About PDC
Reduce disaster risk.
Step into a safer world.
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Flood - Pocatello, ID Region, United States
12 minutes ago WARNING
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Thunderstorm - SE of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada
34 minutes ago WARNING
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Wildfire - NW of Mystic Island, New Jersey, United States
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - SW of Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - W of Fort Chipewyan Airport, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - NW of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - E of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - SW of Fort Smith, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - W of Peace River Airport, British Columbia, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - SW of Fort Providence Airport, Northwest Territories, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - S of Hornepayne, Ontario, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - E of Buffalo Narrows Airport, Saskatchewan, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - , S of Côte, Nord, Quebec, Canada
53 minutes ago ADVISORY
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Wildfire - S of Canada, Northwest Territories, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - NW of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - SW of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - Pass Fire, New Mexico, United States
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - W of Buffalo Narrows Airport, Saskatchewan, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - E of Fort Liard Airport, Northwest Territories, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - NW of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - S of Jean Marie River Airport, Northwest Territories, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - N of Fort Chipewyan Airport, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago ADVISORY
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Wildfire - W of Fort Chipewyan Airport, Alberta, Canada
53 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Highwind - Advisory (Hawaiian Islands)
55 minutes ago ADVISORY
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Floods - Somalia
59 minutes ago INFORMATION
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Thunderstorm - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
59 minutes ago WATCH
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Flood - Tahoka, TX Region, United States
1 hour ago WARNING
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Flood - Nile Basin, Eastern Africa, Middle Africa and Northern Africa
22 hours ago WARNING
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Tropical Storm - Mawar
4 hours ago WARNING
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Air Quality - La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada
1 hour ago ADVISORY
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Flood - Battle Mountain, NV Region, United States
2 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Sabancaya, Peru
2 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Popocatepetl, Mexico
2 hours ago WARNING
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Wildfire - Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, Canada
2 hours ago ADVISORY
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Severe Weather - North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada
3 hours ago ADVISORY
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Volcano - Santa Maria, Guatemala
3 hours ago WARNING
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Air Quality - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3 hours ago ADVISORY
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Air Quality - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
4 hours ago ADVISORY
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Air Quality - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
4 hours ago ADVISORY
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Wildfire - N of Camp Ridgeway, Queensland, Australia
8 hours ago INFORMATION
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Extreme Heat - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
9 hours ago WARNING
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Air Quality - Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada
9 hours ago ADVISORY
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Flood - Nabire, Papua and Papua Barat, Indonesia
11 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - SE of Wewak, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
11 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - E of Nasir, Upper Nile, South Sudan
11 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - S of Nabire, Papua, Indonesia
11 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Dnieper Basin, Ukraine
11 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Semeru, Indonesia
11 hours ago WARNING
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Air Quality - Sept-Iles, Québec, Canada
12 hours ago ADVISORY
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Volcano - Villarrica, Chile
13 hours ago ADVISORY
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Volcano - Ibu, Indonesia
14 hours ago WATCH
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Severe Weather - Sumatra, Indonesia
15 hours ago INFORMATION
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Severe Weather - Northwestern India
15 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Ciudad Guayana, Monagas, Venezuela
15 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - N of Campana, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe, Argentina
15 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Temperature - Vietnam
15 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Lewotolo, Indonesia
15 hours ago WATCH
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Wildfire - SE of Buffalo Narrows Airport, Saskatchewan, Canada
16 hours ago INFORMATION
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Wildfire - NW of Wood Buffalo, Alberta, Canada
16 hours ago INFORMATION
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Severe Weather - Southeastern Greece
17 hours ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Portugal
17 hours ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Southern Greece
17 hours ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Central America
17 hours ago WARNING
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Earthquake - 5.3 - 166 km SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
17 hours ago ADVISORY
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Earthquake - 5.2 - Seram, Indonesia
20 hours ago ADVISORY
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Wildfires - Halifax, Nova Scotia
20 hours ago INFORMATION
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Flood - Yerington, NV Region, United States
20 hours ago WARNING
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Forest Fire - Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada
21 hours ago ADVISORY
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Flood - Congo Basin, Middle Africa and Eastern Africa
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - W of Trois Rivieres, Ontario and Québec, Canada
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - NE of Chicoutimi, Québec, Canada
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Paraiso, Tabasco, Mexico
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - SE of Tecuala, Nayarit, Mexico
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - W of Geraldton, Ontario, Canada
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Dryden, Manitoba and Ontario, Canada
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Parana Basin, South America
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Suchiate Basin, Coatan and Suchiate Rivers, Guatemala and Mexico
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - NE of Dolores, Buenos Aires, Argentina
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - N of Pedro Luro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - SE of Mahakam Basin, Indonesia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - SE of Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Raba, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - W of Griffith, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Bengawan Solo Basin, Indonesia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Langsa, Aceh and Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Bulungan Basin, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Indus Basin, India and Pakistan
22 hours ago WARNING
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Wildfire - S of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada
21 hours ago ADVISORY
