A new report details the reconstruction of Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, following the 2010-11 earthquake series. The document examines the types of structural systems used during the reconstruction of the city, and some of the technical, sociological and political choices associated with those decisions.
According to a new report, the academic biomedical research community in the United States needs to improve its mitigation and recovery from the impacts of disasters. The consequences of recent disasters amount to annual costs of $27 billion. The report calls for mandatory implementation of disaster resilience education, and provides steps to help bolster resilience.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, The
The US Geological Survey predicts that more than 2.5 million people will die from earthquakes this century. Landslides and other mass movements, such as rockfalls, are an important cause of earthquake fatalities. Research now shows deforestation may inadvertently increase rockfall hazard by removing the natural vegetative barrier that previously impeded boulder travel.
Recovering from a traumatic event for some can mean finding a new appreciation of life – for others it is a slow process fraught with negativity. 'Having more close emotional ties is generally related to better mental health and personal wellbeing several years after a disaster. Involvement in local community groups and organisations is also associated with more positive outcomes,' says Associate Professor Gibbs, from the Centre of Health Equity, one of the chief investigators on the Beyond Bushfires project..,
Much—perhaps too much—has been made of Filipino resiliency. While government programs are important for redrawing the conditions under which they labor, their success hinge precisely on people’s ability to respond to and recuperate from their misfortune.
Caritas Palo Director Fr. Al Cris Badana emphasized the importance of the involvement of the communities in addressing climate change and disaster risks knowing the impact of super typhoon Yolanda that wrought havoc to the people in areas affected.
Homes were destroyed last month in bushfires near Lancefield, Victoria, lives have been lost as fires continue to sweep through southern Western Australia. Alongside the devastating loss of life and properties, many properties potentially in the path of bushfires are inadequately insured...
On November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, disrupted the lives of nearly six million children and destroyed the homes of 1.4 million children and their families. Two years on, UNICEF continues to help children, families and communities rebuild their lives...
Leonor Briones, president of Social Watch Philippines, a public spending watchdog, said the slow release of the 167 billion pesos ($3.6 billion) earmarked by President Benigno Aquino had caused a lot of problems for local authorities. Delays in finding rehousing sites, slowness in the release of promised funds, and difficulty finding what the money has been spent on are among the problems, officials say...
When it comes to victim compensation, Feldman and Fish write, 'transnational regulatory regimes for compensating victims of natural disasters are largely non-existent.' Individuals are usually not compensated for personal injuries or property losses. Many private insurance policies exclude types of disaster risk, and many individual underestimate the risk of natural disasters and tend to underinsure....
