Effects Of Natural Disasters Research Articles

Facility Compliance and Natural Disaster Events: Evidence From the U.S. Clean Air Act

With the increasing severity and frequency of natural disasters, we investigate the impact of such events on company environmental performance in the United States. This study analyzes the effect of natural disasters on facility compliance with the Clean Air Act throughout the sample period from 2013 to 2022. Our findings show that facilities located in disaster areas are associated with higher violation rates. By examining individual types of disasters separately, we find that the results are most pronounced for floods, fires, and severe storms. We suggest that regulators collectively evaluate the environmental policies and practices for companies in areas prone to natural disasters.

How Banks are Impacted by and Mediate the Economic Consequences of Natural Disasters and Climate Shocks: A Review

AbstractNatural hazard shocks (such as natural disasters, extreme weather events, and climate shocks) have significant negative consequences for real economic activity. The banking sector can mitigate (or exacerbate) some of these consequences. This paper reviews the recent empirical literature on how banks are affected by such shocks, and how banks mediate the economic consequences to households and the real economy. After conceptualizing the theoretical transmission channels between the real economy and the banking sector, the review proceeds in two steps. First, it synthesises the existing literature on the direct effects of natural hazard shocks on bank stability, bank profitability, and credit supply. Then, the critical role of banking in economic recovery is analysed, including research on spillovers into unaffected regions through the banking system. Negative direct effects of natural hazard shocks on banks can be significant but are often transitory. Banking systems in less developed countries appear more vulnerable and are less able to maintain credit supply under adverse conditions. Banks that are better capitalised and that have incentives to support affected economies contribute to economic resilience. The review identifies several avenues for future research and highlights specific features and trade-offs relevant to policymakers interested in enabling the banking system to contribute to sustained economic development in the face of worsening physical climate risks.

When conflict becomes calamity: Understanding the role of armed conflict dynamics in natural disasters

Can armed conflict amplify the societal impacts and humanitarian consequences of natural hazards? Given that these hazards affect millions of people worldwide and that climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, it is paramount that we advance our understanding of what makes societies vulnerable to these hazards. Existing research has focused mainly on political violence as a consequence of natural hazard-related disasters but has neglected that conflict can also be an underlying factor that shapes the impact of these events. Consequently, we know little about whether and how exposure to violent armed conflict increases vulnerability to natural hazards. This study argues that the local dynamics of conflict can have a significant effect on vulnerability and empirically investigates how periods of high-intensity conflict can affect the humanitarian consequences of natural hazards in the context of tropical cyclones in the Philippines. By combining data on physical storm exposure with highly detailed subnational data on disaster fatalities and conflict events, the empirical analysis allows the identification of the independent effect of conflict on hazard impacts. Results show that local periods of high-intensity conflict significantly increase the humanitarian consequences of natural hazards. These results have important implications for research investigating the impacts of disasters on peace and conflict, as they show that the consequences of natural disasters depend fundamentally on pre-existing conflict dynamics.

Pedagogical support of preparation of cadets of higher educational institutions of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disastersto activity in extreme situations

The article is devoted to the study of pedagogical support for training cadets of higher education institutions of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence using inductive and deductive methods, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters for activities in extreme situations, the main concepts of training cadets for work in extreme conditions, as well as the tasks facing the teaching staff are considered. The conceptual apparatus of pedagogical support for training cadets for activities in extreme situations is considered. Based on the analysis of scientific works on this topic, a number of aspects and trailers are identified that represent the basis for effective training of cadets to solve professional problems. Particular attention is paid to the formation of necessary skills, stress resistance, decision-making in dangerous conditions and the development of significant qualities.

Impact of natural disasters on HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, and virological supression in a hyperendemic fishing village in Uganda.

