January 29, 2015

What happened this week?

United States. East Coast. A total of 85 million people were affected by snowstorm Jonas and 300,000 people lost power. The snowstorm left at least 15 people dead. An estimate of 1 to 3 feet of snow with 75 mph wind gusts has been reported in the Central Appalachian to Northeast. Approximately 2,300 National Guardsman have been activated in the affected states. In addition, 8,000 flights have been cancelled and delayed from airports in Maryland to New York... Read more

Paraguay. Assistance will be provided for 29,000 farming families that were affected by the rains. Authorities of Agriculture and National Emergency (SEN), prepare to distribute assistance kits. An estimated 22,000 families have been affected by the rains and 7,000 due to flooding... Read more

Bolivia. At least 900 hectares of agricultural crops were hit by frost in some 52 villages in the municipalities of Quillacollo, Cochabamaba, and Tiquipaya... Read more

Interesting Facts

Natural or humanmade earthquakes? New technique can tell the difference. A new study by Stanford researchers suggests that earthquakes triggered by human activity follow several indicative patterns that could help scientists distinguish them from naturally occurring temblors... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

ICTs and the Sendai Framework. The "2nd Global Forum on Emergency Telecommunications (GET-2016): SAVING LIVES". Strategies on how Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) can help reduce mortality from disasters, a key target of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, adopted by the international community in March 2015.... Read more

Scientists pledge Sendai action. Hundreds of scientists and policymakers pledged to step up action on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a 15-year global agreement that aims to curb deaths and economic losses from natural and man-made hazards... Read more

January 22, 2016

What happened this week?

Colombia. Bolivar Department. About 100,000 people have been affected by the adverse conditions that generated the drought in 44 municipalities in Bolivia. The Governor of Bolivar has designed a plan of action with permanent shipment of trucks carrying water tanks which will create reservoirs of water and raise awareness... Read more

Bolivia. Seven municipalities in the department of La Paz have been declared a state of emergency due to rainfall that has led to rivers overflowing. Preliminary reports note that more than 400 families have been affected and 220 hectares of crops were damaged all due to El Niño... Read more

Brazil. Parana State of emergency declaration. The Parana Civil Defense reported today that 58 municipalities have been affected by the heavy storms since the 9th of January. Across the state, more than 156,000 people were affected... Read more

Peru. Floods in Izcuchaca District, Department of Huancavelica, as a result of heavy precipitation 24 families, some houses and roads were affected by flash floods of January 19, 2016. Municipal authorities provided answers, performed damage assessment and started cleaning the roads... Read more

Interesting Facts

NASA, NOAA Analyses Reveal Record-Shattering Global Warm Temperatures in 2015. Earth's 2015 surface temperatures were the warmest since modern record keeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Seventh ACS Summit to take place in Cuba. The city of Petionville, Haiti, welcomed Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Vice Ministers, Ambassadors and other delegations, as well as the representatives of international organisations attending the 21st Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), convened on January 19, 2016... Read more

Caribbean’s new disaster risk awards.  The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has launched an awards scheme for 2016 which seeks to support national and regional efforts to reduce disaster loss and the impacts of climate change... Read more

January 15, 2016

What happened this week?

Peru. The province of Concepcion has been affected by heavy rains and hail storm that affected 50 people and 200 hectares of food crops. The Junín Regional Government deployed Aid that consisted of buckets, tents, canned goods, toiletries to the affected population... Read more

Argentina. Floods have affected the city of Santa Fe by the flooding of the Parana and Salado rivers, where 700 people have been evacuated. Each sector is receiving social and health care services to meet their needs. In addition cultural and recreational activities were initiated for the kids... Read more

Paraguay. Central Department, Limpio District. Floods. The increased water levels of the Paraguay River caused the overflowing of the river in San Francisco creek and the Itay creek. Two private treatment plants, household waste and other liquid industrial waste could be at risk by the flooding... Read more

Interesting Facts

Researchers to participate in flood reconnaissance mission. Engineering researchers – experts in the study of how soil reacts to stress caused by earthquakes or floods – are participating in a multi-institutional research mission to document the effects of recent, severe flooding in the Midwest... Read more

Science helps understand landslide risk. Down in the depths of a cutting-edge lab in an English university city, scientists are working to rein in the risk posed by landslides around the globe... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Sendai Framework key for local resilience in Africa. Delegates at the seventh edition of the Africities summit spotlighted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as a key instrument for local governments to address risks and enhance resilience at the local level... Read more

Appliance of science key to disaster risk reduction. Hundreds of science and technology specialists from around the globe will come together this month to harness their expertise to help reduce disaster risk... Read more