Disasters

Discussion 15 posts |  Only members can post. Join?

About Disasters

We've seen new flickr groups pop up for specific disasters including 9-11, the S.E. Asian tsunami of December 2004, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, various earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and other disasters around the world.

This group is to serve as a general forum for photos and discussions of all major disasters. Whenever a disaster occurs, all people who are concerned are welcome to join.

USEFUL LINKS:
* Google news search for disaster news (Excellent for the latest disaster news)
* The Disaster Center (General current disaster info)
* ReliefWeb (Disaster info, aimed at relief organizations)
* Earth Observatory: Natural Hazards (amazing satellite photos)
* World Weather Information Service (coverage of global weather)
* NOAA National Hurricane Center (U.S.)
* Hurricane & Storm Tracking
* Global Volcanism Program
* Red Cross/Red Crescent
* American Red Cross (U.S.)
* Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (U.S.)
* USAID (U.S.)
* AusAID (Australia)
* 日本赤十字社 (Japanese Red Cross Society) (Japan)
* Oxfam
* Salvation Army
* Islamic Relief Worldwide
* UNICEF
* World Health Organization
* U.N. World Food Program
* Humane Society of the U.S. (animal rescues)
* United Animal Nations (animal rescues)
* International Animal Rescue
Note: Some of the relief organizations above originate in one nation, but most of them deal with relief efforts globally.


Defining "disaster": For the purposes of this group, "disasters" are generally large-scale events that threaten, damage and kill. They're the sorts of events that make international news: hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, tornados, large floods, large forest fires, volcanic eruptions, etc.

Some events may walk the fine line of qualifying as a disaster. For example, a major blizzard. In uncertain cases, you're left to your own judgment. Generally, if many people are endangered, evacuated, or trapped by the event, it qualifies as a disaster.

Although most disasters (for our purposes) are natural, some man-made events qualify. Major acts of terrorism qualify, such as 9-11, bombings of embassies, or major accidents such as large chemical spills, train derailments, crashes of passenger jets, industrial fires/explosions, etc.

This group is a general place where people can come together for any disasters, past or present, to share photos and talk.

Please note: This is not a political argument forum. Please avoid excessive debates, particularly of a political nature. This group is intended primarily for expressions of sympathy, empathy, support, as well as grief, loss, and determination. It is not intended for political debates. Please be a human being while here, not a political agent.