Comprehensive Disaster Research Articles

A comprehensive disaster impact assessment of extreme rainfall events under climate change: a case study in Zheng-wen river basin, Taiwan

This study ascertains the disaster impacts of extreme rainfall events at the river basin scale. Several numerical models were employed, including TRIGRS for shallow landslide, Flo-2D for debris flow, SOBEK for flooding, and FVCOM for coastline disasters. The connection between numerical models was determined by the input and output data of the scenario. The worst case was selected as the extreme event, i.e. the typhoon event with the most rainfall at the end of the century (2074–2099). Climate change data, including rainfall data, the return period of rainfall events, air pressure, tide data, and sea level were generated after bias correction for the disaster assessment. A river basin with a reservoir was selected as the study area and disaster potential was separately shown for upstream and downstream areas. All disaster impacts are represented on a river basin scale. The result shows that more sediment will affect mountain ways and a large volume of sediment will enter the reservoir. The reservoir is not affected because it has sufficient capacity. The most severe flooding will occur at parts where the main river curves, which are also key areas of mitigation. Finally, the coastline area is at low risk due to the far typhoon track. This result highlights key areas where disaster prevention measures should be implemented during a severe rainfall event.

Special Issue on Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Measures for Underground Spaces (Underground Malls, etc.)

Underground spaces have been variously used. Excluding underground floors of individual buildings, underground space in Japan is mainly used for streets, railways, and parking. Stores are often grouped along underground passages to underground railways and parking near main urban terminals. An accidental underground gas explosion at Shizuoka Station in 1980 led to disaster prevention measures in such spaces, forcing stricter safety standards. Following this was the 1999 Hakata underground mall inundation by the Mikawa River, which has further broadened the attention to the underground space and its inundation risk. Inundation damages in underground malls and spaces had occurred repeatedly since then, however, we believe that the 2012 inundation damage to underground spaces in New York city caused by Hurricane Sandy triggered further reviews of disaster prevention measures against underground spaces in Japan. Recently, small inundation damages often occurred in underground malls in Japan. With our praying these would not be prior events for possible large disasters, we publish this special issue considering that publishing disaster prevention measures and researches for underground spaces is increasingly important worldwide. This special issue features inundation damage caused by Hurricane Sandy, Japan's law systems on antiflood measures in underground spaces, antiflood measures of the subway in Tokyo Metropolitan Area, current situations of antiflood measures in underground spaces. We would like to express our sincere thanks to those who contributed reports and research papers to this issue.

Modeling Loss-Propagation in the Global Supply Network: The Dynamic Agent-Based Model Acclimate

World markets are highly interlinked and local economies extensively rely on global supply and value chains. Consequently, local production disruptions, for instance caused by extreme weather events, are likely to induce indirect losses along supply chains with potentially global repercussions. These complex loss dynamics represent a challenge for comprehensive disaster risk assessments. Here, we introduce the numerical agent-based model acclimate designed to analyze the cascading of economic losses in the global supply network. Using national sectors as agents, we apply the model to study the global propagation of losses induced by stylized disasters. We find that indirect losses can become comparable in size to direct ones, but can be efficiently mitigated by warehousing and idle capacities. Consequently, a comprehensive risk assessment cannot focus solely on first-tier suppliers, but has to take the whole supply chain into account. To render the supply network climate-proof, national adaptation policies have to be complemented by international adaptation efforts. In that regard, our model can be employed to assess reasonable leverage points and to identify dynamic bottlenecks inaccessible to static analyses.

Promoting comprehensive disaster policy through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Systems science is a field dedicated to the study of systems within society or nature.1 It routinely draws on disciplines including engineering, medicine, economics and the environmental sciences. Analyses that use a systems science approach typically consider interactions between a system (eg, public transportation within a city) and the environment in which it functions (eg, weather conditions), and account for dynamic behaviour (eg, individuals’ responses to a severe weather event).2 Although public policy provides an additional layer of societal context for any given system, legal and policy factors are rarely integrated into systems science analyses. Because policy plays such an important role in injury prevention,3 incorporating policy considerations into systems science analyses holds great promise as an emerging methodological approach to improve population health. This is especially true for natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, and human-caused disasters, such as terrorist acts,4 as these scenarios pose challenges within and across systems and jurisdictions. While each type of disaster raises unique concerns for planning, response and recovery, they share the potential to produce wide-ranging physical injuries. For example, disasters are associated with drownings, falls, lacerations, amputations and long-term disability.5–8 As described in detail below, by partnering with engineers to apply methods within the systems science framework, lawyers and policy analysts can bring an important—and often missing—dimension to models intended to inform preparedness plans and reduce injuries. These collaborations can occur both concurrently and serially, allowing multiple disciplines to contribute throughout relevant analyses. This article first describes the separate contributions of law and engineering within emergency preparedness efforts, and then explores their synergy when combined within a systems science approach. Laws provide an infrastructure for emergency planning, response and recovery. In the USA, every state government, along with the federal government, has the authority to …

Response to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami disaster.

