December 18, 2015

What happened this week?

United States. Texas (TX) and Louisiana (LA). Severe storms produced locally heavy rain and preliminary reports of storm damage and possible tornado touchdowns. Preliminary reports of 3 possible tornado touchdowns in TX on December 12: One confirmed near Lindale(Smith County): one home was destroyed; up to 50 homes and outbuildings damaged, Lindale Mayor declared a disaster for the city; One near Willis (Montgomery County): several recreational vehicles (RVs), one local business damaged; One near Kellerville (Gray County). Twenty high wind reports on December 13, primarily in LA; downed trees and power lines reported. No significant power outages remain in effect. One shelter is opened in TX with no occupants. No fatalities or injuries reported... Read more

Peru. Anta Province, Ancash Region. Heavy rain and hail has caused the loss of crops in various communities the Huarondo district in the province of Anta and affected about 700 families. The serious weather also affected several homes and killed farm animals. In addition, about five homes were damaged... Read more

Brazil.  

• 20 municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul are under an emergency due to a flood that hit Fatima do Sul near Campo Grande. The Civil Defense has said that to date, more than 40 bridges were destroyed and 27 roads impassable... Read more
• An emergency has been declared for municipalities in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Paraná, and Sergipe. The National Integration Ministry declared state of emergency in 19 municipalities of Minas Gerais, one in Bahia, one in Parana, and one in Sergipe. The causes are drought, dam collapse/break, and flooding. The federal government may extend the measures to assist the affected areas... Read more

Colombia. Coast of Choco of San Juan. An indigenous population was displaced as a result of pressure from an armed group. The indigenous group, of the Wounaan ethnicity from the community of Taparalito, have been moved to the municipal head of Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca). Another 150 families (460 are children) remain in the territory, specifically in the area at risk... Read more

Paraguay. Asuncion. The number of homeless people in the capital rose to 54,670 (10,934 families). The Paraguay River reached 7.09 meters and it is feared that it will reach the same level it did in 2014, when the waters reached 7.38 meters. Of the total families affected, 8,234 are in 88 shelters set up by the district capital in conjunction with the Secretariat for National Emergencies (SEN). The 2,700 remaining families have taken refuge in the homes of friends or relatives. The population of Alberdi is isolated by land due to the rise of the Paraguay River. 6,000 people live there... Read more

Peru. San Martin. 7.76 tons of humanitarian aid will be distributed among 12,096 people affected by the rise of rivers due to heavy rains, INDECI reported. As a result of six rivers overflowing 42 homes have been destroyed, 58 are inhabitable, and 2,366 have been affected. In addition, 22 educational institutions, 8 health centers, 3 temples, and other public areas have suffered damages. Three pedestrian bridges were destroyed, and roads have been damaged. Also, 1,806 farm animals have been affected; 50 hectares of crops have been destroyed. Electricity, drainage, and drinking water were also affected... Read more

Interesting Facts

Satellites Find Sustainable Energy in Cities. Researchers have now developed a new method to find underground heat islands: They estimate groundwater temperature from surface temperatures and building densities measured by satellites... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Paris Agreement shows political will to reduce disaster risk. The dust is beginning to settle after the breakthrough adoption of the Paris Agreement at the U.N. climate change summit... Read more

New steps for disaster risk awareness. An international conference has agreed to step up efforts to increase public awareness of how to curb the impact of natural and man-made hazards, spurring the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction... Read more

December 11, 2015

What happened this week?