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Flood - Ganges Basin, India and Bangladesh
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Ca Mau, Cà Mau, Vietnam
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Eastern Asia, Southern Asia and Central Asia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - N of Pakchan Basin, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Brahmaputra Basin, Eastern Asia, Southern Asia and South-eastern Asia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - N of Karachi, Baluchistan and Sind, Pakistan
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Golmud, Qinghai, China
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - N of Burylbaytal, Almaty, Qaraghandy and Zhambyl, Kazakhstan
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - NE of Stoeng Treng, Stœng Trêng, Cambodia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Irrawaddy Basin, Bangladesh and Myanmar
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Yangtze Basin, China and Taiwan
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Har Us Nuur Basin, China, Russia and Mongolia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - E of Izmayil, Odessa, Ukraine
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Lake Turkana Basin, Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, NW of Karun River, Iran and Iraq
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Chad Basin, Middle Africa and Western Africa
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Bolama, Bolama, Guinea-Bissau
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Orange Basin, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Bandama Basin, Côte dIvoire, Guinea and Liberia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Congo Basin, Dem Rep of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Senegal Basin, Mauritania
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Zambezi Basin, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Antsiranana, Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toamasina, Madagascar
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Nile Basin, Egypt
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - NE of Adigrat, Tigray, Ethiopia
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Buizhou, Shandong, China
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - NW of Chattogram, Chittagong, Bangladesh
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Baraka Basin, E of Baraka River, Eritrea and Sudan
22 hours ago WARNING
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Flood - Ma Basin, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
22 hours ago WARNING
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Volcano - Sangay, Ecuador
22 hours ago ADVISORY
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Volcano - Cotopaxi, Ecuador
22 hours ago WARNING
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Earthquake - 5.8 - 125 km WSW of Myitkyina, Myanmar
1 day ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Jordan
23 hours ago INFORMATION
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Landslides - Bulambuli District, Uganda
1 day ago INFORMATION
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Flood - Hailey, ID Region, United States
1 day ago WARNING
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Volcano - Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia
1 day ago WARNING
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Earthquake - 6.3 - Auckland Islands, New Zealand region
1 day ago WATCH
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Earthquake - 5.5 - off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
1 day ago WATCH
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Flood - W of Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - Zhu Basin, Eastern Asia and South-eastern Asia
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - La Paz, Baja California, Baja California Sur and Sonora, Mexico
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - S of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - Amazon Basin, Ecuador and Peru
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - SW of Remanso, Northeast Brazil
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - Indore, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, India
1 day ago WARNING
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Flood - SW of Balikpapan, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah and Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia
1 day ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Southern Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
1 day ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Central and Southern Vietnam
1 day ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Serbia
1 day ago WARNING
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Extreme Temperature - Hong Kong
1 day ago WARNING
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Severe Weather - Southwest Germany
1 day ago WARNING
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Extreme Heat - Mexico
1 day ago WARNING
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Volcano - Reventador, Ecuador
1 day ago ADVISORY
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Volcano - Aira, Japan
4 days ago WARNING
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Volcano - Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica
4 days ago ADVISORY
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Drinking Water - NW of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada
6 days ago ADVISORY
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High Water Level - SE of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
6 days ago ADVISORY
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Extreme Heat - Dominican Republic
6 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Northwestern United States
6 days ago WARNING
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Drought - High Plains United States
6 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Southeastern United States
6 days ago WARNING
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Drought - US Virgin Islands, United States of America
6 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Puerto Rico, United States of America
6 days ago WARNING
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Drought - Central Asia
1 week ago WARNING
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Heavy Snow - Central Asia
1 week ago WARNING
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Drought - Tuvalu
1 week ago WARNING
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Drought - Uruguay
1 week ago WARNING
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Marburg Virus Disease - Tanzania
3 weeks ago WARNING
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Measles - American Samoa
1 month ago WARNING
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Cholera - Haiti
6 months ago WARNING
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Drought - Djibouti
2 months ago WARNING
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Cholera - Mozambique
3 months ago WARNING
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Ebola Virus - Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
9 months ago WARNING
Working together to create a Safer World
Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global) is an applied research center managed by the University of Hawaii that supports the most demanding governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide in helping to create a safer, more disaster resilient world. For more than 25 years, we’ve helped our partners enhance disaster management capacity, save lives, and reduce disaster losses through the application of our advanced tools and technologies, evidence-based research, and analytical information.
The Center’s DisasterAWARE platform is used by tens of thousands of disaster management professionals—from the senior-level decision maker to the operational practitioner. It provides global multi-hazard early warning, hazard monitoring, and risk intelligence to support rapid and effective disaster response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. DisasterAWARE includes the highest resolution all-hazards impact models, advanced analytical reports, and augmented information through artificial intelligence. The system features the largest, scientifically-vetted big data catalog for disaster management decision making in the world—derived in part from PDC’s unique National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment as well as its Global Risk and Vulnerability data.
DisasterAWARE provides near real-time analytics about impacts to population, capital, and key infrastructure for multiple hazards, calculating likely humanitarian needs down to a scale of 30 x 30 meters. DisasterAWARE is free to disaster management practitioners and the humanitarian assistance community at https://disasteraware.pdc.org.

