Search

Located within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, California's transportation infrastructure, especially in the Bay Area, is susceptible to earthquakes. A review of current research and stakeholder interviews revealed a growing awareness of emergency preparedness among local jurisdictions and transit agencies in recent years. However, many have yet to formalize and publish their recovery plans. This study introduces an agent-based multimodal transportation simulation tool to enhance post-earthquake transportation resilience. Integrating a road network simulator with a metro system simulator, the tool employs an optimized Dijkstra-based algorithm to calculate optimal routes, travel times, and fares. A case study is conducted for the East Bay, using the simulator to gauge the impact of a compromised Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. The results suggested that original BART passengers could face either longer commute times or higher costs during the recovery phase of a major earthquake without appropriate policies. Such outcomes could disproportionately burden low-income riders, affecting their mobility and overall travel time.

This study attempted to determine the impact of school disaster risk reduction and management program in public schools in Angono, Rizal for school year 2023 -2024 which served as basis to develop an enhanced contingency plan. The method of research used was the descriptive type of research with the questionnaire as the data gathering instrument. The respondents who rated the nine (9) schools principals, SDRRM coordinators non-teaching personnel, thirty (30) teachers and PTA officers of the nine public school in Angono, Rizal with a total of 442. The findings revealed that the teaching personnel and the SH/DRRMC/NTP respondents rated the impact of Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, disaster response and recovery and rehabilitation the grand weighted mean of 3.50and 3.64 respectively with verbal interpretation of strongly agree while the PTA officers -respondents rated the four aspects of grand weighted mean of 3.42 verbally interpreted as agree. Meanwhile, the perceptions of the teaching personnel and the SH/DRRMC/NTP on the challenges encountered on SDRR Program got the grand weighted mean of 3.54 and 3. 65 which interpreted as strongly agree. Meanwhile, PTA officer- respondents rated the four aspects as Agree with grand weighted mean of 3.49. Furthermore, there is a relationship between the impact of disaster risk reduction and management programs as regards preparedness, disaster response and recovery and rehabilitation and the challenges encountered by school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative research delves into the lived experiences of survivors of Typhoon Yolanda, focusing on five overarching themes: environmental factors, preparedness and actions, challenges and adversities, community support, coping mechanisms, and emotional responses and reflections. Employing NVivo with Clark and Braun Thematic analysis, narratives were distilled from participants who met stringent inclusion criteria: (a). directly experienced the impact of Typhoon Yolanda, (b) residing in affected areas during the typhoon or facing its aftermath, (c) must be of legal age at the time typhoon Yolanda struck, (d) to have lived through the entire ten-year period since the typhoon in the same place, (e) must experience loss of property, or become injured or someone from the family become injured or a casualty due to typhoon Yolanda, (f) must express a willingness to share their experiences through in-depth interviews. The study was conducted in coastal areas of Northern Negros, designated as Yolanda Corridors, capturing the essence of survivor accounts within this unique locale. Environmental factors shaped the severity of the disaster, prompting diverse preparedness actions yet yielding unforeseen challenges. Despite adversities, community support emerged as a cornerstone of resilience, fostering solidarity and aid distribution. Coping mechanisms, ranging from faith to familial bonds, were pivotal in navigating the emotional aftermath. The emotional responses and reflections of survivors unveil a spectrum of feelings, illustrating the intricate interplay of trauma and renewal post-disaster. Some survivors decided to rebuild in their hometowns, while others looked for work abroad or in bustling cities; those who ventured overseas sent remittances back home, while those in urban areas sought employment. Meanwhile, many found support through NGOs' activities, with initiatives offering resources and training for sustainable livelihoods; some started modest sarisari businesses, providing essentials to the community and bolstering the local economy. These findings offer nuanced insights into the human experience of disaster recovery, informing future interventions and policy frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on tunnel resilience has garnered increasing attention in recent years. Owing to prolonged exposure to natural or anthropogenic factors, the resilience level of many highway tunnels is continuously declining, rendering them susceptible to sudden accidents and challenging to restore postincident. Currently, although several scholars have employed diverse evaluation methods in their research on tunnel resilience, there is a lack of summarization and integration of these methods. In addition, there is also a dearth of a unified evaluation index system and framework for different types of natural or man‐made disasters, which are crucial for advancing the development of tunnel resilience evaluation. This study commences with an introduction to the origin of resilience and the definition of tunnel resilience, and comprehensively summarizes commonly employed evaluation methods. Subsequently, this study centers on the resilience evaluation methods in tunnel engineering and analyzes their strengths and weaknesses. Besides, the distribution of resilience metrics in current researches is analyzed and the detailed explanations for the diverse choices are provided. According to the results and deficiencies of existing research, combined with the author's perspectives, the index systems, evaluation frameworks, and resilience improvement strategies are proposed, which can be applied to the resilience evaluation of various operational highway tunnels under diverse disaster scenarios. Furthermore, this study also presents a case study on the evaluation of tunnel fire resilience to validate the applicability of the research findings. These findings aim to provide a guide for the operation and maintenance management of the operating tunnels and improve the scientific decision‐making level of tunnel maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-production is an important approach to enhance service resilience in disaster response. However, most existing studies did not differentiate various types of co-production (i.e., collective vs. group co-production) and consider the potential tension between them. Based on evidence from self-organized groups for people with disabilities in Shanghai, this study found that as a type of collective co-production, compulsory epidemic prevention measures during the Covid-19 pandemic produced unintended consequences for people with disabilities: both government-organized and independent NGOs were forced to close offices, causing formal social services to be discontinued. However, as a type of group co-production, self-organized groups played an indispensable role in helping restore service resilience by providing material and consultation services to people with disabilities through online and offline approaches. This study not only contributes to the co-production literature through unveiling the tension and discussing the relation between collective and group co-production, but also provides valuable guidance for the government on how to promote self-organized groups to improve emergency management capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This community case study explores how Kīpuka Kuleana, a Native Hawaiian women-led community-based land trust, revitalizes relationships between people and ʻāina (lands and waters) to perpetuate cultural practices that build climate resilience in Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. We demonstrate that ancestral land protection is foundational to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts on Kauaʻi, an isolated rural island in the Pacific Ocean increasingly vulnerable to flooding and landslides, sea level rise, and other climate-related impacts. Kīpuka Kuleana strives to keep kupa ʻāina ʻohana (long-time families)—the anchors of community who care for, teach from, and maintain balance in their fragile environments—rooted to their homes amidst increasing gentrification, land dispossession, and climate-related disasters. Through our interwoven programs, we return lands to