Advanced rescue techniques: lessons learned from the collapse of a building in Nairobi, Kenya

This paper examines the collapse of a five-storey building in Nairobi, Kenya, on 23 January 2006. It draws on reports from local authorities and on debriefings by Israel's Home Front Command (HFC), including information on injury distribution, rescue techniques, and the mode of operation. Most of the 117 people found under the structure were evacuated on the first day to a public hospital, which was overwhelmed by the incident. HFC forces arrived 23 hours after the disaster. At that stage, two people were still buried under the building and special techniques (tunnelling and scalping) were required to secure their evacuation. The two people quickly recovered after a short stay in hospital. Local technology is the preferred option during such events because time is crucial. International cooperation is required when this technology is not available. All of the hospitals in the disaster area, including private facilities, should participate in treating casualties.     

Multiple disasters and policy responses in pre- and post-independence Orissa, India

'Multiple disasters' or disasters that occur in 'one specific place' are regular events in coastal parts of the state of Orissa in eastern India. Yet the policy framework for addressing multiple disasters is weak. This paper aims to show that policy responses in pre- and post-independence Orissa have overlooked the effects of multiple disasters. Evidence based on a review of the literature and onfieldwork indicates that Orissa has a long history of experience of multiple disasters due to its unique geographic location, political dislocation, and ineffective disaster policies that have focused only on single events. One can observe the effects of this even today in Orissa, notably inadequate measures to counteract the consequences of multiple disasters at the household level and to build people's capacity. This study posits, therefore, that multiple disasters deserve good representation in integrated disaster reduction strategies designed to mitigate their impacts.     

Biodiversity versus emergencies: the impact of restocking on Animal Genetic Resources after disaster

Restocking is a favoured option in supporting livelihoods after a disaster. With the depletion of local livestock populations, the introduction of new species and breeds will clearly affect biodiversity. Nevertheless, the impact of restocking on Animal Genetic Resources has been largely ignored. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to examine the consequences of restocking on biodiversity via a simple model. Utilising a hypothetical project based on cattle, the model demonstrates that more than one-third of the population was related to the original restocked animals after three generations. Under conditions of random breed selection, the figure declined to 20 per cent. The tool was then applied to a donor-led restocking project implemented in Bosnia-Herzegovina. By restocking primarily with Simmental cattle, the model demonstrated that the implementation of a single restocking project is likely to have accelerated the decline of the indigenous Buşa breed by a further nine per cent. Thus, greater awareness of the long-term implications of restocking on biodiversity is required.     

基于国内外灾害经济研究与管理实践的启示

中外学者从不同视域对灾害经济与管理问题进行了研究,形成了一些有代表性的观点。各国政府在防灾减灾、灾后重建等方面也积累了大量的经验。这些观点和经验为我们深入研究灾害管理机制奠定了基础,结合汶川8.0级地震导致的惨重损失及灾后重建出现的问题,阐述了构建我国以人为本的灾害管理机制和可持续重建地震灾区的基本对策。     

化工储罐区空袭次生灾害危险性评价研究

根据化工储罐区及其遭空袭次生灾害的特点,以空袭次生灾害的影响范围作为危险性评价的标准,对化工储罐区的空袭次生灾害进行危险性评价。指出储罐遭空袭后的3种毁伤方式;给出储罐遭空袭发生的次生灾害及其扩散的形式与后果;阐述了化工储罐区空袭次生灾害的成灾机理;分别提出热辐射伤害、冲击波伤害和有毒有害物质扩散的危险性评价方法。以池火灾为例,建立了池火灾的危险性评价模型;论述了池火灾危险性评价的具体流程,并进行了案例分析,根据计算结果提出了相应的减灾对策。笔者认为,化工储罐区遭空袭后的次生灾害的危险性评价具有现实意义,对于化工园区、石化厂、危化品仓库等突发安全事故产生次生灾害的危险性评价同样具有重要的参考价值。     

城市综合防灾应急能力可拓评价模型构建及应用

城市综合防灾应急能力可以衡量一个城市在面临灾害时的抗御能力及恢复能力,并且是辅助城市灾害决策的重要依据.以城市灾害发生时及其后所展开的各种紧急救援工作所涉及的城市防灾建设状况作为评价依据,按照一定的指标选取原则,构建出包括消防能力、避难安置能力、医疗救护能力、物资供应能力、治安防护能力、环卫能力、协调能力7个1级评价指标及17个2级评价指标的指标体系.根据国际通用或相关规范规定的救灾资源配置标准进行等级划分,利用可拓学理论及其特点建立可拓评价模型.并将评价模型应用于长沙城市综合防灾应急能力的评价,得出长沙市城市综合防灾应急能力等级为"差",以及长沙需要重点加强的指标:消防车数量、人均避难面积、城市综合防灾管理体系完备度.     

海洋溶解有机物荧光特征研究进展

20世纪90年代以来,三维荧光光谱技术的应用促进了海洋溶解有机物荧光特性研究的飞速发展,本文对海洋溶解有机物荧光的类型、荧光峰的位置、荧光效率、荧光定性定量,以及荧光与浮游植物增殖的关系、荧光在河口和大洋区的分布等进行了综述.     

中国海岸带灾害地质查询及风险评价系统的设计与实现

介绍了"中国海岸带灾害地质查询及风险评价系统"开发研制的GIS平台,VB为二次开发工具,利用OLE技术集成开发.系统实现了对中国海岸带灾害地质的可视化查询、空间分析和综合评价,并为实施海岸带灾害地质综合管理和决策提供了科学依据.     

海洋石油污染处理方法优化配置及具体案例应用

海洋石油污染成为海洋污染的主要类型,对海洋水生环境造成了极大的破坏,而溢油成为石油进入海洋的主要方式,如何对溢油事故进行有效的预防和处理成为治理海洋污染的关键所在.本文对当今处理溢油使用的物理法、化学法、自然降解法、生物处理法、燃烧法等进行了介绍,详细考察了各种处理方法的适用条件,以及在限制条件下如何对各种选择方法进行优化组合.文章同时对"11.14"重大船舶溢油污染事故实际案例进行了分析,用优化组合后的方法进行处理,处理效果明显.     

广西近海环境与经济可持续发展水平及协调性分析

通过精心选择泛北部湾经济区广西近岸海域水环境与经济系统指标,采用主成分分析法来计算水环境系统、经济系统的可持续发展水平.结果表明,1996～2005年间,在区域经济取得较快发展的同时,近岸海域水环境质量维持原有较好的质量水平并有所改善;通过计算区域近岸海域海洋环境年均协调系数,泛北部湾经济区广西近岸海域环境与经济发展属于协调类型.