Customized versions of DisasterAWARE have been deployed by PDC in locations around the world and are used operationally by national and regional disaster management agencies for all aspects of disaster management.
PDC’s mobile app, Disaster Alert, is also free and designed for use by the public as well as disaster managers on-the-go. It offers customizable early warning alerts for any type of natural hazard in any location around the globe. Visit https://disasteralert.pdc.org.
In addition to offering advanced decision support technology, PDC is pioneering the scientific application of artificial intelligence for disaster risk reduction through its AI for Humanity™ program. Learn more about these innovations at www.pdc.org/aiforhumanity.
The Center also provides specialized research on a range of topics ranging such as national fragility, national disaster preparedness, women, peace and security, and climate change. PDC also supports disaster preparedness training and exercises.
A brief history of PDC
Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Iniki to the Hawaiian Islands in 1992, Pacific Disaster Center was conceived as a center to improve systems of communication and technology for disaster prevention at home and beyond. PDC now serves a global audience, helping to increase disaster management capacity and embolden more effective decisions, policies, and actions for a safer world.

PDC briefs President of Panama on findings of NDPBA report

Philippines get assistance with Super Typhoon following successful launch of PhilAWARE

PDC helps Thailand with new early warning and hazard monitoring technologies

Red Cross and PDC go beyond response to anticipate disaster impacts

NASA partners with PDC to develop groundbreaking global flood early warning system

Indonesia and ASEAN usher in a new era of disaster readiness, response, and risk reduction

Nobel Laureate World Food Programme and PDC join forces in disaster preparedness and response

PDC data and technology aid global fight against COVID-19

PDC unveils beta version of customized disaster management software for the Philippines

Lao PDR and PDC launch early warning system program with signed agreement ceremony