communities and communities to lands, a reciprocal process known as ʻāina hoʻi, to restore access to ʻāina for collective caretaking, place-based education, and spiritual rejuvenation. Our land trust partners with Indigenous and allied groups in Hawaiʻi, Louisiana, California and Borikén (Puerto Rico) to share learnings tied to land protection, disaster resilience, adaptation, and rematriation, or the restoration of relationships between Indigenous people and ancestral lands. We offer some of those lessons to illustrate how Indigenous-led community-based land trusts and stewardship efforts forge new possibilities for adapting in place and cultivating more connected, resilient ecosystems stewarded under Indigenous leadership, in alignment with the "Land Back" movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster resilience is an emerging concept for managing the risk of civil structural systems considering not only structural safety against extreme loads but also aftermath recovery efforts. The system reliability–based resilience analysis framework facilitates the quantitative evaluation of the disaster resilience performance of structural systems by assessing reliability and redundancy for numerous disruption scenarios. However, its practical application is limited due to the substantial number of structural analyses required to estimate the reliability and redundancy indices. To address the computational challenges, this paper proposes a new importance sampling algorithm, termed Importance Sampling for Noteworthy Scenarios (ISNS). The ISNS algorithm leverages a Gaussian process–based principal point search method to identify initial disruption scenarios that dominantly impact the structure's resilience. Subsequently, a mixture-based distribution is constructed to represent the near-optimal importance sampling density characterizing the failure domains of the noteworthy disruption scenarios. The two-step procedure enables the simultaneous estimation of both reliability and redundancy indices of the identified noteworthy scenarios. Furthermore, an active learning scheme is incorporated to efficiently train surrogates. Numerical examples of engineering applications are investigated to demonstrate the improved efficiency offered by the proposed method. However, the proposed method faces limitations in multihazard contexts and high-dimensional, highly nonlinear scenarios. These limitations necessitate further validation of the Gaussian process and mixture models to ensure robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network management and troubleshooting require not only a grasp of advanced concepts but also the development of analytical and problem-solving skills. To bridge this gap, this paper introduces a novel network administration system, DRACSC (Spanish acronym for device for automatic recovery and configuration of communication systems), designed for the automatic configuration and disaster recovery of communication equipment. This system transcends the limitations of current hardware and software solutions by combining their advantages, boasting portability, automated functions, and a cloud-based repository as its main features. The DRACSC system, undergoing a comprehensive large-scale evaluation involving diverse user groups across multiple institutions, was tested with 89 users, including students and teachers at educational centers and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) professionals. The benefits of the system were evaluated through a training program based on simulated real-world ICT environments, focusing on both quantitative results on the reduction in time to complete user tasks, as well as qualitative results on the interface and usability of the system. Statistical analysis, including Welch's t-test on opinion surveys, indicated a significant increase in knowledge and understanding, demonstrating the system's potential to enhance education and practice. Moreover, the evaluation shed light on the user experience, with positive impacts observed for learning and teaching implications. As a result, the study has verified that the system has the potential to significantly influence network management practices, enhancing both learning and professional application through improved efficiency and usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquake sequence is one of the biggest disasters Türkiye has ever encountered. The loss of lives and properties by the earthquake indicates that the country was not prepared for such a level of disaster. Moving forward, it is critical for Türkiye to prioritize effective disaster recovery efforts and foster a culture of disaster resilience. Disaster recovery is a multifaceted, complex issue that requires effective planning, coordination, well-defined objectives, and community support to succeed. The present study focuses on proposing a recovery framework for affected areas in Türkiye based on a review of existing recovery mechanisms as well as lessons learned from previous recovery efforts in Türkiye and in Chile, Japan, and Nepal. It also includes the outcomes of focused ground discussions and field interviews conducted during the post-2015 earthquake recovery phase in Nepal and during the 2023 reconnaissance study in Türkiye. This study underscores the significance of implementing the "leave no one behind" principle of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alongside community participation, strong institutional leadership, quality-focused reconstruction, capacity building, building code enforcement, and retrofitting as essential components of an effective and comprehensive recovery strategy. The study serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, decision makers, development partners, and various stakeholders engaged in the recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities need to prepare for anticipated hazards, adapt to varying conditions, and resist and recover rapidly from disturbances. Protecting the built environment from natural and human-made hazards and understanding the impact of these hazards helps allocate resources efficiently. Recently, an indicator-based and time-dependent approach was developed for continuously defining and measuring the functionality and disaster resilience at the community level. The PEOPLES framework consists of seven dimensions (population and demographics, environmental and ecosystem, organized governmental services, physical infrastructure, lifestyle and community competence, economic development, and social-cultural capital), and the indicator-based approach finds qualitative characteristics and transforms them into quantitative measures. The proposed framework is used to study the resilience of rural communities subject to flood hazards. Harlan County, Kentucky, in the US Appalachian region is chosen as a case study to evaluate the proposed resilience quantification framework subject to severe flooding. The results show the validity of the proposed approach as a decision-support mechanism to assess and enhance the resilience of rural communities. The novelty of this case study paper is threefold: (1) a holistic indicator-based resilience quantification framework is used, (2) the aim of this study is focused on rural communities, and (3) it offers a unified way of addressing the effects of flood hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes with intense rainfall and storm surges, are posing increasing challenges to local communities worldwide. These hazards not only result in substantial property damage but also lead to significant population displacement. Federal disaster assistance programs are crucial for providing financial support for disaster response and recovery, but the allocation of these resources often unequal due to the complex interplay of environmental, social, and institutional factors. Relying on datasets collected from diverse sources, this study employs a structural equation model to explore the complex relationships between disaster damage (DD), social vulnerability (SV), public disaster assistance (PDA), the national flood insurance (NFI), and population migration (PM) across counties in the contiguous US. Our findings reveal that communities with lower SV tend to experience higher levels of DD across US counties. SV is negatively associated with PM, PDA, and NFI, both directly and indirectly. Furthermore, PDA is positively linked to PM, whereas DD has a direct negative effect on PM but an indirect positive effect through PDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the complex relationships between environmental monitoring efforts (EME), community engagement (CE), and environmental risk perception (ERP) in the context of improving environmental disaster preparedness (EDP) in the specific case of fluoride pollution. