UB Undergraduate Academies- Spotlight on the Weekly Themes: Extreme Events: February 23-27, 2009

LEARN MORE ABOUT WEEKLY THEME

What are “Extreme Events”?

The UB2020 Strategic Strength (see below) defines extreme events as: “those that have a sudden onset, cause mass casualties and destruction, and have a major impact on facilities and lifelines.” (http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archives/vol37/vol37n11/articles/ExtremeRetreat.html)

Such events would include:

Earthquakes

Volcanic Eruptions

Hurricanes

Tsunamis

Tornadoes

Terrorist Attacks

Disease Epidemics (ex. SARS)

These are events which, according to the UB2020 Group affect the following priority areas: building systems and nonstructural systems, lifeline systems, health and medical systems, and decisions and planning. (http://www.buffalo.edu/ubreporter/archives/vol37/vol37n11/articles/ExtremeRetreat.html)

UB 2020 Strategic Strength: Extreme Events: Mitigation and Response
“As human populations grow and become increasingly urbanized, we face growing risks from natural and human-caused hazards. These hazards include hurricanes and terrorist attacks, to name but two recent examples. The challenges posed by extreme events of this nature are diverse in character and resistant to simple solutions. This Strategic Strength focuses on mitigation and response to extreme events; that is, to events that pose grave risks to human populations and that occur as brief, abrupt episodes that are separated in time by intervals of relatively much longer duration….. This Strategic Strength brings together experts from a broad spectrum of departments at UB, including engineering, the natural and social sciences, management, and the Medical School.”
Read more and learn how faculty at UB are involved in extreme events research: http://www.buffalo.edu/ub2020/strengths/extreme.html

Who is involved in extreme events response and mitigation?

Extreme events response and mitigation involves many different academic and scientific disciplines, including:

Engineering

Geology

Psychology/Psychiatry (mental-health)

Public Health

Medicine

Management

Architecture and Urban Planning

Social Sciences (such as Political Science, Sociology)

Communication

Social Work

and more...

Such a broad range of contributors are necessary to understand and manage all of the different infrastructural and human factors that are affected by extreme events, which affect buildings, transportation, physical and mental health, provision of services, utilities, decision-making, etc.

UB INVOLVEMENT IN CURRENT EVENTS- CRASH OF FLIGHT 3407

**University at Buffalo Expert Sources Available to Comment on Crash of Continental Flight

"UB experts are available to speak with the media on aspects of the crash of Continental Flight 3407, including ice build-up, traumatic grief counseling, the effectiveness of emergency efforts and coverage of the crash in the social media....UB Police were called to the scene of the crash and assisted on-site security; they also assisted the Transit Police with escorting the bus carrying family members of the victims from the airport to aid center established in Cheektowaga. " Read the rest of this article at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=99060009

**U.B. Grad Students Help in Identifying Crash Victims

"They've been at the crash site, assisting members of the Erie County Medical Examiner's office in identifying the remains of the victims of flight 3407."

Read this article here: http://www.wgrz.com/news/breaking/story.aspx?storyid=64227&catid=298