http://www.pacificdisaster.net New Content Uploaded to Pacific Disaster Net http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdn2008/assets/pdn_header_s.png http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4229.html This issue focuses on community based adaptation to climate change. Firstly it includes reflections on participatory processes and practice in community-based adaptation to climate change. The second section focuses on participatory tool-based case studies. These describe a participatory process with an emphasis on the use of a particular participatory tool, such as participatory video or participatory mapping. The third section, participatory tools, includes shorter, step-by-step descriptions of how to facilitate a particular tool in a community, for example, rain calendars and mental models of the drivers and effects of climate change Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4229.html 2010-03-10T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4228.html ABC News, 10 Mar 2010. French Polynesia's declared a state of natural disaster for the capital Pape'ete and other towns and villages on the main island of Tahiti. It follows flash torrential rain and flooding at the weekend which damaged dozens of homes and closed the international airport Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4228.html 2010-03-10T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4227.html The progress report assesses current national strategic priorities with regard to the implementation of disaster risk reduction actions, and establishes baselines on levels of progress achieved with respect to the implementation of the HFA's five priorities for action Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4227.html 2010-03-10T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/750.html To increase the understanding of mainstreaming initiatives and share experience from across the Pacific and Asia regions, mainstreaming strategies and tools, of accountability and reporting requirements in relation to international and regional instruments for disaster risk management Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/750.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4220.html The progress report assesses current national strategic priorities with regard to the implementation of disaster risk reduction actions, and establishes baselines on levels of progress achieved with respect to the implementation of the HFA's five priorities for action Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4220.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4219.html The objective of the Australian aid program is to advance Australia’s national interest by assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. The Australian Governments policy for the aid program places priority on risk reduction. It seeks to do this by creating close links between development and humanitarian programs and by assisting governments and communities in the Asia Pacific region to develop their own capacity to reduce the impact of disasters and prevent from undermining development objectives Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4219.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4218.html About 80 tropical cyclones form annually over warm tropical oceans. When they develop and attain intensity with surface wind speed exceeding 118 km/h, they are called hurricanes in the western hemisphere, typhoons in the western North Pacific region and severe tropical cyclones, tropical cyclones or similar names in other regions. As a result of international cooperation and coordination, and with the aid of meteorology and modern technology, such as satellites, weather radars and computers, all tropical cyclones around the globe are now being monitored from their early stages of formation and throughout their lifetime Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4218.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4217.html During the open public comment period for the draft of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, many people suggested that the National Weather Service develop a storm surge specific scale as well as improve its forecasting of storm surge. It is acknowledged that there are some researchers who advocate developing another scale for hurricanes specifically geared toward storm surge impact, by incorporating aspects of the system’s size. However, the National Hurricane Center does not believe that such scales would be helpful or effective at conveying the storm surge threat. The National Weather Service believes that a better approach is to focus directly on conveying the depth of inundation expected at the coast and inland Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4217.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4216.html The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 categorization based on the hurricane's intensity at the indicated time. The scale provides examples of the type of damage and impacts in the United States associated with winds of the indicated intensity. In general, damage rises by about a factor of four for every category increase. The maximum sustained surface wind speed (peak 1-minute wind at the standard meteorological observation height of 10 m [33 ft] over unobstructed exposure) associated with the cyclone is the determining factor in the scale. (Note that sustained winds can be stronger in hilly or mountainous terrain Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4216.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4215.html Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are tropical cyclones with maximum sustained wind speed exceeding 119 km/h near their centres, and every year responsible of thousands of victims. Although loss of lives from tropical cyclones has significantly decreased over the last decades, economic losses have increased substantially. The decrease in fatalities is, at a large extent, attributed to the improvement in the tropical cyclones forecasting and early warning systems Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/documents/4215.html 2010-03-09T12:00:00Z