Earthquake-Safe Hospitals
Deep in the basement of Boelter Hall, on a 40-foot by 60-foot floor, five feet thick, UCLA scientists are simulating the effects of earthquakes on specific buildings – from low-level shaking all the way up to the “Big One.” Their goal? More effective and economical seismic retrofitting for our hospitals. <more>
Before the Fire
You really can prevent forest fires. “Fireproofing of homes is important not only for the houses, but also for the forest,” says UCLA professor Michael Ghil. “When you fireproof houses, not only do you help preserve those houses, but you also help limit the spread of fires to a much smaller area.” <more>
After the Fire
Wildfires leave behind much more than ashes. Increased amounts of iron, aluminum and mercury accumulate in watershed systems after a fire. UCLA scientists, studying how this adversely affects downstream water supplies, have already put their research to practical use with the National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. <more>
Print-friendly disaster kit tips
Adults, children, infants – click for instructions on building disaster kits for the whole family.
One Infant or Toddler (0-12 months) (PDF)One Child (1-3 years old) (PDF)One Child (4-10 years old) (PDF)One Adult (or Child over 10 years old) (PDF)
Will you be ready when disaster strikes? Will help arrive in an emergency, and will there be programs to speed recovery?
When it comes to natural disasters, the ways UCLA fulfills its three-part mission of research, education and service draw sharply into focus:
• Research on mitigating the effects of disasters – from helping hospitals withstand earthquakes to testing water safety after a fire
• Educating future leaders worldwide – on building emergency medical systems and leading post-disaster reconstruction
• Serving the community – with disaster drills, plus tools and information to help people prepare
UCLA has a big hand in preparing communities for emergencies – but you are your family’s “first responder.” Be ready: Read on for instructions on building your own disaster kit.
New Orleans Recovery
It may be the greatest urban planning challenge in the U.S. But when New Orleans needed a recovery czar after Hurricane Katrina, it turned to a Bruin – Edward J. Blakely, Ed.D. ’71. <more>
How Do People Get Their Lives Back on Track?
Fortuitously timed population data – combined with good old-fashioned sleuthing and the latest technology – are giving UCLA researchers a better look at what’s happening to Indonesians since the 2004 tsunami than after any disaster in scientific literature. What they find may revolutionize how we help people on the road to recovery. <more> (PDF)
Teaching Emergency Medicine to the World
He dreamt of being the “father of emergency medicine,” and of helping “in the development of the emergency medical system in Kenya and within the sub-Saharan region.” To learn how, Dr. Charles Otieno enrolled in UCLA’s School of Public Health.
<more> (PDF)
