NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Reducing Loss of Life and Property from Disasters: A Societal Benefit Area of the Strategic Plan for U.S. Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS).
- File
- PB2007112151.pdf
- Author(s)
- Helz, R. L.; Gaynor, J. E.
- Source
- January 2007, 65 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- USGS-OFR-2007-1147
- Abstract
- Natural and technological disasters, such as hurricanes and other extreme weather events, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and debris flows, wildland and urbaninterface fires, floods, oil spills, and spaceweather storms, impose a significant burden on society. Throughout the United States, disasters inflict many injuries and deaths, and cost the nation $20 billion each year (SDR, 2003). Disasters in other countries can affect U.S. assets and interests overseas (e.g. the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines, which effectively destroyed Clark Air Force Base). Also, because they have a disproportionate impact on developing countries, disasters are major barriers to sustainable development. Improving our ability to assess, predict, monitor, and respond to hazardous events is a key factor in reducing the occurrence and severity of disasters, and relies heavily on the use of information from welldesigned and integrated Earth observation systems. To fully realize the benefits gained from the observation systems, the information derived must be disseminated through effective warning systems and networks, with products tailored to the needs of the end users and the general public.
- Keywords
- Predict; Monitor; Respond; Natural disasters; Earth observation systems; Disasters; Assess; Hazardous events; Technological disasters; Warning systems; Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS)