@article {bnh-7817, title = {The lived experience of disadvantaged communities affected by the 2015 South Indian Floods: Implications for disaster risk reduction dialogue}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, year = {2021}, month = {01/2021}, abstract = {

Poverty and discrimination compound vulnerability to disasters. Yet, people who experience these are some of the least involved groups in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) dialogue and research. This study aims to fill that gap by narrating the lived experience of underprivileged flood-affected communities. We conducted in-depth interviews (N=48) with community members (n=36) and staff members of collaborating non-governmental organisations (n=12). We also conducted focus group discussions with staff members of the same NGOs. The results describe how systemic issues entrenched with socio-economic and cultural factors impact a community{\textquoteright}s ability to prepare for floods. These communities received no warning or timely evacuation messages, and perceived the received support as inadequate and unfair. Communities recovered through their resourcefulness and thoughtfulness. They resented the government for its lack of action throughout the disaster cycle. Priorities for future efforts involve actively engaging these vulnerable groups and tailoring DRR activities for them.

}, keywords = {Discrimination, DRR, Flood, Poverty, Social Vulnerability, Vulnerability}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102046}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420921000121}, author = {Revathi Krishna and Kevin Ronan and Caroline Spencer and Eva Alisic} } @article {bnh-6781, title = {Final report on vulnerability of as-built and retrofitted LDRC buildings}, number = {551}, year = {2020}, month = {03/2020}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Previous Bushfire and Natural Hazard CRC (BNH CRC) reports have presented the fragility curves for reinforced concrete buildings that are supported by reinforced concrete walls and moment resisting frames, and the fragility curves for this type of buildings with four retrofitting options. This study presents the vulnerability curves for these buildings presented in terms of damage factor, which is the ratio of the repair cost to the replacement cost for the buildings. This report contributes to the project {\textquotedblleft}Cost-effective mitigation strategy development for building related earthquake risk{\textquotedblright} which is aimed to develop knowledge to facilitate evidence-based informed decision making in relation to the need for seismic retrofitting, revision of codified design requirement, and insurance policy.

}, keywords = {as-built, buildings, retrofit, Vulnerability}, issn = {551}, author = {Elisa Lumantarna and Nelson Lam and Hing-Ho Tsang and Emad F Gad and John Wilson} } @article {bnh-6868, title = {Vulnerability assessment of bridges subjected to extreme cyclonic events}, journal = {Natural Hazards}, year = {2020}, month = {04/2020}, abstract = {

Over the past few years, Queensland in Australia has suffered from a number of severe tropical cyclones, the most recent one being Marcia, which took place in 2015. Damage bill of Cyclone Marcia exceeded $50 million which included the cost of repairing a number of damaged road structures. Failure of road structures such as bridges isolates communities from accessing essential services and commodities. This necessitated a methodical approach to evaluate the failure of bridges to improve their resilience and provide base knowledge for developing emergency maintenance response. Although there are several methods available to evaluate the vulnerability of bridges, fault tree analysis (FTA) was selected in this study by considering its positive attributes over the other methods. FTA was used to estimate the probabilities of failure of main components (superstructure and substructure) and elements of timber and concrete bridges. Secondary data (level 1 and level 2 bridge inspection reports from Transport Main Roads in Rockhampton) before and after the Cyclone Marcia were used in conjunction with expert advice to construct fault trees for both timber and concrete bridges. Potential failure mechanisms were observed, and the degree of susceptibility of main components of timber and concrete bridges to cyclonic events was evaluated. This research was based on selected bridges under specific cyclone in one region, which is a limitation of the study. Few other case study bridges subjected to cyclonic events can be used to strengthen the understanding of the complete dynamics of the bridge failure under these extreme events.

}, keywords = {bridge failure, cyclone, fault tree analysis, preventative maintenance, Vulnerability}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-03931-y}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11069-020-03931-y$\#$citeas}, author = {Thilini Pathiranage and Weena Lokuge} } @conference {bnh-6505, title = {Are we future ready? It depends on who you ask }, booktitle = {AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ - Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, publisher = {Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}, organization = {Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

The key problem faced in preparing for future disasters is a problem of imagination. It is a problem embedded in the stories we tell about what we imagine might happen. These stories tend to focus on a {\textquoteleft}bell curve{\textquoteright} distribution of disaster events, combining our own lived experience with the stories of others. This combination of personal experiences and the stories of others forms the basis of our perception of risk and vulnerability. This is a dynamic and ongoing process. The story is never finished, nor is it complete, as we selectively incorporate or reject information depending on its source, content and compatibility with the existing narrative.

The existing narrative for natural hazard management incorporates perceptions of probability; generally, {\textquoteleft}disaster consequences will tend to hover close to the mean and every now and then we will be tested{\textquoteright}. As the volume of hazards grows the narrative is more deeply imbued with concepts of coping and {\textquoteleft}lessons learned{\textquoteright}. If certain narratives are allowed to flourish uncontested within an organisation an ironic consequence can be a failure of imagination and coping. A failure to be future ready.

This paper is a discussion about the extent to which we{\textquoteright}re future ready using the Johari window as a heuristic and reflecting on a case study from Indonesia.

Download the full peer reviewed research proceedings\ from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forumhere.

}, keywords = {Emergency management, future disasters, risk management, Vulnerability}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Sutton, S and Paton, Douglas and Burgelt , Petra T. and Ella Meilianda and Saut Sagala} } @conference {bnh-6408, title = {Denaturalising heatwaves: gendered social vulnerability in urban heatwaves, a review }, booktitle = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Day AFAC19}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Heatwaves are dangerous and have killed more people in Australia than all other climate related disasters combined. Urban environments are considered especially vulnerable to heatwaves due to the Urban Heat Island effect. Increasing death rates from heatwaves are predicted to become one of Australia{\textquoteright}s most detrimental impacts of climate change (IPPC 2014) with major implications for emergency services and public policy development. The catastrophic dimensions of heatwave mortality are not spread evenly across society but are concentrated among specific population groups. Older people, especially women, are overrepresented in heatwave related excess mortality statistics internationally. Using a critical perspective, this paper aims to present a literature review exploring current research on social vulnerability of older women during urban heatwaves. It will illustrate how heatwave vulnerability is largely socially constructed through the intersection of deeply entrenched gender inequality with systemic socio-economic disadvantage. The review will highlight the need for heatwave intervention to be guided by a social justice perspective, to avoid older, poorer women becoming the shock absorbers of the climate crisis. This paper is part of my PhD research project at Monash University: {\textquoteleft}Denaturalising heatwaves: gendered social vulnerabilities in urban heatwaves and the use of public cool spaces as a primary heat health measure{\textquoteright}. The research has ethics approval.

}, keywords = {Climate change, deaths, heatwaves, urban, Vulnerability}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Margareta Windisch} } @conference {bnh-6506, title = {Flood vulnerability functions: detailed vs generalised approach }, booktitle = {AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ - Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, publisher = {Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}, organization = {Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Flood vulnerability functions for buildings (often called stage-damage functions) relate flood damage to the depth of inundation in the building. These functions are generally used in assessing flood risk and in evaluating cost-effective mitigation strategies for flood risk management. Flood vulnerability models are usually developed for a certain location by following empirical, analytical or heuristic procedures. They can be developed for a representative building type (detailed approach) or representing a mix of building types (generalised approach).

Geoscience Australia (GA) has developed a suite of flood vulnerability functions for a range of building types (detailed approach) that covers residential, commercial, industrial and community building land use types. These functions are best used in detailed micro level studies and are applicable to the highest resolution of building exposure information with flood vulnerability directly attributed to individual buildings.

This paper describes research with the National Flood Risk Advisory Group (NFRAG), the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), state and local governments and industry to translate detailed vulnerability information into practical guidance for flood risk managers undertaking studies under the floodplainspecific management process as outlined in the AIDR Handbook, Managing the Floodplain: A Guide to Best Practice in Flood Risk Management.

This research derives generalised vulnerability functions for a mix of building and land use types. The generalised curves can be utilised at meso or macro level study and are intended to be applied at a resolution of built environment information readily available to floodplain managers.

