Post-Disaster Needs Research Articles

Brief communication: A first hydrological investigation of extreme August 2023 floods in Slovenia, Europe

Abstract. Extreme floods occurred from 4 to 6 August 2023 in Slovenia causing three casualties and causing total direct and indirect damage, including post-disaster needs according to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), close to EUR 10 billion. The atypical summer weather conditions combined with the high air and sea temperatures in the Mediterranean and the high soil moisture led to the most extreme flood event in Slovenia in recent decades. The return periods of both daily and sub-daily precipitation extremes and peak discharges reached 250–500 years, and the runoff coefficient of a typical torrential and mostly forested mesoscale catchment was around 0.5. In addition, flooding, soil erosion, mass movements and river sediment transport processes caused major damage to buildings (more than 12 000 houses) and diverse infrastructure.

Understanding the impacts of floods on learning quality, school facilities, and educational recovery in Indonesia.

This research is among the first pieces of work to use the comprehensive school safety (CSS) framework to assess the impacts of floods on quality learning and education infrastructure. The CSS framework is employed here to identify the level of disruption to education services following floods in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2013. The paper poses three key questions, concerning: (i) disruption to children's access to quality education during the flood emergency in 2013 and the early recovery phase; (ii) the impact of the floods on a school's physical infrastructure; and (iii) the effectiveness and level of success of the 2013 flood responses by relevant stakeholders. Combining quantitative and qualitative strategies, the paper examines the experiences of 100 schools in Jakarta. The findings suggest that the CSS framework offers a more nuanced approach to assessing post-disaster education needs. Moreover, it is also relevant for examining the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and relative losses in the education sector.

Kajian Kebutuhan Pasca Bencana (Bidang Rehabilitasi Dan Rekonstruksi) Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara (Kajian Di Desa Tuana Tuha Kenohan)

This research was conducted through a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) which included assessing the consequences of disasters, disaster impacts, and post-disaster recovery needs. The research method used in this study is descriptive analysis with a quantitative approach, which aims to explain a phenomenon that uses numbers and describes the characteristics of the subject being studied or researched so as to get a picture of a certain event. Damage to infrastructure that occurred in the disaster located in Tuana Tuha Village, Kenohan District due to erosion caused physical losses to the land transportation sub-sector, water resources sub-sector, clean water and lighting sub-sector. Given the damage to roads and bridges that connect several sub-districts in the Sungai Belayan area in Kuti Kartanegara Regency, it has an impact on economic, educational, social, cultural and other aspects, from the results of this study, it is appropriate for the Government to pay attention and accommodate proposals in the form of funds. , procurement of materials or repairs, relocation areas and other relevant recommendations from the results of the post-disaster Needs study that occurred in the Keliran hamlet, Tuana Tuha Village, Kenohan sub-district which was affected by the disaster.

Hydro-Meteorological Incident and Disaster Response in Sri Lanka. Case Study: 2016 May Rain Events

This paper investigates hydro-meteorological hazards faced by Sri Lanka, a lower-middle-income island country in Asia. It provides a case study of a major hydro-meteorological disaster incident that resulted in one of the largest landslides in the history of the country, the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process, and the national disaster response. Rainfall and flood inundation data are provided for the whole country. The fact that data are held by several government agencies (namely Department of Meteorology, Department of Irrigation, and NBRO), somewhat coordinated by the Disaster Management Center (DMC) is shown. The need for more streamlined coordination of hydro-met data with online access of data for researchers is emphasized. The flood disaster situation and disaster declaration of the Western Province (which contributes nearly 40% of the GDP) is looked at, and evidence is presented to recommend a smaller governance unit for future disaster declarations, in order to bring aid to the places where it is needed and leaving other areas of the province to carry on with the normal economic activity. An example of the use of climate change scenarios in rainfall prediction is provided from a developed island nation (New Zealand). The need for Sri Lanka to increase its spending for hydro-met services (both infrastructure and skills) is highlighted (the global norm being 0.02 of GDP), as the return on such investment is tenfold.

Assessing losses and damages to ecosystem services: current state and opportunities for the Warsaw International Mechanism under the UNFCCC

