May 13, 2016

Conference: OAS Mechanisms for Disaster Relief, Response and Management

This event was convened within the framework of the Inter-American Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction (IACNDR) chaired by the Secretary General of the OAS, and whose ultimate goal is to coordinate the work of the agencies of the inter-American System and to advance a common strategic thinking in the Americas. In addition to the Secretary General of the OAS, membership of the Committee is completed with the Chair of the Permanent Council, the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS, the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Director General of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Secretary General of the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH), the President of the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Director General of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development (IACD), the Chair of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB), and the Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM)... Read more

What happened this week?

Haiti. Flooding affects 215 homes in the department of Nippes: Heavy rainfall and storms have affected Haiti as of May 9, 2016, in particular the departments of Great North, Artibonite, Nippes, West, Center, and Gand-Anse. Many of the rivers have overflowed and the center of Baradère (Nippes) was flooded, affecting 215 homes and two other buildings. Due to the continuous rains, saturated soil increases the risk of flooding and landslides. As of May 3, The DPC (Civil Protection Agency) has reported that over 6,500 homes have been flooded. Assessment teams are evaluating the needs and damages of the population all across the country... Read more

Dominican Republic. 3,500 people displaced due to heavy rains: As of May 11, 2016, about 3,500 people had been evacuated in the Dominican Republic due to the floods caused by heavy rains during the last days. According to the COE about 3,430 people had been displaced, 675 homes have been affected and 11 homes have been destroyed. Due to the chances of more flooding and landslides, the COE maintains an alert for 24 provinces. No deaths have been reported... Read more

Interesting Facts

Chile quake at epicenter of expanding disaster, failure data repository. A research team has made available a comprehensive set of data from the 2010 Chile earthquake to provide researchers, engineers, codemakers and others in quake-prone areas worldwide a powerful tool to help them improve resilience to future seismic events... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Mexico's big switch to Sendai. The President of Mexico, Mr. Enrique Peña Nieto, re-committed his country to implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as he paid tribute to the National System for Civil Protection on the 30th anniversary of its founding... Read more

May 6, 2016

What happened this week?

Ecuador. Landslides and floods affect homes in the provinces of Azuay and Morona Santiago: Heavy rains in Azuay and Morona Santiago in southern Ecuador caused homes to be affected and rivers to overflow on April 28, 2016. A landslide occurred and damaged homes in the eastern canton of Guachapala in Azuay, another landslide occurred near the municipality of Guachapala. In Morona Santiago, rivers overflowed flooding homes. However, the ocean and atmospheric conditions will normalize and the transition from the rainy season to the dry season in the coastal region will begin in the coming weeks. Occasional rains may still occur in the western mountainous areas... Read more

Honduras. 1,290 people affected by rains: As of May 2, 2016, municipalities in four departments were affected by rains. According to COPECO, 1,293 people (316 families) have been affected and 316 homes have also been affected. Humanitarian assistance is being provided... Read more

Dominican Republic. 5,425 people have been displaced due to heavy rains: As of May 2, 2016, the Emergency Operations Center reported that 5,425 people have been displaced due to heavy rains, 4 homes destroyed, approximately 1,081 homes affected, 21 communities isolated, and five bridges have been damaged. ONAMET maintains alert due to the possibility of flash floods, overflowing rivers and landslides... Read more

Costa Rica. Turrialba Volcano generates ash fall affecting potable water: During the weekend of April 30, the Turrialba Volcano erupted, spewing ash and gas 500 to 1000 meters above the crater. The Turrialba Municipal Emergency Committee has activated security protocols by activating a security barrier 5 km around the crater and bringing potable water to four communities that were affected by ash fall contaminating their water sources. In addition, authorities from the Ministry of Education cancelled schools surrounding the volcano due to ash fall. Scientific and technical agencies are maintaining strong operational surveillance, monitoring and analysis of information generated from the volcano... Read more

Interesting Facts

Hi-tech opens up Earth's secrets. A scientist has developed a hi-tech animation of millions of years of tectonic plate movements that could lead to new mineral discoveries and help predict volcanic eruptions...  Read more

Accounting for volcanoes using tools of economics. Scientists can read old descriptions of eruptions and analyze ash deposits captured in polar ice, but consistently estimating the climate impact of past eruptions has been difficult. A new technique may change that.. Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Mexico to lead global effort to reduce economic losses from disasters. Mexico, as host country, will encourage the 2017 Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction to focus on reducing economic losses from disasters, it emerged this week... Read more