|
10/2 | 10/9 | 10/16
| 10/23
Tue 10/2: Session 1: Natural Disasters:
Basic Facts and Issues.
Introduction of Course: Objectives, Student Responsibilities,
Reading and Web Resources, Exam Options, Grading, Dates.
"Natural" Disasters (ND): Vulnerable Societies in Nature's
Normal Way. Taxonomy of Natural Disasters. Examples, Magnitudes, Losses.
Compare ND Losses to those of Health-Pandemics, Wars and Civil Strife.
Fuzzy Differences with Technological and Environmental Disasters. Fast
vs. Slow Onset Events. Definition of Natural Hazard, Risk, Probability,
Vulnerability. Principles of Risk Management.
Human Dimensions and Global Trends : Global Population Growth,
Demographics of Populations; Migrations to Coasts and Cities; Industrialization
and Infrastructures; Complex Systems; Wealth & Equity Issues;
Disaster Characteristics in More vs. Less Developed Nations; Effects of
Governance; Social Vulnerability; States in Critical States. The Camel's
Straw. Science, Education, Information, Policy, Awareness, Media.
Required Reading (You are strongly advised to read this prior
to the 1. Lecture):
Blaikie et al: Part 1: Framework and Theory; pp. 3-72
P.L. Abbott: Natural Disasters, Chapter 1:
pp. 1-20, Chapter 16: pp. 369-381;
Recommended Reading: K. Smith, Environmental Hazards. Part I,
pp. 3-118;
Tue 10/9: Session 2: Natural Processes on a Dynamic
Earth:
General Principles: Transformation of Heat into Various Forms
of Mechanical Energies; Size Distributions and Magnitudes; Taxonomy of
Natural Events: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Storms, Floods, Draughts, Bolides,
Wildfires, others. Concepts of Random Processes, Probability, Predictability
and Uncertainty of Hazards.
4 Sample Hazards: (1) Earthquakes: Plate Tectonics,
Seismicity, Magnitudes, Shaking, Site Conditions, Some Exemplary Earthquakes;
Quantitative Seismic Hazard Assessment, Role of Earthquake Engineering,
Construction Codes and Zoning Laws. (2 & 3) Storms and Floods.
Their Basic Physics, Phenomenology and Geography. Example Storms and Floods:
Mitch, Bangladesh, Central US - Mississippi. (4) Draughts: Causes
and Effects, Human and Natural. Famines as Intervention and Distribution
(i.e. Political) Failures.
Required Reading:
P.L. Abbott: pp. 21-51; pp. 65-
82; pp. 262-312,
Blaikie et al: Part 2; pp. 168-181 (Quakes); pp. 147-167 (Storms);
pp. 124-145 (Floods); pp. 75-99 (Droughts, Famines).
Recommended Reading: K. Smith: pp. 121-134 (Quakes); 210-222 (Storms);
256-269 (Floods); 286-304 (Droughts).
Tue 10/16: Session 3: Human and Global Social
Factors: Population Dynamics, the Built Environment, and Social
Vulnerability.
Population and Development Pressures. Concentration of Assets. Urban
vs. Rural Vulnerabilities. Rich and Poor Countries. Shantytowns. Development
Aid. The Role of Engineering, Hazard & Risk Assessments, Codes, Zoning,
Regulations, Law & Enforcement. Infrastructure & Essential Facilities.
Mega-Projects: Dams, Irrigation, Transportation, Energy, Communication.
Centralized vs. Diversified Systems. Redundancy. Resiliency, Sustainability.
Systemic Social Vulnerabilities. Regional Examples: US, Japan, Central
America, Venezuela, Bangladesh, Afghanistan. Famines - Past vs. Present:
Distribution Failure. Examples: Iceland, Sahel. The Time Line of Disaster
Effects. Speed of Recovery. Political Fall-Out.
Required Reading:
P.L. Abbott: Revisit: pp. 369-381; pp. 99-101
Blaikie et al: revisit pp. 30-44; pp. 106-108; pp. 150-156;
Recommended Reading: K. Smith: pp. 135-154; pp. 223-236;
pp. 270-285; pp. 304-313;
Tue 10/23: Session 4: Risk Management,
Policies and Institutional Issues: From Local to Global Scales.
Risk Management Options: Avoiding Risk->Landuse
vs. Risky Engineered Solutions (i.e. Avoid "Disasters by Design",
[see Mileti 1999]). Distributing Risk. Building of Inherent Resilience.
Pre- vs. Post-Event Intervention: Mitigation vs. Disaster Relief and Recovery
Assistance. Local, Community-based vs. Externally Imposed Measures (National
and International). Equity Issues. The Technical Emergency Response Capacity.
The Militarization of Disasters vs. Civil Approach: A matter of resources,
planning and governance. Carrots and Sticks: Incentives vs. Regulations.
The Role of Science, Engineering, Government,
Private Sector, Insurance, Finance.
Planning and Windows of Opportunity (Events,
Investments, Landuse and Codes).
Developed vs. Developing Countries (Examples:
US, Japan, Venezuela, Bangladesh). The Role of International Organizations
(Red Cross / Red Crescent and other Humanitarian Organizations; UN; Development
Banks, WTO, NGOs). Fraud and Deception. Equity Issues: Local and Global.
Required Reading: Blaikie
et al.: Part III: pp. 195-239; and revisit Part I, pp. 61 -70
Recommended Reading: K. Smith:
pp. 54-114; 341-352;
|