Hazard Mitigation in Kentucky

Hazard, Kentucky is in the process of installing an earthquake monitoring station in Perry County. Kentucky is home to a fair amount of tectonic activity, but the earthquakes generated are usually less than a 5 on the Richter scale and therefore unnoticed by the media. By installing this monitoring station as well as others around the state, the KGS (Kentucky Geological Survey) can generate a map showing where and how strong the earthquakes are. This will help to define the fault zone and areas that may be too hazardous (or at least risky!) for human development. By using this engineering paradigm approach, we are trying to predict as well as we can when and where earthquakes will strike. Earthquakes are very difficult hazards to predict, but over time we can see patterns develop and make more informed decisions. This is one way of mitigating a hazard, this informed planning. Another way this monitoring station helps to mitigate is by giving advanced warning, albeit not by much, of impending earthquakes. While we are using the engineering paradigm approach of environmental hazards to vaguely predict earthquakes, we also use the behavioral paradigm approach because we are looking at the behavior of the hazard itself. Where is it occurring and where will it occur are two related questions involving the behavior of a hazard. 

http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/21084866/article-Earthquake-monitoring-station-planned-for-Perry?instance=popular

Bopha Still Threatens

After flooding the southern Philippines, Typhoon Bopha rotated back around and now threatens the northwest part of the country. This weather bureau issued storm warnings, just as they had done in the previous encounter with Bopha, which shows the competency of the government to take necessary precautions to protect its people. Bopha again adjusted paths and now forecasters say it will end up in the South China Sea, but heavy rains and strong winds will still affect the Philippines. These forces could cause other disaster, most notably landslides but also fallen trees.  Emergency personal and volunteers are spread thin, still recovering in the south and now to deal with the threat of Bopha’s return. As the death toll tops 500 (600 missing), locals stand dazed and in shock, making rescue operations more difficult. Trying to organize rescue teams has been made harder because local landmarks have been destroyed. This would be a perfect use for GIS and GPS. You would need an aerial photo with a decent resolution and then a GPs unit and you could find what houses the locals are looking for.  Also by using GIS you could accurately plan a location for emergency centers. In the article, a woman recalls getting a message from her mother that said she and her brother had made it a health center. Unfortunately, it was in the path of the typhoons storm surge and the center, as well as everyone inside, was swept away. With simple technology and planning many lives could have been saved.

 

In the aftermath, Food shortages are developing due in part by the typhoons strong winds that destroyed many acres of crops, but also but the destruction of markets. 400,000 people have lost their homes and now reside in overcrowded evacuation centers. Hopefully, these centers are not in danger of an environmental hazard such as a steep slope prone to landslides (which has a  greater chance of occurring  during heavy rains). For economic loss the Philippines suffered a blow by losing 18 percent (34,600 acres) of their banana plantations, equivalent to 300 million dollars. International aid has been saught and now recieved by the Phillipines, quickening the recovery process.

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57558048/typhoon-bopha-threatens-philippines-again/