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a conceptual framework, the study examines the effect of several variables on disaster preparation behavior in communities exposed to environmental risks. Methods: The data was collected from people living in Shanxi Province, China, an area that suffers from severe fluoride contamination. Results: The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) indicate that community engagement significantly improves the perception of environmental risk, which, in turn, positively impacts the preparation for disasters. Moreover, environmental monitoring efforts were shown to be a mediator of the association between community participation and disaster preparation, underscoring the crucial role that systematic monitoring plays in disaster management. The results indicate that including social and environmental elements is crucial for improving the ability of communities to withstand and recover from environmental catastrophes. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that there is an urgent need to consider social, and environmental aspects if the resilience of communities to, and their recovery from, environmental disasters is to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disaster responders are exposed to several physical and mental health risks. This study aimed to describe self-care strategies used by disaster responders after the earthquake in Syria and eastern Turkey in February 2023. Methods: A study specific web-based questionnaire survey was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data according to a convergent mixed methods approach. Data from 252 disaster responders responding to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria were analyzed using both descriptive and analytical statistics and summative content analysis of free-text answers. Data were collected in March to July, 2023. Results: The most used self-care strategies included resting, social support from colleagues in the field, extra intake of food or drink, and intake of medicines. The recovery strategies varied due to previous disaster response experience, indicating that supportive self-care strategies can be developed or learned. Conclusion: Given the extreme conditions and limited possibilities of external support, sufficient self-care is an essential competence among disaster responders. Self-care strategies can be both external processed such as intake of medicines, social support from others, and internal processes such as personal reflection. Providing oneself with self-care activities seems to be a skill developed with increasing experience supported by pre-deployment training. Therefore, to enhance resilience, self-care strategies should be encompassed in pre-disaster response training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather, such as rainstorms, often triggers faults in the distribution network, and power outages occur. Some serious faults cannot be repaired by one team alone and may require equipment replacement or engineering construction crews to work together. Rainstorms can also lead to road damage or severe waterlogging, making some road sections impassable. Based on this, this paper first establishes a road network model to describe the dynamic changes in access performance and road damage. It provides the shortest time-consuming route suggestions for the traffic access of mobile class resources in the post-disaster recovery task of power distribution networks. Then, the model proposes a joint repair model with general repair crew (GRC) and senior repair crew (SRC) collaboration. Different types of faults match different functions of repair crews (RCs). Finally, the proposed scheme is simulated and analyzed in a road network and power grid extreme post-disaster recovery model, including a mobile energy storage system (MESS) and distributed power sources. The simulation finds that considering road damage and severe failures produces a significant difference in the progress and load loss of the recovery task. The model proposed in this paper is more suitable for the actual scenario requirements, and the simulation results and loss assessment obtained are more accurate and informative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature shows that communities under different socio-economic conditions suffer different levels of damage in disasters. In addition to the physical intensity of hazards, such differences are also related to the varying abilities of communities to prepare for and respond to disasters. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of building damage in Hurricane Ian in 2022 and investigates the socio-economic disparities related to the damage. Specifically, this study employs NASA's Damage Proxy Map (DPM2) to analyze spatial patterns of building damage caused by the hurricane. Then, it uses statistical analysis to assess the relationships between building damage and hurricane intensity, building conditions, and socio-economic variables at the building and census tract levels. Furthermore, the study applies geographically weighted regression (GWR) to examine the spatial variation of the damage factors. The results provide valuable insights into the potential factors related to building damage and the spatial variation in the factors. The results also reveal the uneven distribution of building damage among different population groups, implying socio-economic inequalities in disaster adaptation and resilience. Moreover, the study provides actionable information for policymakers, emergency responders, and community leaders in formulating strategies to mitigate the impact of future hurricanes by identifying vulnerable communities and population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the adverse impact of community‐level wealth inequality in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and explores the role of community strength (i.e., community identification, cohesion, and identity continuity) in potentially mitigating these negative effects. Using geo‐targeted survey data from communities affected by the 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires in Australia (N = 363), we found that greater perceived wealth inequality was associated with lower confidence that the community would make necessary changes to meet the threat of future bushfires, lower collective efficacy regarding future bushfires, and lower anticipated quality of life. However, we also found evidence some of these adverse effects were attenuated among those who reported higher levels of community identification and community cohesion. This study illustrates that problems posed by wealth inequality extend to the context of disaster recovery and climate change adaptation, and further underscores the socially mediated nature of this threat by demonstrating the potential for community strength to play a buffering role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparing with cities, rural communities especially those declining rural communities have become vulnerable to natural disasters owing to their backward socioeconomic conditions. Taking Xun County of China's Henan Province as the study area, the paper aims to evaluate rural community resilience to flood by unveiling the connection between individuals' cognition, follow-up actions and the community resilience. Research results show that: (1) The logic chain exists as individual's cognition to disaster leads to their constructive actions to cope with disaster, which contribute to community resilience. (2) At the cognition dimension, individual's knowledge reserve of disaster prevention and their recognition to local authority are playing an important role in their decision making and follow-up behaviors when disaster occurs. (3) At the action dimension, individual's familiarity with the disaster preparedness, efficient information transmission when disaster occurs and villagers' following order and their unity of action all contribute to community resilience to disaster. The paper proposes ways to improve rural community resilience to disasters based on the research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted the health professions education, notably in dentistry. This study aims to explore the impact of the armed conflict on dental education and training. A mixed-method cross-sectional study encompassed 29 dental schools in Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan States, and Merowe City. Five key informants from the Sudanese Medical Specialization Board, the Human Resource Development Administration, and a university offering clinical dental master's programs were interviewed. Quantitative data on attacks against dental schools were collected through a structured Google form, and qualitative data on postgraduate training were obtained through semi-structured key informant interviews. Findings reveal that 79.3% of dental schools faced military assaults, with 73.9% experiencing looting and 60.9% repurposed as military bases. Notably, 44.8% of schools shifted to online education,3.4% collaborated with other universities, and 27.6% adopted