Pacific Disaster Center

1305 N. Holopono St., Suite 2

Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753

http://www.pdc.org

Regional Disaster Overview

Thursday, 06 March 2008 1145 - 1230Mr. Todd Bosse

Sr. Geospatial Information Analyst

MPAT Tempest Express 14 Staff Planning WorkshopPhnom Penh, Cambodia

06-14 March 2008

Src: PDC

Src: Digital Globe

Facts …

• Disasters Destabilize Economic and Political Orders– In 2006 disasters killed 23,000 people, affected 143 million others, and

cost more than $34.5b USD(CRED – Annual Disaster Statistical Review: Numbers and Trends 2006)

– Natural disasters cost developing countries 2%–15% of GDP annually [on average]

(Kreiner, Arnold, and Carlin 2003)

– Natural disasters cause high unstability in national incomes (Asian Development Bank, Strategy for the New Millennium)

Source: CRED

Facts …

• Disasters are on the Rise– There has been a substantial increase in the number of reported

natural disasters in the [Pacific] region since 1950s(World Bank, Not if but when – Executive Summary 2006)

– …[in] 2000-2006 … number of disasters increasing by nearly a multiple factor of two

(CRED – Annual Disaster Statistical Review: Numbers and Trends 2006)

Src: CRED

Asia-Pacific

• We Live in a Disaster-Prone Region (Asia Pacific)– 44% of disasters BUT 83% of victims

(UN – International Strategies for Disaster Reduction, Disasters in Numbers, 2006)

– In 2006, disasters affected 119M people and cost $25b USD(CRED – Annual Disaster Statistical Review: Numbers and Trends 2006)

Number of Disasters by Continent Number of Victims by Continent

Source: CRED

Regional Disaster Overview

• Asia accounts for over 60% of the World’s total population with 3.8 billion people.

• Much of Asia lies within a high risk area termed the “Pacific Ring of Fire”

• Majority of Asian nations are “developing”.

“Asia has been the world’s most disaster prone region, having suffered about half of the world’s major

disasters over the past five decades.” (SRC: ADRC, http://www.adrc.or.jp/publications/ngo_workshop/1.pdf)

Disasters in Developing Nations

• Proportion of persons living in cities in developing countries has doubled since 1960.– Half are disaster prone due to the same features that make

them livable

• The poor are hardest hit– Poverty drives informal settlements in disaster prone areas– Disasters severely affect food production in the poor– Small fluctuations in income have a dramatic impact on the

poor. Savings not adequate to deal with a catastrophe– No insurance

• Many Nations require additional investments in capabilities relevant to disaster management– Varying levels of capabilities

SRC: Freeeman, P., Keen, M., Mani M., “Being Prepared”, Finance and Development, Sept 2003.

1.

Facts …Ring of Fire…..

• The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions encircling the basin of the Pacific Ocean in a 40,000 km horseshoe shape. (SRC:

USGS)

• It is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic belts and tectonic plate movements. (SRC: USGS)

• The Ring of Fire contains 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes. (SRC: USGS, National Geographic)

• Ninety percent of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. (SRC: USGS)

1.

Facts …World EQ Snapshot

Asia-Pacific Volcanoes

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1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

Country

Typhoon

Flood

Drought

Land-

slide

Tsunam

i

Earth-

quake

Volcanic

Fire

Cambodia L S L LIndonesia L M M L L S M M

Lao PDR L S M M

Malaysia M S S L M L

Myanmar M M M S S

Philippines S S L S S S M S

Thailand L S S L L L

Vietnam M M L S S L L

Note: L = light; M= medium; S = severe

ASEAN Disaster Overview

Cambodia Disasters

Number of People Killed Number of People Affected

Disaster Date Killed

Flood Jul-1994 506

Flood Jul-2000 347

Flood Aug-1991 100

Epidemic Apr-1999 97

Flood Sep-1996 59

Flood Aug-2001 56

Epidemic Jun-1992 50

Flood Aug-2002 29

Epidemic Jul-1998 15

Flood Aug-1999 7

Disaster Date Affected

Flood Jul-2000 3,448,053

Famine Sep-1995 2,500,000

Famine 1996 2,500,000

Flood Aug-2001 1,669,182

Flood Aug-2002 1,470,000

Flood Sep-1996 1,310,000

Flood Aug-1991 900,000

Famine Sep-1998 900,000

Drought Jan-2002 650,000

Flood Aug-1999 535,904

Most Significant Disasters in Cambodia

• Goal: Enhance ASEAN disaster management capacity & readiness by establishing a common operating picture and data sharing methods.

• Process: Evaluate and document the existing and varying ICT capabilities for each of the participating member countries NDMO’s.

– Based on established ‘benchmarks’

• Product: Develop GAP analysis document.– Website, GIS, data sharing, networking, partner agencies

ASEAN DISCNet

• With regard to the DISCNet benchmark categories, NDMO’s have varying levels of capability from Nation to Nation.

• All Nations have ‘Basic’ infrastructure

DISCNet Results

• ½ of nations have reliable internet access.

• Most need investments in GIS and Archived Disaster Information.

• No established mechanism for sharing of disaster related information regionally

The future …

• Disasters are Global Concerns requiring wide-spread support– Whole of Government and Military HA/DR– International Support and Collaboration

• Cannot Stop Disasters; But Can Reduce Impacts– In 1991, Cyclone Val cost 230% of Samoa GDP; while Heta in

2004 cost only 9% of GDP(World Bank, Not if but when – Executive Summary 2006)

• Information Technologies Are Here Today– Decision Aid Tools– Risk Assessment Methodologies– Exercises

Natural Hazards & Vulnerabilities Atlas

Regional, web-based, geospatial information application with access to GIS data and attributes designed to support the disaster

management/emergency response communities.

Natural Hazards• Tropical Storms• Wildfires• Earthquakes• Tsunamis• Volcanoes• Floods

Risk Exposure• People• Infrastructure

http://atlas.pdc.org

Mr. Todd BosseSr. Geospatial Information Analyst

Pacific Disaster Center

Hawaii, USA

tbosse@pdc.org

http://www.pdc.org