Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED)

SSPEED is a multi-institutional collaboration that aims to address deficiencies in storm prediction, disaster planning and evacuations for communities stretching from New Orleans to Brownsville, Texas. MORE INFO

Anybody know how or if HAZUS-MH fits into the SSPEED efforts?

3rd Annual HAZUS Conference

Updated June 5, 2009









REGISTER NOW...

VENUE:

McKimmon Conference and Training Center / NC State’s Extension and Continued Education Conference Center / Raleigh, North Carolina / MORE INFO


CALL FOR PAPERS/SPEAKERS:

The last HAZUS.org heard (June 1, 2009) speaker submissions & abstracts for the conference are still being accepted ...

Suggested topics include: the role of HAZUS in risk identification and communication, HAZUS application in estimation and mitigation planning, HAZUS and human-caused hazards, and innovative approaches to decision making.

To submit an abstract, please e-mail HAZUSuser@ pbsj.com with the subject line: HAZUS Speaker Proposal and provide the following information:

• Proposed name of session
• Session format (presentation, workshop, panel discussion, etc.)
• Session description
• Contact information (including name, title, organization, phone number and e-mail)
  

HAZUS Map Gallery:

Awards will be presented for the following categories (you do not have to be present to win):

• Best Mitigation Applications using HAZUS-MH
• Best Practice for Data Improvements to HAZUS-MH (Level 2 or 3 analysis)
• Best practice for incorporating modernized flood maps
• Best incorporation of a HAZUS-MH analysis into a mitigation plan
• Best innovative practice of HAZUS-MH
• Best multi-hazard analysis
• Best integration of other tools with HAZUS-MH
  

All maps should be submitted by July 31, 2009 electronically (.pdf) to Margaret Griffith, PBS&J, MMGriffith@pbsj.com.

More Info at the FEMA "Conferences" web page

HAZUS.org has been receiving "lots" of comments on the upcoming HAZUS User Conference. Check out what others are saying and get your opinion heard. Comments are moderated. Click on the "comments" link at the end of this post...
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Student HAZUS projects at UWF

In our never ending search for interesting things for the HAZUS User Community, HAZUS.org has stumbled on "Applications in GIS at the University of West Florida (UWF)" ...

The class is currently working with HAZUS-MH and the students are presenting their projects on-line using Blogger. Amber Bloeche who is the coordinator of the UWF Online Certificate Program reports they installed HAZUS-MH on a virtual machine for students to access GIS software from a terminal server and despite a few glitches, it is working well! Students log into a remote server and have full access to ArcGIS Desktop, Microsoft Visual Studio and ERDAS Imagine!

We encourage the HAZUS user community to follow the students posts and offer their help and encouragement.

UPDATE ...

HAZUS.org and the folks at UWF have prepared a "HAZUS Success Story" summarizing the UWF efforts to develop a virtual on-line HAZUS-MH training system. HAZUS.org believes that this approach is the future of HAZUS-MH training. HAZUS.org has offered this "HAZUS Success Story" to FEMA for inclusion on the FEMA HAZUS Resources. DOWNLOAD
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The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: Assessing Pre-Katrina Vulnerability and Improving Mitigation and Preparedness

Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans and surrounding areas in August 2005, ranks as one of the nation's most devastating natural disasters. Shortly after the storm, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established a task force to assess the performance of the levees, floodwalls, and other structures comprising the area's hurricane protection system during Hurricane Katrina. This book provides an independent review of the task force's final draft report and identifies key lessons from the Katrina experience and their implications for future hurricane preparedness and planning in the region.

Now available on the HAZUS.org Bookstore...

HAZUS Posters Selected for the 2009 ESRI Map Book

The ESRI Map Book is the only publication dedicated to acknowledging the important and innovative accomplishments of GIS users around the world. Volume 24 of the ESRI Map Book will be published in conjunction with the 2009 ESRI International User Conference.

Two HAZUS posters from the FEMA HAZUS Resources have been selected for inclusion in the Volume 24 of the ESRI Map Book:

HAZUS Evaluation of 1906 Magnitude Earthquake in Today's Environment: Displaced Households

HAZUS Evaluation of 1906 Magnitude Earthquake in Today's Environment: Economic Loss

A new NOAA Report touts "Authoritative Assessment of National, Regional Impacts of Global Climate Change Details Point to Potential Value of Early, Aggressive Action"

NOAA Press Release

More Info...

Another viewpoint ... Systematic Misrepresentation of the Science of Disasters and Climate Change

2009 Hurricane Season: A Readiness Guide for Critical Infrastructure Partners

June 23, 2009 Webinar

With the onset of the 2009 Hurricane Season, Critical Infrastructure / Key Resources (CIKR) partners are working together to be prepared and ready to quickly respond and restore operations. As part of the Department's Hurricane Preparedness Month, Mr. Chris Anderson, Director, Contingency Planning and Incident Management Division, will discuss coordination processes that are currently in place for the 2009 hurricane season. Mr. Anderson will discuss the most current information on the capabilities the Office of Infrastructure Protection has established to ensure CIKR owners and operators receive timely and accurate responses to requests for information or assistance.

The Webinar will also cover national level CIKR reporting; CIKR capabilities & field level staff support; and the various tools (modeling, simulation, GIS, impact imagery) that are available to enhance critical infrastructure preparedness and response.

Register for the June 29th webinar...