BergerWorld: 2nd Quarter 2004

The El Niño weather pattern of 1997-98 brought especially severe weather to Peru. Although Peruvians are accustomed to dealing with such climate changes, the torrential rains which dropped five to six inches of rain per day eventually led the Piura River to overflow its banks. Many families were trapped on their roofs by the swift moving water and had to be evacuated by boat or helicopter. Following this tragedy, the Ministry of Economics and Finances sought to develop improved systems to predict meteorological events and provide authorities adequate time to mobilize.

Through funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Berger worked with the Office of Investment to strengthen Peru's Civil Defense System (CDS). Following extensive studies of the structure, responsibilities and operating procedures of the CDS, the Team designed a program to strengthen the organization through institutional restructuring and extensive training in the technical, social, environmental and economic aspects of disaster recovery. The Team also led seminars to improve Peru's disaster management capacity and assisted CDS officials in implementing the restructuring process.

The El Niño event of 1997 also effected Europe indirectly and caused heavy rains which swamped towns and cities across nearly 10 percent of Poland. Many residents were stranded as floodwaters inundated the first floors of homes, swept away more than 200 bridges and left thousands homeless. This disaster, Poland's worst flood in the 20th century, was blamed for 55 deaths and millions of dollars in property damage. As the flood waters receded, Polish authorities began a three-phase program to provide basic necessities and relief to families affected by the floods, repair damaged infrastructure and develop long-term initiatives to mitigate future floods.

Along with Sogreah, Berger team members assisted officials from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) to upgrade Poland's System for Emergency Meteorology and Flood Hazard Warning. This system involves a complex network of national and local government agencies and disaster relief groups across Poland and Central Europe. Achieving a high level of cooperation from these diverse groups required the IMGW to develop emergency funding and rapid disbursement procedures, secure standby supplies, acquire sophisticated early-warning systems and implement more effective communication techniques.

Team members assisted IMGW officials to review the current emergency warning and response systems and procedures. Because emergency management requires dedicated funds which can be immediately channeled towards disaster relief, the Team analyzed the IMGW's operating procedures and assisted officials in drawing up a plan to reduce stand-by costs and ensure a rapid response by investing relief funds in easily liquidated investments.

Because the emergency warning system will require the cooperation of many groups, the Team organized meetings with non-governmental organizations, user's groups and environmental, social and cultural interest groups to develop common goals. The Team reviewed the training needs of IMGW managers, emergency system operators and volunteers and prepared a cohesive training plan to address all facets of the emergency system operation. To develop an effective emergency response system, the Team also worked with IMGW officials to select and train a multi-disciplinary group and invited telecommunications representatives to introduce new technologies to emergency managers.

To encourage continued support for new IMGW programs, the Team developed a public awareness program, including improvements to public access emergency warning web sites and improved procedures for organizing the system. The Berger team was also involved in the economic analysis for the project and provided assistance in procurement and planning.

In addition to their work with the IMGW, Berger also introduced Polish emergency management workers to techniques used in the United States through visits to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Maryland State Emergency Facility, the Washington Police Command Center, the Operations Center of the Washington, DC Emergency Management Agency and the Miami-Dade Emergency Management Center. The diversity of locations gave observers an opportunity to study emergency management technologies, solutions and services at a local, regional and national level.

Heavy flooding in Romania the following year caused damage in more than two-thirds of the nation's 41 districts, particularly in the mountainous region of Transylvania. The flood damaged critical routes between Romania and the Ukraine and washed away river protection works and drainage systems, producing erosion and additional flooding. To address the damage, Romania's Ministry of Finance selected Berger as program manager for the reconstruction of damaged national and municipal infrastructure. The Team immediately dispatched engineers and planners to assess the damage and develop reconstruction plans. Berger also assisted Romania's Defense Against Disaster Committee to establish priorities, allocate funds, approve emergency budgets and supervise disaster relief programs.

The mountainous slopes dominating Tajikistan cause heavy rains to pour down into the valleys, creating natural disasters which residents are often ill-prepared to face. The lack of adequate early warning systems has increased the loss of life and resulted in millions of dollars in damages. Under an Asian Development Bank-funded program, Berger is assisting the Center for Liquidation of Consequences of Natural Disasters (CLCND) to improve its ability to prepare for and manage floods.

One of the most important functions of an emergency management center is to coordinate relief responses from a variety of government sources, international donors and national and international relief agencies. Berger assisted CLCND officials to develop a plan to quickly coordinate these groups and channel their support to the areas in the greatest need.

The Team also assisted the CLCND to improve disaster preparedness and data management. In addition to identifying and monitoring high risk areas and responding to emergencies, Berger offered strategies on rebuilding the effected area, including improved priority identification, project planning, scheduling and reporting; proper environmental assessment; developing resettlement plans and building durable replacement infrastructure. Berger also assisted the CLCND in the implementation of an Emergency Flood Rehabilitation Project. The Team assisted in repairing roads, bridges, irrigation structures and river bank defenses in 21 separate areas damaged by floods and assisted in the relocation of homes and schools located within flooded areas.