ABSTRACT Ecosystems provide essential services that form the basis of human well-being. Climate change-induced losses and damages to ecosystem services (l&d-ES) thus have significant impacts on societies. Yet, little of the work on losses and damages (l&d) has focused on ecosystem services. Also in international climate negotiations, where the debate emerged with the establishment of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM), there remains space for better understanding and addressing l&d-ES. Part of the explanation of this lies in the challenge of assessing such l&d. To address this gap, this paper reviews scientific literature and data obtained from Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNAs) to explore ways forward for more in depth assessments. The review confirms that little attention has been given to the topic, identifying 27 relevant scientific papers with only 6 providing a disaggregated monetary value for l&d-ES. Also amongst the 64 analyised PDNAs, only 12 report such disaggregated value; valuing just one ecosystem service per impacted ecosystem. The review finds that the majority of both the scientific literature and the PDNAs relies on extrapolating values from the literature. To enhance l&d-ES assessment and, with that, the opportunity for better understanding, recognition and uptake by e.g. the WIM, this paper makes three recommendations: 1. establishing a baseline of ecosystems recognized for their services of disaster risk reduction and/or climate change adaptation, while highlighting the need for an accessible and representative benefit transfer database; 2. enhancing collaboration between scientists and practitioners; and 3. quantitatively increasing data on l&d-ES. Key policy insights There remains space for better understanding and addressing l&d-ES. To facilitate assessing l&d-ES, the establishment of ecological baselines should be encouraged for ecosystem services that can be reported on in other circumstances. Additionally, a benefit transfer database is needed that is that is geographically and ecologically representative, explicitly oriented towards l&d-ES, and easily accessible to both researchers and decision-makers. Considering the divergence of ecosystems addressed by different stakeholders, it may be advisable to encourage the collaboration of a wide stakeholder range, including scientists, to collect data that advance the understanding of l&d-ES. Disaggregated assessment of l&d-ES should be quantitatively increased and the WIM could encourage the reporting of l&d-ES, in order to expand the database and understanding of l&d-ES.

Social Vulnerability Factors and Reported Post-Disaster Needs in the Aftermath of Hurricane Florence

This research examines the relationship between social vulnerability factors and reported needs following Hurricane Florence. Weighted least squares regression models were used to identify predictor variables for valid registrations that reported needs pertaining to emergencies, food, and shelter. Data consisted of zip codes in North Carolina and South Carolina that received individual assistance for Hurricane Florence (N = 406). The results suggest that when controlling for event-specific factors and flood mitigation factors, the proportions of the population that is female, the population over 65, the population aged 5 and under, the population older than 5 years not speaking English, and the minority population were all predictors of the per capita reported emergency needs. When controlling for the same variables, the proportions of the population over the age of 25 with a Bachelor’s degree, the female population, the population aged 5 and under, the population above 5 years old that does not speak English, and the minority population were all predictors of the per capita reported food needs. With the same variables controlled for, three variables—the proportions of the population over 65, the population aged 5 and under, and the non-English-speaking population above 5 years of age—were all predictors of the per capita reported shelter needs. The results suggest that more attention should be given to these vulnerable populations in the pre-disaster planning process.

TEKNIK EVAKUASI CEDERA KEPALA PASCA BENCANA KETEPATAN TEKNIK EVAKUASI PADA KORBAN CEDERA KEPALA DALAM MENGURANGI KEJADIAN CEDERA SEKUNDER

Evacuation is an effort to redeploy the victims from the affected area to a safer region to acquire the rescue. Nowadays the lack of a adequate transfer to evacuate disaster victims are the phenomenom which occur in social case spesifically the health workers who get high potency to increase the occurence of secondary injuries to victims. ratio of the results of health research at 2007 and 2013, point out the enhancement of prevalence of head injury from 7,5% being 8,2% and one of the hospital in Indonesia has held a data which made into a vocal point assert that head injury cases from year to year have increased. The aim of this literature review is to mitigate morbidity and mortality of head injury which go up every year and underpin the health workers to simplify in carry out evacuation to prevent secondary injuries. This literature review was conducted by seeking the electronic databases journal with engage corresponding keywords. The result of the study postulate the victim of injuries particularly post disaster need rapid and appropriate evacuation, assesment and management techniques to rescue suffers live. The treatment carried out when get a head injury is preserve the patients airway, oversee bleeding and preventing shock, immobilizing patient, avert complication and secondary injuries each circumstances which engage in abnormal and dangerous must be given resuscitation. The handling is done alluding to the necessity of ABCDE method by using the START method and mantain stabilization of the cervical technique using the log roll technique.

Integrated routing optimization for post-disaster rapid-detailed need assessment

The post-disaster need assessment for the affected area is of significance for the effective distribution of relief supplies. This paper innovatively concentrates on the integrated routing optimization problem for the rapid need assessment stage and the detailed need assessment stage. A bi-objective model with consideration of the effects of site familiarity and route familiarity is proposed. The proposed nonlinear model is equivalently transformed into a mixed-integer linear programming. A tabu search algorithm is designed to solve the proposed model, and its solving accuracy is validated by comparing with the solution of CPLEX based on a small-scale problem. To demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed model and algorithm for large-scale problems, the case of Ya'an earthquake in China is investigated. The experimental results reveal that comparing to the separate routing optimization and the sequential routing optimization, the integrated routing optimization can achieve a better coordination between the decisions of two stages.