We revisited the lessons of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake Tsunami disaster specifically on the response and impact, and discussed the paradigm shift of Japan's tsunami disaster management policies and the perspectives for reconstruction. Revisiting the modern histories of Tohoku tsunami disasters and pre-2011 tsunami countermeasures, we clarified how Japan's coastal communities have prepared for tsunamis. The discussion mainly focuses on structural measures such as seawalls and breakwaters and non-structural measures of hazard map and evacuation. The responses to the 2011 event are discussed specifically on the tsunami warning system and efforts to identify the tsunami impacts. The nation-wide post-tsunami survey results shed light on the mechanisms of structural destruction, tsunami loads and structural vulnerability to inform structural rehabilitation measures and land-use planning. Remarkable paradigm shifts in designing coastal protection and disaster mitigation measures were introduced, leading with a new concept of potential tsunami levels: Prevention (Level 1) and Mitigation (Level 2) levels according to the level of 'protection'. The seawall is designed with reference to Level 1 tsunami scenario, while comprehensive disaster management measures should refer to Level 2 tsunami for protection of human lives and reducing potential losses and damage. Throughout the case study in Sendai city, the proposed reconstruction plan was evaluated from the tsunami engineering point of view to discuss how the post 2011 paradigm was implemented in coastal communities for future disaster mitigation. The analysis revealed that Sendai city's multiple protection measures for Level 2 tsunami will contribute to a substantial reduction of the tsunami inundation zone and potential losses, combined with an effective tsunami evacuation plan.

Special Issue on Creating Community-Based Robust and Resilient Society

Special Issue on Creating Community-Based Robust and Resilient Society

Challenges for Safe and Secure Community Development in Traditional Architectures Preservation Districts – A Case Study on Tochigi District

This paper describes the process in which the network for those who are engaged with individual fields has been rebuilt and the local community reorganized by adding a new group of persons to the existing one through sharing the common prospective to designate the Traditional Architecture Preservation District, in another word to inherit the local culture. We have conducted action research in the field of Traditional Architectures Preservation District in Tochigi City. This research points out that the social vulnerability of the community could be addressed by raising the consciousness on “protection of community with the help of all,” and by reorganizing the community, which would lead to comprehensive disaster prevention.

Proposal and Practice of Comprehensive Disaster Mitigation Depending on Communities in Preservation Districts for Traditional Buildings

We present a methodology for systematizing and implementing comprehensive disaster mitigation based on having communities target the preservation districts of traditional buildings. After discussing the background for this study, we introduce comprehensive disaster mitigation based on communities based on lessons learned from the relationship of stakeholders and earthquake damage sustained by Sakuragawa city’s Makabe traditional building district, in the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. We then demonstrate the effectiveness of using social networks connected to community tradition and culture as their core, i.e., as a way for implementing our proposed practical comprehensive disaster mitigation in Tochigi city’s Kauemon-cho traditional building district.

Keep Calm and Be Informed: Disaster Apps for Professionals and Lay Responders

Comprehensive emergency and disaster management is a necessity in our complex world. Readily available information resources hold the key to keeping people and property safe during both natural and man-made disasters. Software developers have heeded the call and created mobile applications to provide vital information when there is little time to spare. The applications highlighted in this column have been chosen to illustrate resources available for both members of the public and professionals to use in times of emergency and crisis. Apps designed to help librarians manage their collections during emergencies are also discussed.

Ex-post evaluation of preparedness education in disaster prevention, mitigation and response

As global climate change exacerbates the potential damage of natural disasters, the need for sustained investment in comprehensive disaster prevention training increases. Taiwan is an island located in a seismically-active area and is regularly subject to natural disasters such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes. Therefore, disaster prevention education must be expanded. This study investigates current practices and suggests future disaster prevention training directions in Taipei, first by conducting a review of practical implementation experience and the literature on learning theory. A questionnaire survey was performed to solicit input from community leaders who had completed the training program. Structural equation modeling is used to determine the learning satisfaction index and the impact of construct interaction on learning outcomes. Finally, a two-dimensional pattern is developed as an important performance evaluation indicator, which can then be fed-back into the long-term disaster prevention strategy formulation process to ensure that the improvements in learning effectiveness are sustainable.