Download the full peer reviewed research proceedings\ from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forumhere.

}, keywords = {emergency management., Floods, land use, risk management, Vulnerability}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Maqsood, T and Dale, K and Mark Edwards and Krishna Nadimpalli} } @conference {bnh-6412, title = {Joining the dots: using social media to connect with more vulnerable Victorians during emergencies}, booktitle = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Day AFAC19}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

An ongoing challenge for emergency, government, and community organisations is {\textquoteleft}how can social media (social media) be best used to connect with people who may be considered more vulnerable during an emergency event?{\textquoteright} This question has three key elements. First, when using the term vulnerable who might we be referring to? Second, how is social media being used by relevant organisations and vulnerable community members? Third, how might we better use social media to connect to the more vulnerable sections of the community? This paper reports on findings from recently completed research funded by Emergency Management Victoria. This research is unique in that it combines insights and perspectives from: interviews with emergency, government and community organisations; analysis of social media postings; and interviews and a survey of community members.

Our research noted that most organisations have developed a more nuanced perspective of the term vulnerable, one which takes account of contextual and temporal factors and recognises that all Victorians are periodically vulnerable. Interviews highlighted that organisations, community groups, and vulnerable sections of the community operate in a complex informational and social media landscape. Moreover, this landscape continues to develop with changing boundaries between actors, and organisations{\textquoteright} evolving roles. Analysis of social media highlighted that the messaging was generic, with little content aimed at vulnerable sections of the community. The research also investigated how vulnerable people used social media during emergencies. Findings included a growing expectation from community members on the use of social media by emergency and government organisations and that community members increasingly prefer to obtain information from community groups on social media.

The research provides a range of suggestions to improve effective use of social media to better meet the needs of vulnerable persons during emergencies. These included the use of communities of practice, education of social media users, development of practice guidelines, standard setting, and monitoring.

}, keywords = {communications, community, social media, Vulnerability, Warnings}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Peter Hayes and Stan Karanasios and Vanessa Cooper and Marta Poblet} } @conference {bnh-6027, title = {Mitigating earthquake risk in Australia}, booktitle = {2019 Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Annual NZSEE Conference}, year = {2019}, month = {09/2019}, abstract = {

Earthquake risk is not limited to tectonic plate boundary countries. While less frequent, significant earthquakes can occur in intraplate countries like Australia which can have severe consequences. For Australia this is particularly the case as earthquake hazard has not been recognised in the design of buildings and community infrastructure for most of the country{\textquoteright}s settled history. Significant risks exist where community assets are by their nature inherently vulnerable to strong ground shaking. This paper describes three initiatives that are assisting Australian emergency management, infrastructure managers and local government to prepare for and mitigate these risks.

The first of these highlights how the characteristics of geological hazards differ from severe meteorological hazards. The very non-linear nature of impact severity with longer average recurrence interval earthquakes is demonstrated and how this information is supporting emergency management planning including capacity sharing between Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in the region is described. Secondly, the paper describes how this research is developing knowledge of the factors behind the vulnerability of critical infrastructure facilities and the options to mitigate these. The software tool System for Infrastructure Facility Resilience Analysis (SIFRA) is described which enables infrastructure facility components to be examined in the context of physical vulnerability, system criticality, repair cost and restoration time. Finally, a utilisation project of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC working with the local government of York Shire in Western Australia (WA) is described. The project is providing information on the effectiveness of targeted retrofit of the heritage town of York to rare earthquakes and how this action by property owners can be incentivised.

