5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland
A Holistic Approach Towards International Disaster Resilient Architecture by ...
Gablehouse slides on DRR environmental factors
1. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Colorado Flooding
Difficulty in Implementing DRR in the
Aftermath
2. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Natural and Economic Setting
• Mountains with steep sided canyons and fast
rivers
– Elevations of 1,500m – 2,500m
– Roads are narrow and located in the valley bottoms
• Primarily a tourism economy
– These communities “eat” scenery
– Perceived wilderness and natural setting
– Recreational use of rivers and mountains
• Infrastructure designed not to intrude on the
natural setting
3. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Flash Flooding
• Heavy rain events from slow-moving storm cells
– Uncommon, but clearly understood risk
– Water flow can grow several orders of magnitude within minutes
• Preparedness efforts limited to warning and self-evacuation
to higher ground
– Projections based on rain rates
– Stream flow gauges generally destroyed by the event
• Minimal effort to reduce infrastructure damage
through ecosystem changes
– In this event prior efforts were largely ineffective
4. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
5. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
6. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
7. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
8. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
9. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
10. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
11. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
12. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
13. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
14. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
15. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
16. WHAT WAS THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE?
DAMAGE TO RECREATIONAL FISHERY
ONGOING INSTABILITY AND EROSION
DRINKING WATER SUPPLY HARM WAS MINIMAL
- PRIMARILY RELIANT ON RESERVOIRS OR WELLS
VISUAL IMPACTS
- DEBATE WHETHER IMAGE AS WILDERNESS
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
HARMED OR ENHANCED
17. What was the economic and property damage?
• 1,000 miles of roads & highways, 500 bridges
• Privately owned infrastructure destroyed
• Homes and businesses
• Local government buildings and infrastructure
• Flood insurance was common
• Federal programs for low interest loans and
replacement of government assets
• Major impact was loss of tourism income
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
18. NO COMMUNITY-BASED VISION OF SUCCESS
• COMMUNITIES WERE INITIALLY FOCUSED ON
RECOVERY OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DAILY LIFE.
• Some degree of additional harm to environment
• Disputes over highway restoration
• VALUE OF THE “WILD” ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE
AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.
• “ENGINEERING” OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE TO
MITIGATE AGAINST FUTURE HARM OR TO RESTORE
DAMAGE IS VIEWED AS “EVIL” BY MANY.
• COMPETING PRIORITIES OF STATE, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENS
5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
19. 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014
‘Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice‘ • 24-28 August 2014 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Lessons Learned from this Experience
That environmental damage from this event is “natural”
and should not be disturbed is a valid position for many.
Many feel that viewing the damage will actually draw
tourists – disaster has economic value long-term.
Once basic services and access are restored, environmental
protection has priority over rebuilding infrastructure.
Altering ecosystems to protect infrastructure is not popular.
As a result infrastructure recovery is delayed.