Katharine Haynes

Influence of Location, Population, and Climate on Building Damage and Fatalities due to Australian Bushfire: 1925–2009

Abstract This study reevaluates the history of building damage and loss of life due to bushfire (wildfire) in Australia since 1925 in light of the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria in which 173 people lost their lives and 2298 homes were destroyed along with many other structures. Historical records are normalized to estimate building damage and fatalities had events occurred under the societal conditions of 2008/09. There are relationships between normalized building damage and the El Nino–Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean dipole phenomena, but there is no discernable evidence that the normalized data are being influenced by climatic change due to the emission of greenhouse gases. The 2009 Black Saturday fires rank second in terms of normalized fatalities and fourth in terms of normalized building damage. The public safety concern is that, of the 10 years with the highest normalized building damage, the 2008/09 bushfire season ranks third, behind the 1925/26 and 1938/39 seasons, in terms of the r...

Framing volcanic risk communication within disaster risk reduction: finding ways for the social and physical sciences to work together

Abstract Sixteen years have passed since the last global volcanic event and more than 25 since a volcanic catastrophe that killed tens of thousands. In this time, volcanology has seen major advances in understanding, modelling and predicting volcanic hazards and, recently, an interest in techniques for reducing and mitigating volcanic risk. This paper provides a synthesis of literature relating to this last aspect, specifically the communication of volcanic risk, with a view to highlighting areas of future research into encouraging risk-reducing behaviour. Evidence suggests that the current ‘multidisciplinary’ approach within physical science needs a broader scope to include sociological knowledge and techniques. Key areas where this approach might be applied are: (1) the understanding of the incentives that make governments and communities act to reduce volcanic risk; (2) improving the communication of volcanic uncertainties in volcanic emergency management and long-term planning and development. To be successful, volcanic risk reduction programmes will need to be placed within the context of other other risk-related phenomena (e.g. other natural hazards, climate change) and aim to develop an all-risks reduction culture. We suggest that the greatest potential for achieving these two aims comes from deliberative inclusive processes and geographic information systems.

Empowering young people and strengthening resilience: youth-centred participatory video as a tool for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction

Young people regularly face great hurdles to get their voices heard, while research and practice in the disaster and climate change community commonly represent young people as passive victims requiring protection. Consequently, their capacities to inform decision-making processes, communicate risks to their communities and take direct action to reduce risks have been neglected. This paper presents empirical data from participatory video (PV) methods with groups of young people in three communities in Eastern Samar, the Philippines. Producing these videos enabled groups to research, document and raise awareness of disaster risk, and use screening events to mobilise and advocate for risk reduction measures in their communities. The results suggest that the PV process was an effective tool for empowering young people to raise important issues with decision-makers and advocate change on behalf of their communities.

'Shelter-in-place' vs. evacuation in flash floods.

This paper examines the circumstances in which a ‘shelter-in-place’ strategy may be a viable alternative to evacuation during flash floods. While evacuation remains the dominant strategy for a range of hazards, a review of the literature suggests growing awareness of the dangers associated with late evacuations and some limited consideration of shelter-in-place options. This study examines the feasibility of a shelter-in-place strategy for flash floods in Australia through: a review of literatures on evacuation, ‘sheltering-in-place’ and flood fatalities; an analysis of Australian flash flood fatalities and injuries; and interviews with flood and emergency managers. The results demonstrate that the majority of flash flood fatalities (75.7 per cent) have occurred outside when people have entered flood waters in a vehicle or on foot for a range of reasons, including to continue their intended travel, engage in recreational pursuits, continue their work, and evacuate or carry out a rescue. Interviews with emergency managers confirm that while shelter-in-place may not be the preferred option, the strategy may need to be implemented for flash floods when, due to the limited warning times, evacuation is not possible.

An examination of the resettlement program at Mayon Volcano: what can we learn for sustainable volcanic risk reduction?

This paper investigates a resettlement program for communities impacted by volcanic hazards from Mayon volcano in the Philippines. Two resettlement sites are selected, the first FVR–FNM village (named after President Fidel V. Ramos and Mayor Florencio N. Munoz) was settled after the 1993 eruption. The second, Bungkaras Village, was settled after the 2006 eruption and associated typhoon Reming lahar event. These two sites were selected in order to explore the process of relocation over the short and longer term, although the main focus of the study is in the more recently settled Bungkaras Village. The overall aim is to determine if exposure to volcanic hazards has decreased without adding to vulnerability through loss of livelihood, community and culture, and exposure to new risks. A mixed method qualitative approach was utilized including semistructured interviews, participant observations, and a participatory workshop. This enabled an in-depth understanding of life and the challenges faced at the resettlement sites vis-à-vis the original settlements. In order to document the process of site selection, planning, and building, semistructured interviews were conducted with key government officials, emergency managers, and donors of the resettlement projects. This research demonstrates that a volcanic resettlement program must be directed by meaningful consultation with the impacted community who also share in the decision making. Successful resettlement must consider aspects of livelihood security, house design, and the availability of public and lifeline facilities.

