Somewhere in the world, a disaster occurs each day. Sometimes the impacts are felt locally, such as the recent wildfire near Boulder, Colorado, that destroyed 166 homes. Other times, the event reaches across state and national boundaries, such as the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Globally, the number of natural disasters has increased fourfold during the past three decades—from about 120 per year during the 1980s to roughly 500 per year now. These disasters, which claim tens of thousands of lives each year, exert a disproportionate impact on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable individuals.
At the Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis (CDRA) at Colorado State University, we engage in interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach activities for the primary purpose of reducing human vulnerability to disasters and increasing individual and community capacity to prepare for and recover from hazard events.
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Empowering Communities to be Safe Enough to Stay
Join NEN Director Daniel Homsey and Laurence Kornfield on a visual tour of the Safe Enough to Stay Exhibit at San Francisco planning and Urban Research Association.
Under the leadership of Laurence Kornfield, Program Manager for the Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety and the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR), Safe Enough to Stay was designed to advance the concept of “Sheltering in Place” after an earthquake in San Francisco. The goal of the exhibit is to empower residents with the knowledge that small adjustments to their homes will allow them to continue to use the structure in a sanitary and efficient wayafter it has been deemed structurally sound and livable. For example, residents are advised to utilize plastic sheeting in order to cover broken windows and doors as well as to familiarize themselves with their unit’s gas and water shutoff systems in the event of a leak or failure.
At the heart of the Safe to Stay exhibit is the proof of concept design called the Neighborhood Support Center (NSC). The NSC will function as a neighborhood information center that is designed to provide residents with access to resources and relevant information concerning their community. The idea is that by creating a hyper local informational gathering point that is focused on the needs of the immediate vicinity, the Neighborhood Support Centers will offer an invaluable safety net to residents in the days, weeks and months after a major event.
Bo Bikes Bama-Bo Jackson Explains
On April 24-28, 2012, sports legend Bo Jackson will bike 300 miles through the tornado ravaged communities of Alabama. Bo is riding his bike to raise $1 million for the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund, which was established to help Alabamians with unmet recovery needs that unfolded in the wake of the deadly tornado outbreak across the state in April 2011.
"The reason for this ride is for state unity and to pay homage to the great Alabamians who lost their lives on April 27th, 2011. I am my brothers' and sisters' keeper.
-Bo Jackson, Heisman trophy winner, All-Star athlete and proud Alabamian
http://www.BoBikesBama.com
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