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This paper summarises a study conducted by Virginia Tech for the American Lifelines Alliance (ALA) in 2005 to document interdependencies and impacts among utilities and transportation systems (lifelines) associated with the 2004 hurricane season in Florida. The greater Orange County, Florida area was chosen as the study area for the investigation, which focused primarily on the experience of owners and operators of electric power systems, water and wastewater utilities, natural gas and petroleum fuel systems, and communications and transportation networks. Key personnel from utility and transportation organisations were interviewed by the study team to help identify lifeline interdependency issues that affected the ability of lifeline owners and operators to provide continued service to customers. Detailed information was collected on interdependent lifeline performance and lessons learned from the impacts of multiple hurricanes that could provide the basis for developing improved guidance for hazard mitigation and lifeline service restoration.

The Bam, Iran, earthquake on 26 December 2003 took the lives of 26,271 people and left more than 20,000 injured. About 85% of the houses, commercial units, health and educational facilities, and administrative buildings were either damaged or completely destroyed, affecting 92,000 people in the city and 48,000 people in the surrounding villages, and leaving 75,000 homeless. A reconnaissance trip to Iran and the earthquake-stricken area was carried out from 8–16 May 2004, and focused on societal impacts five months after the Bam event, early recovery activities, long-term recovery planning, and public policy aspects of earthquake loss reduction in Iran. At the time of the reconnaissance team's trip, the major challenges facing the reconstruction process were public participation, public education and hazard communication, and inter-agency and inter-jurisdictional transition and coordination issues.