Paraguay. In Asunción about 1,500 families were evacuated due to the flooding of the Paraguay River. Evacuees have been placed in 57 shelters throughout the Paraguayan capital... Read more

Honduras. Floods in the Department of Atlántida, Tela. 127 families have been affected due to heavy rain in the area on Saturday, caused by the overflowing of the Lean River. A total of 18 families were housed in shelters, COPECO provided humanitarian aid to 57 families of the Marion community affected by the flooding of the San Alejo River... Read more

Mexico. School activities in the municipalities of Cardenas, Comalcalco, and Paraiso, in the state of Tabasco, were cancelled due to heavy rains... Read more

Interesting Facts

First Code Improvements Adopted Based on National Institute of Standards and Technology Joplin Tornado Study. Protecting schools and their associated high-occupancy buildings from the most violent tornadoes is the goal of the first approved building code changes based on recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology technical investigation into the impacts of the deadly tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., on May 22, 2011... Read more

Great Barrier Reef protecting against landslides, tsunamis. The world-famous Australian reef is providing an effective barrier against landslide-induced tsunamis, new research shows... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Finacing for change. There is rising anxiety amongst island nations as the effects of the continuous warming of the earth become more evident on our physical environment. The negative impacts arising from changes in weather patterns due to global warming include rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, sea level rise (SLR) as well as an increase in frequency and intensity of storms, consequently affecting services, infrastructure and principle revenue generating sectors; which are largely service-oriented and resource-based... Read more

New earthquake early warning drive launched. The United Nations scientific body has launched a new drive to develop earthquake early warning systems, marking a key contribution to implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction... Read more

Korean cities take Sendai forward. One hundred and fifty-six Korean municipalities have agreed to promote city-to-city learning to strengthen implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction... Read more 

December 4, 2015

What happened this week?

Peru. Floods in San Martin region, provinces of Bellavista, Moyobamba, Rioja, Huallaga, and Picota Mariscal Caceres: There are 179 families that have been directly affected, 962 that have been indirectly affected, 4 people were injured, and 119 homes have collapsed.  The rains and overflowing rivers have also affected a health center, a public building, 250 levees, 6 drinking water systems, 6 energy plants. One footbridge has been destroyed... Read more

Mexico. The Colima Volcano erupted ash 2,500 meters above the crater, in addition, a landslide occurred northbound. Civil Protection and Fire unit in Jalisco urged people in the communities surrounding the volcano to stay alert of any ash fall... Read more

Dominican Republic.  Flooding caused by rains has displaced about 410 people; 137 homes were affected and three communities are isolated in Santo Domingo and five other districts... Read more

Bolivia. Rains in the municipality of Tomina and the province of Padilla. Five homes have been affected and the rains have caused considerable damage to crops... Read more

Interesting Facts

Scientists develop 'Shazam for earthquakes'. An algorithm inspired by a popular song-matching app is helping Stanford scientists find previously overlooked earthquakes in large databases of ground motion measurements... Read more

Discovery of hidden earthquake presents challenge to earthquake early-warning systems. Seismologists at the University of Liverpool studying the 2011 Chile earthquake have discovered a previously undetected earthquake which took place seconds after the initial rupture... Read more

Planning for Future Droughts. Nine experts covered a range of topics, including the state of our water infrastructure and management systems and options for improving water security as our climate becomes warmer... Read more

Stretchy slabs found in the deep Earth. A new study suggests that the common belief that the Earth's rigid tectonic plates stay strong when they slide under another plate, known as subduction, may not be universal... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Lawmakers link global development agenda. Hundreds of legislators from around the world have gathered on the sidelines of the COP21 climate summit to focus on harnessing low carbon development to eradicate poverty and better protect people against disasters... Read more

Resilience in focus at COP21. Delegates at the COP21 global climate summit have thrown the spotlight on resilience, a central issue in international efforts to reduce the risk of disasters and face up to growing environmental challenges... Read more

Viet Nam: VNRC seeks to enhance disaster risk management skills. The Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) launched a project for enhancing its capacity to handle disaster risk management and first aid at a ceremony in Ha Noi... Read more

November 27, 2015

What happened this week?

Costa Rica. Three shelters (San Ramon, Guanacaste, and Upala) that can house 470 people have been set up. Shelters are being prepared preventatively. A total of 1,996 migrants are housed in 11 shelters. The government has developed a comprehensive care plan. The Ministry of Culture and Youth is preparing leisure and recreation events... Read more 

Guatemala.