Gendered Responses to the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires in Victoria, Australia

This paper presents findings from a gendered analysis of resident responses to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires (wildfires) in Victoria, Australia. One hundred and seventy-three people lost their lives in the bushfires and more than 2000 houses were destroyed. Previous research on Black Saturday has largely focused on issues of resident preparedness and response, with limited consideration of the role of gender in household decisions and actions. This paper examines the gendered dimensions of risk awareness, preparedness and response among households affected by the bushfires. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with over 600 survivors and a questionnaire of 1314 households in fire-affected areas. Analysis revealed that women more often wanted to leave than men, who more often wanted to stay and defend property against the bushfires. Nevertheless, findings suggest that broad-brush characterisations of staying to defend as a masculine response and leaving as a feminine response are misguided. Although some women expressed a strong desire to leave, others were resolute on staying to defend. Equally, while some men were determined to stay and defend, others had never considered it an option. Despite this, the research identified numerous instances where disagreement had arisen as a result of differing intentions. Conflict most often stemmed from mens reluctance to leave, and was most apparent where households had not adequately planned or discussed their intended responses. The paper concludes by considering the degree to which the findings are consistent with other research on gender and bushfire, and the implications for bushfire safety policy and practice.

Social Processes and Volcanic Risk Reduction

Abstract The social impact of volcanic eruptions is determined by the style and variance of the volcanic activity and the pre-existing or changing awareness, preparedness, and vulnerabilities of the affected population. As well as immediate loss of life and damage to infrastructure, negative outcomes as a consequence of social responses to volcanic activity include livelihood degradation; widespread distrust of risk managers and scientists; trauma; risk-taking behaviour; damaging migration; and social or cultural degradation. These negative outcomes are modulated through vulnerabilities introduced by individual perception and knowledge; local and regional governance, livelihood issues, and pre-existing poverty; cultural or religious attitudes; and demographic characteristics (i.e., women, the very young, and very old can be disproportionately vulnerable). Positive outcomes are encouraged by clear communication pathways with good emergency warnings, preemptory information and education, and longer-term dialogue between those at risk and those responsible for monitoring or managing that risk. Poor communication pathways, where competing messages and/or a loss of trust occur, are less likely to invoke a positive outcome. Several case studies are summarized to illustrate the interaction between these social processes and past volcanic activity. Negative outcomes are rarely attributed to one single cause but rather interacting social and physical components. Currently, further research is needed in many of these areas to provide more evidence for the most effective means to improve social resilience to volcanic activity.

Cyclone Tracy and the road to improving wind-resistant design

Early on Christmas morning 1974, tropical cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin leaving only 6 per cent of the citys housing habitable and instigating the evacuation of 75 per cent of its population. The systematic failure of so much of Darwins building stock led to a humanitarian disaster that proved the impetus for an upheaval of building regulatory and construction practices throughout Australia. Indeed, some of the most enduring legacies of Tracy have been the engineering and regulatory steps taken to ensure the extent of damage would not be repeated. This chapter explores these steps and highlights lessons that have led to a national building framework and practice at the fore of wind-resistant design internationally. Tropical cyclone Tracy was a small but intense cyclone, with a landfall radius to maximum winds of 7 km, a forward speed of 7 km/h and central pressure of 950 hPa (Bureau of Meteorology, 1977) (Figure 9.1). Tracy was an Australian Category 4 cyclone with estimated maximum-gust wind speeds on the order of 250 km/h (70 m/s) (Walker, 1975). The recorded gust of 217 km/h (60 m/s) at Darwin Airport before the anemometer failed was, to that time, the highest wind speed measured anywhere on mainland Australia. Tracys small size minimised the spatial extent of damage, but its slow translational speed meant areas impacted suffered more damage than might otherwise have been the case. Of cyclones that form in Australian waters, one passes within 200 km of Darwin every one to two years. The expected recurrence interval of an event similar to or stronger than Tracy impacting Darwin is greater than 100 years based on historical records.

Observing the volcano world: volcano crisis communication

This volume, Observing the volcano world: volcanic crisis communication, focuses at the point where the ‘rubber hits the road’, where the world of volcano-related sciences and all its uncertainties meet with the complex and ever-changing dynamics of our society, wherever and whenever this may be. Core to the issues addressed in this book is the idea of how volcanic crisis communication operates in practice and in theory. This chapter provides an overview of the evolution of thinking around the importance of volcanic crisis communication over the last century, bringing together studies on relevant case studies. Frequently, the mechanisms by which volcanic crisis communication occurs are via a number of key tools employed including: risk assessment, probabilistic analysis, early-warning systems, all of which assist in the decision-making procedures; that are compounded by ever-changing societal demands and needs. This chapter outlines some of the key challenges faced in managing responses to volcanic eruptions since the start of the 20th century, C. Fearnley (&) Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK e-mail: c.fearnley@ucl.ac.uk A. E. G. Winson Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3FL, UK J. Pallister U.S. Geological Survey, David A, Johnston Cascades Volcano Observatory, 1300 SE Cardinal Court, Building 10, Suite 100, Vancouver, WA 98683-9589, USA R. Tilling U.S. Geological Survey, Volcano Science Center, 345 Middlefield Rd, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA https://doi.org/10.1007/11157_2017_28

Bridging the divide between studies on disaster risk reduction education and child-centred disaster risk reduction: a critical review

ABSTRACT There has been a recent increase in the body of knowledge related to children and disasters. These studies converge into three main fields of research: the impact of disasters on children and their psychological recovery, the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the education sectors and children’s participation in DRR. This article provides a literature review of the two latter fields of research where the focus is on reducing disaster losses and building resilience prior to a disaster. Overall, 48 studies are critically reviewed and compared in relation to the strengths and weaknesses of their aims, methods, locations of research, impact, and outcomes. The review identified a number of differences between the two fields and significant opportunities for linking the two approaches, sharing lessons and knowledge. Based on the review, recommendations for further research are outlined.