News Archives
Readiness efforts ramp up ahead of hurricane season with enhanced capabilities
As forecasters anticipate an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, preparations are accelerating across the region to protect communities potentially exposed to the devastating impacts of tropical cyclones.
Ecuador teams up with Pacific Disaster Center in its ongoing battle with extreme disasters
Ecuador’s Secretariat for Risk Management, Secretaría de Gestión de Riesgos (SNGR) and Pacific Disaster Center begin their disaster risk reduction partnership while the nation toils in a complex emergency involving a catastrophic oil spill triggered by a landslide in the coastal province of Esmeraldas. The oil spill impacted 11 parishes and more than 500,000 people dependent on potable water in the now contaminated river system.
Colombia’s data-driven approach to creating safer, more resilient communities
Colombia’s latest milestone will help direct national investments and actions to reduce disaster risk and build resilience at the municipal level.
Scientific tools enhance disaster resilience and readiness in Honduras
New technology, training, and scientific information developed in partnership between Pacific Disaster Center and Honduras, with support from U.S. Southern Command, will help national stakeholders better anticipate potential disasters, quickly mobilize resources, and promote risk-informed decision-making that enhances resilience and readiness.
Twenty years after the world’s deadliest tsunami—what have we learned and are we safer?
Two decades have passed since one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history claimed the lives of 228,000 people across 14 countries. For a younger generation, there’s little awareness of the colossal 9.1 magnitude earthquake that struck off the western coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, unleashing the deadliest tsunami in recorded history
Cross-border exercise bolsters Balkans regional disaster preparedness
The Balkans Region—A groundbreaking, dual-location Tabletop Exercise (TTX) in Tirana, Albania, and Pristina, Kosovo, took place in partnership with Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) on October 22–23, 2024. A first of its kind, the innovative exercise simulated a real-time multinational response to a severe winter storm
Madagascar announces national disaster risk reduction initiative with Pacific Disaster Center
Madagascar’s national disaster management organization, Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC), and Pacific Disaster kick off new partnership to curb the impacts of natural disasters and reduce vulnerability to losses. The partnership will include a subnational-level, multi-hazard risk assessment and a disaster management capacity analysis which will take place over a year-long engagement between the government of Madagascar and key national stakeholders.
PDC joins U.S. Navy’s goodwill mission in Latin America, Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean—At the invitation of U.S. Navy 4th Fleet and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) joined Continuing Promise...
One year after the Maui wildfire catastrophe
PDC's message of hope and commitment to Maui’s resilience and recovery Maui Island, HI—August 8, 2024, marks a somber anniversary for the Maui community and the...