• Floods in the St. Lawrence municipality, Suchitepéquez department: Floods caused damages to some homes due to the overflow of the Xeleca River. INSIVUMEH reported that approximately five rivers in the country (Polochic, Chixoy, La Pasion, Unsumacinta, and Motagua) exceeded their levels. Authorities forecast flash floods... Read more 
• Floods in Panzós municipality, Alta Verapaz department: 3, 190 people were affected by floods in several communities caused by the Polochic River... Read more 

Mexico. Earthquake in Guerrero. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Mexico City, the epicenter was 44 km northeast of San Marcos, Guerrero with a depth of 10.0 km; it was felt as a 5.4 magnitude quake in Mexico City. So far, there have been no reports of damage... Read more

Panama. Rains in Chiriquí. 15 homes were affected in the province by rainfall, and the storm drain system collapsed. Landslides affected the drainage system, but SINAPROC has removed the debris. The district of Boquete was the most affected. The alert for rainfall remains... Read more

Paraguay. The Parana River rose higher than forecasted with a height of 4.40 meters. About 25 families were evacuated from the flooded areas and relocated to various shelters.  Rains and storms are forecasted in the north and will extend to various departments... Read more

Interesting Facts

UN: Weather-Related Disasters Occur Almost Daily. The United Nations report, called "The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters," found there were an average of 335 weather-related disasters annually between 2005 and August this year, up 14 percent from 1995-2004 and almost twice as many as in the years from 1985 to 1994... Read more

Earthquake App Makes Seismic Data Easy to Digest. The free app — Temblor — is designed to help people who are unaware of the precise seismic environment where they live... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Latin America and the Caribbean should make risk management an integral part of agricultural planning. The adoption of innovations as well as support for, and the organization of, social actors are some of the actions that can be implemented to make farming a more secure and profitable economic activity... Read more

Towards the Sustainability of the Caribbean Sea through Dialogue and Cooperation. The Greater Caribbean Region’s reliance on the Caribbean Sea to derive social, economic, cultural, climatic, aesthetic and other benefits has also been the catalyst for the development of a number of debilitating phenomena on the sustainability of the marine environment... Read more

November 20, 2015

Investing in Disaster Risk Management at the local level: competing with pressing social needs. 

By Pablo González, Paula Jara and Daniela Hidalgo

Every day we are exposed to a wide range of threats to our physical integrity, our lives and livelihoods; from natural hazards to diseases and even traffic accidents. Nevertheless, the actual disruption in someone’s life comes when our ability to face the threat is overwhelmed. In short, we do not have the capacity to cope with the manifestation of the given hazard. So, in order to assess the risk that any hazard poses to us, we need to understand our exposure and degree of vulnerability and our capacity to deal with it. Understanding the hazard, its typology, is critical but not enough... Read more 

What happened this week?

Bolivia, City of Trinidad, Department of Beni. A large fire consumed 95% of a market in Villa Corina. The fire started at 5am local time, at least 500 families were affected and economic losses are substantial. At least three injuries were reported. Firefighters were able to eventually control the fire using water tanker trucks from private companies... Read more  

Brazil, Mariana, Minas Gerais. The Minas Gerais Fire Department reported that four more bodies were found in areas affected by the landslide due to the failure of the dam in Fundão and Santarém, district of Bento Rodrigues, in Mariana, in the central region of Minas, which happened on November 5. Seven victims have already been identified; this now raises the number to 11 recovered bodies... Read more 

Paraguay. Floods in the Ciudad del Este, Alto Paraná. Rains continue causing overflow and flooding in several areas of Alto Paraná. Homes as well as Lake República were reported flooded... Read more 