Understanding the impact of natural disasters on the HIV epidemic in populations with high HIV burden is critical for the effective delivery of HIV control efforts. We assessed HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, and viral suppression in a high HIV prevalence Lake Victoria fishing community before and after COVID-19 emergence and lockdown and a severe lake flooding event, both of which occurred in 2020. We used data from the largest Lake Victoria fishing community in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, an open population-based HIV surveillance cohort in south-central Uganda. The data were collected both prior to (September-December 2018) and after (October-December 2021) COVID-19 emergence and a severe flooding event. Households impacted by flooding were identified via drone data and through consulting village community health workers. The entire study population was subject to extensive COVID-19-related lockdowns in the first half of 2020. Differences in HIV-related outcomes before and after COVID, and between residents of flooded and non-flooded households, were assessed using a difference-in-differences statistical modeling approach. A total of 1,226 people participated in the pre- and post-COVID surveys, of whom 506 (41%) were affected by flooding. HIV seroprevalence in the initial period was 37% in flooded and 36.8% in non-flooded households. After the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, we observed a decline in HIV-associated risk behaviors: transactional sex declined from 29.4% to 24.8% (p = 0.011), and inconsistent condom use with non-marital partners declined from 41.6% to 37% (p = 0.021). ART coverage increased from 91.6% to 97.2% (p<0.001). There was 17% decline in transactional sex (aPR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75-0.92) and 28% decline in the overall HIV risk score (aPR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75-0.92) among HIV-seronegative participants. We observed no statistically significant differences in changes of HIV risk behavior, seroprevalence, or viral suppression outcomes when comparing those affected by floods to those not affected by floods, in the periods before and after COVID-19, based on difference-in-differences analyses. Despite a high background burden of HIV, the COVID-19 pandemic, and severe flooding, we observed no adverse impact on HIV risk behaviors, seroprevalence, or virologic outcomes. This may be attributed to innovative HIV programming during the period and/or population resilience. Understanding exactly what HIV programs and personal or community-level strategies worked to maintain good public health outcomes despite extreme environmental and pandemic conditions may help improve HIV epidemic control during future natural disaster events.

Correlation of Stature and Hand Dimension Among Medical Students of South Tamil Nadu, India

Background &amp; Objectives Estimation of stature from the incomplete skeletal remains have importance in personal identification in the events of murders, accidents or natural disasters and considered as one of the biggest challenges of forensic science. Objectives: To study the relationship of stature in relation with hand dimensions and to derive a mathematical model to predict the stature from hand dimensions. Methods This cross-sectional study was done among 50 medical students studying at a medical college in South Tamilnadu. Age, gender, hand dimensions and height of all the subjects were noted. Pearson correlation was done to find the correlation between hand dimensions and height. Linear regression was used to derive the equations to predict the stature of an individual using various dimensions of hands. Results The mean age of the study population was 20.06 ± 1.28 years. Regression equations were derived to predict the stature of an individual with length and breadth of right and left hand. There was statistically significant positive correlation between stature and dimensions of both right and left hand. Linear regression equations were derived to predict the stature of an individual with any of the hand dimensions. Interpretation &amp; Conclusion Hand dimensions have statistically significant positive correlation with the stature. The length or breadth of the right or left hand can be used to predict the stature of an individual. Keywords: Breadth of hand, Height, Identification, Length of hand, Linear regression, Prediction, Stature.

Expert perspectives on disaster risk reduction strategies in the tourist area of Borobudur-Yogyakarta-Prambanan in Indonesia

Tourism plays a crucial role in the economic growth of many countries. However, tourist destinations located in disaster-prone areas face increased vulnerability in the event of natural disasters. It is essential for these areas to have specific interventions, plans, and policies that focus on reducing disaster risk, while ensuring the safety of residents and tourists. This study proposes strategies for minimizing disaster risk using Indonesia's Borobudur-Yogyakarta-Prambanan (BYP) region as a case study. The study used an Analytical Hierarchial Process in a Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT-AHP) analysis to prioritize factors through pairwise comparisons and develop strategic alternatives based on expert perspectives. Primary data were collected through aSWOT-AHP questionnaire that was provided to 22 experts in tourism and disaster management in Central Java and Yogyakarta Special Provinces. Secondary data were obtained from government documents, specifically the Disaster Risk Reduction Plan for the BYP regions (2023–2027). The results indicate that “implementing land-use policies to promote tourism development while considering disasters” is the most important strategy, based on expert judgment. The BYP tourist destinations provided a case study to identify strategies to reduce disaster risk in tourism areas.

A guide to the use of the Inter-University Bio-Backup Project (IBBP) for the sustainability of individual research, even in the event of natural disasters or other unexpected accidents

A guide to the use of the Inter-University Bio-Backup Project (IBBP) for the sustainability of individual research, even in the event of natural disasters or other unexpected accidents

Impact of Natural Disasters on Mental Health: Evidence and Implications.

