New Orleans is looking for a few good teachers, principals and charter school operators. As state and local officials struggle to rebuild the city devastated by Hurricane Katrina 18 months ago, they are facing a severe shortage of talent willing and able to educate the fast-growing student population. The problem is especially stark in the schools…

Adolescents possess numerous strengths and vulnerabilities based on their unique stage of development. When youth experience a disaster, whether natural or human-caused, there are certain considerations to be taken into account when providing them with support. This article describes common adolescent reactions to the impact phase of disasters as…

Disturbance-generated biomass results from endogenous and exogenous natural and cultural disturbances that affect the health and productivity of forest ecosystems. These disturbances can create large quantities of plant biomass on predictable cycles. A systems analysis model has been developed to quantify aspects of system capacities (harvest,…

The Miscellaneous Studies section of this collection of conference presentations contains the following 22 papers: "Men and Women Journalists in the Movies: Exploration of Some Sexism and Gender Issues in Their Portrayals in Eleven Films" (Albert D. Talbott); "Female Archetypes in Late '80s Films" (Fakhri Haghani); "Chain…

Guidelines to assist local school authorities in the development and implementation of an emergency preparedness program are provided in this booklet. The first part describes the stages and components of an emergency preparation program, some of which include response organization and control, school closing and reopening, communication,…

One of a series of general interest publications on science topics, the booklet provides those interested in earthquakes with an introduction to the subject. Following a section presenting an historical look at the world's major earthquakes, the booklet discusses earthquake-prone geographic areas, the nature and workings of earthquakes, earthquake…

Information to assist the school community develop and adapt a self-sufficient safety program for its school is presented in this workbook. Steps involved in the planning process are outlined in section 2. Section 3 describes how to estimate potential earthquake impact and how to identify hazards. The fourth section discusses what to expect and…

This monograph was developed to provide mental health and other service delivery workers with an overview of conceptual, programmatic, and educational developments in mental health services to disaster victims over the past 10 years. It was written primarily for national policymakers, administrators, and service providers of disaster relief…

Measures such as achievement test scores, school absences, grades, and citizenship were used to examine effects of a 1979 tornado disaster on fourth and fifth graders over a four-year period. Overall results indicated no significant differences between victims, observers of the tornado, and new residents. Related research and implications are…

Examines coverage in two leading United States newspapers of earthquakes in Armenia and Iran. Finds that the newspapers' reportage was more sympathetic (both in the amount and language of coverage) toward Armenia/Soviet Union with whom the United States had friendly relations, than to the earthquake in Iran, a country on unfriendly terms with the…

Discusses the developmental challenges faced by children in wartime and similar circumstances. Reviews studies made in several scenes of conflict from World War II to the present. Adults' political ideologies can be sustaining and supportive but may prolong communal violence and curtail moral development. (DM)

Discusses art therapy interventions with children (n=25) who were victims of the Los Angeles earthquake in 1994. Offers clinical observations about issues most relevant to the trauma, symptomology, and defenses exhibited by children during treatment. (JPS)

Describes the physical losses suffered by various Head Start facilities in the Midwest during the 1993 floods and how program staff helped Head Start children and their families cope with the negative effects of the flood. (HTH)

Reports on curricula adjustments after the 1997 Red River Flood forced schools to end the academic year five weeks early. Fifty-seven teachers from five elementary schools in Grand Forks (North Dakota) answered the study questionnaire. Finds that, following the flood, teachers spent more time reviewing material from the previous year and helping…

In this article, the author discusses a tornado-producing machine that he used in teacher-led, student assisted demonstrations in order to reinforce concepts learned during a unit on weather. The machine, or simulator, was powered by a hair dryer, fan, and cool-mist humidifier. The machine consists of a demonstration table containing a plenum box,…