Panama, Region of Kuna Yala. The overflowing of the river in Playón Grande in the region of Kuna Yala, 20 houses have been affected, an unknown number of people were moved to a temporary shelter in Playón, Chico... Read more 

Guatemala. Floods in the municipality of Panzós, department of Alta Verapaz: Residents and homes have been affected by the floods caused by the rains of the last few hours due to the flooding of the Polochic River, CONRED reported... Read more 

Interesting Facts

Scientists discover the cause behind prehistoric climate change. Scientists now know why the climate underwent dramatic changes at the end of the last Ice Age... Read more

An Earthquake Response System That's Faster Than 911. The One Concern algorithm predicts which parts of the city will be hit hardest to get them help first... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

ACS concludes the 18th intersessional preparatory meeting of the ministerial council. The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) convened the 18th Intersessional Preparatory Meeting for the 21st Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council on 17th November 2015 at the Hilton Hotel, Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Honourable Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Host Country, addressed representatives of the Member and Associate Member Countries of the ACS... Read more

The volcano that changed the course of disaster risk management. The head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, described the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano which claimed 25,000 lives in Colombia on November 13, 1985, as “a major turning point in the history of disaster risk management”... Read more

Chile sign agreement on disaster reduction, management. The Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding in Malacañang with the government of Chile for cooperation in disaster risk reduction and management... Read more

November 13, 2015

What happened this week?

Panama. Heavy rains affected the water treatment in Algarrobos and Bugaba in the province of Chiriquí. 60,000 people in the province of Chiriquí and Bocas de Toro have been left without drinking water for more than four days. The EOC has been activated to offer assistance with bottled water and cisterns by Presidency of the Republic, IDAAN, and SINAPROC. Service is expected to be restored today. Bridges were also affected in the district of Barú in the province of Chiriquí preventing the passage of 35 families. School activities have been suspended in the affected areas... Read More

Colombia. Timbiquí in the department of Cauca has been affected by floods, leaving three bridges, buildings, nine schools, and rural roads damaged. Food shortages, transportation difficulties, and loss of crops and animals were also caused by the floods. The municipalities of Guapi, Piedmont, and Timiquí were on red alert due to 50 hours of nonstop rains. The mayor of Cauca reported 6,200 families affected, 149 homes damaged and another 15 that were completely destroyed. Humanitarian aid has begun to be offered... Read More

Brazil. An avalanche was caused by the breakdown of two dams containing mining waste. Two people are dead, and so far 25 are missing. Due to the mineral clay deposits released by the rupture, it is expected that water supply for approximately 500 people will be affected... Read More

Interesting Facts

UT researchers develop advanced flood warning system. A team of researchers from UT are working to create a better flash flood warning system to warn people faster during an emergency... Read More

How Drones Are Changing Humanitarian Disaster Response. While so much of the news coverage about drones lately has focused on their negatives, like interfering with air traffic and the use of armed drones, they have also quietly been finding far more positive application in the humanitarian sector... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Great sadness at the death of Osvaldo Canziani. Dr. Canziani died on the night of Thursday, October 29. He was a researcher of the climate with outstanding participation in international agencies and professional speaker. During his intense activity, Canziani warned again and again on the responsibility of citizens, agencies and countries to tackle global warming. It is also necessary to point out  his contribution on the progress of the knowledge and development of meteorological systems... Read More

PADF and Taiwan train next generation of first responders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 106 youth graduated from an 18-month training program to help them prepare for and respond to natural disasters and the effects of climate change... Read More

PADF/Royal Caribbean Cruises to Improve Water Access and Sanitation in North Haiti. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. granted $300,000 to PADF to provide access to clean water and improve sanitation in Labadee Village on the north coast of Haiti... Read More

November 6, 2015

What happened this week?