a combined approach. Key informants' interviews unveiled disruptions in specialty training and housemanship, limiting access to crucial training facilities. The primary proposed solution was overseas training. Recurrently emphasized strategies to enhance the resilience of the training system included establishing dental centers in all states, collaborating with external training bodies, and anticipating and preparing for potential disasters. The adverse effects of the conflict on both undergraduate and postgraduate dental education are discernible, manifested through resource limitations, a shortage of dental materials and supplies within training facilities, and direct disruptions to clinical training due to attacks on healthcare institutions. The imperative need for urgent interventions is underscored to alleviate these consequences and safeguard the continuity of educational and training efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe rise in natural disasters and climate-induced events, such as wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding, has significantly affected urban life. These events can disrupt daily activity and flows of individuals and goods on road and transit networks. To enhance urban resilience against disasters, it’s crucial to study and understand road network vulnerability, utilizing data-driven insights to inform planning and preparedness efforts. The aim of this paper is to develop a data-driven exploratory approach to assess vulnerability in road networks in response to a disruption. To accomplish this, we compare the centrality of road segments before, during, and after disaster, considering the network topological structure and movement activity as it is observed through large tracking data of cellphone traces on the network. The novelty of our approach lies in inferring the impact from movement data, instead of manually removing links from the network. The results obtained from this study suggest that incorporating movement data into the assessment of network functionality provides a more realistic estimation of the road network vulnerability in response to a disruption, compared to solely using network topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change leads to an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainstorms. At present, in China, which is experiencing rapid urbanization, urban flooding triggered by heavy rainstorms has emerged as a prominent issue, exerting far-reaching influences on socio-economic development, ecology, and people's livelihoods. In response to this, China has put forward the concept of sponge cities and has shifted from pilot projects to comprehensive and systematic citywide implementation, with the aim of strengthening urban resilience in rainstorm management. This article takes the Chaoyang River area in Nanning City, South China as an example and proposes a dynamic risk assessment framework integrating hydrodynamic models and ABM to reflect flooding and pedestrian response to rainstorms. The research results show that under the design rainstorm scenarios with return periods of 5 years and 30 years, the rainstorm-induced flooding process in the study area presents a dynamic evolution pattern. It develops rapidly to the extreme or severe hazard grade within 1–2 h, and then declines slowly and persists until 8 h. The exposure and sensitivity of pedestrian mobility to flooding disasters extend across most areas of the study area within 1–5 h during the rainstorm-induced flooding process, with medium, high, or extreme risk levels observed during the 2–3 h period.Among the affected sensitive pedestrians, the gender ratio is roughly equal, and the proportion of the elderly and child populations is as high as 46.5%. The overall disaster resilience capacity of the study area is significantly insufficient, leading to a predominance of medium, high, or extreme risk levels for pedestrian mobility during the 2–3 h period. In conclusion, the study area should accelerate the construction of various sponge facilities on the underlying surface and comprehensively enhance diverse emergency management measures for excessive flooding disasters. The dynamic disaster risk simulation and assessment techniques proposed in this article can serve as essential scientific support for the construction of a digital twin system in China's sponge cities, reflecting both virtual and real scenarios and facilitating comprehensive resilience capabilities such as forecasting, warning, simulation, and contingency planning for intelligent rainstorm management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study quantifies the effects of long-duration earthquakes on the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings subjected to successive earthquake-tsunamis through the development of fragility surfaces. The suite is comprised of both ductile and nonductile systems, representing a portfolio of RC structures that could be found in a (coastal) community. Previous research has shown that long-duration earthquakes can significantly influence the structural responses and even the collapse behavior of building systems. Earthquakes with large moment magnitudes that produce tsunamis are often long duration events, yet ground motion duration has not been fully considered when generating tsunami fragility curves or successive earthquake-tsunami fragility surfaces. This study incorporates earthquake loading through a nonlinear time history analysis (NLTHA) and subsequent tsunami loading with a nonlinear static procedure. Detailed probabilistic structural models are subjected to both long-duration and regular-duration earthquakes through the NLTHA phase of the successive simulation to explore the possible impact of long-duration earthquakes on earthquake-tsunami fragility surfaces used to represent the behavior of these RC buildings. Results show that failure probabilities from the fragility surfaces are increased by up to 40% in some cases, with low- to mid-rise RC structures (ductile and nonductile; up to 8 stories) being adversely affected by long-duration earthquakes. Furthermore, this study reports the governing parameters of scalar and vector-valued fragility functions in the proposed RC portfolio exposed to long-duration earthquakes and tsunami hazards. These fragility surfaces can be useful in developing community-level models in risk-based or resilience-based decision-support for disaster mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the landslides triggered by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.6, caused extensive damage and claimed 244 lives. Over 2300 landslides were triggered by the earthquake, including the Machinomachi and Ichinose landslides, which destroyed multiple houses. The article presents the results of field surveys, ring shear tests, and computer simulations to understand the mechanism of the landslides and validate the simulation results. The study highlights the importance of understanding long-runout landslides for future earthquake risk assessment. [Extracted from the article]

Small businesses are susceptible to failure at a higher rate, especially after a disaster. Disasters include the weather, fire, pandemics, power outages, network failures, legal issues, cyber-attacks, and technical problems. One way to potentially mitigate failure is to create a business continuity plan (BCP) or a disaster recovery plan (DCP). Contained in the plan is the ability to return to operations. However, most small businesses do not have the time or financial resources to create the plans. Enabling ChatGPT to guide the small business owner with directed prompts is an uncomplicated way to develop the plan, saving time and resources and generating a complete document. