November 25, 2016

What happened this week?

Costa Rica. Tropical Storm Otto kills at least 9 in Costa Rica: The death toll from Tropical Storm Otto, downgraded from hurricane status, is rising. In Costa Rica, the storm killed at least nine people in the communities of Bagaces and Upala and forced 6,000 people into shelters, authorities said Friday... Read more

Bolivia. National state of emergency declared due to drought: Bolivia’s government declared a state of emergency on Monday, November 21, due to water shortages in large areas of the country due to the worst drought see in 25 years, making funds available to aid the crisis which has affected families and the agricultural sector. Bolivia’s Civil Defense estimated that the drought has affected 125,000 families and threatened 290,000 hectares (726,605 acres) of agricultural land, and 360,000 heads of cattle. The national state of emergency comes after 172 of the country’s 339 municipalities declared their own emergencies related to the drought... Read more

Dominican Republic. Civil Defense maintains preventive evacuations in different provinces: 1385 were affected (275 homes flooded), 45 families were displaced to shelters due to the drain of the Taveras dam and the overflowing of Yaque del Norte River, as well as the closure of the Yaque del Norte River bridge, Castenuelas municipality... Read more

Panama. Strong rains causing damage have been reported: The National Civil Defense System (SINAPROC) reported that strong rains have affected more than 700 people, causing 4 deaths and 3 missing people, flooding, traffic accidents and damages to dozens of houses. More than 20 responders were deployed to search for missing persons, while others perform water sanitation activities... Read more

Peru. Wildfire has affected more than a thousand hectares of land: A new wildfire was registered in the area of Querocoto, Chota province that has not been controlled yet. The Mayor has informed that more than 1000 hectares has been affected by the fire, and that electricity and telephone lines have been affected, so the area is isolated. Furthermore, two deaths due to respiratory problems have been reported. The local authorities have requested aid from the regional and central government to control the emergency since the wild fire is 10 km away from an urban area... Read more

United States. Several wild fires affecting areas of North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee: Wildfires in North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky are threatening more than 2000 people, and more than 800 homes in total.  Two shelters are in place in North Carolina and Tennessee for displaced families.  No injuries or fatalities have been reported in any of the states. The EOC in the three states have been partially activated in order to respond to these wildfires... Read more

Interesting Facts

Earth’s gravity offers earlier earthquake warnings. Tiny gravity changes can be picked up much faster than seismic waves... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Technology: the future of disaster risk reduction? Fast-paced developments in technology have the potential to help the world rein in the impact of natural and human-induced hazards, notably when it comes to tackling urban risk... Read more

November 18, 2016

What happened this week?

Bolivia. Severe effects of the drought continue: According to the National Association of Oilseed Producers (ANEPO) this year has produced a loss in different agricultural products in Eastern Bolivia. 100 schools in the Southern and Eastern areas of La Paz have been affected by the water rationing; the Ministry of Education evaluated contingency measures to conclude the school year. The College of Doctors of La Paz suggests taking microbiological samples of the water being used for consumption at schools.

The drought has severely affected Corque municipality, department of Oruro, where 70% of the populations lacks drinking water and only 30% of the territory has water sheds that are currently providing the water.

The authority of social control of water and sanitation (AAPS) declared that the water crisis is indefinite and that is shaping up in a similar way for 2017... Read more

United States.  Over 30 large fires have burned more than 80,000 acres in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky, according to the US Forest Service, which also reported that dry weather, high winds and the continuing drought, is driving the large growth of fires. Winds have carried smoke from the wildfires to cities miles away, such as Atlanta, where the air quality level was "unhealthy". The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and National Park Service placed fire restrictions, along the southern portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail... Read more

Dominican Republic.  As of November 15, there are 4, 142 homes flooded and 60 that are destroyed and 3 bridges affected. Nearly 22, 055 persons are taking refuge with other family members due to the heavy rains registered over the weekend in the northern part of the country. In addition, 132 communities remain isolated and currently, there are 234 people taking refuge in 4 official shelters. There are six provinces under red alert, four under yellow alert, and seven under green alert... Read more

Interesting Facts

Unbreakable. Building the resilience of the poor in the face of natural disaster. Economic losses from natural disasters totaled $92 billion in 2015, and average annual losses have been estimated at more than $300 billion a year... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Public-private partnership vital to reduce risk. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has called on governments, businesses and communities in island nations to work together to curb the impact of hazards stoked by climate change... Read more

November 12, 2016

What happened this week?

Dominican Republic. Rainfall continues to affect the region: As of November 11, 2016, 1021 houses have been affected and 27 have been destroyed. Approximately 5, 105 people are displaced, but are taking shelter with families. 9 communities are unreachable, 7 bridges have been affected, and 10 provinces remain on alert (2 yellow and 8 green). Two troughs are affecting the region, one located northeast of Puerto Rico and the other located southeast of the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea. Both are causing heavy rainfall and winds... Read more

Colombia. Red alert at the national level due to increase in winter weather. A red alert has been declared in the lower part of the Cauca River in the Mojana sector, due to the increase in the levels of the Magdalena, Atrato, San Jorge and Cauca Rivers as heavy rain fall has been occurring. The authorities indicated that there is a likelihood of landslides in the Andean region and in the north of the country. The rains may increase Sunday and Monday in the departments of Antioquia, Eje Cafetero, Santander, Valle, Cauca, Meta and Casanare... Read more

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. A trough system has been affecting this country. Since November 9, a trough system has been affecting St Vincent and the Grenadines, which caused heavy rainfall, flash flooding, landslides and damage to more than 35 homes in the mainland. The National Emergency Council (NEC) of NEMO activated the National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC). Schools were closed; two temporary shelters provided refuge to more than 50 people. One person death, one injured and one missing have been reported. The Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA) reported broken pipelines and blockages to intakes and water supply in all areas will be interrupted until further notice. There are reports of road blockages and landslides, the airport was flooded and remains closed until further notice, while the clean-up operations continue. At the moment, NEMO does not have immediate needs... Read more

Ecuador. State of Emergency declared in Galapagos due to drought: The Committee of Emergency Operations (COE) in Galapagos declared a state of emergency for the island province due to prolonged drought that has affected the sector since the beginning of the year. The decision was made to promptly meet the most affected groups and allocate resources and perform actions that diminish the impact of this water deficit... Read more

Haiti. Strong rains cause flooding in northern Haiti: In the northern area of Haiti, 10 deaths were reported, among them 3 children, after the strong rains over the weekend in the communes of Cabo Haitiano, Port de Paix, Ouanaminthe, Caracol and Ferrier... Read more

Interesting Facts

Safest locations for wastewater injection. New maps of the geologic forces contributing to earthquakes in Texas and Oklahoma could help reduce the likelihood of humanmade temblors associated with wastewater injection, say investigators... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Singapore and UNISDR boost developing countries' Sendai capacity. Singapore and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) have renewed their partnership to strengthen the disaster risk management capacity of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other developing countries that are vulnerable to natural disasters... Read more 

November 4, 2016

What happened this week?

Chile. Chile earthquake rocks Santiago with 6.4 magnitude tremor. An earthquake in Chile of 6.4 magnitude has struck near the capital of Santiago, which the country's officials have labelled a "major" seismic event... Read more

Interesting Facts

An early warning system for landslide danger. Advances in satellite imaging, mapping, and rainfall estimations have made it possible to implement a regional real-time assessment of landslide hazard threats across Central America... Read more

What's new in Disaster Risk Reduction?

Cuban experience in disaster risk management. The urgent need to prevent, reduce and control risk factors disaster in a society is a topic included in the agendas of the world's nations... Read more