United States of America. Flooding – Southern Plains. The heaviest rainfall has ended across south-central Texas where 36-hour rain totals were 14-18” between the Austin and San Antonio area. River flooding and flash flooding impacts improve slowly as a drying trend develops. 10 -30 homes reported damaged due to severe weather in Harris County, TX. 1 fatality, 2 missing citizens as a result of flooding and 5 shelters are open with 101 occupants in Texas... Read More

Costa Rica. Turrialba Volcano Activity: An eruption that was 700m high and as a precautionary measure, a two km radius has been put in place to restrict visitors. Alerts have been declared in the event of an eruption and ash fall...  Read More

Colombia. 

• Department of Bolivar, Montecristo municipality. The Tibona gorge overflowed causing an avalanche that destroyed 127 homes, affected 1051 families (5000 people), and left at least one person missing. Temporary shelters have already been established in surrounding area... Read More
• Department of Cauca: An avalanche caused by overflowing rivers Napi and San Francisco affected 17 communities and approximately 1068 families (5340 people). Pending the needs assessment, a crisis room has been implemented and a declaration of public calamity has been made by authorities... Read More
• Timibiquí municipality: Vereda Cotaje: Overflowing of the Timbiquí River led to flooding of the town, Renacer Negro. The media has estimated that about 900 people were affected, at least 3 homes were destroyed, and an unknown number of homes flooded. The population took refuge in the church community... Read More

Mexico. A landslide occurred in Santa Fe, which resulted in the evacuation of 116 people from a residential complex, damage was seen in electrical infrastructure, and power was lost for 2,870 people. So far no injuries were reported... Read More

Interesting Facts

Hurricane Patricia.  Why a record storm did surprisingly little damage... Read More

Two Degrees: Do ice ages debunk climate science? Ice ages have come and gone many times in Earth's history. What accounts for the Earth's current rapid warming trend?... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

How Mexico handled Patricia. It's an sign of Mexico’s progress... Read More

Resilient private sector key for Sendai success. Efforts to ensure that businesses play a key role in curbing disaster risk have passed a new milestone with the debut of the UNISDR Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies... Read More 

October 30, 2015

What happened this week?

Mexico: Hurricane Patricia made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on October 23, 2015 near Cuixmala, Jalisco with sustained winds of 270 km/h) On October 24, 2015, Patricia had downgraded to a Tropical Depression. So far, no major injuries or deaths have been reported. Over 50,000 people were evacuated from coastal areas prior to the storm, since then improved weather conditions have allowed much of the population to return to their homes. The federal, state, and municipal Mexican governments are conducting assessment and monitoring the situation on the ground in affected areas... Read More

United States: Flooding in the Southern Plains: Conditions over eastern Texas continue to improve. Flood waters will move down the Trinity River into Lake Livingston through the remainder of the week. Texas Emergency Operation Center (EOC) returned to Normal Operations; Louisiana State EOCs are Partially Activated. Texas National Guard is providing 105 personnel for flood response operations. No widespread/significant damage and no injuries or fatalities reported... Read More

Guatemala: Rainfall in the village of Milagro, Masagua, Escuintla: The Guacalate River overflowed. About 48 people were affected by the flooding and at least five houses suffered damage... Read More

Costa Rica: Rains, floods, and landslides affected eight communities in the Central Valley, leaving two dead, at least 7 families evacuated, and 125 reports of incidents. 77 homes were affected in the province of Heredia... Read More

Brazil: 

• Drought: The Ministry of National Integrity declared state of emergencies in 382 municipalities in six states, mostly due to drought. 170 in Paraíba, 150 in Ceará, and 56 in Pernambuco. Also in the cities of Bahía, Minas Gerais, and Paraná... Read More
• Rains: The National Civil Defense is assisting 49 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul due to heavy rains... Read More

Interesting Facts

Researchers find cascading elastic perturbation likely contributed to small earthquakes in Japan. A team of researchers with members from Los Alamos National Laboratory, MIT and the University of Tokyo, has found evidence that suggests elastic disturbance caused by one earthquake may be one of the causes of another earthquake occurring in a far distant location... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