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of emergency assembly points within the urban area holds significant importance for ensuring swift and effective intervention in the aftermath of a potential disaster until temporary shelter areas are prepared. In both historical and instrumental periods, Erzincan (Türkiye) has experienced major earthquakes resulting in significant loss of life and property. The likelihood of similar earthquakes occurring in Erzincan in the future remains high. Therefore, it is necessary to identify safe areas where people can assemble after an earthquake, moving away from hazardous zones. The aim of this study is to analyse the capacities and adequacies of emergency assembly points, which constitute a step in disaster management and enhance the earthquake resilience of the city, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based on selected criteria (accessibility, spatial distribution, proximity to healthcare facilities, size, capacity adequacy, and proximity to fault avoidance zones), and to propose solutions. The assessment revealed that the available assembly points are not homogeneously distributed throughout the city and are inadequate to meet the available building and population density. Therefore, in addition to the available 38 emergency assembly points, 67 new alternative emergency assembly points have been identified. The proposed emergency assembly points (in the 75–100% range) increased the number of neighborhoods within the 250 m service area by 43.75% and 42.5% for 500 m.The findings underscore the necessity for more comprehensive and effective planning for Erzincan in the event of a potential disaster or emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Red Sea region, situated between the Arabian and African Plates, experiences significant seismic activity due to its tectonic dynamics, with earthquakes ranging from minor to potentially destructive events. This study aims to develop smoothed seismicity models for the region by using an enhanced seismic catalog specific to the Red Sea. This facilitates a detailed spatial and temporal analysis of seismic events, focusing on seismic source characterization essential for probabilistic seismic hazard assessments. A rigorous declustering method excludes foreshocks and aftershocks, focusing on independent seismic events. The analysis uses a spatial grid (0.1 ∘ cells in latitude and longitude) to determine seismic event rates, which are then refined using various smoothing techniques. Special attention is given to seismic activity within 0–35 kms of depth, leading to distinct rate models that inform urban development and seismic hazard mitigation strategies in the Red Sea area. These models are crucial for improving resilience, safety, and informed decision-making for urban planning and disaster preparedness, addressing the challenges posed by the region's tectonic and seismic complexities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-hazards as well as multi-risk management are increasingly gaining importance in research, policy, and practice, but present a challenging task. Focusing on governments as key risk bearers, we assume a multi-hazard and multi-risk perspective and address the question of how different natural hazards can influence fiscal risk and how fiscal risk can change over time due to other risk realizations (e.g., pandemics). We employ a risk-layer approach to analyze the changes in fiscal risk, comparing the fiscal stress associated with different hazards during distinct time periods and scenarios. In doing so, we address the question under which circumstances risk reduction or risk financing may be needed as well as how an iterative approach can account for changing financing resource levels for different hazards under different scenarios. We apply this methodology to the Danube Region which is exposed to different natural hazards and encompasses countries with different levels of fiscal resilience. Furthermore, the countries in the Danube Region were affected by Covid-19, which acted as an additional stressor and caused large economic costs. The analysis should demonstrate the flexibility as well as the relevance of the presented methodology to address multi-risks within a coherent framework. One of the main outcomes of the study is the appreciation of different fiscal resilience levels for different countries and the different types of disasters they are exposed to, which can inform the diverse strategies needed on a case-by-case basis but within a common framework to tackle current and future risks. The analysis should be therefore not only informative for the Danube Region and respective countries but also regarding the more general question under which circumstances risk reduction or risk financing may be needed as well as how an iterative approach can account for changing financing resource levels against multiple risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed a volcanic disaster risk reduction education program that aims to help junior high school students visually understand the risks of volcanic eruptions using map information and acquire independent assessments and actions to protect their own lives from eruption disasters. First, this program analyzed the present state, problems, and educational needs of volcanic disaster risk reduction education in Japan, and thereafter designed the learning content to fuse information and communication technology (ICT) education based on the Global and Innovation Gateway for All (GIGA) School Initiative promoted by Japan with disaster risk reduction education from a geographical viewpoint. We adopted the ADDIE model from instructional design theory to develop the program. An important feature of this program is the realization of geography learning using the "YOU@RISK Volcanic Disaster Edition," a web-based GIS application developed by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), as an ICT tool. Learners use YOU@RISK on their tablets and perform operations such as visualizing the risk range in the event of a volcanic eruption and searching for appropriate evacuation sites and routes, while acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for geographical literacy and emergency response actions. The program is able to realize interactive learning, which is a step ahead of education that relies on conventional paper-based hazard maps. Among active volcanoes nationwide, Mt. Nasu was selected as target volcano for this study. In addition, a junior high school located in the area surrounding Mt. Nasu, Nasu Junior High School in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, was selected as the target school. The program was implemented by teachers using tablets provided for each student at the school. We evaluated the effectiveness of the program by measuring and analyzing the effects of learning through the practice. Consequently, the effectiveness of the volcanic disaster risk reduction education program using ICT was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to support disaster recovery, we have developed a new method to extract damaged buildings by using machine learning that combines 10 explanatory variables obtained from analysis of aerial photographs and observation data. We used site amplification factors, seismic intensities of foreshock and mainshock, distance from faults, estimated building structures and ages, coverage by blue tarps, texture analysis, and digital surface model differences before and after the earthquake as explanatory variables, in addition to convolutional neural network prediction results based on post-earthquake aerial photographs. The random forest method resulted in an overall accuracy of about 81% and an average F-measure of three classes was about 70%, indicating that it can classify possible damage to buildings more accurately than our previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of Japan's land area experiences significant snowfall during winter, and the damage caused by various snow and ice disasters remains a dire issue, which also leads to decreased living standards. Simultaneously, the nature of snow and ice disasters has been transformed due to climate change and the increasing occurrence of extreme weather conditions. The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) has been continuously conducting research to address these problems in relation to snow and ice disasters. This study presents the results of the project "Research on Combining Risk Monitoring and Forecasting Technologies for Mitigation of Increasingly Diverse Snow Disaster" conducted by the NIED over a seven-year period from April 2016 to March 2023. This project developed technology for conducting accurate observations of snowfall and snow cover conditions over wide areas as well as technology for areal prediction of snow and ice disasters through simulations. Based on collaboration with stakeholders, such as local governments, our study investigated how to optimize the use of our information products for snow and ice disaster mitigation. Through these insights, the NIED provides information for prompt and appropriate responses to snow and ice disasters, thus supporting safe and comfortable living in both snowy and non-snowy areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance urban governance and bolster community disaster resilience, it is urgent to innovate and develop an urban community security system to cope with the complex and volatile social security situation. From the perspective of resilience, the concept, layout, and structure of the security system are organized. Considering the current situation and development trend of the social security system, and based on the constructed cost-capability model, the cost and benefit of the two modes are analyzed and compared. Subsequently, from the perspective of multi-agent participation, a game model between governments and enterprises is constructed. The evolutionary stability strategies of enterprises are analyzed, and simulation analysis is conducted on the factors influencing enterprises. Finally, to propose targeted improvement measures based on the community security