}, keywords = {earthquake, mitigation, Vulnerability}, url = {http://db.nzsee.org.nz/2019/Oral/8C.05\%20Edwards.pdf}, author = {Mark Edwards and Muhamman Rahman and Hyeuk Ryu and Martin Wehner and Neil Corby and Michael Griffith and Jaroslav Vaculik} } @conference {bnh-6407, title = {Modelling the vulnerability of a high-set house roof structure to windstorms using VAWS }, booktitle = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Day AFAC19}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Modelling the vulnerability of houses in windstorms is important for insurance pricing, policy-making, and emergency management. Vulnerability models for Australian house types have been developed since the 1970s and have ranged from empirical models to more advanced reliability based structural engineering models, which provide estimates of damage for a range of wind speeds of interest. This paper describes recent developments in the engineering based vulnerability modelling software: {\textquoteleft}Vulnerability and Adaption to Wind Simulation{\textquoteright} (VAWS), which uses probability based reliability analysis and structural engineering for the loading and response coupled with an extensive test database and field damage assessments to calculate the damage experienced by selected Australian house types. A case study is presented to demonstrate the program{\textquoteright}s ability to model progressive failures, internal pressurization and debris impact.

}, keywords = {debris, simulation, structures, VAWs, Vulnerability, wind}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Korah Parackal and Martin Wehner and Hyeuk Ryu and John Ginger and Daniel Smith and David Henderson and Mark Edwards} } @conference {bnh-6384, title = {Modelling the vulnerability of old URM buildings and the benefit of retrofit}, booktitle = {Australian Earthquake Engineering Society 2019 Conference}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, abstract = {

The Shire of York is partnering with the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), the University of Adelaide and Geoscience Australia in a collaborative project that will examine the opportunities for reducing the vulnerability of the township of York to a major earthquake. The project forms part of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Collaborative Research Centre (BNHCRC) project {\textquotedblleft}Cost-effective Mitigation Strategy Development for Building Related Earthquake Risk{\textquotedblright}. The township of York has a number of valuable historical buildings that contribute greatly to the town{\textquoteright}s economic prosperity and, at the same time, are vulnerable to earthquakes.

One of the benefits of retrofitting an old building is the reduction in physical building repair required following a damaging earthquake. To evaluate this benefit it is necessary to know the vulnerability of the unmitigated building and how this changes following retrofit.

This paper describes the approach taken to quantitatively estimate the vulnerability of unmitigated and retrofitted pre-WW1 unreinforced masonry (URM)buildings typical of the buildings found in York. Challenges in estimating vulnerability are discussed. Vulnerability curves are presented for one of six generic building types subjected to a range of retrofit scenarios and the economic benefit of each retrofit scenario is presented and discussed.

}, keywords = {earthquake, retrofit, URM, Vulnerability}, url = {https://aees.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/02-Mark-Edwards.pdf}, author = {Mark Edwards and Martin Wehner and Hyeuk Ryu and Michael Griffith and Jaroslav Vaculik} } @conference {bnh-6508, title = {School-based bushfire education: advancing teaching and learning for risk reduction and resilience}, booktitle = {AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ - Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, publisher = {Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}, organization = {Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

In response to Recommendation 6 of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, the topic of bushfire has been incorporated into the Australian school curriculum. To support the implementation of this new curriculum content, fire agencies and education authorities have invested in a range of bushfire education programs and resources. Research in the field of school-based bushfire education has also intensified. Drawing on key findings from a suite of recent Australian studies, this paper outlines two key elements of effective school-based bushfire education that have the potential to advance teaching and learning for risk reduction and resilience. The first is a holistic risk framework that builds children{\textquoteright}s conceptual understanding of bushfire risk as a socioenvironmental phenomenon that derives from the interaction a physical hazard, the vulnerability of exposed people and assets, and the capacities people possess for disaster risk reduction. The second is a place-based pedagogy of bushfire risk, which grounds teaching and learning in the socioenvironmental contexts of children{\textquoteright}s lives.\  The paper concludes with some key recommendations for the continued development of good practice in this emergent field.

Download the full non-peer reviewed research proceedings\ from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forumhere.