NASA and Pacific Disaster Center to develop new life-saving technologies

Exercise in Southeast Asia brings together 18 countries

PDC and ASEAN Member States kick-off management program

PDC featured speaker at AI conference

Disaster preparedness assessments started in eight countries

Kick off meeting held to bring early warning support to Myanmar

SmartAlert™ enhances DisasterAWARE

PDC supports 10 major disaster exercises

Winter Olympics rely on PDC for public safety

Preparedness assessments finished for four countries

PDC completes risk evaluation for ASEAN

PDC and AHA Centre sign Memorandum of Intent

PDC-FEMA team up during record-breaking Atlantic Hurricanes

PDC aids response to 63 major hazards globally

PDC aids response to Major Hurricane Matthew

PDC and Nepal partner on NepalAWARE

DisasterAWARE® 6.0 greatly expands capabilties

PDC supports public safety during 2016 Olympics

PDC assists with analysis of Zika virus epidemic

DisasterAWARE® is on the horizon for the Philippines

PDC aids response for 61 major hazards globally

ASEAN chooses PDC for training assessment

PDC expands collaboration with APEC

PDC aids Nepal responders after deadly M7.8 quake

PDC supports 11 major exercises globally

PDC begins NDPBA with four more countries

Vietnam and PDC launch VinAWARE

PDC releases new BioServ technology

Nepal exercises preparedness with PDC

PDC supports response to global hazards

PDC supports international preparedness exercises

Indonesia and PDC launch InAWARE

United Nations sponsors PDC as guest speaker

PDC launches NDPBA program

PDC presents DisasterAWARE® at APEC workshop

ASEAN invites PDC to present

PDC-Indonesia partner on InAWARE

PDC-Vietnam partner on VinAWARE

PDC presents at UNOCHA Workshop

PDC activates real-time response support

PDC supports Hurricane Sandy with real-time analysis

PDC named project manager for International Charter

PDC-AHA Centre launch DMRS

PDC supports response to global disasters

The Bahamas and PDC partner on preparedness

PDC assists with Cholera outbreak in Haiti

PDC supports relief workers worldwide

PDC supports response to catastrophic quake in Haiti

PDC launches Disaster Alert mobile app for the public

PDC assists with global catastrophes

PDC-Vietnam begin flood modeling and early warning project

PDC continues longstanding collaboration with ASEAN

PDC co-chairs conference on APEC preparedness

PDC supports 2008 Olympics safety

PDC supports response to disasters globally

PDC provides support after M8.4 earthquake strikes Indonesia

PDC develops Vietnam decision support system prototype

University of Hawai‘i becomes PDC’s new managing partner

PDC supports response for numerous hazards

PDC hosts worldwide natural disaster policy forum

Senator Inouye speaks about PDC’s global impact

PDC begins Early Warning Technology project with Thailand

PDC assesses Risk and Vulnerability throughout Pacific Islands

PDC-ASEAN collaborate on new disaster information initiative

PDC supports Hurricane Katrina response and relief

PDC develops Tsunami Awareness Kit for Pacific Island Nations

PDC launches Asia Pacific Natural Hazards Information Network

PDC assists after Great Sumatra Eathquake / Indian Ocean Tsunami

PDC releases new DisasterAWARE® online Atlas

PDC releases new DisasterAWARE® system

PDC recognized as a global information provider
PDC launches first web-enabled application

PDC co-sponsors international conference

PDC expands support to Pacific Nations

New PDC technology widely applauded

Senator Inouye provides opening remarks

Development of PDC begins

U.S. Congress approves Pacific Disaster Center

Pacific Disaster Center conceived following Iniki

Hurricane Iniki devastates Hawaiian Island of Kauai
Our Team
Executive Management
Ray Shirkhodai
Executive Director
Chris Chiesa has more than 30 years of experience developing and leading enterprise applications of geospatial information technologies and has been actively involved in disaster management activities for the past two decades. He directs international deployments of PDC’s disaster management decision support DisasterAWARE® platform. Chris has extensive programmatic and institutional experience in the Asia Pacific region. His work has also taken him to Europe, Central and South America, and Africa. In 2005, Chris received Esri’s prestigious Special Achievements in GIS Award in recognition of the Center’s support to the Indian Ocean tsunami response. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan (BSME, MSNR) and the University of Arizona (MBA).
Chris Chiesa, MS, MBA
Deputy Executive Director
Joseph Green, PhD
Director of Applied Science
Dr. Erin Hughey is the Director of Global Operation for the Pacific Disaster Center. A recognized leader in global disaster management and disaster risk reduction, Dr. Hughey developed the only operationalized approach to the United Nations Sendai Framework for Action. Known as the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA), this program has been implemented by more than 20 countries worldwide and aids national, regional and international disaster risk reduction initiatives. With a PhD in geography, Dr. Hughey has dedicated her life’s work to the innovation and the application of new science and technology for disaster management—empowering practitioners and senior leadership alike with the tools and information needed to support data-driven decision making.
Erin Hughey, PhD
Director of Global Operations
Cassie Stelow, MS
Acting Director of Information Technology
Scott Okada, BBA, MBA
Director of Finance & Administration
Other Staff
Bear (Bernd) McConnell
Senior Advisor
Steve Recca has held several security policy positions with the State Department, Department of Defense, and in academia. He was Director of the University of Colorado Springs Center for Homeland Security where he managed research programs in civil security, defense-related topics, as well as institutional and government agency collaborative relationships. He is on the Editorial Review Board of four peer-reviewed journals and is a frequent guest lecturer on civil security topics for academic institutions across the United States. Steve holds a Master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.
Steve Recca
Humanitarian Assistance Programs Senior Advisor
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