capabilities of different communities, a grey fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is employed. The community security comprehensive capabilities of the top 10 cities in China are quantitatively analyzed and evaluated. The results indicate that the urban community security system from a resilience perspective is more comprehensive compared to the traditional security system. Adopting mode 2 is relatively effective to improving government emergency management capability. In a certain range, reducing C, increasing F, reducing R2, and increasing h can achieve the effect of promoting enterprise to participate in construction. The urban community security capability is within the upper-medium level in general, close to the level of good. The urban community security system constructed in this paper can provide a theoretical basis for the government to formulate policies of the urban community security system and serve as a reference for strengthening the comprehensive capability of the urban community security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic literature review (SLR) explores the role of community-based catastrophe insurance (CBCI) as a tool for sustainable economic loss risk mitigation. Utilizing bibliometric analysis and a literature review, this study aims to reveal the methods employed in CBCI schemes from a novel perspective, highlighting their effectiveness in mitigating catastrophe risks. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology was employed to systematically collect and analyze articles sourced from the Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Dimensions databases. The findings provide a comprehensive summary of the CBCI implementation, including various considerations such as risk-sharing mechanisms, premium determination, and policy frameworks. This research offers a fresh perspective on CBCI as a sustainable approach to catastrophe risk mitigation, contributing valuable insights to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers interested in community resilience and disaster risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marginal areas (MAs) can show scarce disaster resilience in the context of climate change. Proactive adaptation to climate change (ACC) based on green infrastructure (GI) has the potential to increase the disaster resilience of the MAs. The scientific literature has scarcely addressed research on methods and guidelines for promoting ACC and GI to increase the resilience of MAs. No previous research has focused on a method to set a reference scheme for implementation guidelines concerning the use of GI as an ACC approach to deal with the effects of a changing climate in Italian MAs. In this regard, this study aims to provide planners and public administrations with an appropriate scheme to foster the mainstreaming of ACC and GI into the planning of MAs. To do so, we proposed and applied a methodological approach consisting of the scrutiny of the scientific and grey literature with the purpose of distilling a set of key elements (KEs) that need to be considered as a reference scheme for implementation guidelines. As main findings, we identified ten KEs relevant to drafting guidelines for integrating ACC and GI into planning tools, e.g., a clear definition of GI, participative approaches, public–private cooperation, and others, that will be tested in ongoing research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change in the past decade has resulted in annual seasonal changes and has the effect of increasing the risk of flash floods in downstream areas. Thus, adaptation and mitigation models are needed for flood disaster resilience. This study aims to analyze the factors that have a dominant effect (leverage) on disaster adaptation and mitigation, as well as the resilience of flash flood disaster areas, and find a model of adaptation and mitigation relationships in the form of the resilience of flash flood-prone areas. The research method uses an ex post facto quantitative approach with an explanatory design that is analyzed by multivariate statistics based on structural equation modeling (SEMPLS). Data collection was done using observation, interviews, documentation, and a survey. This study explores the integration of flood technology, disaster management, local wisdom, and spatial planning in mitigating flash floods and enhancing resilience in the Malangke District, North Luwu. It highlights ongoing challenges in policy management, impacting regional vulnerability and resilience. By combining local knowledge with modern practices, the research proposes a model for sustainable development and resilience. Emphasizing direct disaster management and spatial planning control, the study provides insights into community resilience and offers a globally applicable policy framework. It contributes to improving disaster mitigation strategies and fostering sustainable development in flood-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to formulate a flood hazard model, a community adaptation resilience model, and a community adaptation model for flood disasters in Kampar Regency, Indonesia. The flood disaster hazard model was analyzed using the Geomorphic Flood Index (GFI), while the characteristics of community adaptation resilience in mitigating flood disaster hazards were analyzed through the Climate and Disaster Resilience Initiative (CDRI). This research showed that the flood-free zone in Kampar Regency covered 715850 ha, the low hazard zone spanned 86357 ha, the medium hazard zone extended across 142821 ha, and the high hazard zone included 88658 ha. Areas with a high risk of flood disasters include the sub-districts of Tapung, Tapung Hulu, TapungHilir, Siak Hulu, Tambang, Kampar Kiri Hilir, and Kampar Kiri. Based on the assessment, the community adaptation resilience in Kampar Regency in facing flood disaster hazards scored 49, indicating that the characteristics of community adaptation still lack adequate resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have explored contractors' corporate social responsibility (CSR) at the macro or enterprise levels. Few, however, have considered CSR at the project level or contextualized it in post‐disaster reconstruction (PDR) projects. In the event of a disaster, contractors' CSR in PDR projects (P‐CSR) is beneficial for facilitating affected citizens in returning to normal life and improving their long‐term disaster resilience. Therefore, this study aims to formulate strategies that promote the implementation of contractors' P‐CSR. Employing a mixed‐methods research design within the context of Chinese PDR projects, the study identified 32 influencing factors, 24 measures, and 4 strategies. These strategies focus on (1) acquiring effective and efficient national emergency supports, (2) sharpening contractors' internal capabilities to enhance disaster resilience, (3) valuing contractors' P‐CSR activities and outcomes, and (4) reducing PDR projects' constraints and risks. Together, these measures and strategies form a Y‐shaped framework to facilitate contractors' P‐CSR implementation. The study findings contribute to the literature by bridging the gap between contractors' CSR implementation and their project‐level PDR efforts in the event of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major global challenge causing significant socio-economic and environmental impacts. A paradigm shift from crisis to risk management is advocated to reduce the impacts of droughts, and to build the resilience of societies, and water and environmental systems against drought. A number of drought policy and planning guidelines are developed and used to support the transition from crisis to risk management and enhancing resilience. However, research is lacking on critical reflection, evaluation and update of the available drought guidelines. For example, there is no study on assessing the correspondence of the available guidelines to the contemporary disaster risk reduction agenda. Therefore, this study evaluates twelve drought policy and planning guidelines for their alignment with the four priority areas of the SENDAI framework for disaster risk reduction 2015–2030. A qualitative evaluation matrix was developed and used in the assessment. The examined priorities and associated thematic elements were scored in the range 0–100, and classified under Very Low (0–10), Low (11–30), Medium-Low (31–50), Medium-High (51–70), High (71–90), and Very High (91–100) categories. Most guidelines achieved (medium) high to very high scores on data and information, risk assessment, and communication and dissemination elements associated with priority 1 (understanding disaster risk). Whereas, mostly very low to low coverage was found for science-policy-practice dialogue, local knowledge and practices, and research and development. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk (priority 2) earned high scores on most elements, notably for strategies and plans, coordination mechanisms, community representation, and policy and governance. In contrast, most elements under priority 3 (investing in disaster risk reduction) were classified under low to medium categories, which include financial allocation, risk transfer, and mainstreaming drought risk reduction into land use and rural development planning, business resilience and protection of livelihoods, and health and safety. Most elements under priority 4 (enhancing disaster preparedness) scored under medium low to medium high ranges, as sufficient information was lacking on multi-hazard early warning systems, post-disaster recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction, and resilience of critical infrastructure. Furthermore, the study outlined several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats pertaining to the examined guidelines. In general, the study reveals an urgent need to better align drought policy and planning guidelines with the contemporary disaster risk reduction agenda outlined in the SENDAI Framework. The findings of this study can be instructive in designing the next generation of drought guidelines in support of an accelerated transition towards drought risk management, and building resilient societies and ecosystems under a changing climate and increasing anthropogenic pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Paper Conservation Seminar has now been held as four face-to-face events and four online events. It is a three-day international event delivered in Spanish and Portugese with keynote talks from national and international conservation professionals from Mexico to Chile presenting projects covering works on paper in diverse formats including documents, photographs historic books, and artworks. Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Brazil, Spain and Costa Rica have sent delegates to discuss both the social and cultural aspects of conservation work. The seminar is a completely free event for its attendees. It is intended to be suitable for all, with high-level talks addressing issues of management, preservation, conservation, restoration and disaster recovery among many others. From the third event onwards, training workshops for basic treatments have been developed, with the participation of recognized conservation professionals from universities and international institutes, allowing the number of attendees to remain constant since the Covid-19 pandemic. It creates networks and fosters collaboration for professional and institutional projects. The seminars have generated a connected and active community of paper conservators in the region, aware of our limitations, and capable of solving problems collaboratively and according to local resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the differential effect of the US-Mexico border on the lived experience of children exposed to flooding risk in an urbanized transborder watershed. The central argument is that this geopolitical border is an institution generative of social and spatial processes that create and thrive on differences and expose children on both sides of the border to high but unequal hazard levels. We pose that children’s bifurcated experiences with rain evince the border’s structuring power as a supra institution producing a socio-spatial regime that enables environmental inequities producing disparate representations of place. Understanding children’s lived experiences is critical to reducing their vulnerability in a highly integrated cross-border urbanization. Framed as a case study based on qualitative data obtained through narratives and visual elicitation techniques, the analysis reveals children’s experiences with flooding and associated hazards that have not been exposed in prior border research and have important implications for integrated disaster management, environmental justice, and resilience in border regions and cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: After the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), the need for disaster case management (DCM) was highlighted through the efforts of the Sendai Bar Association, which investigated the situation of survivors. This paper provides an overview of DCM in Japan since the GEJE, including key findings from investigations and legal consultations conducted by the Sendai Bar Association and the first author, who took part in the surveys with survivors in Ishinomaki City, clarifying the large number of homebound survivors and their needs. Design/methodology/approach: In recent years there has been growing attention to the importance of DCM for supporting life and housing recovery of disaster survivors. Along with the expansion of DCM activities over several decades in Japan, the need for DCM was increasingly recognized after the 2011 GEJE and tsunami, especially for home-based survivors left out of government-provided disaster recovery support programs. As one-on-one advice to support individual recovery needs, the focus of DCM in Japan is legal advice to help survivors effectively navigate support policies. Findings: Since the GEJE, there has been growing support for DCM in Japan, including from practitioners, scholars, and regional and national governments. However, although DCM can be an effective way to support housing recovery, even 12 years after the GEJE, there are still survivors in need of additional support. Originality/value: Drawing on a detailed case study and action research of the first author, this paper contributes to the still limited international literature on DCM in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In 2011, a disaster devastated the Tohoku region in Japan and left more than 15,000 victims. However, there could have been more. School buildings became a center of response and evacuation during the emergency, playing a central role in each disaster phase. How did the schools manage the situation in small Japanese communities and what lessons can be drawn? Disaster prevention education and training, rapid evacuation, survival in shelters and transmission of experiences to future generations are the key to disaster management in Japan. In the Tohoku area, these lessons are also connected with the history and memory of previous tsunamis. Design/methodology/approach: From a local approach and socio-historical methodology, research is based on ethnographic fieldwork in disaster-affected communities, archival data collection and oral testimonies. Between November 2020 and March 2023, in-depth interviews were conducted with tsunami survivors, children and community leaders involved in disaster response during the months and years following the tsunami. The analysis focuses on disaster response in schools, survival and building capacities of youth during reconstruction through six case studies. Findings: This research determines the importance of local history in tsunami management in Tohoku. It offers practical examples from each disaster phase for individuals and communities to face disasters and foster resilience. It reveals, on the other hand, how during the reconstruction process, a young generation embraced memory to reinforce disaster prevention for the future of the region. Originality/value: Highlighting the importance of including children and youth in disaster response, reconstruction and memory through applicable cases, this study provides a guide of school experiences in Japan that can become global lessons for disaster risk reduction (DRR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the challenges faced by the transport infrastructure sector in its civil construction material supply processes, following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand. Design/methodology/approach: A case study approach was adopted, which included on-site observations, semi-structured interviews and literature-based desktop reviews. Findings: The research findings show that there were supply problems for aggregates, concrete, stormwater pipes and some specialised products for the repair and rebuild of transport facilities. Those supply problems were largely caused by (1) difficulty in predicting material requirements, (2) constrained supply capability, (3) inadequate local freight capacity, (4) legal, cultural and/or environmental considerations on resource exploitation and utilisation, (5) impacts of COVID-19 and (6) ineffective communication and coordination. Research limitations/implications: For future research, it is recommended that a comparative analysis of multiple disaster cases be undertaken to further explore the generalisability of the research findings. Originality/value: The research findings will inform the development of post-earthquake recovery policies and material supply chain operation strategies, in order to expedite the recovery of transport networks if a future earthquake strikes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization and development have led to a significant number