Terrorist Bomb Blasts: Emergency department management of multiple incidents

Objective: To assess the preparedness of the hospital emergency system and medical personnel’s in dealing trauma victims of terrorist bomb blasts in Accident and Emergency. Patients and Methods: Four major terrorist bomb blasts incidents occurred in Karachi from December 2012 to May 2014. All patients of these 4 incidents were brought to Accident and emergency of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center. Place and type of bomb blast, their initial search and rescue, transfer and transportation noted. Data collected of these patients at Accident and emergency of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, regarding triage, primary and secondary survey with adjuncts performed. Data was also collected from emergency operation theatres, Intensive care unit and admissions in wards. Time taken for early and effective management and disposal to different departments noted. Results: Total victims of these four bomb blast incidents were 179. Nineteen were brought dead, 8 more died within two hours, due to multiple system involvement which made total deaths 27 (15%). The patients were triaged with color coding, 44% of these patients were red and yellow, and 41% patients were of minor injuries and were labeled green. Total 67 (41.8%) underwent damage control surgery within two hours of arrival at accident and emergency. Most of the admissions were of Orthopedics and Chest surgery. Conclusion: Effective and early disposal of patients from Accident and Emergency needs collaborative efforts of hospital administration following comprehensive disaster plan & preparedness. Trained triage team with quick surgical response needs trauma training, disaster management courses and drill exercises for doctors and health workers. Keywords: Terrorist bombing, Preparedness, Triage, mass casualties, management.

Social Vulnerability Assessment to Flood in Medina Gounass Dakar

This paper is about the assessment of social vulnerability (SV) as a critical component of comprehensive disaster risk assessment. This study was conducted in Medina Gounass Dakar, Senegal, to bring out evidence that flooding was a threat to human security. The aim of this present study is to assess the social vulnerability to flood in Medina Gounass. Survey was carried out using structured questionnaires drawn on one hundred randomly selected households. For vulnerability assessment, the Methods for the Improvement of Vulnerability Assessment in Europe (MOVE) framework and Arc GIS are used to characterize vulnerability through three key factors, namely, 1) exposure, 2) susceptibility, and 3) lack of resilience. As a result, Medina Gounass inhabitants have a particular relationship with the place they have been living for decades. Although facing diseases and many challenges in their everyday life, people actually resist the government’s relocation projects because of their symbolic relationship with the area.

Disaster Planning in Korea

In response to modern events, every nation endeavors to develop plans to meet the challenges of disasters, but it is not possible to be prepared for every event and the ability to respond adequately is often limited. In the Republic of Korea, national disaster response efforts are defined by the Korea Basic Law for Disaster and Safety Management of 2004 and the establishment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) provides a framework for a holistic disaster prevention and recovery plan. However, the tragedy involving the sinking of the Sewol ferry in 2014 revealed a number of flaws in the current Korean disaster response system. In response to the shortcomings demonstrated in the Sewol incident, both NEMA and the Korean Coast Guard dissolved and the Korean disaster response system is being revised under the creation of the new Ministry of Public Safety and Security. However, the current national disaster management system still has many significant underlying and systematic problems that must be addressed. First, there is confusion concerning the responsible governmental organizations that will handle the various aspects of a comprehensive disaster management plan. Second, the relationships between the laws and government organizations involving planning, managing and reporting are in a vertical relationship, while the entities responsible for the actual response efforts exist in a horizontal relationship. This organizational limitation results in a slowdown of communication and confusion between the responsible parties. Thirdly, and consequently, there is a significant lack of unity and organization between the many organization responsible for disaster response. Finally, an efficient, accurate database of resources available to meet disasters remains to be developed. These and other limitations reveal that there is a significant amount of work that remains in order for Korea to have the same level of disaster response system of other developed nations.

KESIAPSIAGAAN MASYARAKAT KOTA PADANG DALAM MENGHADAPI RESIKO BENCANA GEMPA DAN TSUNAMI BERBASIS KEARIFAN LOKAL (Studi Kesiapsiagaan Terhadap Resiko Bencana)

This article aims to describe the research findings about the local community disaster preparedness based on local values in facing the risk of earthquake and tsunami. The authors describe the disaster preparedness of a community with high level of homegenity, since the activity of disaster preparedness for highly homogenic community is very crucial due to to the high population. Beside that, intervention in highly homogenic community is relatively easier in short term because of their uniformed background. The authors also identify the community’s values that can be used as a basis in strengthening community preparedness. Local values include the following: strengthening the role of ‘niniak mamak’, increasing the attendance in the mosque, prayer and ‘ciloteh Lapau’ (conversations in stalls). The result of this study is expected to become the basis for stakeholders in the city of Padang in formulating comprehensive disaster management policies, particularly pre-disaster management. Keywords: disaster, risk preparedness, local values

