September 25, 2015

What happened this week?

Chile. Earthquake (September 16). Region of Coquimbo. 12 people are confirmed dead and 9 are injured. There have also been multiple aftershocks. A yellow alert remains for 17 regions. 656,605 people have been affected, 486 are in shelters. It is estimated that about 50,000 people are without electricity and 9,010 are without access to potable water. A State of Emergency has been declared for the region of Coquimbo. There have been no requests for international assistance... Read More

Bolivia. Gale: Hurricane-force winds were recorded yesterday in San Ignacio, in the Department of Beni. Teh winds caused roofs, walls and mass media antennas to collapse. A preliminary report says that 15 homes were affected... Read More

Brazil: 

• Santa Catarina: The Ministry of Integration declared a State of Emergency for 17 municipalities. Five of the municipalities are in Santa Catarina; Ipumirin and Seara due to heavy rains, and Iraceminha, Ouro, and Romelandia due to sudden flooding... Read More
• Rio Grande do Sul: Four affected municipalities: Ararica and Campo Bom due to floods, Palmeira das Missoes due to heavy rains, and Sao Jose do Norte due to floods... Read More
• Paraná: In the state of Parana, various municipalities and cities have been affected due to heavy rains. The municipalities of Bahia, Fiera da Mata, and another in Maranhao were declared a State of Emergercy due to the drought... Read More

Mexico. The Governor of Mexico City has asked the federal government to declare an emergency and natural disaster for 16 municipalities (Benito, Juarez, Cajeme, Carbo, and 12 more) affected by Tropical Depression 16-E. A preliminary report says that 85.6000 people and 4000 homes have been affected. In addition, roads have been damaged as well as water infrastructure and drainage... Read More

Panama. Heavy rains. The city of Santiago experience heavy rains that left more than 400 people affected. It was reported that 14 people were rescued at La Luz, in the district of Tonosi, Los Santos. Eight homes were also affected. SINAPROC reported that 16 affected families (80 people) were housed in a hotel in this region... Read More

Interesting Facts

Mobile app would bring earthquake early warning to all. how an earthquake early-warning system would work in practice, beginning with the first blaring alarm from a cellphone: “Earthquake! Drop, cover and hold on! Strong shaking expected!”... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

How did Chile manage to survive its recent earthquake virtually unscathed? Chile has one of the most effective disaster relief infrastructures in the world. How? It’s all down to rigorous building codes, evacuation simulations and, above all, preparation... Read More

Earthquake coming! Apps give Mexicans warning. A powerful earthquake strikes off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Within a few seconds, radio transmissions, megaphones and smartphone apps blare warnings to the capital’s 20 million people before the ground shakes... Read More

September 18, 2015

What happened this week?

Chile: Earthquake 8.3-magnitude quake strikes off coast: At least five people were killed and 1 million evacuated from affected areas, when a powerful 8.3-magnitude earthquake struck Chile Wednesday... Read More

Peru, Tarabamba: Soil creep. 24 families are homeless after their homes collapsed on last Sunday, the National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI) reported. An education institution, bridge, and temple were also damaged. In addition, two km of irrigation canals and 60 hectares of crops were destroyed. Those affected have received humanitarian aid as well as shelter, as the Province Municipality of Sihuas recommended those affected not to return home as slippage is still continuing in the area... Read More

Ecuador: 

• Azuay Province, Andes Municipality. Wildfire. 517 hectares have been burned in Cajas National Park... Read More
• Pichincha Province and parts of La Floresta and Guapulo. A wildfire that began on September 15, on Auqui hill destroyed three homes and threatened many others. 100 people were evacuated. The COE of Pichincha declared an emergency for the hills of Quito, Pedro Moncayo, Rulinahui, and Mejia. The wildfire affects 12 provinces in Ecuador... Read More

United States of America: 

• Utah-Arizona border. Flash floods, 16 people were killed and four are missing, after heavy rains caused the flash floods... Read More

• Wildfire Summary: 

