February 22, 2013

What happened this week?

Chile. Forest fire near Valparaiso
A forest fire near Valpariso, the worst one in two decades according to the Governor, destroyed over 70 homes and forced the evacuation of approximately 500 people. The fire was fueled by strong winds, the changing terrain and high temperatures in the region.

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USA. Powerful snowstorm bears down on western United States

As of Thursday western parts of the United States have been witnesses to a massive winter storm which is  already crippling some of the affected areas. Winter Storm Q, as it has been named, is expected to have lasting effects throughout the weekend.

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Perú. A person was killed by a landslide on the road from Cusco to Quillabamba
A landslide occurred at kilometer 158 of the road Cusco-Quillabamba left one dead and 60 meters of road collapsed, so vehicles had became stranded. The regional Civil Defense office has provided heavy machinery to enable passage on the road by the following day. 
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Perú. Ayacucho: A landslide leaves 40+ families affected in Huamanga
Intense rainfall caused a landslide that affected 42 houses and left 2 collapsed and the inhabitants homeless. The Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil (INDECI) responded rapidly and are providing humanitarian aid to the area.
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Colombia. Alert for the dry season in the country
High temperatures in the areas of Córdoba, Atlantic, Guajira, Magdalena, and Cundinamarca have cause burning more than 8,400 acres. The Dirección Nacional del Riesgo reported that there is a contingency plan that has been placed due to shortages of water. The drought is expected to last until mid-March of this year. 
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Interesting Facts

USA. There is a storm coming. Quick! Take out your ... sensors?
Rapidly deployable storm surge sensors, which are strapped to bridge piers, power and light poles and other structures, are among the USGS' arsenal of instruments used to collect information of storm surges and better understand flooding.

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What is new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Canada. Natural Disaster Preparedness: Local Style

Research conducted by Concordia University reports that some communities get better prepared for natural disasters by using informal networks and flat hierarchy chains of command, responding exceptionally well during disasters. These initiatives help the more formal response agencies to better assist these communities during said situations.

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February 15, 2013

What happened this week?

Perú. Landslide leaves 220 families in the district of Cusco without communications

A number of landslides have been reported in countries like Perú and Ecuador. Recently a landslide in the district of Cusco, of a combination of mud and stone, left 220 families without communication, 5 families homeless, bridges destroyed, and ruined 25 hectares of farms for plantains and citrus. Read more

USA. Snow storm disrupts New England produce trade

New England continues to feel the effects of the snow storm that produced 3 feet of snowfall in some areas. The city of Boston has declared the dumping of snow into the harbor illegal. Thus forcing snow removal trucks to dump it in landfills, making the process expensive and very time-consuming. With the snow still on the roads people are still immobile, slowing the produce trade down drastically. Read more

USA. How to prepare for snowstorm's power outages

This particular snow storm, beginning on February 8, 2013, caused 650,000 customers to have power outages. Check out these simple steps that will enable customers to be more prepared for events such as this. Read more

Colombia. Road to Chocó made unpassable by Landslide

A landslide measuring 10 cubic meters and 70 meters along the road has made the pass to Chocó inaccessible. No one was injured in the event; however, the coordinator of Department Council of Risk Management, Diana Carolina, announced not to allow vehicles to pass this area in case of another landslide. Read more

Peru. Damage from rain in Ica are being overcome

The intense rain in the Ica province has affected more than 8,000 people. However with constant humanitarian assistance being provided the victims are recovering rapidly. The government has shown the importance of aiding the affected population by distributing tents, mattresses, blankets, and sheltering for those left homeless. Read more

Interesting Facts: Did you know?

The ground is shaking all around. Be the first to know …

Well, maybe not the first, but you can get informed fairly quickly thanks to the Live Internet Seismic Server (LISS). The LISS is primarily used to distribute data. It allows for near-real-time data flow from seismic stations around the world. Read more 

What is new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Honduras. The OAS emphasizes prevention and resource management

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) presented efforts the evaluation report to the Government of Honduras stressing the need to obtain and manage humanitarian assistance resources prior to, during and after a natural disaster emergency. Read more

Colombia. A disaster risk management success in Antioquia

Efforts to unite the municipalities of the Department of Antioquia to consolidate their Risk Management efforts have resulted in a success. The administration department has been working on consolidating arrays, databases, complementary actions in the municipalities to determine how to articulate the actions to reach a true risk management. Read more

Jamaica. Minister of Agriculture announces $45m drought mitigation program

Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke, has announced a $45 million crop production program as part of the Government’s drought mitigation initiative for the sector. The program will include the 645 hectares of selected crops to counter any shortfall of cash crops affected by the drought. Read more

February 8, 2013

What happened this week?

Peru. Landslide (huaico) blocks transit in Cusco-Paucartambo road.

A landslide that occurred due to the constant rain in the region has blocked the road along several sections, leaving vehicles and occupants stranded. Read more

USA. Reservoir drying up: El Paso shifts from Rio Grande to well water

After a period of severe drought in New Mexico and Colorado, the authorities of el Paso are resorting abandon the Rio Grande as their main source of water supply and are looking for alternatives, drilling deep wells, in efforts to maintain the water supply for farmers and other water customers. Read more

Colombia. Department of Cordoba signals for help due to drought.Local authorities have had to institute monitoring and control protocols in order to mitigate a water shortage expected to last until the middle of March. Read more

Interesting Facts: Did you know? 

World Bank Group. Satellite Earth Observation and Disaster Risk

"More than cameras in the sky". Earth-observing satellites can provide vital information to better prepare for disasters and reduce their impact on people and property. Collected data can be used in many high risk areas around the world to support risk assessments for a range of hazards from hydro-meteorological risks to geo-hazards such as landslides and terrain subsidence. Read more

What is new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Haiti. Haiti launches micro-finance catastrophe insurance program

Insurance for the poor? Absolutely. MiCRO, the first natural catastrophe insurance of its kind, is assisting Haiti, one of the most weather disaster-prone countries in the world, and Haiti's most vulnerable residents who rely on small-scale farming and are in constant risk of losing their livelihoods, with an insurance program to get them back on their feet quickly.Read more

USA. Thomas Menino, Boston Mayor, Calls On City To Prepare For Climate Change

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said that his coastal city will step up efforts to prepare for the effects of rising sea levels, in an attempt to mitigate the risks of flooding. This initiative stems the aftermath in New York City after it was struck by Superstorm Sandy. Read more

Ecuador. The city of Quito defined 30 "safe havens"

In the wake of the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, the city of Quito has prompted and approved an initiative to build and commission temporary safe havens: public places that would shelter 700 thousand people in the even of an earthquake, fire, slide or flood. Read more.