Tri-lateral workshop on natural hazards: towards a comprehensive assessment of risks due to natural hazards, Canada - U.S.A. - Mexico

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Natural Hazards 11: 95-96, 1995.

95

Meeting Report TRI-LATERAL WORKSHOP ON NATURAL HAZARDS: TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF RISKS DUE TO NATURAL HAZARDS, CANADA - U.S.A. - MEXICO

Sam Jakes Inn, Merickville, Canada, 11-14 February 1995 Summary. This workshop was primarily motivated by the goals of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), one of which is that each country should have a comprehensive national assessment of risks due to natural hazards by the year 2000. It was sponsored by the Environmental Adaptation Research Group (EARG) of Environment Canada, the International Partnerships of EnvironmentCanada, the Geological Survey of Canada, Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Canadian National Committee of the IDNDR. The National Science Foundation of the U. S. and the Government of Mexico supported travel costs related to their delegates. The workshop dealt with both atmospheric hazards such as tornadoes and floods, and geological hazards such as earthquakes and landslides. Nine U. S., eight Mexican and 24 Canadian participants included academia, government and the private sector. Six projects were selected as being of joint interest to all three countries, with lead country and agencies identified for possible future cooperative work. The Workshop Goals were: (1) To foster networking between scientists from NAFTA countries who are working on issues related to natural hazards risk assessment and to create an environment which will encourage future cooperation. (2) To identify methodological problems related to natural hazard risk assessment, and propose either workable solutions or pathways towards resolution, for the puropse of meeting the IDNDR goal of having a comprehensive assessment of risks due to natural hazards by the year 2000. (3) To explore international needs and commonalities, for the purpose of developing proposals for joint projects which will further the IDNDR mission. (4) To identify the organizational and funding infrastructures which will nourish risk assessment activities, and to outline mechanisms to assess them. (5) To develop a plan and a set of action items that will further the field of natural hazards risk assessment. Prior to the workshop, all the participants were invited to submit a background report ('white paper') on aspects of the workshop theme relevant to their areas of interest and expertise. Fifteen papers were received and distributed to the participants before the meeting. Another four papers were distributed at the meeting, and two more are expected to be submitted. The white papers were the foundation for both overview presentations during the opening session and discussion during the 'break-out' sessions. The workshop opened with a welcome and introductions, followed by formal presentations on the nature of the natural hazards problem in each country and a general discussion. During the second day of the workshop, there were a series of small, break-out group discussions on preselected topics, with brief reports on the group as a whole. On the third day there were group discussions by country and a concluding session where an action plan was developed. The action plan comprises six tri-lateral research projects with lead countries and responsible agencies identified. In addition to the white papers and action plan, the following deliverables are anticipated: 1. Brief summary reports to the sponsoring and funding agencies (March 1995); 2. A multi-authored (Canadian, American, Mexican) review paper which will be submitted to the

Journal of Natural Hazards; and 3. A proceedings volume, to include all the review papers and discussions, (October 1995).

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MEETING REPORT

The Workshop Program included discussion on the following topics: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

National overviews of the hazards problem, Existing assessments, research and IDNDR related activities, Risk analysis and assessment, Comparing risks, and International issues.

Six research projects of interest to all the partners were identified from a larger list which will be included in the workshop proceedings volume. 1. 2. 3. 4.

North American Natural Hazards Map / Electronic Atlas of Natural Hazards Post Audit of Flood Damage Reduction Programs Monitoring of Active Volcanoes / Volcanic Ash Guard Barriers to Retrofitting Structural Improvements to Buildings, Particularly Schools and Hospitals NB: There may be a one-day workshop on this topic at the Pan-Pacific Hazards Conference, Vancouver, July 1996 5. Training Programs and Capacity Building (NB: This may well grow out of project 1.) 6. Comprehensive Risk Assessment of: (a) Mega Cities (Mexico City, Los Angeles, Seattle-Vancouver) (b) Schools / Hospitals (c) Vulnerable communities

Commentary. The success of the workshop arose from a combination of circumstances. The program, goals statement, and discussion topics were well thought out in relation to the workshop objectives. The participants were all experienced in group discussion and experts in their fields. The facilitation methods (nominal group technique and idea writing techniques) used in the small group discussions were appropriate and generally successful. The pleasant workshop venue was conducive to a successful meeting. Other circumstances that led to the success were the good mix of social and physical scientists and engineers and the general openness of each of the participants. Terrain Sciences Division, Geological Survey of Canada Environmental Adaptation Research Group, Environment Canada

ALAN HEGINBOTTOM DAVID ETKIN

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