HAZUS User Groups Success Stories

As HAZUS User Groups (HUGs) continue to evolve in all regions of the U.S., new applications of HAZUS-MH are being carried out by the membership of these groups. These HAZUS User Group Success Stories are being documented so they can be shared. Contact information is provided, with descriptions of the projects and the network of project supporters.

3RiversHUG, formed by the California University of Pennsylvania

Graphic of 3RiversHUG success story

The benefits of having a HUG in southwestern Pennsylvania are already being realized. Communications and collaboration between academia and the public, private, and third (not-for profit) sectors are improving. The 3RiversHUG is helping all stakeholders with their goals because academicians are able to expand their research and service activities, their students gain valuable real world experience, the public sector receives much needed assistance to complete valuable data gathering and analysis projects, and the private sector provides certified engineering analysis, advice, and gains networking opportunities and potential internship candidates. Finally, the community benefits from improved mitigation and preparedness activities which may reduce losses from future hazard events at a relatively low cost. The 3RiversHUG provides a win-win situation for all potential stakeholders while reducing the vulnerability of the region to disasters. Download Handout.

Expanding HAZUS Use in FEMA Region V

Graphic of CHUG success story

The Central HAZUS Users Group (CHUG) provides a means of collaboration between HAZUS-MH users within FEMA Region V. This group looks at software challenges, HAZUS-MH projects, and the overall general use of HAZUS-MH software. The main goal of the CHUG is to maximize the potential of HAZUS-MH within the region. Sharing the successes and challenges between users helps bring the entire region together in planning for natural disasters.

The Polis Center at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, an active CHUG member, has been working with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to use HAZUS-MH in pre-disaster mitigation planning projects including the development of a statewide 100-year flood study as well as development of multi-hazard risk assessments using local data in 29 Indiana counties. Download Handout.

Hawaii HAZUS Atlas

Graphic of HIHUG success story

Hawaii HAZUS User Group (HIHUG)
To help Hawaii's disaster managers better prepare for and respond to potentially devastating earthquakes, the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) -- in collaboration with Hawaii State Civil Defense and the Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee -- has created the Hawaii HAZUS Atlas (HHA). "HHA is a web-enabled tool that drastically saves time in delivering critical information to disaster managers," states PDC Chief Scientist Stanley Goosby. "If a large earthquake were to strike Hawaii or Maui County in the middle of the night, emergency personnel would be able to instantly access extremely useful data to help assess impacts and potential losses." 

The HHA is a web-based catalog of 20 "plausible" hypothetical earthquakes based on historical events located in (and around) Maui and Hawaii Counties. The HHA contains loss estimation data and analyses based on HAZUS scenarios. With HHA, communities can use HAZUS results to assist in disaster planning before, during, and after a destructive earthquake. Prototypes have also been used recently by Hawaii State Civil Defense to support statewide tsunami and earthquake exercises. For the tsunami exercise, the Atlas was used to examine the damage caused by the hypothetical earthquake in Maui and Hawaii Counties. Download Handout.

Loss-Estimation Modeling of Earthquake Scenarios for Each County in Nevada Using HAZUS-MH

Graphic of NVHUG success story

Nevada Hazus User Group (NVHUG)
With the support of the Nevada Division of Emergency Management the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology conducted a project to model the potential earthquake loss in each county in the state of Nevada using HAZUS-MH. One of the first pieces of information needed in disaster planning, preparedness, and response is a general estimate of potential damage and costs of an event, such as an earthquake. Nevada has a relatively high level of earthquake hazard, but that hazard is not evenly distributed throughout the state. Another relevant factor is that the characteristics of the population, infrastructure, and societal resources vary dramatically across the state. The probability of at least one magnitude 6 or greater event in the next 50 years is between 34 and 98%. The probability of at least one magnitude 7 or greater event in the next 50 years is between 4 and 50%.  Understanding these facts, plus the fact that it is possible to prepare, respond, and mitigate structural and nonstructural risks motivated this project. Download Handout.

Geologic Hazards and Future Earthquake Damage and Loss Estimates for Six Counties in the Mid/Southern Willamette Valley, Oregon

Graphic of ORHUG success story

Oregon HAZUS User Group (ORHUG)
In an effort to become more resilient from natural hazards, communities in Oregon have begun a large-scale endeavor aimed at pre-disaster mitigation. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Studies (DOGAMI) partnered with Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) and the Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup (ONHW) at the University of Oregon to assist local communities with their Pre-Disaster Mitigation plans.

As of April 2006, 18 of Oregon's 36 counties have FEMA-approved natural hazard mitigation plans. The goal of the DOGAMI-ONHW-OEM partnership is to assist all remaining counties in the state to develop plans by 2010 utilizing this approach. In order to assist these counties in the development of their natural hazards mitigation plans, DOGAMI identified the primary geologic hazards, developed countywide earthquake and landslide hazard maps for each county, performed future earthquake damage and loss estimates, and performed overall project management. The Community Service Center's Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup (ONHW) at the University of Oregon facilitated the community plan development through hands-on trainings, applied research, and plan development support. The OEM managed the grant, performed general review of final plans, and was the lead communicator with FEMA. Download Handout.

Last Modified: Monday, 10-Dec-2007 11:20:08 EST

Fast Facts

There are currently 24 active HAZUS User Groups (HUGs) throughout the United States. If you are interested in forming or joining a HUG, please contact Jamie Caplan at HAZUSUserGroupHelp
@jamiecaplan.com.

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