Search results for "disasters"
showing 10 items of 41 documents
Understanding the risks for post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks: a systematic review protocol
2020
Introduction Disasters have many forms, including those related to natural hazards and armed conflict. Human-induced global change, such as climate change, may alter hazard parameters of these disasters. These alterations can have serious consequences for vulnerable populations, which often experience post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks, leading to morbidity and mortality. The risks and drivers for these outbreaks and their ability to form cascades, are somewhat contested. Despite evidence for post-disaster outbreaks, reviews quantifying them have been on short time scales, specific geographic areas or specific hazards. This review aims to fill this gap and gain a greater understandi…
Radio emissions from double RHESSI TGFs
2016
Abstract A detailed analysis of Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) is performed in association with World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) sources and very low frequency (VLF) sferics recorded at Duke University. RHESSI clock offset is evaluated and found to experience changes on the 5 August 2005 and 21 October 2013, based on the analysis of TGF‐WWLLN matches. The clock offsets were found for all three periods of observations with standard deviations less than 100 μs. This result opens the possibility for the precise comparative analyses of RHESSI TGFs with the other types of data (WWLLN, radio measurements, etc.) In ca…
Post-disaster mental health and psychosocial support in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake: a qualitative study
2019
Background Few studies exploring the actual practices implemented for long-term mental health and psychosocial support after a natural disaster have been published. This study aimed to reveal (1) the types of activities that were actually provided as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in the long-term phase after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and (2) the problems that must be addressed to provide post-disaster MHPSS activities. Methods An open-ended questionnaire was sent to organizations in the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures that were potentially involved in providing MHPSS to communities affected by the GEJE. The organizations were asked to describe their act…
Distribution patterns of particulate trace metals in the water column and nepheloid layer of the Gulf of Riga.
2004
The dynamics (fate) of trace metals in suspended particulate matter within the Gulf of Riga has not yet been adequately addressed in the scientific literature. Therefore, during a two year period (2001-2002) samples of suspended particulate matter and surface sediments for trace metal analysis were collected in the Gulf of Riga and the Daugava river, and these data were combined with background information from the national marine monitoring program in Latvia. This paper presents a descriptive study of solid phase trace metals (aluminium, iron, cadmium, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc) dynamics and their spatial distribution within the Gulf of Riga based on Principal Comp…
University Hospital Fire Disaster — Lessons to Learn
1995
Reports on hospital fire disasters are only rarely published in medical journals, and then only in journals dealing with fire fighting or hospital management. Blumenhagen found only two English language articles published between 1977 and 1987, according to which 24 500 severe events were registered in the USA, equalling three events per institution per year. However, only 30–40% of these events were reported to the fire department. In the USA only 11% of all registered events caused damage amounting to more than US$ 1 000 000.
Search without rescue? Evaluating the international search and rescue response to earthquake disasters
2020
Earthquakes around the world are unnecessarily lethal and destructive, adversely affecting the health and well-being of affected populations. Most immediate deaths and injuries are caused by building collapse, making search and rescue (SAR) an early priority. In this review, we assess the SAR response to earthquake disasters. First, we review the evidence for the majority of individuals being rescued locally, often by relatives and neighbours. We then summarise evidence for successful live rescues by international SAR (ISAR) teams, along with the costs, ethics and other considerations of deployment. Finally, we propose an alternative approach to postdisaster ISAR, with the goal of reducing …
Complex effects of natural disasters on protected areas
2022
It is now broadly recognised that in order to be sustainable, protected areas (PAs) must bring concrete benefits to local populations who suffer from the restrictions imposed for conservation. Natural disasters, such as major floods, bring additional challenges to conservation efforts and related support activities, notably nature-based tourism. Disasters often intensify conflicts between conservation objectives and local community needs, but they may also bring some mutual benefits. Reduced income from decreased nature-based tourism can, for example, lead to expansion of agricultural fields to protected forests, and subsequent land-use conflicts. Yet, disasters can also strengthen feelings…
Facing natural disasters through the endorsement of authoritarian attitudes
2020
Abstract We analyzed the relations between exposure to news describing a natural disaster and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) with 241 Italian adults, surveyed twice, before and after a severe earthquake. Our results were compatible with the idea that the exposure to earthquake news led to an increase in RWA among people who had low, but not among who had relatively high, authoritarian levels before the event. We discuss the findings in terms of compensatory control, and highlight strengths and limitations of the study.
A Review on Applications of Big Data for Disaster Management
2017
International audience; The term " disaster management " comprises both natural and man-made disasters. Highly pervaded with various types of sensors, our environment generates large amounts of data. Thus, big data applications in the field of disaster management should adopt a modular view, going from a component to nation scale. Current research trends mainly aim at integrating component, building, neighborhood and city levels, neglecting the region level for managing disasters. Current research on big data mainly address smart buildings and smart grids, notably in the following areas: energy waste management, prediction and planning of power generation needs, improved comfort, usability …
Research in disaster settings: a systematic qualitative review of ethical guidelines
2016
Background Conducting research during or in the aftermath of disasters poses many specific practical and ethical challenges. This is particularly the case with research involving human subjects. The extraordinary circumstances of research conducted in disaster settings require appropriate regulations to ensure the protection of human participants. The goal of this study is to systematically and qualitatively review the existing ethical guidelines for disaster research by using the constant comparative method (CCM). Methods We performed a systematic qualitative review of disaster research ethics guidelines to collect and compare existing regulations. Guidelines were identified by a three-tie…