Join us for an information session at 3 p.m. Pacific on Thursday, January 8, 2026, about the University of Washington’s “Roots of Resilience: Disasters, Community, and Sustainability in Southern Italy” (ENVH 490, 9 credits), a month-long, interdisciplinary study abroad program set in Rome and Sicily. Sicily’s dynamic blend of environmental challenges and rich cultural traditions makes it an exceptional setting for exploring disaster resilience, while immersive learning prepares students for future leadership in global environmental public health and community sustainability….
Category: Center for Disaster Resilient Communities
Supporting Western Washington’s response to historic flooding
The University of Washington’s Center for Disaster Resilient Communities supports communities before, during and after disasters. With historic floods impacting Western Washington, we are committed to supporting our practice partners with our research resources to help affected communities. In past disasters, we have partnered to: Assess and map damage and exposures Use AI to streamline manual processes Conduct community needs assessments (e.g., Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Responses, trauma-informed listening sessions, surveys) Evaluate health and well-being impacts Analyze the…
New study explores how public housing authorities implement disaster risk
New research examines how the United States is facing a dual crisis: a growing shortage of affordable housing and an increase in climate-driven disasters. The team, which was led by University of Washington researchers, found that disasters disproportionately affect extremely low-income renters living in federally subsidized housing managed by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs). A national survey revealed that PHA characteristics – such as size, urban location, political context and perceived hazard risk – significantly influence their disaster risk management (DRM)…
UW researcher authors op-ed calling for California to treat wildfires like earthquakes
Joseph Wartman, director of the Natural Hazards and Disaster Reconnaissance Facility and a professor of civil engineering at the University of Washington, recently authored an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle calling for California’s leaders to master wildfire safety in the same way that they mastered earthquake safety. He notes that California has become a global leader in earthquake preparedness through decades of investment in infrastructure, policy and public education, spurred by past disasters like the 1971 San Fernando quake….
December CDRC workshop to focus on applying AI to disaster resilience
The Center for Disaster Resilient Communities announced today a free, in person workshop taking place December 8 and 9, 2025, that is focused on training University of Washington researchers who have little to no background in artificial intelligence (AI). Through an inquiry-based learning approach, participants will learn how to harness the power of AI for their disaster resilience projects, such as hazard characterization, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Date, time and location Day 1: Monday, December 8, 2025, 8:30 –…
New research seeks to reduce the risk of soil liquefaction during earthquakes
Liquefaction of soil is a major risk during earthquakes, responsible for significant damage to buildings and other infrastructure. A team from the University of Washington’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is developing biocementation – a newer, sustainable alternative to traditional soil stabilization methods. This new approach utilizes bacteria to help soils strengthen against earthquake liquefaction. Unlike conventional cement-based soil treatments, biocementation is much less invasive, with a simple nutrient solution being injected into the soil. This solution enables bacteria…
UW researchers design a new emergency preparedness tool
University of Washington researchers from the Center for Disaster Resilient Communities have developed a new digital tool to standardize emergency preparedness assessments for Washington’s 35 local health jurisdictions. The Health and Hazards Risk Decision Support Tool (H2azaRDS) aims to assist counties in assessing their readiness for natural disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires and tsunamis. Led by Nicole Errett, an associate professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, the team created the tool at the…
Regional medical surge partners convene to innovate new approaches to longstanding gaps
The University of Washington Center for Disaster Resilient Communities, in partnership with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, convened a meeting of military, healthcare, public health and emergency management partners on June 10, 2025, to address gaps in preparedness for a sustained medical surge event. The goal was to generate innovative, research-informed ideas to bridge those gaps. Over the past several months, the CDRC has reviewed regional plans, after-action reports and other relevant documents, and conducted interviews…
Migration and housing quality identified as risk factors for earthquake deaths
New University of Washington research spotlights an often overlooked factor in earthquake fatality research: migration. The research team, led by Tzu-Hsin Karen Chen, an assistant professor in both the University of Washington’s Department of Urban Design and Planning and the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, found that deaths in major earthquakes were often concentrated in suburban areas as opposed to city centers. The research team included many collaborators across Taiwan as well, using the country’s Chi-Chi Earthquake (1999)…
May 20 event: What Washington can learn from California’s wildfires
In January 2025, wildfires broke out in several neighborhoods across Los Angeles. The fires burned for almost a month, killing 30 people and devastating the city. Now, disaster preparedness experts in California and around the country are dissecting what went wrong, and what we can do to help prevent and mitigate future disasters. The University of Washington Center for Health and the Global Environment and the Center for Disaster Resilient Communities are hosting a hybrid event at 12 p.m. on…