PDC delivers expert-level instruction on the use of its DisasterAWARE platform during a Training of Trainers (ToT) with national and municipal agencies from across multiple sectors.

Photograph: Pacific Disaster Center (PDC)

The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is advancing its Building Disaster Early Warning Capacity project in Cali, Colombia, through the recent completion of an in-person DisasterAWARE training and a dedicated Training of Trainers (ToT) program—marking an important milestone toward sustainable, locally-led disaster preparedness.

Delivered in partnership with Twilio.org and the City of Cali’s emergency management department, Secretariat for Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (SGRED), the training brought together 22 personnel from municipal and national agencies and organizations, as well as academia responsible for emergency management, environmental monitoring, and public safety. By training together, participants strengthened cross-agency coordination while building a shared understanding of risk, data-driven decision making, and emergency response.

Ana María Herrera Victoria, Colombia National Project Representative for PDC, supports hands‑on DisasterAWARE training while leading in‑country coordination with SGRED and partner agencies, strengthening collaboration and taking on expanded project management responsibilities to advance locally-led early warning capacity.

Photograph: PDC

“This isn’t just about technology—it’s about empowering people with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make critical decisions when it matters most,” said Chris Chiesa, PDC’s Director of Early Warning Solutions.

“This training marks a significant milestone in regional resilience,” said Ricardo Peñuela, Secretary of SGRED, Colombia’s national disaster management organization. “DisasterAWARE empowers local authorities with real-time intelligence, transforming how we anticipate and respond to critical threats like landslides.”

Participants received hands-on instruction using DisasterAWARE, the Center’s advanced all-hazards early warning and decision-support platform. The training enhanced their ability to monitor evolving risks, analyze hazard information, and coordinate timely alerts—supporting faster and more informed decisions before and during emergencies.

A central milestone of the visit was the successful launch of a three-part ToT curriculum to certify 15 personnel from partner agencies as presenters and trainers of DisasterAWARE. Throughout the ToT trainings, participants will work toward developing an internal capacity to deliver DisasterAWARE instruction throughout the region, ensuring long-term continuity, scalability, and local ownership of early warning capabilities beyond the life of the project.
“This training ensures our partners in Cali can use DisasterAWARE effectively as well as sustain and expand its impact long after we leave,” said PDC’s Scott Kuykendall. “The engagement and commitment from our partners have been exceptional, and that’s what makes this effort successful and sustainable.”
In parallel with capacity-building activities, PDC worked closely with staff from SGRED’s operations team to begin integrating DisasterAWARE into existing standard operating procedures (SOPs). Incorporating early warning tools into daily operations and emergency response workflows strengthens institutional coordination while improving the speed and accuracy of decisions during crises.

“Our goal is to move from awareness to action,” Kuykendall added. “By integrating DisasterAWARE into daily operations and decision-making, agencies here are better positioned to act faster and with greater confidence when hazards emerge.”

The Building Disaster Early Warning Capacity project is also advancing improved communication mechanisms within DisasterAWARE while expanding landslide risk analysis tools tailored to Cali’s high-risk terrain. These enhancements are designed to close critical information gaps and deliver earlier, more actionable warnings for vulnerable communities.

Participants mark a key milestone in regional capacity building during the launch of a three-part Training of Trainers (ToT) curriculum, preparing 15 partner agency personnel to become certified presenters of DisasterAWARE and strengthening long-term, locally led early warning capabilities across the region.

Photograph: PDC

Nicolas Suarez, Sub-secretary for Disaster Management of SGRED, added that “leveraging real-time data through DisasterAWARE is strengthening coordination and joint decision-making during emergencies.”

PDC extends sincere appreciation to the SGRED and partner organizations, including Universidad del Valle, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), the Administrative Department of Environmental Management (DAGMA), and the IT and Communications Department (DATIC) for their leadership and collaboration.
Together, these efforts are laying a strong foundation for sustained early warning capabilities—driven by advanced technology, and by empowered local expertise—positioning Cali to better protect lives and build resilience against future disasters.

Learn more about the Enhanced Early Warning Project at: https://www.pdc.org/pdc-twilio-collaboration.