of Malaysians living in flood-prone areas, exacerbating the impact of natural disasters such as floods. This study aims to identify the factors influencing community resilience both before and after flood events in Temerloh, Pahang. Data were collected via questionnaires distributed to 350 flood victims. Key findings reveal that long-term residents exhibit higher resilience due to local knowledge and preparedness strategies. The study highlights the importance of integrating local experiences into flood management policies to enhance community resilience. The results reveal that large flood-prone areas experience frequent flooding, contributing to considerable community distress. This distress is somewhat alleviated by the support provided by government agencies and NGOs, which includes relief efforts, emergency services, and flood defense construction. Additionally, community involvement in flood management was found to have a statistically significant impact (p < 0.05). The study highlights the need for enhanced flood management strategies that address psychological aspects to reduce negative impacts on the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals are critical infrastructures that must remain operational during disasters, yet they often become disaster targets themselves. This study offers a global retrospective analysis of hospital disasters from 1976 to 2023, drawing on data from the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT). Our methodology combines a historical data review with an evaluation of the impact of technological advancements, community awareness, governmental policies, and psychological support mechanisms on disaster mitigation. By categorizing disasters into collapses, explosions, and fires, we specifically examine incidents leading to significant human casualties and property damage. This retrospective study employs quantitative analysis to identify trends and patterns in hospital disasters, utilizing statistical methods to assess data categorization by EM-DAT and to evaluate the frequency, severity and geographical disparities of these incidents. A notable increase in hospital fires highlights an urgent need for improved safety standards and preparedness. Our analysis also reveals significant regional differences in hospital safety protocols, advocating for tailored preparedness strategies. Enhanced safety standards and disaster preparedness within healthcare facilities are imperative. We propose the development of comprehensive, region-specific preparedness strategies, informed by our findings, to mitigate the impact of future hospital disasters. Addressing these challenges necessitates a global, collaborative approach, emphasizing the role of international cooperation in fostering safer healthcare environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is becoming an increasingly significant issue in Africa, and the need for climate resilience assessment has intensified. Dar es Salam is one of Africa's emerging megacities. With a population of over seven million, which continues to grow, there is an urgent need to understand the city's ability to deal with natural disasters. The Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI) was used in this study to assess the city's ability to withstand and cope with climatic hazards. The Index was quantified using sets of dimensions (social, physical, economic, natural, and institutional), with various parameters indicating the city's abilities, strengths, and vulnerabilities to potential climate‐related disasters. Despite being moderately resilient to climate change disasters, the results of our study indicate that the city's economic and institutional features obtained the lowest scores and the least resilience level. The study's findings provide a perspective on aspects of the city management sectors in terms of resilience and which should be given greater consideration in order to strengthen the city's current and future resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sudden volcanic eruptions can lead to volcanic ash entering the eyes, causing severe discomfort and complicating evacuation efforts. The specific effects of volcanic ash on ocular tissues, especially when wearing soft contact lenses (SCLs), are not well documented, prompting this experimental investigation. Methods: White rabbits with normal eyes were randomly divided into three groups: (1) a bare eye group: bare eye + volcanic ash exposure + eye washing, (2) an SCL group: SCL-wearing eye + volcanic ash exposure + eye washing, and (3) a control group: eye washing only. In groups 1 and 2, volcanic ash was applied to one eye under topical anesthesia, followed by immediate saline rinsing. Slit-lamp microscopy and histopathological analysis were conducted after euthanasia. Results: Slit-lamp and histopathological examinations revealed more significant corneal and conjunctival erosion in the bare eye group compared to the SCL group, which showed limited damage. The control group displayed no ocular damage. Conclusions: Guidelines from the "Volcanic Ash Health Effects: A Guide for the Public" by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience recommend removing SCLs during ashfall. Our findings suggest that the damage to the corneal and conjunctival epithelium is less severe in SCL-wearing eyes than in bare eyes, recommending that SCL wearers prioritize evacuation over lens removal during sudden ashfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic archaeology and anthropology have developed significantly over past decades and now provide considerable assistance to the investigation process of disaster victim recovery and identification. In what are often chaotic death and crime scenes, the formal process of utilizing archaeological methods can bring control, order, and ensure systematic search. Procedures assist in defining scene extent, locating victims and evidence, rule out areas for consideration, and provide standardized recording and quality assurance through dedicated use of standardized forms (pro formas). Combined archaeological and anthropological search methods maximize opportunities to recovery the missing through identifying remains, mapping distributions, and providing accounting of victims at the scene. Anthropological assistance in examinations contributes to individual assessment, resolving commingling and fragmentation issues, and utilizing DNA sampling methods and matching data to reassociate and account for the missing. Utilization of archaeology, anthropology, and DNA matching data provides scope to review crime scene recovery and determine requirements and potential for further survey and retrieval. Adopting the most suitable methods for a particular context can maximize recovery, efficiency, and resource use. Case studies demonstrate the utility of archaeological methods in a range of scenarios. They exemplify the success of multidisciplinary analysis in providing evidence of the sequence of events, the timing of events, the impact of taphonomic processes, the location and accounting of victims, and the demonstration of systematic scene search. The considerations provided in this article, utilizing archaeology and anthropology processes, may assist investigators in planning and implementing responses to mass fatalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of social infrastructure and its role in building disaster resilience has garnered significant attention in recent years. Defined as physical spaces that foster social connections and vibrant communities, social infrastructure has been recognized as a crucial element in providing support and resources during disasters. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of enhancing social infrastructure. However, divergent perspectives exist regarding the relationship between social infrastructure and socioeconomic factors in terms of distribution. Some studies suggest that the disproportionate distribution of social infrastructure may disadvantage certain racial and socioeconomic groups. Conversely, other research highlights instances where marginalized communities with robust social infrastructure exhibit resilience despite facing social and economic challenges. This discrepancy underscores the need for further investigation to reconcile these differing descriptions. Addressing this gap, this study aims to examine the relationship between social infrastructure, socioeconomic factors, and environmental justice. Specifically, the research question guiding this study is: Is the distribution of social infrastructure in a city related to specific racial or class factors from an environmental justice perspective? Utilizing the ordinary least squares regression, this study reveals that communities with a higher proportion of the non-White population have a greater number of social infrastructures, challenging expectations based on the environmental justice literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]