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Newsletter
Preparedness
Long-term solutions to be safer from disasters are never purely technical. It's equally important to inspire safer practices. Disaster preparedness starts with understanding what could go wrong and how proactive steps could prevent tragedies. Families can develop emergency plans and “go bags.” Schoolchildren can practice with drills. Medical staff can think through how they will manage during crises.
To motivate action, we work with communities to communicate information that is clear, relevant to daily life and actionable. Our messaging is science-based and considers the local context.
Projects
Strengthening Haiti's Health Facilities for Disaster Resilience
2025 - 2027
Haiti
Haiti’s health infrastructure faces substantial challenges delivering consistent, inclusive, quality care across the country. A Small Island Developing State with a challenging political context, Haiti has endured extreme consequences from several types of hazard events.
Hospital Safety Index Assessment Training and Implementation Nepal
2024
Nepal
A comprehensive three-day training program on the application of a customized WHO Hospital Safety Index (HSI) tool was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal, from December 9-11, 2024. The event, organized by Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population in collaboration with its health emergency units, WHO (both country and regional offices), and partners including GeoHazards International (GHI) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), aimed to enhance the resilience of the country's healthcare facilities against various hazards.
Mangrove Conservation as Nature-based Solution Program
2023 - Ongoing
Philippines
Many coastal communities throughout the world are exposed to coastal hazards such as hurricanes, storm surge, tsunami and sea level rise. As climate change worsens, the occurrence of these hazards is expected to be more frequent and intense, amplifying the risks to life, livelihood and assets along the coasts. Low-income coastal communities and small island developing nations are at particular risk as they usually lack access to disaster resilience resources other than those provided by nature, such as mangroves.
Technical Advisory on Seismic Resilience of Power Infrastructure in Guhawati City
2023
India
This project, completed in 2023, aimed to address the seismic vulnerability of Guwahati’s power infrastructure, given the city’s high earthquake risk due to its location in a seismically active zone, challenging topography, and large stock of unsafe buildings. As a critical hub for emergency response across Assam and the Northeast, Guwahati required a resilient power network to ensure continuity of essential services in the aftermath of a major earthquake.
“In managing responses to fires, floods, and earthquakes in California and the Pacific, I have seen lives shattered, families separated, and neighborhoods turned to rubble. This experience taught me that human suffering can be greatly lessened through measures we already know and understand.”
Shirley Mattingly
Former Director, Region IX U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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"In working with GHI on Quito’s earthquake risk, I learned that engineers and scientists must work with the community’s politicians, emergency response personnel, and businessmen.”
Jeannette Fernandez
Former Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador; Recovery Specialist, United Nations Development Programme
Publications
Guidance on Developing Messages for Protective Actions to Take During Earthquake Shaking
2018
What people should do during earthquake shaking, to protect themselves from injury or death? It depends. Evidence-based guidance describes a process and key considerations for creating effective messages for different contexts.
Protective Actions Implementation Workbook
2018
This workbook follows the steps to implement a messaging program about what to do during earthquake shaking given the local risk, building types, and other factors. This is a companion to Guidance on Developing Messages for Protective Actions to Take During Earthquake Shaking.
Background Papers and Supplementary Technical Information: Guidance on Developing Messages for Protective Actions to Take During Earthquake Shaking
2015
Epidemiology of Deaths and Earthquake Injuries,
Protective Action in Immediate Fuse Events: a Literature Review,
Designing Risk Communication Programs to Promote Adaptive Human Behavior During Earthquakes and Tsunamis,
On the Nature of Strong Ground Motions during Damaging Earthquakes,
Understanding and Mitigating Building Collapses,
Public perceptions of protective action, survey in three countries,
Summary of discussions with an international group of disaster messaging professionals
Reducing Earthquake Risks in Hospitals from Equipment, Contents, Architectural Elements and Building Utility Systems
2011
Shows how to equip hospitals to function in a disaster: plan for backup utilities, find and mitigate vulnerabilities in the buildings, and secure objects that could topple and cause injuries in an earthquake. Intended for hospital administrators, engineers, and maintenance staff.
Additional Resources
School Earthquake Safety and Preparedness – Course Materials developed for India
2008
A program to reduce school earthquake risks and to educate students, faculty, and parents about earthquake preparedness. Developed for India schools and applicable elsewhere.
Resources:
Teacher Sensitization: Instructor Guide
A Culture at Risk: An Initial Assessment of Seismic Vulnerabilities in Upper Dharamsala, India
2006
Earthquake vulnerabilities endanger the Tibetan community’s efforts to preserve its cultural heritage in Dharamsala. Recommended improvements to protect the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) and other structures.