What the Nepal earthquake teaches us about disaster resilience. Catastrophic events exact massive causalities and damage, severely disrupting populations, infrastructure, economies, and the environment. How can we, as a global community, prevent or limit such adverse effects in the future?... Read More

Costa Rica joined more than 100 nations on the protection of persons displaced by disasters. Representatives of the Government of Costa Rica were part in the global intergovernmental consultation of the initiative Nansen which was held in Geneva, Switzerland, as an act of conclusion for actions that support the "Agenda for the protection of cross-border displaced persons in the context of disasters and climate change"... Read More

October 23, 2015

What happened this week?

Mexico. Hurricane Patricia weakens, but still 'extremely dangerous'.Hurricane Patricia weakened to a Category 4 storm Friday night with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, but remained "extremely dangerous" over southwestern Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said. Patricia made landfall hours earlier as a Category 5 storm, the fiercest... Read More

Belize. An area of low pressure is still affecting the country and as the rain continues flooding is expected. The Rio Hondo River is at flood stage and rising. Emergency personnel are on standby to assist Douglas and San Antonio residents in the event of an evacuation... Read More

Guatemala. 13 of the 22 departments have been affected by the rains. CONRED reported that about 223,000 people were affected by the rains that occurred in the past five days; 442 damaged houses, evacuations have been carried out; six landslides; 10 incidents on roads associated with landslides and fallen trees, as well as the collapse of the Bailey Bridge north of the country... Read More

Nicaragua. Heavy rains from the last hours have caused flooding due to the overflowing of the Ochomogo River. At least three homes have been flooded near the tributary; authorities are conducting risk assessments and will take appropriate action. The river will continue to grow as more rain is expecte... Read More

Argentina. One dead, injuries reported after earthquake hits the northwest... Read More

United States of America. Massive mudslide causes highway disaster. Emergency crews were working to dig out head-high mounds of mud from the 58 and Interstate 5, which was also shut down as hundreds of cars were trapped in the mud Thursday... Read More

Interesting Facts

Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones: Storms of Many Names. There is an old expression that a hurricane is Mother Nature’s way of telling us that she is angry. But of course hurricanes are not just a byproduct of nature’s ire... Read More

NEC Tests Landslide Simulation Technology in Rio de Janeiro. NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), has successfully concluded a series of trials in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using innovative technologies and solutions to monitor the potential of natural disasters... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

ACS: Climate change and the Caribbean. This debate surrounding our climate has polarized the world into two different groups for a long time; some theorists maintain that an intrinsic characteristic of climate is that it changes while a large percent of others support the theory that global warming is anthropogenic or caused by human action... Read More

The California Drought And Standards Of IoT. If we start sharing information and capabilities, and thinking more holistically, we may just be able to solve a lot more than the water problem... Read More

October 16, 2015

What happened this week?

Brazil: 

• Municipality of Ipiranga in the State of Parana: The Ministry of National Integration recognizes the state of emergency due to heavy rains and hail... Read More
• State of Rio Grande del Sur: The Ministry of National Integration declared an emergency for 26 municipalities due to heavy rains, hail, and flooding... Read More

USA: Hidden Pines fire in Smithville, Texas: Mandatory and voluntary evacuations for 200 people; 9 homes destroyed; 180 homes threatened; 2,500 acres burned and 10 percent contained... Read More

Interesting Facts

Professor engineers material to prevent landslides. Who knew a few plants could save a life? A civil engineering assistant professor, certainly did and he is letting others know how in a new paper on preventing landslides with plants... Read More

'1,000-year' flood: Weather hyperbole or hard science? the "1,000-year" flood terminology it's not political rhetoric or apocalyptic hyperbole. It's actually the preferred term used by climate scientists to describe the math behind the tragic events... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

International Day for Disaster Reduction: This year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction, celebrated on 13 October, will focus on traditional, indigenous and local knowledge that complement modern science and add to an individual’s and societies’ resilience to disasters... Read More

Developing Flood-Prevention With the World's Largest Man-Made Waves. A new Dutch facility, called Delta Flume, can generate waves up to 15 feet high, it's a way the Dutch have  created about flood prevention... Read More

October 9, 2015

What happened this week?

