ObjectivesThe Richter Scale measures the magnitude of a seismic occurrence, but it does not feasibly quantify the magnitude of the “disaster” at the point of impact in real humanitarian needs, based on United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR; Geneva, Switzerland) 2009 Disaster Terminology. A Disaster Severity Index (DSI) similar to the Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale has been formulated; this will quantify needs, holistically and objectively, in the hands of any stakeholders and even across timelines.BackgroundAn agreed terminology in quantifying “disaster” matters; inconsistency in measuring it by stakeholders posed a challenge globally in formulating legislation and policies responding to it.MethodsA quantitative, mathematical calculation which uses the median score percentage of 100% as a baseline, indicating the ability to cope within the local capacity, was used. Seventeen indicators were selected based on the UNISDR 2009 disaster definition of vulnerability and exposure and holistic approach as a pre-condition. The severity of the disaster is defined as the level of unmet needs. Thirty natural disasters were tested, retrospectively, and non-parametric tests were used to test the correlation of the DSI score against the indicators.ResultsThe findings showed that 20 out of 30 natural disasters tested fulfilled the inability to cope, within local capacity in disaster terminology. Non-parametric tests showed that there was a correlation between the 30 DSI scored and the indicators.ConclusionBy computing a median fit percentage score of 100% as the ability to cope, and the correlation of the 17 indicators, in this DSI Scale, 20 natural disasters fitted into the disaster definition. This DSI will enable humanitarian stakeholders to measure and compare the severity of the disaster objectively, as well as enable future response to be based on needs.YewYY, Castro DelgadoR, HeslopDJ, Arcos GonzálezP. The Yew Disaster Severity Index: a new tool in disaster metrics. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(1):8–19.

Introduction:The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of the seismic activity for an earthquake; however, it does not quantify the humanitarian need at the point of impact. This poses a challenge for humanitarian stakeholders in decision and policy making, especially in risk reduction, response, recovery, and reconstruction. The new disaster metrics tool titled “The YEW Disaster Severity Index” (DSI) was developed and presented at the 2017 World Congress of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, May 2017, Toronto, Canada. It uses a median score of three for vulnerability and exposure indicators, a median score percentage of 100%, and medium YEW DSI scoring of four to five as baseline, indicating the ability to cope within local capacity. Therefore, scoring more than baseline coping capacity indicates that external assistance is needed. This special real-time report was presented at the 2nd National Pre-Hospital Care Conference and Championship, October 2018, Malaysia.Report:The aim of this analysis is to present the real-time humanitarian impact and response to the 2018 earthquake and tsunami at Donggala and Palu, Sulawesi in Indonesia using the new disaster metrics YEW DSI. Based on the earthquake (measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale) and tsunami at Donggala, the humanitarian impact calculated on September 29, 2018 scored 7.4 High in the YEW DSI with 11 of the total 17 indicators scoring more than the baseline coping capacity. The same YEW DSI score of 7.4 was scored on the earthquake and tsunami at Palu, with 13 of the total 17 indicators scoring more than baseline ability to cope within local capacity. Impact analysis reports were sent to relevant authorities on September 30, 2018.Discussion & Conclusion:A State of Emergency was declared for a national response, which indicated an inability to cope within the local capacity, shown by the YEW DSI. The strong correlation between the earthquake magnitude, intensities, and the humanitarian impact at Donggala and Palu reported could be added into the science of knowledge in prehospital care and disaster medicine research and practice. As a conclusion, the real-time disaster response was found to be almost an exact fit with the YEW DSI indicators, demonstrating the inability to cope within the local capacity.

Introduction:Jakarta and Semarang are predicted to be engulfed by seawater by 2050, based on evidence by the Copernicus Sentinel-6 satellite. The current sinking rate is reaching almost 20 cm annually in both coastal cities, as reported at the World Economic Conference in May 2022, due to climate change, rising sea levels and excess groundwater extraction leading to land subsidence. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the sinking of both coastal cities of Jakarta and Semarang, using indicators of vulnerability, exposure, and impact by 2050.Method:The YEW Disaster Severity Index (DSI) was used to analyze the impact, vulnerability, and exposure attributed to sinking. Data were obtained from real-time Google, Copernicus Sentinel-6 satellite, and triangulated with United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World bank Data, Government of Indonesia Central Bureau of Statistics, as well as reputable journals.Results:The impact analysis on the sinking of Jakarta and Semarang, calculated in April 2022, using the YEW DSI, scored a High DSI impact of 6.03 and a Moderate DSI impact of 5.76, for each town respectively. Jakarta and Semarang also scored more than 100% baseline ability to cope on the YEW DSI indicators, which accounted for five vulnerability indicators and one exposure indicator of a total 13 million population affected. By 2050, both cities will be 5.6 meters below sea-level, with a constant current sinking of 20 cm per year.Conclusion:At present, vulnerability and exposure of the affected population account for a total of 13 million in both coastal cities. The analysis showed the inability to cope within local capacity, indicating a response is needed. The future of Jakarta and Semarang is in the hands of local, national, and global decisions and policymakers, in mitigating its impact through forest land conservation, adaptation, and relocation of the affected population.