1. California: Butte Fire (Calaveras, Amador Counties), 1,500 people evacuated; 6,400 homes threatened and 408 homes destroyed. The fire has burned 71,780 acres and is 40 percent contained... Read More
2. Valley Fire (Lake, Napa, Sonoma counties), 15,807 people evacuated; 7,800 homes threatened; 600 homes destroyed; 1 fatality and 4 injuries. The fire has burned 67,200 acres and is 30 percent contained... Read More
3. Washington:Horse thief Butte fire (Klickitat County); 125 homes threatened and 5 homes destroyed. The fire has burned 3,200 acres and is 98 percent contained... Read More
4. Dry Gulch fire (Baker County); 166 homes threatened. The fire has burned 18,272 acres and is 55 percent contained... Read More

Interesting Facts

A Weather Tracking Black Hole Is Helping Uncover the Mysteries of Tornadoes. Researchers are trying to identify which climatological factors are most likely to cause a tornado and build computer models that can predict tornado frequency in a given area, seasons in advance... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Following earthquake, UN says Chile’s investment in disaster risk reduction paid off. The head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) today lauded the Chilean Government’s successful efforts to reduce disaster risk and minimise the number of casualties from the 8.3-magnitude earthquake and tsunami... Read More

September 11, 2015

What happened this week?

Panama: Colón, landslides and floods. Several families were affected by heavy rains. More rain in the area is forecasted. The affected received humanitarian aid from authorities... Read More

Colombia: Department of Cundinamarca, wildfires. The fires affecting the municipalities of Tocaima, La Mesa, Sibaté, El Colegio,Quebrada Negra, Nocaima, Nimaima, San Francisco, Guaduas, and Villeta. Environmental authorities warned about emergencies that have been presented due to the severe drought... Read More

Dominica: Floods update. Evacuations possible in Dominica as Tropical depression Grace approaches. Disaster management officials are standby to evacuate residents of low-lying and vulnerable areas as tropical depression Grace approaches the island that is still far from recovering from the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Erika... Read More

Interesting Facts

New model may predict tornadoes months or seasons in advance. A new model may soon forecast tornado activity months or seasons in advanced by predicting how atmospheric conditions during a thunderstorm will affect the risk of a tornado forming... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

ACS in the greater Caribbean. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Caribbean. The issue of global financing for development is a critical theme in the international development agenda with the most recent United Nations (UN) meeting being the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia... Read More

September 4, 2015

What happened this week?

Dominica: The Government of Dominica has declared nine (9) Special Disaster Areas. 709 persons confirmed evacuated from Petit Savanne, Dublique has been evacuated, 405 persons in 8 shelters, 271 houses damaged or destroyed (217 in Petit Savanne and 54 in rest of country) As of September 2nd, 2015, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has confirmed 11 dead and 24 reportedly missing, 574 persons homeless. Several communities remain cut off as a result of damage to roadways and brides, clearing process in is ongoing. 3 hospitals and 43 health centres are operational... Read More

Mexico: Matamoros, State of Tamaulipas. Floods. Two persons died, and nearly 200 colonies were affected due to strong rains, there are possibilities of more rain. The population was alerted to take preventive measures. 700 officials are working in coordination with personnel of the National Defense Office... Read More

Panama: Floods. Heavy rains flooded several houses and six families were affected. The storms will continue over Colón and Cuna Yala... Read More

Brazil: Santa Catarina, State of Emergency in three municipalities Arabutã,Flor do Sertão and Passos Mai, due to heavy rains, floods and tornadoes... Read More

United States of America: Idaho. Wildfire. “Tepee Springs fire”. Mandatory evacuation of 413 people (60 displaced); 300 homes threatened; 78,130 acres burned and 25 percent contained. Also potential impacts to critical public infrastructure to include roads, bridges, cell towers, radio towers, power distribution lines, water, sewer and various local businesses in the area... Read More

Interesting Facts

Nearly half of Americans live in areas prone to earthquakes, study says. Research released by the U.S. Geological Survey indicates nearly half of Americans live in earthquake-prone areas.The new exposure estimate is nearly double the previous 2006 estimate, based on population growth and advances in science... Read More

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

USGS allots $4 million to develop earthquake early warning system. Shakealert system would give oregonians more time to get to safety during earthquake... Read More