The bangladesh cyclone of 1991: why so many people died

Living with natural disasters has become a way of life in Bangladesh. On the night of 29 April 1991 a severe cyclonic storm, accompanied by tidal surges up to 30 feet high, battered the coastal areas of Bangladesh for 3–4 hours. Thousands of people were killed and property worth billions of dollars was destroyed. After the cyclone, several studies, using epidemiological and anthropological methods, looked at the impact of the cyclone. It was estimated that over 67,000 people lost their lives. Women, children and the elderly were much more at risk and so were those from the socio-economically disadvantaged section of the population. Cyclone shelters were few in relation to need but proved very helpful in saving lives. At least 20 per cent more deaths would have occurred in the absence of these shelters. The article documents impressive improvements in Bangladesh's-ability to cope and makes recommendations for the future.     

Economic effects of riverbank erosion: some evidence from bangladesh

In this paper I investigate some of the economic effects of riverbank erosion in Bangladesh. The study was conducted in one village over the period 1979–89. Between these dates the village lost almost 20 per cent of its farmland to riverbank erosion. This resulted in a loss of more than 50 per cent of crop income (at 1989 prices). About 45 per cent of households were affected during the period. It appears, however, that there is little understanding among the relevant government agencies and non-governmental organisations of the severity of riverbank erosion in Bangladesh. This article aims to provide, therefore, some basic information on the various economic effects of this natural hazard.     

西北太平洋热带气旋风险分析

选取1949-2000年西北太平洋每6小时热带气旋中心位置的风速资料,统计了2×2经纬度网格的热带气旋中心位置次数,并构造了风速强度指数分析其大风强度.同时,选取风速为指标,计算了西北太平洋热带气旋风险,给出了10年一遇、20年一遇和50年一遇大风分布图.结果表明:(1)热带气旋中心点位置基本集中在以中国南海、菲律宾群岛以东以及马里亚纳群岛附近这3个地区,与热带气旋发生源地和路径频率图较为一致;(2)风速强度指数和热带气旋中心位置次数的分布相差不大,但风速强度指数最高值范围明显比热带气旋中心位置次数高值区分布范围广;(3)西北太平洋热带气旋最大风速的概率分布呈指数函数分布,主要分布在小于50m/s的范围内,小75m/s的大风占到99.41%,75m/s以上的大风比较罕见;(4)10年一遇和20一遇热带气旋大风高值区主要分布在菲律宾群岛附近、南海南部及台湾岛以东的地区,相对集中,而50年一遇风速分布图中,具有多个高值中心.     

1951-2006年西北太平洋热带气旋活动时空特征

西北太平洋是全球热带气旋(TC)发生次数最多、强度最大的区域之一,其TC研究受到该区域学者的广泛关注。基于日本气象厅(JMA)东京台风中心西北太平洋TC最佳路径数据资料,分析了该区域1951-2006年的TC频数和强度时空分布特征。首先,统计和分析了56年间(1951-2006年)TC的年际和年内变化,并通过建立1°×1°网格计算了落在每个网格内的TC次数,分析了多年TC的空间分布格局;其次,根据国际气象组织按照风速划分TC等级的标准,统计和分析了56年间不同强度TC的年际和年内特征,通过风速强度指数计算,获取了1°×1°网格单元区域内遭受TC影响的强度等级。结果显示,区域频数和强度时空分布规律较好地反映了该区域的TC影响特征,进而为区域台风灾害预报以及台风灾害风险评估提供了支持。     

1994～1999年西北太平洋热带气旋活动时空分异研究

采用西北太平洋热带气旋年鉴数据(1949～1999年),进行了统计分析,然后以每次热带气旋的中心位置资料,建立起1.×1.经纬度的热带气旋路径频数分布图,从季节、年际变化全面分析了西北太平洋热带气旋的时空变化规律.结果表明(1)1949年到1999年,西北太平洋热带气旋活动频繁,20世纪60年代是热带旋多发期,70年代后期以后逐渐减少;而从年内的变化来看,7,8,9,m,这4个月热带气旋发生的次数占绝大多数;(2)热带气旋频数的分布大体以中国南海地区、菲律宾群岛以及马里亚纳群岛附近这3个密集区为中心,向各个方向呈辐射状减少;(3)热带气旋频数空间分布存在着明显的季节变化,而年际变化不明显.     