}, keywords = {Bushfire, education, resilience, risk management, risk reduction, schools, Vulnerability}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Briony Towers} } @article {bnh-5623, title = {Describing adaptation tipping points in coastal flood risk management}, journal = {Computers, Environment and Urban Systems}, volume = {69}, year = {2018}, month = {05/2018}, abstract = {

Assessing changing coastal flood risk becomes increasingly uncertain across multi-decadal timeframes. This uncertainty is a fundamental complexity faced in\ vulnerability\ assessments and adaptation planning. Robust decision making (RDM) and dynamic adaptive policy pathways (DAPP) are two\ state-of-the-artdecision support\ methods that are useful in such situations. In this study we use RDM to identify a small set of conditions that cause unacceptable impacts from\ coastal flooding, signifying that an adaptation tipping point is reached. Flexible adaptation pathways can then be designed using the DAPP framework. The methodology is illustrated using a case study in Australia and underpinned by a\ geographic information system\ model. The results suggest that conditions identified in scenario discovery direct the attention of decision-makers towards a small number of uncertainties most influential on the vulnerability of a community to changing flood patterns. This can facilitate targeted data collection and coastal\ monitoring activities\ when resources are scarce. Importantly, it can also be employed to illustrate more broadly how uncontrolled\ societal development, land use and historic building regulations might exacerbate flood impacts in low-lying urban areas. Notwithstanding the challenges that remain around\ simulation modelling and\ detection of\ environmental change, the results from our study suggest that RDM can be embedded within a DAPP framework to better plan for changing coastal flood risks.

}, keywords = {adaptation, Climate change, Inundation, Tipping point, uncertainty, Vulnerability}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2018.01.002}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0198971517304520}, author = {Timothy Ramm and Christopher Stephen Watson and Christopher J. White} } @mastersthesis {bnh-5390, title = {Acknowledging local sociality in disaster recovery: a longitudinal, qualitative study}, year = {2017}, school = {Macquarie University}, address = {Sydney}, abstract = {

Formal recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts put in place in response to major disaster events are designed to redevelop infrastructure and services for, and improve the longer-term safety of, the affected populations. However, these efforts often rely on top-down approaches that neglect the impact on and the presence of local people{\textquoteright}s everyday lives in and with their communities (local sociality). As a result, top-down recovery and reconstruction approaches may misjudge engagement with disaster-impacted communities. Existing and emerging power-relations tend to influence the aims and processes of the recovery and marginalise the voices of the affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable.

This thesis explores these issues in four case studies: the towns of St George and Grantham, in Queensland, Australia, both of which were severely impacted by flooding events between 2010 and 2012, and the Japanese towns of Koizumi and Namie, which sustained devastating damage from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and in the case of Namie, contamination from the Fukushima nuclear reactor in 2011. This study identifies a critical coherence in the human, social and political issues and challenges across all study areas, despite differences in the country, physical attributes of the hazards, types of damage and responses. In particular, the commonality identified across four different cases illuminate the importance of local sociality that is highly valued by the disaster-impacted people but often overlooked or downplayed by others.

The adopted qualitative, longitudinal research approach using semi-structured interviews through multiple site visits captured and identified long-term impacts and transitions in each study area involving individuals, households, local community groups, support persons and organisations and government officials.

}, keywords = {Australia, community, development, disaster relief, Japan, recovery, resilience, Vulnerability}, doi = {http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/1260629}, url = {http://minerva.mq.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/mq:70138}, author = {Tetsuya Okada} } @article {bnh-2755, title = {Examining bushfire policy in action: Preparedness and behaviour in the 2009 Black Saturday fires}, journal = {Environmental Science \& Policy}, volume = {63}, year = {2016}, month = {09/2016}, chapter = {55}, abstract = {

An important part of reducing the risk of disaster is the preparedness of the people at risk. Australian bushfire authorities have policies and publicity about what households should do to be prepared {\textendash} which include knowledge about fire risk, awareness of one{\textquoteright}s own risk, taking specific steps to reduce risk including having an emergency plan. Yet, there is sparse empirical evidence about the link between preparedness and actual behaviour in the face of a major disaster.

The authors had an opportunity to examine the circumstances surrounding the 172 civilian fatalities which occurred in the 2009 Victorian {\textquoteleft}Black Saturday{\textquoteright} bushfires, through the examination of a detailed fatality dataset compiled by the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. This dataset allows detailed examination of Victorian bushfire safety policy ({\textquoteleft}Stay or go{\textquoteright}) in action on a day of extreme fire danger: from preparedness (both before and on the day of the fire) to behaviour on the day of the fire itself.

