35 Years, Made Possible by People Like You

1 day ago
4 min read

"We were founded to do things that nobody else was doing.

To go places that are forgotten and neglected."

- Brian Tucker, Founder

This month 35 years ago, GeoHazards International first opened its doors. Looking back over our history, one word kept coming to mind—community. As I looked through old photos and files, it struck me that GHI’s strength and resilience have been powered by a global community of people who deeply care. Thank you for being part of this and making our progress possible.

From its founding, we were a people-focused organization. During his worldwide travels doing seismological research, our extraordinary founder Dr. Brian Tucker recognized a need that was largely unaddressed: people in low-income countries were facing far higher death tolls from earthquakes than those in high-income countries. The 1988 Armenia and 1989 Loma Prieta, California earthquakes—two comparable events with starkly different death tolls—crystallized this for him, and he felt strongly that something should be done. Dr. Suyama, founder of OYO Corporation in Japan and a humanist at heart, was inspired by Brian’s vision and with OYO’s support, our non-profit was born.

Our earliest years. GHI was the first non-profit to promote pre-disaster efforts in the world’s most vulnerable communities. We connected local professionals and decision-makers with leading, dedicated earthquake experts who shared the latest knowledge and lessons learned from around the world—something we still do to this day. By the year 2000, our impact was tangible. Over 3,000 children were studying in earthquake-resistant schools in Ecuador and Nepal, and 16 of the world’s most vulnerable cities had an action plan to manage their earthquake risk.

Clockwise from top left: 1) Our first project, in Ecuador, brought together a team of international experts with local specialists to assess risk, communicate it to local leaders, and develop an action plan, directly leading to multiple school retrofits in the years that followed. 2) We conducted the very first school retrofit in Nepal while training local masons in seismic-resistant construction; this along with other GHI-initiated efforts helped catalyze hundreds of school retrofits in the area. 3) Our Nepal work included the inaugural Earthquake Safety Day in 1999, which to this day is still held annually nationwide. — *Clockwise from top left: 1)* ***Our first project***, ***in Ecuador***, *brought together a team of international experts with local specialists to assess risk, communicate it to local leaders, and develop an* ***action plan,*** *directly leading to multiple school retrofits in the years that followed. 2)* *We conducted the* ***very first school retrofit in Nepal*** *while training local masons in seismic-resistant construction; this along with other GHI-initiated efforts helped catalyze hundreds of school retrofits in the area. 3) Our Nepal work included the* ***inaugural Earthquake Safety Day*** *in 1999, which to this day is still held annually nationwide.*

Our era of evolution. By the early 2000s, GHI was being recognized for its deeply impactful work. Two notable examples: an honor from the King of Nepal and the MacArthur Award. In the years that followed, we evolved to address new, pressing hazards (including landslides and tsunamis), conducted focused work on key lifeline buildings, and deepened our work on hospital resilience. Our approach evolved, too. We moved toward having long-term, locally based staff, starting in India.

Clockwise from top left: 1) In 2005, Dr. Hari Kumar became the first local GHI staff member; since then, hiring local staff that are deeply embedded within their communities has become central to our approach to creating lasting impact. 2) Our early and long-term work on landslide and earthquake risk in Aizawl, India helped lead to slope-modification regulations and 480+ local professionals empanelled to implement them. 3) Lifeline systems and critical buildings have become an increasingly important part of our work, including multiple ongoing projects to strengthen health systems resilience. — *Clockwise from top left: 1) In 2005, Dr. Hari Kumar became the* ***first local GHI staff member****; since then, hiring local staff that are deeply embedded within their communities has become central to our approach to creating lasting impact. 2) Our* ***early and long-term work on landslide*** *and earthquake risk in Aizawl, India helped lead to slope-modification regulations and 480+ local professionals empanelled to implement them. 3)* ***Lifeline systems and critical buildings*** *have become an increasingly important part of our work, including multiple ongoing projects to strengthen health systems resilience.*

Our most recent decade. This latest era has brought exciting growth with many new funders and projects, strong leadership from our locally based staff, and marked increase in our organizational capacity. At the same time, we have faced unprecedented challenges, including the COVID pandemic and recent federal funding cuts to USAID. Undeterred, we adapted, diversified our funding, and found ways to be resourceful. Through the deep dedication and talent of our incredible team, and with the support of our community, we are moving strongly ahead, continuing to address the most pressing disaster risks and to integrate innovative approaches.

Clockwise from left: 1) We introduced Earthquake Desks as an interim solution to protect children in collapse-prone school buildings that will not be made safe in the near future in Bhutan and Nepal. 2) We're empowering & equipping the next generation with knowledge and skills to promote disaster resilience in their communities in Haiti and the Philippines, engaging tens of thousands of youth. 3) Our new nature-based solutions program focuses on protecting communities from coastal hazards; so far, we’ve conserved mangroves along 6km of coastline that protect a Filipino community of 60,000. — *Clockwise from left: 1) We introduced* ***Earthquake Desks as an interim solution*** *to protect children in collapse-prone school buildings that will not be made safe in the near future in Bhutan and Nepal. 2) We're* ***empowering & equipping the next generation*** *with knowledge and skills to promote disaster resilience in their communities in Haiti and the Philippines, engaging tens of thousands of youth. 3) Our new* ***nature-based solutions program*** *focuses on protecting communities from coastal hazards; so far, we’ve conserved mangroves along 6km of coastline that protect a Filipino community of 60,000.*

Thank you from all of us. Our steady progress over the last 35 years has only been possible because people like you believed in our mission and that progress was possible. From all over the world, people contributed in countless ways—as partners, technical experts, funders, donors, board members, staff—we all played a role in shaping GHI into what it is today.

But our work is far from over. The recent devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, and just yesterday, the catastrophic floods in Nepal, are a stark reminder of the critical importance of pre-disaster preparedness—the same need our founder identified 35 years ago. So as we look to the next 35 years, I hope you'll continue to be part of our story.

With gratitude,