Introduction:Coastal area cities Jakarta and Semarang in Indonesia portray higher hazard that links to an annual sinking rate of up to 20cm. Four main factors have been determined to contribute: groundwater extraction, sea-level rise (SLR), land subsidence, and coastal floods. It accounts for people living in those high-risk regions to prevent the exacerbating situation.Method:This study’s main objective is to generate risk mapping in Jakarta and Semarang using Geographic Information System (GIS) from three open-source websites: Surging Seas, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and Healthsites.io. Through GIS analysis, prediction can be analyzed more accurately with precision when the sinking hits slowly to identify the risks involved.Results:Satellite data geographical analysis risk mapping done via Surging Seas, OpenStreetMap (OSM), and Healthsites.io showed that by 2050, North, West, part of Central Jakarta and Semarang will sink 5.6 meters below sea level with an annual sinking rate up to 20cm. Critical infrastructure will be affected in Jakarta, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Tanjung Priok Port. Similarly, in Semarang, the Jenderal Ahmad Yani International Airport, Tanjung Mas Port, and Terboyo Bus Station are affected as well. Consequently, it will situate 13 million at both coastal cities as the worst impacted, categorized by the World Bank data, updated Sept 2022 as Urban Poverty, the population living at 2.15 US Dollar a day poverty line. Those living below the poverty line are also deprived of education and access to infrastructure, mainly electricity, water and sanitation hygiene indicators measured by the World Bank 2021 and 2022, Multidimensional Poverty Measure.Conclusion:As a conclusion, GIS mapping of Jakarta and Semarang by 2050 using Surging Seas, OpenStreetMap, and Healthsites.io showed a high risk of sinking, especially in the northern areas of both cities, with the mapping done as of April 2022.

Study/Objective: The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of a seismic occurrence, but does not feasibly quantify the magnitude of the "Disaster" at the point of impact in real humanitarian needs based on United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) 2009 Disaster Terminology. A Disaster Severity Index similar to Richter Log Algorithm has been formulated; this will quantify needs, holistically, and objectively, in the hands of any stakeholders and even across timelines. Background: An agreed terminology in quantifying "Disaster" matters, and inconsistency in measuring it by stakeholders, posed a challenge globally in formulating legislation and policies responding to it. Methods: A mathematical calculation which uses the median score percentage of 100% as a baseline, indicating the ability to cope within the local capacity. Seventeen indicators were selected based on the UNISDR 2009 disaster definition of vulnerability and exposure and holistic approach as a precondition. The severity of the disaster is defined as the level of unmet needs. 30 Natural disasters were tested retrospectively and non-parametric tests were used to test the correlation of the Disaster Severity Index scored against the Indicators. Results: The findings showed that 20 out of 30 Natural Disasters tested fulfil the inability to cope within local capacity in Disaster Terminology. Non-parametric tests showed that there is a correlation between the 30 Disaster Severity Index Scored and the Indicators. Conclusion: By computing a median fit percentage score of 100% as the ability to cope, and the correlation of the 17 indicators in this Disaster Severity Index Scale, 20 natural disasters fit into the Disaster definition. This Disaster Severity Index will enable humanitarian stakeholders to measure and compare the severity of the disaster objectively and enable future response to be based on needs. Study/Objective: To review the documented uses of microchips in the medical field, and explore their possible utilisation in the disaster medicine environment. Background: Microchips have a number of non-medical uses in varied fields including banking, retail and the veterinary sectors. In some countries it is mandatory to chip domestic pets to enable identification if they stray from home. Disaster preparedness organisations in the US advocate chipping animals to facilitate post-disaster reunification. To date there is limited data on use of microchips in the field of disaster medicine or the ethical implications of their use. Methods: The authors performed a review of literature indexed in PubMed and the Cochrane Library with no limits on year of publication or language, including both human and animal results. Exploded search terms included "microchip*" Biochip*" "RFID*" "Disaster RFID*" tracking and/or identification. Results: Search strategy yielded 686 citations, with 40 records used in this review, 9 from the veterinary field and 31 from the medical field. These papers suggested multiple existing uses of the microchippin...