Disasterology: October 2021
This newsletter is a compilation of recent disaster ~things~ that I think are cool, important, or otherwise of interest to people who are intrigued with disaster (broadly defined).
There’s a little something for everyone!
Happy Saturday, my spooky little zombies!
The State of Emergency Management
The state of emergency management is trucking along.
Our campus at Massachusetts Maritime was without power for days as a result of an early-season nor’easter. So, here I am writing my newsletter from a coffee shop in Boston instead of teaching my students about how the US electric grid isn’t prepared to manage the persistent impacts of extreme weather in its many forms. Real *chef’s kiss* shit, ya know?
Other notable events this month include the Beta Offshore Oil Spill off the coast of California. The west also dealt with significant rainfall leading to debris flows. It was not enough to pull the area out of drought but it did help with the fires.
COP26
I suspect next month’s newsletter will be filled with tales from COP26. (See this video if you’re like, “wtf is COP26”). That said, I’m not holding my breath so maybe there won’t be much to discuss. Regardless there has been an onslaught of climate-related media coverage this month.
Not to be reductive but that coverage can basically be summarized as climate change is bad and is already affecting the United States (mhm) and Congress won’t do anything close to what actually needs to be done to address it (mhm). Chris Flavelle summarized my feelings nicely in an article titled: As Manchin Blocks Climate Plan, His State Can’t Hold Back Floods. The irreparable harm being caused is difficult to put into words but pointing out the impacts of Manchin’s maniacal decisions for his own constituents is at least a starting point.
Climate adaptation (which incorporates hazard mitigation for those of us in emergency management) is allegedly going to be a big topic of conversation at COP26. I gotta say that piece of the talks looks like a particularly messy area so again, stay tuned to next month’s newsletter.
To end this section on a bit of positive news: Administrator Criswell spoke at the IAEM conference this month and provided a clear-eyed discussion about the importance of emergency management incorporating climate change into all areas of our work. It was refreshing to hear it stated so clearly from the agency, though of course actual follow through is what matters most.
Meme Break
The Book of The Month
“A Fire Story” by Brian Fies
This month’s book is a graphic novel about the author’s experience of surviving the Tubbs Fire. Fies experience of losing his home in the fire allows him to communicate his story in a deeply personal way. There are so many small nuances that he is able to articulate throughout his story that will feel familiar to other survivors (like realizing the garage door opener in your car is completely useless now that your house is gone). The illustrations are phenomenal as well. It is a difficult read at times -- it elicits an emotional response -- but it’s an important one.
The Disasterology Monthly Newsletter gives this 10/10 stars.
You can read more here and buy it here.
Important Disaster Media Coverage This Month
Preparedness
Libby Denkmann for LAist: Women At Los Angeles Fire Department Say Harassment And Retaliation Keep Them Quiet About Abuse
Brandon Loomis for Arizona Republic: Phoenix names a heat officer, with a goal of easing the risk of rising temperatures
Anne Barnard for The New York Times: Ida Flooding Deaths Push Council to Demand Climate Change Plan for New York [My own commentary here is that it continues to be wild that people insist on recreating emergency management instead of just investing in our existing emergency management system.]
Bob Henson for The Washington Post: This 1846 hurricane would be a nightmare scenario for today’s crowded East Coast.
Response
Ezra David Romero, Danielle Venton, Emily Zentner, and Raquel Maria Dillon for KQED: Wildfire Torched the Sierra All Summer, Evading Containment. Here’s How Tahoe Protected Itself
Scott Neuman for NPR: Brazil senate wants Bolsonaro charged with crimes against humanity for COVID response
Recovery
Hannah Dreier for The Washington Post: The Last Days Inside Trailer 83
Domenico Montanaro for NPR: Most Americans would rather rebuild than move if natural disaster strikes, poll finds
Mitigation
Alex Brown for Stateline: Drought-Stricken Western Towns Say No to Developers
Robin George Andrews for The New York Times: How a Nuclear Bomb Could Save Earth From a Stealthy Asteroid
Lisa Friedman for The New York Times: Biden Administration to Restore Climate Criteria to Landmark Environmental Law
Christopher Flavelle for The New York Times: Forced Relocation Left Native Americans More Exposed to Climate Threats, Data Show
Weird Disaster Thing
NPR reports that science has proven disaster memes are good (kinda). More specifically, one study found that “memes about stressful situations can potentially help the public deal with and process those situations”.
So, ahem. You are welcome.
The End Bits:
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Read Disasterology: Dispatches From The Frontlines of The Climate Crisis If you haven’t picked it up yet you can read a review from USA Today here, order it here, or get it as an audiobook here.
The logo was made by my friend Gabi. You can check out her Instagram and hire her for all of your badass art related needs.
Finally, this newsletter is ~FREE~. I plan on keeping it that way because eliminating barriers to disaster knowledge is important. However, several people expressed an interest in financially supporting this work. I’ve created a “paid subscriber” option for $5 a month or whatever you’d like to give. The only difference between a free sign-up and a paid subscriber option is that you’ll be able to see the full archives of the newsletters. Really, this is just a way for those who want (and can) to support the newsletter. I’ll use the money to cover administrative expenses, do things like buy books to review, and maybe one day hire a research assistant to help. Thank you to everyone who has already supported financially!!