Timing of hurricane emergency actions

Emergency actions to prepare for hurricanes often require more time than is available from official public warnings. This means that the preparedness official must decide not onlywhat to do butwhen to do it. The action decision system, described here, developed for use in the State of Florida, reformats the hurricane track forecast, a 72-h projection, prepared at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, to specify the probability of a strike at each of 12 vulnerable coastal communities, and then normalizes the value in terms of a composite of probabilities computed for historic hurricanes that struck the respective communities. The normalization, a ratio of the two probability values, current and historic, expressed as a percentage is defined as the level of risk. When this level reaches or exceeds 100% the risk level is defined as critical and the system recommends that emergency actions to prepare begin immediately.The system is founded upon individual hurricane climatologies and decision procedures that are tailored for use at each community. The action recommendations generated by the risk analyses with a 93% level of confidence relieve the preparedness official of the need to make meteorological decisions in timing evacuations and other critical measures, even when these must begin before official hurricane warnings are received.The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a Cooperative Agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The authors are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in the publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the government.     

Australia's organized response to natural disaster: Background and theoretical analysis

An analysis of organizations involved in response to disaster within Australia is offered. The location of these key organizations within the existing institutional framework, and a discussion of the functions of each, together with the relationships between them is provided. Particular emphasis is placed on the location and role of the State and Territory Emergency Service organizations (S/TES's) within this organizational network. The paper suggests there are a number of constraints that operate upon the S/TES's which prejudice both the effectiveness of this organizational type and that of the entire organizational network. These constraints are analyzed in terms of power and influence variables. The outcome of this discussion is the development of a taxonomy of Australia's counter-disaster organizations that is based on: (1) the ability of individual organizations within the network to determine the role which it will perform; and (2) the potential of the organization to influence the direction of the network.     

大规模客流条件下铁路车站旅客安全保障体系的研究

大规模客流对我国各大城市铁路车站旅客的安全潜伏着极大的隐患,车站旅客安全保障体系的建设显得十分重要。分析在大规模客流条件下,车站旅客可能发生的主要安全问题,包括拥挤踩踏、灾害、公共卫生、犯罪、自身发病等意外事件;提出建立旅客安全保障体系的层次结构,研究了旅客安全保障体系的流程;从车站客流组织和管理角度、车站设计角度、服务设施角度等方面来研究大规模客流条件下车站安全保障工作中应采取的措施。保障旅客安全是车站工作的重点,必须通过科学的手段,从各方面综合、严密地进行管理和组织,才能实现铁路车站的安全运营。     

安徽省短波通信网在防震减灾事业中的应用

本文介绍了短波通信的工作原理和安徽短波通信网的建设情况。10多年来，它在安徽的防震减灾工作中发挥了重要作用，取得了可喜的成绩。     

防震减灾网页设计要点及其日常维护——以山东省防震减灾信息网站为例

以山东省防震减灾信息网站为例 ,介绍了网页设计要点及日常维护的经验和体会 ,进而提出了网页进一步发展的新思路     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed:
Annelies Heijmans and Lorna P. Victoria, Citizenry–based and Development–oriented Disaster Response: Experiences and Practices in Disaster Management of the Citizens' Disaster Response Network in the Philippines     

中国东部地区的地震灾害及对策初探

地震是一种自然现象,有其明显的自然属性,而地震灾害则具有明显的社会属性。地震灾害是相对于人类活动而言的。本文借用胡焕庸线,将中国大陆分成东区和西区两个区,并初步探讨了人口稠密和经济发达的中国东部地区的防震减灾对策。     

Emergency preparedness consultants at the local government level: the Israeli experience

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Municipal Emergency Consultation project in eight Israeli local authorities. The initiative centres on the appointment of independent emergency preparedness consultants entrusted with tailoring an emergency preparedness package to suit the specific needs of each locality. Regarding emergency preparedness improvements, in all of the municipalities examined, a concept of municipal emergency operation was consolidated and the derived emergency plan tested. Emergency work processes were structured and service‐level agreements reached between municipality departments. Where necessary, a‐linear patterns of municipal functioning in an emergency were established. Concerning a ‘spillover’ of emergency preparedness improvements into routine operations, and a ‘spillover’ of routine management improvements into local emergency preparedness, two municipalities near Gaza, which typically function in an emergency routine, saw a significant ‘spillover’ of emergency preparedness into routine functioning. In other localities, local managers chose to improve a number of municipal structures and procedures in times of routine functioning, which are also related to the functioning of the municipality during an emergency.     

Disaster mental health training programmes in New York City following September 11, 2001

The need for mental health resources to provide care to the community following large‐scale disasters is well documented. In the aftermath of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster on September 11, 2001, many local agencies and organizations responded by providing informal mental health services, including disaster mental health training for practitioners. The quality of these programmes has not been assessed, however. The National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University's School of Public Health reviewed disaster mental health training programmes administered by community‐based organizations, professional associations, hospitals, and government agencies after September 11. Results indicate that the quality and the effectiveness of programmes are difficult to assess. A wide range of curricula and a widespread lack of recordkeeping and credentialing of trainers were noted. Most of the training programmes provided are no longer available. Recommendations for improving the quality of disaster mental health training programmes are provided.     

论灾害医学及灾后的医疗卫生保障

文中对灾害医学的诞生和发展,灾害医学的特点以及灾害医学的任务进行了论述,并对军队在灾后救援中的作用作出客观的评价。