Small-scale natural disaster risk scenario analysis: a case study from the town of Shuitou, Pingyang County, Wenzhou, China

An empirical-based natural disaster risk assessment was carried out in a sub-national region of China, using the town of Shuitou, Pingyang County, Wenzhou, as the small-scale study area. Risk factors identified associated with the Typhoon Morakot rainstorm–flood event included hazard, vulnerability, and disaster loss, with the corresponding indicators being submergence depth (m), loss rate (%), and flood loss values (Yuan). As a frequent rainstorm–flood area, the maximum flood depth in Shuitou is 3.57 m, and the average loss rates for housing property and business assets reach 20 and 30 %, respectively. The average maximum loss ranges around 40,000–100,000 Yuan. The comprehensive disaster risk level depends on the respective strengths of the principal component factors. Extremely high-submersion-risk and very high-submersion-risk areas in Shuitou are found in the northwest, specifically along the GongYuan and Yuanlin roads, covering an area of 0.33 km2, about 17.65 % of study areas. This small-scale natural disaster risk assessment encapsulates the principle of “regional characteristics, case accumulation, long-term record.” The evaluation results can be used as reference for regional temporary migration program design and implementation.

The Earthquake Damage Remote Sensing Automatic Recgnition Based on Texture of Roof Tiles

To meet the technical demands of rapid assessment on small and medium earthquake damages, this paper presents the comprehensive disaster evaluation method of on-spot human-computer interaction survey and remote sensing image analysis based on the GIS technology support in the small and medium earthquakes. By making full use of the advantages of existing data, emphasizing on the automatical identification of the unique texture features of small earthquakes with a combination analysis on high resolution images gained from unmanned aerial vehicles (uav) and the seismic damages, the new method results in the rank distribution of earthquakes by gaining the experienced parameter of local small-medium earthquakes based on the analysis of regional characteristics of texture features of remote sensing images. It is concluded that the evaluation method is more accurate and efficient for small and medium earthquake rapid disaster assessment.

Study on Construction of Underground Urban Complex in Core Area of Coastal City

The development and utilization of complex underground space is an important way to establish the comprehensive transportation system and city disaster prevention space system in modern city. It is also one of the most important methods for building modern city infrastructure construction. This paper takes the city underground urban complex construction as the research object, studies the proper schematic of underground urban complex in core area of coastal city. The approach of making ground space into the underground approach in Qinhuangdao City is proposed. The target is to alleviate the city center area and create a good urban landscape.

Crowd Disaster Risk Identification in Large Sport Venues

A significant number of crowd accidents have occurred in sport venues in the past as well as recently. Statistics of crowd disasters were discussed and the results of time and location are 1509 deaths and 10642 injuries, incidence of crowd accidents in grandstand areas is up to 54%. Serious security risks still exist, and we should pay more attention to sports building safety. Different stages of accidents include crowd gathering, trigger factors, accident happened and rescue failure. Finally, crowd disaster risk in sport venues was identified. This paper aims to lay a foundation to improve comprehensive disaster prevention system in stadium.

The Planning Study of Disaster Comprehensive Prevention of Nanjing City

The outer space of city, construction space and underground space are city’s material spaces with disaster prevention function and are direct carriers of disasters, this paper propsoses the concepts and approaches to integrate, recombine and share city spaces based on the current situation of city’s disasters and spaces for disaster prevention, puts forward ideas and concepts including “ active disaster prevention”, “comprehensive disaster prevention”, “evacuation center” combining the latest research development of nanjing city’s comprehensive disaster prevention planning, and conducts deeper research in aspects of improving the disaster prevention function of city space and inspring planning and construction of city disaster prevention.

The Prehospital Care of Children With Special Health Care Needs

There is an ever-growing population of children with special health care needs ranging from children with pervasive developmental disorders to technology-dependent children. The prehospital provider, local emergency medical services agencies, and the state and federal entities involved in the prehospital care of children require focused programs to ensure safe and effective care and transport of these children. This article discusses the key factors involved in the prehospital care of these children including the use of registries to identify these patients in the community, the use of caregivers and emergency information forms as resources, and the existence of specialized training programs to educate prehospital providers about the special care needs of this population. Additional discussion includes the importance of medical homes for these children and special considerations regarding their transport. Finally, we will discuss the issues that arise in this community during a disaster and show how all the previously discussed aspects of care can be integrated into a comprehensive disaster plan.