferences through September 2012.

January 2012

January 17-19, 2012
International Disaster Conference
International Disaster Conference and Expo
New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost and Registration: $200 before November 17, open until filled
This conference presents public- and private-sector best practices in emergency management, homeland security, and disaster preparation, response, recovery, and mitigation. Session topics include business continuity planning, national security, global emergency preparedness, and private sector emergency management resources. Independent training courses in business continuity and emergency management will also be offered.

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January 18-20, 2012
Public Health Law Research Annual Meeting
Public Health Law Research
New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost and Registration: $125, open until filled
This conference will discuss how laws can prevent and mitigate public health issues and ensure a healthier population. Topics include communicable and non-communicable diseases, injury prevention, future public health law research priorities, and the effects of regulation on public health.
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January 22-25, 2012
Seventh Gulf Seismic Forum
Saudi Geological Survey
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Cost and Registration: Free, open until filled
This conference will address earthquake risk in Saudi Arabia where increased infrastructure and development in quake zones are issues. Cooperation in monitoring and mitigation strategies will also be discussed. Topics include seismological data management, earthquake engineering, induced seismicity, volcanic hazards, and seismic zoning.
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January 25, 2012
ULI – Real Estate & Economic Impacts of Sea Level Rise in Connecticut
Urban Land Institute
New Haven, Connecticut
This conference will focus on adaptation and mitigation strategies needed to protect Connecticut's shoreline, economy, property and infrastructure from sea level rise.
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January 31 to February 3, 2012
Connections in the Climate System
Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society
Sydney, Australia
Cost and Registration: $500, open until filled
This conference examines the physical components of climate systems, the evolution of climate systems over time, and the connections between climate change and extreme events. Topics include coastal erosion and storm surge impacts, increased hazard intensity and frequency, and the effects of climate change on renewable resources.

Natural Disasters: Philippines Caught Between Two Typhoons

Video by: rbleano

Typhoon Nesat (Pedring) brought rain, wind gusts of up to 93 mph, and flooding along Manila Bay and led to thousands of evacuations, 33 missing and over 20 deaths. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Nalgae is expected to make landfall in the next 24 hours.

Between 300,00 and 1,000,000 Filipinos were affected and 79,000 people received assistance at evacuation shelters. Crews are working to restore power  in Manila and the island of Luzon in the face of the next storm.  The Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Red Cross have deployed to help those affected.

NYT: The Philippines: 20 Die in Typhoon
CSM: Philippines scrambles to recover from Typhoon Nesat as another storm bears down
MT: Waterworld - Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan inundated by floods

The Philippine government runs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, NDRRMC, to prepare for and respond to emergencies. The NDRRMC reported an estimated P3.9 billion in damages to agriculture and infrastructure.

According to the World Bank, there are over 1,000 fatalities every year in the Philippines due to natural disasters and almost 75% of them are due to typhoons.  On September 13, 2011 the World Bank approved a USD 500 million contingent credit line to the Philippines, called the Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option, or CAT-DDO. CAT-DDO is expected to provide quick bridge financing in the immediate wake of a natural disaster.

WB: Philippines Improves Rapid Response Capability to Assist Filipinos Hit by Natural Disasters through New World Bank Catastrophe Financing

Post by: Anne Marie Chance