Farewell!
Dear Readers,

We are pleased to offer you this issue of Asian Disaster Management News on flood preparedness and management. Even with increased focus on forecasting and early warning systems, preparedness and mitigation measures, and advanced planning of emergency relief and response, floods continue to pose a major threat to regional development. On the one hand, rapid environmental degradation and haphazard development of the built environment seem to have exacerbated the severity of flood hazard; and on the other, settlements of communities and businesses in floodplains have increased exposure. Rising losses from flood disasters have sparked new initiatives at sub-regional and national levels. One notable example is a recent initiative of the Mekong River Commission (MRC). Following extensive floods in Cambodia and Vietnam in 2000, MRC has developed a holistic strategy on flood management and mitigation that focuses on land-use planning, structural measures, flood preparedness and emergency response. In South Asia, in the Ganga-Meghna-Brhamaputra basin, the International Center for Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its national partners, is leading a regional flood management initiative. At the national level, countries like Vietnam are taking long-term initiatives to address the problem. Vietnam has undertaken a massive effort, steered largely by in-country expertise, to formulate a 20-year strategic plan for disaster mitigation and management.

In this issue, we have showcased a few examples and theoretical underpinnings of flood preparedness and mitigation work. While it covers a small part of the spectrum of issues around flood preparedness and management, we hope that you will find this issue useful.

On a more personal side, this will be my last issue as the editor of Asian Disaster Management News. After having served ADPC for six years, and after having lived in Thailand – which has become my second home – for nearly eight years, I will be returning home to India. Based in Delhi, I will work as the Regional Disaster Reduction Advisor to UNDP. ADPC is a superb organization. I have grown here tremendously and I will greatly miss working here. As I relocate back to Delhi, I remain committed to the vision and mission of the Center. In my new position, I hope to remain intensively involved with the regional disaster management community, of which I have enjoyed so much being a part. 

From the next issue onwards, my colleague Aloysius (Loy) Rego will take up the editorship of this publication. With continued involvement of the rest of the team and guidance from the editorial panel, I am sure that this quarterly will not only continue to serve its traditional functions, but also thrive in new directions.

With these words, I take a bow,

Kamal Kishore

Warm Farewell …
Our Deputy Executive Director, David Hollister, recently left ADPC after serving the Center for over ten years. Dave, an inspiring leader, dear colleague, friend to all, and mentor to many, will be missed by all of us and our extended regional family. We would like to share with our readers an excerpt from Dave’s farewell message on the eve of his departure.

I leave Bangkok for a new life in America with my wife Beth and sons Tom and Sam. I intend to rebuild my career as a small town architect working in the hometown of my extended family and many old friends. I hope this will give my sons a much-needed opportunity to put down roots in their home country and develop deeper relationships with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. I also hope that it will give us, as a family, a simpler life where we will be able to spend more time together.

One of the good things about leaving now is my sense of departing from a strong and independent ADPC, ready to face future challenges and opportunities. I know you will be successful because you are in the good and capable hands of Dr Suvit. My sincere thanks go to Dr Suvit for the opportunity to work as his deputy for the last several years. I have learned much from him while I tried to do my best to help him lead ADPC into its independent future. I must also thank Brian for welcoming me into ADPC as a program coordinator over ten years ago, and for the steadfast guidance he provides so freely and lovingly to us all.

The most meaningful part of my life at ADPC is the love and caring you have all personally demonstrated. It has humbled me and made me deeply thankful for the honor of developing deep and lasting friendships as we worked together through good times and bad to make ADPC what it has become today.

I am and always will be loyally and sincerely yours,

Dave