Natural disasters are large-scale catastrophic events, and they are increasing in frequency and severity. Converging evidence indicates that the mental health consequences of disasters are extensive and are often associated with trauma and the disruption of personal and socioeconomic factors in people's lives. Although most individuals experiencing disaster-related traumatic events do not develop mental illnesses, some experience adverse psychological effects of disasters. These mental health effects begin immediately following a disaster and may persist for extended periods. In this article, we summarize the literature findings to provide a narrative review that focuses on the mental health consequences of natural disasters. An overview of the disaster mental health research field is provided, and the findings are ordered into theoretical frameworks. Then, the development and course of psychopathology regarding disaster aftermath are described in a methodological context. Next, understanding a disaster as an event of transition is highlighted, and the impact of this disaster-specific transition is discussed. Lastly, a potential relationship between the transitional impact of a disaster and mental health consequences is speculated on, and the implications are discussed. The impact of disasters on mental health can be direct or indirect, short-term or long-term, and to some extent depends on the recovery process of the affected community. Also, we propose the possible merits of using the Transitional Impact Scale in the context of disaster mental health research by assessing the features of disaster-related transition and its effects on mental health. We conclude by suggesting a direction for future research in terms of measuring the disaster mental health effects in community settings (affected vs. non-affected) and also considering cross-cultural and cross-regional differences. In recent decades, a large amount of knowledge has been gathered from disaster mental health research, but, still, more research is needed to resolve some irregular findings through refining the methodological variations.

Kondisi Jepang Pasca Gempa Bumi dan Tsunami dalam Ehon Kataritsugi Ohanashi Ehon 3-gatsu 11-nichi

This research is titled "Post-Earthquake and Tsunami Conditions in Japan in Ehon". This research aims to understand the post-earthquake and tsunami conditions in Japan following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011, as depicted in the ehon series "Kataritsugi Ohanashi Ehon 3-gatsu 11-nichi". Data collection was conducted using library research methods, observation techniques, and note-taking. The data analysis technique used was descriptive analysis, and the presentation of data analysis used both formal and informal methods. The theories employed were the Sociology of Literature Theory and Charles Sanders Peirce's Semiotics Theory. The results obtained in this research indicate that the natural disaster events of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 in Japan are reflected in the collection of ehon "Kataritsugi Ohanashi Ehon 3-gatsu 11-nichi". Within the ehon collection, the earthquake and tsunami are depicted as causing significant losses, both in terms of loss of life and economic impact on Japan. Interestingly, the effects of the earthquake and tsunami narrated in the ehon are presented in a way that is not frightening and easily understandable by children, serving as an educational resource about earthquakes and tsunamis.

Does government response to natural disasters explain violence? The case of the Sendero Luminoso and conflict in Peru

AbstractObjectiveWe consider how the Peruvian government's responses to natural disaster events shaped political violence patterns from 1989 to 2020.MethodsWe gather data on government disaster response and compare the effect of positive disaster responses, such as reconstruction and regulation of domestic/international aid, and negative disaster responses, such as neglect or placing restrictions on movement near the affected areas, on violent conflict. To address the endogeneity between armed conflict and disaster responses, we estimate a structural equation model where we allow armed conflicts and disaster responses to be fully endogenous.ResultsUsing a structural equation model at the province‐year level, we show that negative disaster responses increase the risks for political violence, while positive disaster responses do not affect the risks for armed conflict. Armed conflict in turn makes negative policy responses to disasters more likely but has no effect on positive disaster responses.ConclusionsThe results suggest that poor government response to natural disasters can foster grievances and aid rebel recruitment, increasing the risks for armed conflicts.

Demand for digital competencies in professional training of the EMERCOM of Russia employees

Nowadays, digital competencies have become a necessary component of professional training for a specialist in any industry, including EMERCOM. Digital technologies and digital tools are important not only in the work of all systems of the EMERCOM of Russia, but also in the process of training specialists of this industry. Digitalization of education in EMERCOM universities, despite the emerging problems and difficulties, continues to expand. The article is devoted to the study of the demand for digital competencies in the professional training of the EMERCOM of Russia employees. For this purpose, a survey across on­campus and correspondence students of The State Fire Academy of the Ministry of Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters was conducted. Based on the results of the survey, a rating of competencies required for an EMERCOM employee was compiled, the analysis of the demand for competencies was carried out, the place of digital competencies among the professional competencies of EMERCOM employees was determined, and the difference in the demand for digital competencies depending on the specialization of students (e. g., fire and rescue service and forensic expertise) was noted. The data obtained in the course of the study indicates the importance and demand for digital competencies in the professional activities of employees of various the EMERCOM of Russia departments, which determines the need to modernize professional training in the context of new means of labor (digital technologies and digital tools).