Soil degradation in Kerala state and a case study on socio-economic impact due to flood in its Idukki district

Land degradation is the reduction of the biological or economic productivity of cropland, pasture, forest, and woodlands of which soil degradation is the major contributor. The present study was undertaken to understand the type and degree of major type of soil degradation, viz soil erosion and acidity in Kerala and to study the socio-economic impact of the flood on individual households in Idukki district during 2018. Random sampling was undertaken with a total sample of 180 households from different occupational background for the case study. Various studies conducted in pre-flood period revealed that in Kerala, 94.7 % of the total geographical area were acidic and 71.28 % were eroded, whereas in Idukki 96.3 % of the total geographical area is acidic and 80 % were eroded. United Nations post-disaster need assessment report has estimated a total economic loss of Rs.31,000 crores in Kerala due to flood. Agricultural sector (Rs 3646 crores), fisheries (Rs 93.72 crores), forestry (Rs 9.55 crores), infrastructure, power, housing and tourism sector (Rs 2000 crores) also suffered economic losses post-flood in Kerala. The case study in Idukki district revealed that average damage cost of individuals due to flood with different occupational status was Rs.13.36 lakhs with relative damage cost of 364 %. As farmers are reluctant to undertake soil conservation activities due to high labour costs and capital-intensive plantation crops, public investment has to be strengthened conservation of natural resources of flood-affected areas of Kerala.

Benefits of economic assessment of cyclone early warning systems - A case study on Cyclone Evan in Samoa

Samoa is extremely exposed to natural hazards, particularly tropical cyclones and earthquake-generated tsunami. Some studies have put forth the position that adequate investment in early warning systems can contribute to the social and economic well-being of countries. However, in spite of these research findings there is still a lack of understanding on how to measure effectiveness that leads to limited investment. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a tool used in this study to summarize the value for money in terms of investment to enhance an early warning system. This paper aims to summarize the benefits of adopting early warning systems and its effectiveness against the investment required and its value proposition. Data from the ‘Samoa Post-Disaster Needs Assessment of the Cyclone Evan event in 2012’ have been used to assess damage information, and stakeholders consultations and interviews were carried out for cost-benefit analysis. We have conducted quantified CBA of early warning services for cyclone hazards and the results have shown that for every USD 1 invested, there is a return of USD 6 as benefit. This paper suggests that economic assessment of early warning services could help in quantifying pre-impact assessment to demonstrate to policy makers the economic benefit of disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Landslide inventory, susceptibility mapping and recommendation of the mitigation measures in Nuwakot District

Nepal earthquake of 25th April 2015 and subsequent big aftershocks impacted people, land, and water resources significantly. Following the devastating earthquake, land and water management has become one of the primary focuses of the Government of Nepal as these resources are foundations of people’s livelihood and prosperity. The weakened, cracked, and destabilized slopes and surfaces due to the earthquake become even more susceptible to landslides that can be aggravated due to rainfall and inappropriate anthropogenic activities. Due to the devastating earthquake, 31 districts of Nepal out of 75 were affected with 14 being severely affected resulted huge loss of human life, property, and ecosystem services. These 14 districts were categorized as severely hit and crisis hit districts by the post disaster need assessment (PDNA) carried out by Government of Nepal. Nuwakot district is one of the severely hit districts. In order to reduce vulnerability and/or threat of potential landslide disasters and protect local people, infrastructures, land and water resources from potential landslide disaster, identification of the most susceptible slopes as well as treatment and mitigation of the most critical landslides deemed essential. This study has identified the landslides and its impact within different VDCs of Nuwakot district. The mitigation measures for the urgent and treatable landslides are purposed with the tentative estimation of the cost and prioritized them based on the social, environmental and economic criteria. Out of 542 landslides identified, 105 landslides were studied in detail based on social and physical risk. The study showed that the northern part of the district is more susceptible to landslides and consequent disaster. VDCs like Bhalche, Ghyangphedi, Salme, Urleni, Kimlang, Lachyang, Ralukadevi are more susceptible to the landslides in Nuwakot district.

Post-Disaster Damage Assessments as Catalysts for Recovery: A Look at Assessments Conducted in the Wake of the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, Earthquake

In the wake of large earthquake disasters, governments, international agencies, and large nongovernmental organizations scramble to conduct impact and damage assessments that help them understand the nature and scale of the emergency in order to orchestrate a complex series of emergency, response, and recovery activities. Using the Gorkha earthquake as a case study, this research seeks to provide greater clarity into the types of post-disaster damage assessments, their purposes, and their potential as catalysts for critical recovery activities. We argue that damage assessment methodologies need to be tailored to the diverse information needs in post-disaster contexts, which vary by user group and change over time. This research builds upon the authors’ direct experience supporting the government of Nepal in the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process, support with the rapid visual inspections conducted by the National Engineering Association, and interviews with humanitarian organizations who conducted damage assessment in Nepal.

