Marking 13 years of facilitating partnerships to enhance disaster resilience, the Pacific Risk Management Ohana (PRiMO) gathered at the Hawaii Convention Center, March 24–26 under the theme, “The Rising Pacific: Currents of Change and Solutions for Resilience.” The conference featured numerous opportunities to share information and build collaborative partnerships to address issues of disaster management and sustainability through Hui (working group) meetings, panel and discussion sessions, networking events, and professional-development trainings.

An estimated 300 representatives from international, federal, state, tribal, and local organizations, as well as from the private sector, attended the event. Among them was Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) Director of Applied Sciences Heather Bell who presented in conjunction with R3ADY Asia Pacific and the University of Hawai‘i during a session called “Extending Best Practices in Early Warning Systems for Community Resilience.”

Additionally, PDC Disaster Management Specialist Michael Chatman presented to the Geospatial Hui, and PDC Liaison to Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) Julie Greenly provided attendees with an overview of PDC and the support provided by the Center during Tropical Cyclone Iselle response and recovery operations.

The event also marks seven years of PDC Deputy Executive Director Chris Chiesa serving on the Navigator’s Council (Board of Directors) and reaffirmed PDC’s commitment to the Ohana.

For more information about the 2015 PRiMO meeting:
• Visit the PRiMO website,
• Access the 2015 conference schedule,
• View PRiMO on Facebook, and
• Read about past PRiMO engagements.