1949～1999年西北太平洋热带气旋活动时空分异研究

采用西北太平洋热带气旋年鉴数据 (1949～ 1999年 ) ,进行了统计分析 ,然后以每次热带气旋的中心位置资料 ,建立起 1°× 1°经纬度的热带气旋路径频数分布图 ,从季节、年际变化全面分析了西北太平洋热带气旋的时空变化规律。结果表明 :(1) 1949年到 1999年 ,西北太平洋热带气旋活动频繁 ,2 0世纪 6 0年代是热带旋多发期 ,70年代后期以后逐渐减少 ;而从年内的变化来看 ,7,8,9,10 ,这 4个月热带气旋发生的次数占绝大多数 ;(2 )热带气旋频数的分布大体以中国南海地区、菲律宾群岛以及马里亚纳群岛附近这 3个密集区为中心 ,向各个方向呈辐射状减少 ;(3)热带气旋频数空间分布存在着明显的季节变化 ,而年际变化不明显。     

多种灾情预测模型的研究──2001年后上海市热带气旋灾情预测

采用３种方法,即灰色模型ＧＭ、自回归－滑动平均模型ＡＲＭＡ和人工神经网络ＡＮＮ预测了上海市２００１年后（含２００１年）强热带气旋出现的趋势与规律。结果表明,２００１,２００６和２０１０年将出现中级以上灾情,而前两个年份灾情较重．通过数值计算结果比较了３种方法的应用特点,为进一步建立综合预测模型打下基础。     

Disaster in the South Paciic: Impact of tropical cyclone "Nomu" on the Solomon Islands, May 1986

Tropical Cyclone "Namu" struck the Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands during 18-20th May 1986. It was sthe most serious natural disaster in the Solomons in lining memory. Nearly a third of the total population of 267,000 were diriven from their homes and 150 people were killed, with damage estimates beginning in AUD 25 million. It has been estimated by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Economic Planning that it will take seven years for the economy to recover. This paper discusses the major events of the disaster episode by employing the Powell and Rayner model of "disaster-time." Factors relating to current disaster Planning and management within the Solomon Islands are outlined. The paper also highlights assistance provided by Australla during the Post-impact sequence and illustrates the type of general disaster preparatory support which Australia provides to South pacific.     

The impact of local elites on disaster preparedness planning: the location of flood shelters in northern bangladesh

Disaster relief and preparedness organisations are concerned with allocating scarce resources in unstable environments, such as those prone to flooding and river erosion. The need to understand the role of powerful elites in such disaster prone environments is illustrated through an analysis of the actual location decisions and biases involved in siting four flood shelters in four communities in northern Bangladesh. The previously unrecognised implications of the location biases for employment, shelter, access and the utilisation of the flood shelter by the powerless people in the target group demonstrate the need for disaster organisations to include an analysis of the local power structure in project preparation and appraisal.     

Where the exception confirms the rule: The cyclones of 1982-1983 in French Polynesia

The island groups of French Polynesia, which had not experienced any really devastating cyclones since the beginning of the century, were hard hit several times between December 1982 and April 1983. This paper reviews the cost of damage from these cyclones and shows how lowered public awareness of the hazard in a low-frequency area combined with the special economic conditions prevailing in the Territory to make the total cost much higher than it need have been. Ways and means of rehabilitation are analyzed. The development of the thermal imbalance in the Pacific, which appears to have triggered this series of natural disasters, only seemingly exceptional, is briefly discussed.     

Modeling flooding extent from Hurricane Floyd in the coastal plains of North Carolina

Abstract

In this article two modeling approaches were developed based on the use of US Geological Survey digital elevation model (DEM) data. These models were utilized to delineate the extent of flooding induced by precipitation from Hurricane Floyd in a portion of Pitt County, North Carolina. The patterns of flood extent derived from the two models were compared to the extent of flooding indicated on a digital aerial photograph taken two days after peak flood levels had been reached. In addition, floodplain boundaries based on Federal Emergency Management Agency Q3 maps were compared to the extent of flooding on the aerial photo. Actual emergency response operations undertaken through the Pitt County Emergency Operations Center during the flood event are described, and are used to provide a context for evaluating the potential utility of these models. The flood extents produced by the modeling methods performed well at representing the actual extent of the flooding.     