Applying a New Framework for Public Health Systems Recovery following Emergencies and Disasters: The Example of Haiti following a Major Earthquake and Cholera Outbreak.

.Emergencies can often directly impact health systems of an affected region or country, especially in resource-constrained areas. Health system recovery following an emergency is a complex and dynamic process. Health system recovery efforts have often been structured around the World Health Organization’s health systems building blocks as demonstrated by the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment. Although this structure is valuable and well known, it can overlook the intricacies of public health systems. We retrospectively examine public health systems recovery, a subset of the larger health system, following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and cholera outbreak, through the lens of the 10 essential public health services. This framework illustrates the comprehensive nature of and helps categorize the activities necessary for a well-functioning public health system and can complement other assessments. Outlining the features of a public health system for recovery in structured manner can also help lay the foundation for sustainable long-term development leading to a more robust and resilient health system.

The stone that mourns its victims: Haiti still recovering from its injuries and traumas 5 years after the 2010 earthquake.

On Jan. 12, 2010, at 4:53 p.m. local time, Haiti was struck by the largest earthquake in its modern history. The quake killed over 222,000 people, about 2.5% of the national population, and left more than 300,000 injured, between 4,000 and 7,000 amputees, and roughly 1.5 million homeless. Following the earthquake, studies were carried out to evaluate its impact on mental health. Depending on the age group and the time of assessment, prevalences ranged from 24.6% to 47.7% for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and from 26.0% to 46.2% for major depressive disorder (1–4). Studies also revealeddifficulties inmourning the deaths of those who went missing (5). The inhumation of corpses in mass graves without identification and without respect for any cultural ritual has greatly prevented survivors from mourning their relatives who perished in this disaster, as is described by participants in various studies carried out since July 2010 (2) and reported in other studies (6). In fact, as Kluger(7) suggested,whenthere isnograve,mourningbecomes endless. Indeed, according to figures from the Haitian government and international institutions, at least 180,000 corpses were put in mass graves without being formally identified (8). Moreover, to date, no list of victims has been established. In theabsenceof this list, forwhichnoofficial initiativehas been takenyet, thememorial of theearthquakehasbecomean important place of pilgrimage. Consisting of the stone shown here and its plate, on which is written in Creole “12 January 2010/We will never forget,” the memorial represents, symbolically, the solid remains of the disaster. Erected on the largest mass grave at the north entrance of Port-au-Prince, where between 70,000 and 90,000 corpses are buried, according to the authorities, it is a place of contemplation for relatives who pay tribute to victims at special occasions: birthdays,November1 (All Saints’Day), January12, etc. In the absence of tangible signs that can facilitate the grieving Memorial for the Haiti earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010 (photograph by Darwin Clormeus; used by permission)

Needs for disaster medicine: lessons from the field of the Great East Japan Earthquake

The Great East Japan Earthquake, which occurred in Tohoku, Japan on 11 March 2011, was followed by a devastating tsunami and damage to nuclear power plants that resulted in radiation leakage. The medical care, equipment and communication needs of four Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMAT) during four missions are discussed. DMATs are medically trained mobile teams used in the acute phase of disasters. The DMATs conducted four missions in devastated areas from the day of the earthquake to day 10. The first and second missions were to triage, resuscitate and treat trauma victims in Tokyo and Miyagi, respectively. The third mission was to conduct emergency medicine and primary care in Iwate. The fourth was to assist with the evacuation and screening of inpatients with radiation exposure in Fukushima. Triage, resuscitation and trauma expertise and equipment were required in Missions 1 and 2. Emergency medicine in hospitals and primary care in first-aid stations and evacuation areas were required for Mission 3. In Mission 4, the DMAT assisted with evacuation by ambulances and buses and screened people for radiation exposure. Only land phones and transceivers were available for Missions 1 to 3 although they were ineffective for urgent purposes. These DMAT missions showed that there are new needs for DMATs in primary care, radiation screening and evacuation after the acute phase of a disaster. Alternative methods for communication infrastructure post-disaster need to be investigated with telecommunication experts.

Pork and Typhoons: The Political Economy of Disaster Assistance in the Philippines

To what extent do political connections between politicians influence disaster response? To address this question, we produce a baseline estimate for post-disaster need by calculating a storm exposure measure for every municipality in the Philippines from 2001-2010. Then, controlling for storm exposure, we analyze the effect of political connections on reconstruction fund distribution from House legislators to municipal mayors. Our analysis shows that political connections, especially clan ties, increase reconstruction funds allocated to a given municipality. These results suggest that a more needs-based disaster response may require placing a limit on political discretion in the disbursement of post-disaster funds.