Regional Disaster Risk Assessment Based on ARIMA Prediction and Comprehensive Evaluation Model

The occurrence of extreme weather events affects the natural economic and social security, and has a serious impact on some industries, so the prediction and evaluation of disaster risk level is particularly important. This paper collected data on nine indicators from 25 regions and divided them into four areas: extreme weather, natural, social, and economic. the ARIMA prediction model is used to predict the probability and intensity of extreme weather in the future. The combined weights of each index were calculated by Composite Weighting Method, including principal component analysis, entropy weight method and coefficient of variation method, and the Risk Assessment Index (RAI) formula was constructed, and then the WNSE prediction and evaluation model was constructed. It is divided into four risk levels by fuzzy cluster analysis. We use WNSE prediction and evaluation model to calculate New York City and Switzerland’s RAI and coverage levels. Using this prediction, we can assess the severity of the consequences of natural disasters and prevent or remedy them. The assessment of regional disaster risk levels can give relevant reference to the government, and the government can make reasonable resource allocation.

Multi-level emotion propagation in natural disaster events: diverse leadership of super-spreaders in different levels of hierarchy

PurposeIn social media, crisis information susceptible of generating different emotions could be spread at exponential pace via multilevel super-spreaders. This study aims to interpret the multi-level emotion propagation in natural disaster events by analyzing information diffusion capacity and emotional guiding ability of super-spreaders in different levels of hierarchy.Design/methodology/approachWe collected 47,042 original microblogs and 120,697 forwarding data on Weibo about the “7.20 Henan Rainstorm” event for empirical analysis. Emotion analysis and emotion network analysis were used to screen emotional information and identify super-spreaders. The number of followers is considered as the basis for classifying super-spreaders into five levels.FindingsOfficial media and ordinary users can become the super-spreaders with different advantages, creating a new emotion propagation environment. The number of followers becomes a valid basis for classifying the hierarchy levels of super-spreaders. The higher the level of users, the easier they are to become super-spreaders. And there is a strong correlation between the hierarchy level of super-spreaders and their role in emotion propagation.Originality/valueThis study has important significance for understanding the mode of social emotion propagation and making decisions in maintaining social harmony.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-03-2024-0192.

Detecting information from Twitter on landslide hazards in Italy using deep learning models

BackgroundMass media are a new and important source of information for any natural disaster, mass emergency, pandemic, economic or political event, or extreme weather event affecting one or more communities in a country. Several techniques have been developed for data mining in social media for many natural events, but few of them have been applied to the automatic extraction of landslide events. In this study, Twitter has been investigated to detect data about landslide events in Italian-language. The main aim is to obtain an automatic text classification on the basis of information about natural hazards. The text classification for landslide events in Italian-language has still not been applied to detect this type of natural hazard.ResultsOver 13,000 data were extracted within Twitter considering five keywords referring to landslide events. The dataset was classified manually, providing a solid base for applying deep learning. The combination of BERT + CNN has been chosen for text classification and two different pre-processing approaches and bert-model have been applied. BERT-multicase + CNN without preprocessing archived the highest values of accuracy, equal to 96% and AUC of 0.96.ConclusionsTwo advantages resulted from this studio: the Italian-language classified dataset for landslide events fills that present gap of analysing natural events using Twitter. BERT + CNN was trained to detect this information and proved to be an excellent classifier for the Italian language for landslide events.

Emotional contagion on social media and the simulation of intervention strategies after a disaster event: a modeling study

With the advent of climate change and the 5 G era, online communities are increasingly becoming the main medium for information dissemination after emergencies such as natural disasters. The widespread dissemination of negative online information may generate cyber violence or lead to serious adverse psychological outcomes. This study considered a natural disaster event involving avoidable deaths and child casualties as an example to identify emotional contagion and conduct simulation interventions. Data about the aftermath of the 8·13 flash flood in the Longcaogou Scenic Area, Sichuan Province, China, were derived from the Chinese Sina microblog. We analyzed key parameters and modeled them in a dynamic model. We further evaluated the effects of implementing intervention measures (such as transmission path interruption and changing the number of different emotions) on emotional spread. The overall sentiment of posters after this flood was negative, with three epidemic peaks. Negative emotions were more persistent and contagious than positive emotions. Reducing the number of negative blog posts by half could have led to a 14.97% reduction in negative comments and a 7.17% reduction in positive comments. Simultaneously, reducing the number of negative blog posts and increasing the number of positive posts would have helped reduce the relative ratio of negative to positive comments. The findings have theoretical and practical implications for developing an emotional contagion model and formulating intervention strategies to guide public opinion after an emergency that involves extensive online debate.

