This paper deals with the role of insurance for damages from catastrophic events. Prior to the attack of September 11, 2001, insurers typically provided coverage for losses from terrorism and those from almost all other causes. These causes were thought by the industry to be of sufficiently low probability and were not a reason for making changes in premiums, underwriting, or reserves. In times...

Catastrophic storms have been observed to be one of the major elements in shaping the standing structure of marine benthic ecosystems. Yet, little is known about the effect of catastrophic storms on ecosystem processes. Specifically, herbivory is the main control mechanism of macrophyte communities in the Mediterranean, with two main key herbivores: the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the ...

to be collected (such as deaths, injuries, economic loss, people affected). Protocols (or ontologies) for hazard and impact definitions also are needed to ensure compatible loss attribution, particularly for complex events consisting of multiple hazard types. Furthermore, to foster trust, transparency and accountability, the information must be publicly available and curated by accepted bodies,...

Military, governmental, and civilian agencies routinely respond to disasters around the world, including large-scale mass casualty events such as the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005, and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Potential exists for improved coordination of medical response between civilian and military sectors and for the creation of a pla...

Several authors [1–5] have investigated the effect of upright beach chair positioning on cerebral ischemia during shoulder surgery. Their results indicate a reduction in pressure to levels that would be below presyncopal levels for a patient who is awake. Although few catastrophic events have been documented, the increasing evidence that cerebral ischemia occurs with relative frequency is very ...

As it should, the field of disaster research has always been responsive to real-world events. Each disaster raises new questions, calls attention to shortcomings in the existing knowledge base, and prompts new researchers to enter the field. Thus, historically, progress in understanding disaster effects leaps forward after particularly catastrophic or newsworthy events. The September 11, 2001 t...

High-reliability organizations (HROs) are complex and have the potential for catastrophic failures yet operate with few such defects. Examples include; nuclear aircraft carriers, nuclear power plants, and air traffic control. Health care is also a highly complex industry with many catastrophic defects that would benefit from employing the principles of HROs. HRO reliability results from a capab...

N aturallarge (catastrophic) disturbances are important because of their potential long-lasting impact on their surroundings, but underlying differences between frequent small and less common large disturbances are not well understood (Turner and Dale 1997, Romme et al. 1998, Turner and Dale 1998, chapter 4 of this book). Smaller disturbances may be better understood given their relative abunda...

Catastrophic mass casualty events (MCEs), such as pandemic influenza outbreaks, earthquakes, or large-scale terrorism-related events, quickly and suddenly yield thousands of victims whose needs overwhelm local and regional health care systems, personnel, and resources. Such conditions require deploying scarce resources in a manner that is different from the more common multiple casualty event. ...

Mangroves are recognised for their diverse set of ecosystem services, including protection from tropical cyclones and tidal surges. also adapted to withstand disturbances across a range climatic conditions, the frequency severity projected increase in coming years due climate change sea-level rise. The Sundarbans Bangladesh India is one most frequently affected mangrove forests South Asia. We i...