EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

Wow! What a year it has been! Let’s think back a bit on some of the disruptions to people’s lives. After all, this is the essence of a disaster. As you know, we can divide disasters into natural and human-induced. Let’s speak to natural disasters first, and if room allows, we’ll speak to those whose source is from people.

Flooding never seems to be a small disaster. Three are noteworthy: The eastern seaboard of the US had a massive complex weather pattern in late September, with ‘500 year’ rainfall in the Carolinas, an estimated $25 Billion in destruction, and 25 deaths recorded in several states. I saw some aftereffects, and the destruction was epic. Flooding along with tornadoes in the mid-south of Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma resulted in 46 deaths, and, in  yet another storm system, 20 deaths were attributed to flooding in Utah.

Drought is always at the forefront, perhaps because it seems perennial in North America, and alas, in other parts of the world. Basically much of North America has been a continuous drought from 2010 through 2014, and this just continued into 2015. Examples were the Midwest, with an estimated $35 Billion in direct impact, which probably means 4x this in indirect losses! California remains in the news with its drought, and I’m sure the impact has been $100s of Billions to its massive economy. And this year, eastern Canada also experienced poor rainfall patterns.

Often affiliated closely to drought is wildfire, with again California being in the news. In 2015, Canada experienced a huge and costly wildfire season, especially in my home province of British Columbia. This ‘BC interior” complex of fires spilled over into Okanagan County, Washington — located on the Canadian border. These fires were documented as the ‘largest wildfires in Washington state history.”

An example of the ever-present nature of disasters is witnessed as I write this on Dec 28. Let’s call it the Christmas storms, consisting of rare but extremely powerful December tornadoes across many US states.  This hour’s news reports of floods and tornadoes killing at least 43 people in the south and Midwest, with no end in sight.  Hundreds of people in Texas with damaged or destroyed homes and residents of Alabama and Florida may be next. In addition, millions of Christmas travelers are stranded by the bad weather in northern States, which grounded flights and buried major highways and roadways in snow, ice, and floodwaters.  Over 1,100 US flights have been canceled today, and another 1,650 are delayed.  Flash flooding, heavy snows, and slick roads have made for ridiculously dangerous driving.  The US National Weather Service say that more than 20 states — from Texas to as far north and east as Maine — are under a weather watch or warning.

These were some of the major natural disasters in 2015 in North America. Covering the human-induced disasters will take at least as much room, so I will detail them on the next blog.  How sad, since the above natural events are enough for us to manage.  Let me end by wishing you all a safe 2016. I will attempt to continue to cover topics of interest – ones that hopefully will allow you and your loved ones to remain out of harm’s way in the coming years. Be safe. Be encouraged.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Monty