Guatemala: Landslide in El Cambray II, Santa Catarina Pinula. CONRED reported an update on Thursday, October 8, that 220 people dead, 350 are missing, 368 are in shelters, 386 have been evacuated, 27 are injures, and 120 homes have been destroyed... Read More

Mexico:

• A landslide in Huitzapula, Atlixtac collapsed 20 homes, another 45 are at risk. The state civil protection reported that they are providing humanitarian aid to those affected. Temporary shelters have been created, but most people have decided to stay with relatives... Read More

• Update on rains: The remnants of Hurricane Marty have left 35,000 people homeless in nine municipalities (Bácum, Cajeme, Empalme, Etchoja, Guaymas, Huatabampo, Navojoa, Benito Juarez, and San Ignacio Río Muerto) in southern Sonora... Read More 
• Drought. Producers raised an alarm due to the drought in Pujal-Coy where 75,000 hectares of soybeans were lost, severely affecting their families and the economy of that region, not only in San Luis, but also in Veracruz and Tamulipas... Read More 

United States: Flooding in the Southeast: Moderate to heavy rainfall and flooding/flash flooding continued across the region through the weekend - heaviest impact felt across South Carolina, an additional 3 inches is expected across the southern Mid-Atlantic through Tuesday morning. Numerous Interstates, local & state roads, and bridges were impacted, 4 fatalities, 1 injury, 26 shelters open in SC, 5 shelters open in NC, hundreds of people evacuated statewide in SC, multiple private dams breached or overtopped in SC. City of Columbia could be without water service for 3-4 days, local hospitals planning possible patient evacuation due to lack of water... Read More

Paraguay: Asunción. Overflowing of the Paraguay River forced families to evacuate. Although the Paraguay River levels are decreasing, about 22,500 people remain in shelters set up by authorities in Asunción... Read More

Nicaragua: Rains and landslides in Wamblán, department of Jinoteca, leave 70 homes at risk and forced local Government to evacuate five families... Read More

Panama: State of emergency declared in Puerto Caimito (District of La Chorrera, west of the province of Panamá) due to rain and swells that occurred on Tuesday, October 6; 246 families are waiting to be relocated... Read More

Uruguay: Department of Treinta y Tres: Rains affected homes and municipal land. Some departments in the North of the country also suffered damaged roads and paths. 13 people have been evacuated in Rivera; there is a significant increase in the level of the Quaraí River in Artigas... Read More

Interesting Facts

What earthquake maps should really look like. How much more powerful is a magnitude 7 earthquake than a magnitude 3? Most maps give the wrong impression... Read More

U.S. scientists use Twitter to track earthquakes. Since 2009, seismologists at the U.S. Geological Survey have teamed up with the social media company. The result? More accurate emergency alerts... Read More

Despite Midwest location, UW has seismic effect on earthquake research. A tricky science, one expert explains seismology with a question: 'What if meteorologists had no satellites, no technology and were blind?'... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Addressing Disaster Risk Reduction in a post 2015 framework. The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) through its Directorate of Disaster Risk Reduction convened the 23^rd Meeting of the Special Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction at the ACS Secretariat in Port of Spain on 9^th October, 2015... Read More

Jamaica Gets US$6.8 Million To Fight Climate Change. Jamaica has received grant funding of US$6.8 million to be used for improving the quality and use of climate-related information, which will inform effective development planning and action at the local and national levels in order to reduce the impact of natural disasters... Read More

Earthquake simulator becomes a tourism attraction in Costa Rica's old colonial capital. The earthquake simulator is meant to sensitize people to take preventive measures and actions in the homes and communities toward this kind of situations... Read More