Peter Anderson
Telematics Research Lab
School of Communication
Simon Fraser University
CCIRC Workshop
14 April 2009
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Reducing risks before disasters saves lives
and money
Local communities have a large and unique
role to play
Protecting nature protects people
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Increasing urbanization
Settlement in and industrialization of highly
exposed areas
Vulnerability of modern technologies and
critical infrastructures
Changes in the environment
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Growing population
Increasing utilization of natural resources
Deforestation and land clearing
Soil erosion and desertification
Floods and droughts
Hunger and malnutrition
Partial recovery, then the cycle is repeated
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED)
Annual Disaster Statistical Review: The Numbers and Trends 2007
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED)
Annual Disaster Statistical Review: the Numbers and Trends 2007
Source: Munich Re Topics Geo 2007
Source: Munich Re Topics Geo 2007
Source: Munich Re Topics Geo 2007
Source: Munich Re Topics Geo 2007
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Natural disasters accounted for 91% of all deaths
from disasters
Weather-related disasters have more than doubled
since 1996
Floods accounted for over 45% of people affected by
natural disasters annually
Famine accounted for less than 10% of all natural
disasters but 37% of all deaths
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Lack of standardized collection methodologies and
definitions
Original information, collected from a variety of public
sources, is not specifically gathered for statistical
purposes
Data are not always complete for each disaster
Quality of completion may vary according to the type
of disaster (for example, the number of people
affected by transport accidents is rarely reported) or
its country of occurrence
Differing definitions for disaster events and
parameters
Hazard domain specific and human centric – often
Source: Emergency Management Australia http://www.ema.gov.au/agd/ema/emaschools.nsf/Page/RWPDF0E98949F7B247CCA256C59001A3EE6?OpenDocument
1940-1960
Recovery
Civil Defence Based Response &
1970
All Hazard – Civilian Based
1980
Preparedness
1990
Hazard Mitigation
Mid-1990s- 1999
Mitigation
Sustainable Development and Hazard
2000+
Disaster Resiliency
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All-hazards
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Comprehensive – all phases
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All jurisdictional/disciplinary
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Participatory
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Prepared “resilient” communities
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hazard identification
risk and vulnerability assessments
risk reduction - prevention/mitigation
planning and preparedness
warning
response
relief
recovery
rehabilitation
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Hazard
Phenomina or processes that may have
dangerous or harmful effects on people
and the environment.
Vulnerability
Internal conditions that increase people’s
exposure and susceptibility to hazards or
other shocks and stresses.
Source: Adapted from Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, Cape Town
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Risk
The chance of harmful effects occurring
due to the interaction between a hazard
and vulnerable conditions.
Disaster
A serious disruption of a household,
community, ecosystem or society that
leads to hardship, damage or property loss
that is too difficult for those affected to
manage without outside help.
Source: Adapted from Disaster Mitigation for Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, Cape Town
Time
Source: Canada. Senate. Standing Committee on Defence and Security, Thirteenth Report: Emergency Preparedness
In Canada. 2007
Emergency preparedness and response
in Canada are shared responsibilities of
individuals, corporations and
governments
Each and every Canadian is
charged with his or her own
personal preparedness
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Lowest level competent to respond
All-hazards approach to planning
Emergency plans and arrangements based
on existing organizational structures and
procedures
Centralized direction and coordination decentralized implementation and response
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Founded on the Constitution Act of Canada
Canada is both a unitary state and
confederation of provinces
Constitution allocates significant powers to
provinces, exclusive of federal jurisdiction
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Federal versus Provincial Responsibilities
Provincial versus Local Responsibilities
Federal, provincial and
territorial governments each
possess their own emergency
legislation
Most emergencies and disasters
occur within provincial
jurisdiction
Flow of Requests
International
Federal
Provincial
Local
International
Federal
Provincial
Local
Flow of Resources
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Approximately 2,500 wildland fires
266,000 ha burned
37 interface fires in total
22 significant interface fires
Some over 25,000 ha
334 homes destroyed –10 businesses
> 50,000 people evacuated
Additional 50,000 on evacuation notice
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Emergency Management/structural
firefighting over $100 M
Forest fire fighting over $370 M
Total costs estimated at $700 M
Provincial State of Emergency – 6 weeks
Fire risk across the province continued into
late September
Source: B.C. Provincial Emergency Program
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25% of BC’s land area
2/3 of its population
80% of the province’s
gross domestic product
10% of Canada’s gross
national product
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1894 Fraser Valley Flood
1948 Fraser Valley Flood
Source: B.C. Provincial Emergency Program
Source: B.C. Provincial Emergency Program
Source: B.C. Provincial Emergency Program
2006/2007 Winter
21 severe weather
events
Source: B.C. Provincial Emergency Program
Source: B.C. Provincial Emergency Program
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Federal – Public Safety Canada
B.C. – Provincial Emergency Program
BC Premier and Cabinet
BC Minister of
Public Safety and
Solicitor General
Government
Operations
Centre
Deputy Minister
Security &
Emergency
Management
Advisory Committee
Emergency
Management
Subcommittee
Regional
Director Public
Safety
Federal Co-ordination
Centre
Federal Liaison
Officers (as
required)
Central
Co-ordination
Group
Provincial
Emergency Coordination Centre
Provincial
Regional
Emergency
Operations
Centres
Private Sector/Local
Government EOC(s)
On-site
Response
Provincial
Ministries /
Agencies
Emergency
Management
B.C.
The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) is a
division of the Ministry of Public Safety and
Solicitor General, Emergency Management
B.C. PEP works with local governments year
round, providing training and support
before, during and after emergencies.
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Hazard, Risk and Vulnerabilities Analysis
toolkit (HRVA)
Community Emergency Plan Review toolkit
(CEPR)
Community Emergency Management Guide
(under revision)
PEP Website (http://www.pep.bc.ca)
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Communication underpins all aspects of
disaster management
During a critical response communication is
the foundation for all coordinating, directing
and control activities
Once communication breaks down, these
functions are also lost
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Intra-organizational (within organizations)
Inter-organizational (among organizations)
From emergency organizations to the public
From the public to emergency organizations
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Detection and Monitoring
EM Alerting
Public Warning
Informing
Directing and Coordinating
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Ongoing assessments of situation, impacts
and required countermeasures
Identification and recruitment of personnel
and organizations needed to carry out
countermeasures
Directing and coordinating tactical
operations
Ensuring responder safety
Determinations of status and availability of
resources
Resource procurement
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1300 structural firefighters
7600 MOF wildland firefighters
3150 out of province firefighters
> 2000 military personnel
Thousands of other public sector local,
regional, provincial and federal personnel,
including government, health authorities,
etc.
Thousands of private sector support
employees
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Majority of critical services now provided or
supported through private sector
infrastructure
Full mobilization of all sectors - including
volunteer, government and private
organizations
Need for compatible and effective
communication systems to coordinate and
direct requests
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Connectivity
Voice and data service
Interoperability
Mobility
Ubiquitous coverage
Survivability/endurability
Reliability/availability
Scalability
Affordability
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Radio receiver intermodulation
Incompatibility
Lack of resources
Interoperability
Robustness
Lack of training
Many communication problems are related to
information sharing and not technical
problems
Courtesy: Thompson Nicola Regional District
Photo: Mark Franklin
Emergency Preparedness Information eXchange (EPIX)
PC Computer BBS Initiative
1992
1994