Preparing to Respond: Background Research

(focusing specifically on transportation systems)

Gil Zamfirescu-Pereira

          Bernard, E. N. (2005). Developing Tsunami-Resilient Communities: The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. New York, NY: Springer.

                The response begins with construction before the disaster. This source presents a discussion of tools to be used to develop effective communities, including engineering ideas.

          Branch, M. C. (1999). The Planning Imperative and Human Behavior. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.

                Can we plan communities to be able to respond to disasters? This source talk about reasons to plan with regards to human behavior and transportation.

          Branch, M. C. (1992). Planning and Human Survival. New York: Praeger Publishers.

                Presents a general overview of planning with regards to social tendencies. Potential source. 

          Burby, R., Beatley, T., Berke, P. R., Deyle, R. E., French, S. P., Godschalk, D. R., et al. (1999). Unleashing the Power of Planning to Create Disaster-Resistant Communities. Journal of the American Planning Association, 65(3), 247.

                Discussion of how disaster preparedness can benefit communities immensely. Focuses on small communities. 

          Charvériat, C. (2000). Natural Disaster in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Overview of Risk. Retrieved September 19, 2005, from http://www.iadb.org/res/publications/pubfiles/pubWP-434.pdf

                Brief mention of how transport systems are affected by disaster. May lead to analysis of how such systems might be better constructed or configured.

          *Cho, J. (2005, March/May). Smart Infrastructure. UN Chronicle, 42, 39+. 

                Stresses the importance of an effective infrastructure for dealing with disaster situations. Gives examples of poorly developed infrastructure and infrastructure in developing countries.

          Chowdhury, M. A., & Sadek, A. Fundamentals of Intelligent Transportation Systems Planning. Boston: MA : Artech House Publishers.

                Introduction to the field of transport planning in non-disaster stricken areas. May be used as a jumping off point for developing transport systems that are effective in disaster-prone areas.

          Crawford, G. L. (2000). Tsunami inundation preparedness in coastal communities. Retrieved September 18, 2005, from http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/ftp/AD/ryan/gonzalez/R-18_Crawford.pdf

                Transport of people: focuses on evacuation procedures in areas that are at high risk to be struck by tsunamis.

          Crawford, G. L., Darienzo, M., Eisner, R. K., Jonientz-Trisler, C., Petty, E., Priest, G. R., et al. (2005). Planning for Tsunami-Resilient Communities. Natural Hazards, 35, 121-139.

                Discussion of how federal, state, and local level officials must respond effectively to tsunamis. Further discussion of how to deal with a public that is affected by pre-tsunami planning efforts.

          Eisner, Richard K. (2005). Planning for Tsunami: Reducing Future Losses through Mitigation. Natural Hazards, 35, 155-162.

                Discussion of how to promote land use effectively to reduce tsunami risk and damage. Possible source.

          French, P. W. (1997). Coastal and Estuarine Management. London: Routledge. 

                Talks about how communities in coastal areas and areas next to dangerous waters brace themselves for flooding and similar events. How do these communities cope to obtain supplies when flooding does occur?

          Hebenstreit, G. T. (1980). The Tsunami Response of the Hawaiian Islands: Final Report. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press.

                Analyzes the way in which the Hawaiian islands respond to the tsunami threat. Some information of transport and evacuation procedures included. 

          Holway, J. M., & Burby, R. J. (1993). Reducing Flood Losses: Local Planning and Land Use Controls. Journal of the American Planning Association, 59(2), 205+.

                Effective planning (including urban planning) to reduce losses in flooded areas. Possibly relevant to tsunami danger.

          Kusky, T. (2005, March). Are We Ready for Tsunamis?. Planning, 71, 28+. 

                Various recommendations on how communities can help reduce the risk of severe damage once a tsunami has hit, including well-publicized evacuation routes and supply lines.

          Mansdorf, Z. (2000, May). Emergency Response and Disaster Planning. Occupational Hazards, 62, 45.

          McGuire, B. (2005, March). Global Disaster Paves Way for Global Thinking: In the Wake of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Disaster Expert and Geophysicist Bill McGuire Explains Why Future Disaster Management Must Place a Greater Emphasis on Preparedness as Well as Response. Geographical, 77, 14+.

                Emphasizes the importance of being prepared beforehand, remarking that the stress nowadays is placed on response after the disaster has hit rather than preparedness before the fact.

          National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. (2001). Designing for Tsunamis. Retrieved September 19, 2005 from www.prh.noaa.gov/itic/library/pubs/online_docs/Designing_for_Tsunamis.pdf

                A discussion of various evacuation procedures, including vertical and horizontal. Discusses further strategies for implementing each of these and problems that must be resolved before implementation can take place.

          Papacostas, C. S., & Preveduros, P. D. (2000). Transportation Engineering and Planning. New York, NY: Prentice Hall.

                Designed for transportation engineers. Principles laid forth may be used to create an effective transportation system that stands up even to disasters on the scale of the tsunami.

          Royle, S. A. (2001). A Geography of Islands: Small Island Insularity. London: Routledge.

                How small islands cope with various issues, including transportation and supplies, that do not have to be dealt with by large island nations. 

          Schneider, D. (2005, March/April). Looking for Dr. Pangloss: Might Coastal Residents around the Globe One Day Receive Effective Warnings before a Destructive Tsunami Strikes? or Is That Too Optimistic?. American Scientist, 93, 118+.

                Background information. Discuss the possibility of a warning system, as well as the effectiveness of such a system in certain regions that may be close to the epicenter.

          Tsunami Is a Call to Be Prepared. The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), p. A9. 

                How can individual persons shield themselves should a tsunami hit? Talks about the response on an individual level.