Flooding,resettlement, and change in livelihoods: evidence from rural Mozambique

Post‐disaster development policies, such as resettlement, can have major impacts on communities. This paper examines how and why people's livelihoods change as a result of resettlement, and relocated people's views of such changes, in the context of natural disasters. It presents two historically‐grounded, comparative case studies of post‐flood resettlement in rural Mozambique. The studies demonstrate a movement away from rain‐fed subsistence agriculture towards commercial agriculture and non‐agricultural activities. The ability to secure a viable livelihood was a key determinant of whether resettlers remained in their new locations or returned to the river valleys despite the risks posed by floods. The findings suggest that more research is required to understand i) why resettlers choose to stay in or abandon designated resettlement areas, ii) what is meant by ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’ resettlement in the realm of post‐disaster reconstruction, and iii) the policy drivers of resettlement in developing countries.     

Post‐tsunami relocation of fisher settlements in South Asia: evidence from the Coromandel Coast,India

The tsunami that struck the coasts of India on 26 December 2004 resulted in the large‐scale destruction of fisher habitations. The post‐tsunami rehabilitation effort in Tamil Nadu was directed towards relocating fisher settlements in the interior. This paper discusses the outcomes of a study on the social effects of relocation in a sample of nine communities along the Coromandel Coast. It concludes that, although the participation of fishing communities in house design and in allocation procedures has been limited, many fisher households are satisfied with the quality of the facilities. The distance of the new settlements to the shore, however, is regarded as an impediment to engaging in the fishing profession, and many fishers are actually moving back to their old locations. This raises questions as to the direction of coastal zone policy in India, as well as to the weight accorded to safety (and other coastal development interests) vis‐à‐vis the livelihood needs of fishers.     

Climate,urbanisation and vulnerability to vector-borne disease in subtropical coastal Australia: Sustainable policy for a changing environment

This paper examines the current health policy response to the management of vector-borne disease (VBD), specifically Ross River (RR) virus, in subtropical coastal Australia. It demonstrates the multi-dimensional nature of the VBD problem and considers the value of more sustainable policy responses. The paper provides an integrated exploration of the incidence of RR virus in the context of socio-biophysical interactions and change, climate variability, and possible enhanced threat due to climate change. The study focuses on two subtropical coastal case study regions in Australia. Collectively, the existing and emerging socio-biophysical interactions in these regionsraise questions as to the future risks and management of RR virus, while climate change adds a significant further dimension. The paper demonstrates the need for the incorporation of environmental planning elements, particularly attention to strategic assessment and planning, into the traditional suite of health policy responses given the multi-dimensional nature of the problem and evident socio-biophysical environmental change.     

The politics of AIDS and condoms for stable heterosexual relations in Africa: recent evidence from the local print media

Although there has been considerable attention to increasing mortality rates and economic problems in areas of Africa hardest hit by AIDS, in this paper I examine the epidemic's impact on stable heterosexual relations. By identifying salient cultural themes pertaining to marriage and fertility, I examine people's emerging responses to policy injunctions to use condoms and limit their sexual partners. I draw policy conclusions for the fate of children whose mothers die from AIDS, threats to female education in the wake of the AIDS epidemic and the likelihood of condom acceptance.     

Losses from the Northridge earthquake: disruption to high-technology industries in the Los Angeles Basin

This study explores the relationship between industrial location geography, metropolitan patterns and earthquake disasters. Production losses from the 1994 Northridge earthquake to the Los Angeles Basin's most important high-technology industrial sector are evaluated in the context of that area's polycentric metropolitan form. Locations for each one of the Los Angeles Basin's 1,126 advanced electronics manufacturing establishments were identified and mapped, providing an indication of the patterns and clusters of the industry. An extensive survey of those establishments gathered information on disruptions from the Northridge earthquake. Production losses were then estimated, based on the sampled plants' lost workdays and the earthquake's distance-decay effects. A conservative estimate of total production losses to establishments in seven four-digit SIC advanced electronics industrial groups placed their value at US$220.4 million. Based on this estimate of losses, it is concluded that the Northridge earthquake's economic losses were much higher than initially anticipated.     

Moving from the 'why' to the 'how': reflections on humanitarian response in urban settings

Given the rising numbers of crises in urban settings, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is currently shifting its focus from 'why' it should intervene to 'how' it should intervene effectively in these contexts. Beyond communities affected by natural disasters and epidemics, MSF has chosen to target populations in urban settings that are affected by violence or by marginalisation and neglect: these groups appear to suffer the greatest number of severe threats to their health and well-being. Recent reflection within MSF has identified a number of key operational challenges to confront in order to respond efficiently to the needs of these populations. These include: appropriate assessments; measurable indicators of vulnerability and impact; pertinent operational approaches and medical strategies; adapted security management; and responsible closure of activities. This paper summarises the main lessons learned from working in urban settings with the principal aim of mutual sharing and understanding.