One of the main purposes of a Hastily Formed Network (HFN) is to provide immediate access to networked voice, data, and video services for as many users as possible. Following terrorist attacks like those in September 2001 or devastating natural disasters like the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 users of the HFN will likely include survivors; first responders; local, state, and federal government agencies; non-government organizations; militaries; and others. These varied users will have different purposes for accessing HFN services; some will require their information to remain private while others will not. These needs for privacy and openness appear to present conflicting requirements: provide unrestricted access for many users but ensure â privacyâ or security of at least some information within the network. The purpose of this thesis is three-fold: first, to explore methodologies for securing the HFN; second, to examine commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products and accepted best practices that provide the necessary security; and third, to provide a limited implementation example and a more robust target architecture that could provide security on the wireless segments while maintaining open access to the HFN and minimizing installation, operation, and maintenance complexity.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Three col. maps in pocket. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-188). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Natural disasters are a part of the ecological system, so they are beyond human control. To reduce devastating effects, researchers in Emergency Management seek to understand the causes and cycles of natural disasters so that warning systems may be improved and better advice may be given to the general public about protecting themselves and their property. Emergency management is a relatively new discipline, so much research is still needed to understand the complex interaction of human activity and the natural environment. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the impact of the 2009 flood on the healthcare system in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, when many health facilities were evacuated. This research is unique because it examined the simultaneous evacuation of multiple healthcare facilities: two Fargo hospitals, all Fargo nursing homes, and the largest Moorhead nursing home. A qualitative approach was used: 27 in-depth interviews were conducted with leaders of the healthcare facilities and other involved parties (e.g., community officials, ambulance providers, public health personnel) to understand their decisions and actions as a record flood triggered evacuations. The researcher found that (1) the healthcare facilities had done minimal pre-planning and preparation for the flood, even though the area had been threatened by previous flooding, and (2) each facility wasted time and resources by working independently to arrange transportation and to locate alternative healthcare facilities to house their patients. The recommendation is made that healthcare facilities coordinate their efforts during natural disasters.

No description available.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Recent events in the United States of America and Pakistan have exposed the shortcomings of existing planning in relief and humanitarian assistance in the face of large-scale natural disasters. This thesis develops a two-stage stochastic optimization model to provide guidance in the pre-positioning of relief units and assets, where budget, physical limitations and logistics are taken into account. Stochastic data include the numbers of survivors in each potential affected area (AA), the amount of commodities that needs to be delivered to each AA and the transportation time from each relief location (which reflects sceanrios where, for example, roads are blocked). As first-stage decisions, we consider the expansion of warehouses, medical facilities and their health care personnel, as well as ramp space to facilitate aircraft supply of commodities to the AAs. The second-stage is a logistic problem respresented as a network, where maximizing expected rescued survivors and delivery of required commodities are the driving goals. This is accomplished through land, air and sea transportation means (e.g., CH-53 helicopters configured for rescue missions), as well as relief workers. The model has been successfully assessed on notional scenarios and is expected to be tested on realistic cases by personnel who are involved in relief planning. / Outstanding Thesis

The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review has emphasized the role of humanitarian assistance missions in winning the Global War on Terror. U.S. Pacific Fleet operates in an area prone to both terrorist recruitment and sudden-onset natural disasters that require humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The U.S. Navy has unique capabilities to deliver first-response humanitarian assistance. This thesis develops and suggests prepositions for humanitarian assistance pack-up kits that contain emergency relief material commonly used in these missions in order to expedite delivery to those impacted by a disaster.

Orientador: Anna Silvia Palcheco Peixoto / Co-orientadora: Ilza Machado Kaiser / Banca: Claudio José Ferreira / Banca: Gustavo Garcia Manzato / Resumo: O debate sobre o aquecimento global nas últimas décadas e também o aumento da frequência e intensidade de acontecimentos extremos causados por eventos hidro-meteorológicos e climatológicos levou a uma maior ênfase em estudos de desastres naturais. No Brasil as secas e as enxurradas são as tipologias mais recorrentes, sendo que a chuva é o evento desencadeador com maior incidência de danos. A análise cruzada de danos e seus fatores geradores relacionados a eventos hidrológicos indica que a chuva intensa é o evento mais preponderante para a ocorrência de desastres naturais relacionados à drenagem. O objetivo do trabalho foi a elaboração do mapa de risco à inundação urbana (alagamento, enchente e enxurrada) da cidade de Bauru e também a comparação entre dados obtidos de pluviômetros automáticos e dados de radar. Os dados de precipitação foram obtidos de pluviômetros automáticos instalados na cidade de Bauru. A probabilidade de ocorrência dos eventos hidrológicos foi estimada pelas equações IDF (intensidade, duração, frequência). Os resultados desta pesquisa foram espacializados e classificados em função de sua severidade verificando-se que eventos com baixo período de retorno geram danos significativos. Foi elaborado um mapa de perigo atribuindo pesos aos fatores ambientais e sociais com o auxílio de SIG (Sistema de Informação Geográfica). O estudo de caso desta pesquisa pode auxiliar os órgãos competentes na implementação de sistemas de alerta precoce e políticas de prevenção. / Abstract: The current debate about global warming in recent decades and also the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events caused by hydro-meteorological and climatological events led to a greater emphasis on natural disasters studies. In Brazil, droughts and floods are the most recurrent typologies, with rain being the main event that causes the majority of the damages. Cross-analysis of damage triggering events related to rain indicates that heavy rain is the most significant event in the occurrence of natural disasters related to drainage. The objective of this research was the elaboration of an urban flooding risk map for Bauru and also the comparison between data of rain gauges and radar. Precipitation data was obtained from rain gauges installed in the city of Bauru. The probability of occurrence of hydrological events was estimated by the IDF (intensity, duration, frequency) equations. The results of this research were spatialized and classified according to its severity and they showed low return events cause significant damage. A map of hazard areas was developed with the help of GIS (Geographic Information System) software. The case study of this research can help the local governments with the implementation of early warning systems and prevention policies. / Mestre

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed on Feb. 22, 2007). PDF text: vii, 119 p. : ill. UMI publication number: AAT 3217587. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in paper, microfilm and microfiche format.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2001. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 134 p. : ill., maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 128-134).

Children are often overlooked in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and children’s use of coping strategies plays an important part in their post-disaster adaptation (Vernberg, La Greca, Silverman, & Prinstein, 1996). The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the coping strategies of children with adequate self-regulation skills and minimal behaviour problems, living in Christchurch following the major 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. This aim was achieved through the use of semi-structured interviews with five seven-year-old children, their parents, and their teachers. These interviews were analysed using Directed Content Analysis and results showed that children most often reported using active and adaptive coping strategies, followed by avoidant strategies. Results in the current literature regarding children’s coping suggest that children exposed to natural disasters are able to utilise strategies that involve some personal control over their environment and emotions, through the use of active and adaptive coping strategies. Findings from this study contribute to the current understanding of children’s use of coping strategies when faced with commonly occurring childhood upsets. Further research is required regarding the outcomes associated with the use of effective coping strategies following traumatic events.