Governance strategies and tools towards the improvement of emergency management of natural disasters in transboundary areas

Cross-border emergency management is a pressing issue, especially in contexts where economic, social, infrastructural and natural interdependencies ignore political borders. Different legislative, administrative and organisational barriers can hinder the homogeneity, coordination and effectiveness of any emergency response to a common natural hazard. The GESTI.S.CO. project (Italian acronym for "Management of emergencies and disasters without borders"), co-funded under Grant Agreement No. 475062 of the Italy-Switzerland Interreg Cooperation Programme, has been designed to study and address this issue in the highly interconnected and densely populated border area between the Cantons of Ticino (Switzerland) and Lombardy (Italy). The main objective is to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the management of natural disasters through common solutions for the preparedness of local administrations on both sides of the border, in order to increase cooperation, coordination, integration and mutual assistance in case of need. The GESTI.S.CO. governance approach has produced many results: some of them have been included in the official procedures and tools of the institutions in charge of emergency planning and management in both countries; others, more informal, have helped to share knowledge and know-how and to improve the cooperation and response of stakeholders and local communities in the event of natural disasters. Some of these products have already been positively validated during some hydrogeological and wildfire events that occurred in the study area in 2021 and 2022. Such an approach may be useful for other transboundary areas where some results may be replicable under selected conditions.

Insurance in mitigating the financial consequences of natural disasters

Insurance in mitigating the financial consequences of natural disasters

Strengthening Healthcare Supply Chains: A Comprehensive Strategy for Resilience in the Face of Natural Disasters

Effective and uninterrupted management of the healthcare supply chain and healthcare system preparedness for natural disasters (e.g., pandemics, earthquakes, forest fires, etc.) is essential to ensure that victims receive critical healthcare services and products with minimal disruption, even in the event of damage to transport and logistics infrastructure as a result of significant disasters. The article examines this issue using the example of Vital Health Systems, a prominent hospital system with multiple facilities across a wide region. The qualitative data for the study was collected through interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders in Vital Health Systems, including supply chain managers, procurement specialists, frontline staff, etc. The quantitative data for the study were based on reports, internal documentation and archival documents, industry reports, market research, government databases. Analysis of the supply chain resilience of Vital Health Systems to natural disasters was carried out using the PESTLE framework, based on which a comprehensive risk reduction strategy was proposed. This strategy, while rooted in theory, is highly practical and feasible, with measures to optimise stocks, creation of alternative transport routes and logistics networks, and use of technological solutions. Organisational and managerial proposals for minimising supply chain disruptions for Vital Health Systems in the event of natural disasters are based on the theory of transformational leadership, Denison’s organisational culture, Levitt’s diamond model, and McKinsey’s theory of strategic horizons. The role of healthcare professionals, supply chain managers, procurement specialists, and researchers in healthcare management and disaster preparedness is crucial in implementing these strategies.

Fire Experts Certification: Trends, Issues, Proposals

The paper discusses issues related to the certification of forensic fire experts in forensic institutions of the federal fire service of the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of Russia). Particular attention is given to the staffing and balance of experts who have the right to carry out expert examination under competencies approved by the EMERCOM of Russia. It is shown that in many expert departments there are no experts in most of the fields of forensic fire examination approved by the EMERCOM of Russia. The authors draw attention to the need to unify the specializations of forensic fire examinations with other expert institutions and organizations. The number of specializations in forensic fire examination and the improvement of training of fire experts are discussed. It is proposed to reduce the number of specializations in forensic fire examination approved as the competence requirements for employees of the federal fire service of the EMERCOM of Russia for «Forensic fire examination» specialization. In order to increase the efficiency of forensic expert activities, the authors recommend creating and consistently maintaining a database of forensic fire experts in Russia.