The damage done by Hurricane Mitch's 140 mile-per-hour winds and torrential rains made it the worst hurricane to hit Central America in over 100 years. The Category Five storm battered Honduras for days leaving 7,000 dead and 8,000 missing, as well as destroying the homes and possessions of more than one million people. In Nicaragua, mudslides and flash floods caused over 2,500 deaths, destroyed over 20 major bridges and left a number of communities isolated. The storm also left thousands without adequate water or sewage and clogged drainage systems, leading to additional flooding. Under a U.S. Agency for International Development-funded emergency program, the Honduran Fund for Social Investment (FHIS) selected the Berger Group to administrate the Municipal Development and Hurricane Reconstruction Program. Under this program, the Team rehabilitated and upgraded potable water, sewerage and rainwater drainage systems in seven regional departments and six major cities in Honduras.

During the first phase, Berger prepared designs to rehabilitate and upgrade water, sewage and drainage systems in the northeast and Atlantic regions of the country. In the cities of La Lima and El Progreso, the Team introduced flood control projects and improved existing drainage. Berger also supervised the upgrade of water and sewage systems in the departments of Atlántida, Colón, Cortés, Yoro, Choluteca, El Paraíso and Olancho followed by the construction of water systems in La Ceiba, Choloma, the Eastern Sector and Limón de la Cerca. Under this program, Berger upgraded the Yoro Water Treatment Plant to combat Chagas disease and Dengue fever, which have hit the area especially hard since Hurricane Mitch.

Over the course of several days, the hurricane demolished 355 bridges and isolated entire areas. To restore critical highway connections in Honduras, the Team upgraded 170 kilometers of destroyed highway in the Atlántida and Yoro regions, reviewed eroded embankments and developed improved designs to minimize damage during future storms. The success of this project led FHIS to select Berger for the rehabilitation of an additional 162 kilometers of roads, including several new bridges.

Berger also completed two similar IADB-funded projects in Nicaragua, where Hurricane Mitch severely damaged sections of the Pan-American Highway, the country's main highway corridor. Berger was awarded the design of the 105-meter bridge over the Paso Caballos strait, connecting the Port of Corinto with the main land. As a subcontractor to EDICO, Berger designed improvements and a new pavement structure to a 263-kilometer section between San Benito and El Espino and an additional section between the cities of Managua and Masaya. During the emergency, the Berger team in Nicaragua assisted the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation in restoring communications through damaged roads and bridges. Two teams of engineers and surveyors were assigned to the emergency response program and were transported by helicopters to evaluate and assess the damages caused by flash floods and mudslides. With the information obtained from visual evaluation and surveys performed at each site, Berger issued assessment reports, prepared reconstruction designs for emergency repairs and provided recommendations to restore traffic within one week after the storm.

On the morning of January 25, 2001, the most powerful earthquake to strike India in 50 years rocked the state of Gujarat. This natural disaster killed more than 30,000 people and left many more homeless. Overall, the earthquake caused more than $5 billion worth of damages. Following this tragedy, the Roads and Buildings Department selected the Berger Group to assess and repair the damage to bridges in the state. Berger quickly mobilized to inspect bridges and identify needed repairs. Following the preliminary studies, the Team began an in-depth investigation, including soil investigations and topographical surveys of the damaged areas. Berger then prepared designs and bid documents, assisted in the selection of contractors and supervised the rehabilitation of the bridges.

The Seymour Falls Dam, located in a pristine watershed north of Vancouver, provides nearly 40 percent of the city's water supply. The dam was designed in the early 1960s before scientists became aware of the earthquake hazard on Canada's west coast. Although the dam is in excellent condition, recent studies by Berger Klohn Crippen have shown that extensive zones of the foundation could liquefy in a major earthquake and cause the dam to fail.

To ensure the dam meets current earthquake safety standards, Berger Klohn Crippen designed innovative remedial works involving the construction of a new earthfill dam immediately downstream of the existing dam. Before building the new dam, the foundation soils downstream of the existing dam will be densified using challenging explosive and dynamic compaction techniques. During explosive compaction, over 42,000 kilograms of high yield explosives will be set off in a series of controlled "mini-earthquakes," liquefying loose foundation soils and reducing the risk of collapse by creating a dense foundation. Construction began in February 2004 and will continue for four years when the core of the new dam, built on this firm foundation, will be tied into the core of the existing dam.

The key construction challenge for Berger Klohn Crippen will be keeping the existing dam fully operational while the new dam is built. The Team will also ensure an uninterrupted and clean water supply to a downstream fish hatchery and maintain the pristine environmental conditions of the Seymour Falls area.