Extreme heat events (EHEs) are the deadliest weather hazards in the U.S., and local health jurisdictions (LHJs) play a critical role in responding to them. A new study from the University of Washington used focus groups with LHJ representatives to identify key factors influencing EHE preparedness and response. The research team identified four major influences: local conditions, community engagement and tailored strategies, partnerships and available resources. Participants emphasized the need for scalable resources, improved data access and stronger collaboration across…
Center updates
Study abroad this summer: Learn about “Roots of Resilience” in Italy
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….
Eva Edwards understands the infrastructure of rural Alaska
Eva Edwards brings more than four decades of professional experience to her position as Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, including more than 15 years in emergency management. Everything she has done is grounded in a lifetime of service to Alaska Native organizations and communities. Before entering the emergency management field, she spent many years working in a wide range of roles supporting Alaska Native people across the state after having grown up in Alaska herself….
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)…
NWPHEPR launches new series of public health peer learning sessions
“Mentorship and peer learning are like the holy grails of adult learning and public health training,” according to Kevin deVoss (pictured), an adult education specialist who helps lead the Dissemination Core of the Northwest Center for Evidence-Based Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (NWPHEPR) with Betty Bekemeier, Associate Director of the Dissemination Core. Bekemeier and deVoss have worked together for many years with the team at the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) to provide training for public health…
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 –…
Readiness through relationships: Meet Snohomish County’s Gabby Hadly
For Gabby Hadly (pictured), Manager of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Snohomish County Health Department, readiness is both personal and professional. “I’ve always been drawn to preparedness. The first Christmas present I remember asking for as a child was a fire escape ladder,” she said with a laugh. Today, Hadly leads countywide efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact community health. She approaches this challenge by building partnerships that bring plans and processes to…
Building regional resilience: Outcomes of the first Crisis Leadership Institute
The inaugural Crisis Leadership Institute was developed using effective practices from peer-reviewed literature On September 8, 2025, 16 regional partners from state agencies, local health jurisdictions, and Tribal nations convened at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus for the inaugural Crisis Leadership Institute, hosted by the Northwest Center for Evidence-Based Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (NWPHEPR). During disasters and public health emergencies — from pandemics to earthquakes — effective leadership is essential for crisis resolution. The goal of the…