This analysis presents three overarching findings. First, some aspects of {\textquoteleft}Stay or go{\textquoteright} appear to be supported: being well-prepared to evacuate remains the safest option in a bushfire; sheltering passively is very dangerous. Second, successful implementation of {\textquoteleft}Stay or go{\textquoteright} depends on a multitude of factors, which can challenge even the most capable householders. Third, events like Black Saturday challenge the {\textquoteleft}Stay or go{\textquoteright} approach, and indicate the need for a different approach on extreme fire danger days. We conclude by reflecting on the findings from this research in terms of the most recent changes to bushfire policy in Victoria.

}, keywords = {Behaviour, Preparedness, Safety policy, Vulnerability, Wildfire}, doi = {doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2016.05.011}, url = {http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1T6tW5Ce0rOF7M}, author = {John Handmer and O{\textquoteright}Neill, Saffron J} } @article {bnh-1950, title = {Vulnerability of Floodways under Extreme Flood Events}, journal = {Natural Hazards Review}, volume = {17}, year = {2015}, month = {13/07/2015}, abstract = {

Floodways are commonly used in rural road networks due to the economic and environmental benefits offered as a low-cost and practical road crossing in flood-prone areas. They are designed with provision for submergence so that water flows over with minimum impediment to flow, at a probability given design flood. The floodway design process is traditionally governed by hydraulic aspects rather than structural aspects. Hydrological condition, availability of material, and familiarity of construction techniques are significant when selecting the floodway type. Nevertheless, extreme conditions can cause significant damage to floodways, as was evident from the 2011 and 2013 Queensland flood events, during which 58\% of floodways in the Lockyer Valley Regional Council (LVRC) area in Queensland, Australia, which is the case study area of this paper, were damaged, causing huge economic lost at council and national level. This created a new track in research and development activities to assess vulnerability and to find methods for improving the resilience of floodways during extreme flood events. In line with this, the present study evaluates local design guidelines and damaged floodways to assess failure modes and severity of damage using a damage index (DI) method.

}, keywords = {Damage index, Damage severity, Design guidelines, Flood, Floodway, Vulnerability}, issn = {1527-6996}, doi = {10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000194}, url = {http://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000194}, author = {Buddhi Wahalathantri and Weena Lokuge and Karu Karunasena and Sujeeva Setunge} } @article {bnh-1658, title = {Exploring 167 years of vulnerability: An examination of extreme heat events in Australia 1844{\textendash}2010}, journal = {Environmental Science and Policy}, volume = {42}, year = {2014}, month = {10/2014}, pages = {33-44}, chapter = {33}, abstract = {

Despite their relative importance in terms of human mortality, extreme heat events have not attracted the same level of study compared with other natural hazards in regards to vulnerability and implications for emergency management and policy change. Definitional confusion and inconsistencies in defining heat related deaths over time have made it difficult to determine an absolute death toll. Notwithstanding these issues, this study employs PerilAUS {\textendash} Risk Frontiers{\textquoteright} database of natural hazard event impacts {\textendash} in combination with official sources in an attempt to provide a lower-bound estimate of heat-associated deaths in Australia since European settlement. From 1844 to 2010, extreme heat events have been responsible for at least 5332 fatalities in Australia and, since 1900, 4555: more than the combined total of deaths from all other natural hazards. Over 30\% of those deaths occurred in just nine events.

Both deaths and death rates (per unit of population) fluctuate widely but show an overall decrease with time. The male to female death-rate ratio has fluctuated and approaches but does not reach equality in more recent times. In line with other studies, seniors have been the most vulnerable age group overall, with infants also over-represented. Policy implications in view of a warming climate and an ageing population are discussed.

}, keywords = {Extreme heat event, Heat waves, Mortality statistics, Natural disasters, Vulnerability}, doi = {doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2014.05.003}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901114000999}, author = {Coates, Lucinda and Katharine Haynes and James O{\textquoteright}Brien and John McAneney and Felipe Dimer de Oliveira} }