About PDC

Reduce disaster risk.
Step into a safer world.

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  • Tornado - Shreveport, LA WFO Region, US

    19 minutes ago WARNING

  • Wildfire - SE of Arkhara, Amurskaya, Russia

    33 minutes ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - E of Battambang, Batdambang, Cambodia

    33 minutes ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - W of Fuyuan, Heilongjiang, China

    33 minutes ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - NW of Besisahar, Rapti, Nepal

    33 minutes ago INFORMATION

  • Volcano - Reventador, Ecuador

    40 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Douala, Littoral, Cameroon

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Mahakam Basin, Indonesia

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Hechi, Guangxi, China

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Canavieiras, Bahia, Brazil

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Orange Basin, E of Fish River, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Volga Basin, Russia, Kazakhstan and Caspian Sea

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Val dOr, Ontario and Québec, Canada

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Jiangmen, Guangdong, China

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Porto Santana, North Brazil

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Paraiso, Tabasco, Mexico

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Venice, Veneto, Italy

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Tornado - Des Moines, IA WFO Region, US

    56 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Parana Basin, Paraguay and Cuiaba Rivers, Brazil and Bolivia

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Swan Hill, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - Yangtze Basin, Yangtze and Xiang Jiang Rivers, China

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Aksu, Xinjiang Uygur, China

    59 minutes ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Semeru, Indonesia

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • High Wind - Salluit, Québec, Canada

    58 minutes ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Fuego, Guatemala

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Sabancaya, Peru

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • Winter Storm - Southwestern, United States

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • Tornado - Des Moines, IA WFO Region, US

    1 hour ago WATCH

  • Flood - Springfield, MO Region, United States

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • Flood - Mineola, TX Region, United States

    1 hour ago WARNING

  • Flood - Havana, IL Region, United States

    2 hours ago WARNING

  • Earthquake - 5.3 - Mid-Indian Ridge

    2 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - Dukono, Indonesia

    2 hours ago WATCH

  • Flood - Corsicana, TX Region, United States

    2 hours ago WARNING

  • Blizzard - Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada

    3 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Ibu, Indonesia

    3 hours ago WATCH

  • Earthquake - 5.0 - Mid-Indian Ridge

    4 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Earthquake - 6.0 - Mid-Indian Ridge

    4 hours ago WATCH

  • Wildfire - W of Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SE of Oromocto, New Brunswick, Canada

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SE of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - NE of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - W of Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - W of Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SW of Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SE of Atoyac, Guerrero, Mexico

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SE of Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras

    4 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Freezing Rain - SE of Fort Severn, Ontario, Canada

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Sangay, Ecuador

    5 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ava, MO Region, United States

    6 hours ago WARNING

  • Wildfire - SW of Nizhne Tambovskoye, Khabarovskiy kray, Russia

    6 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - W of Hakha, Chin State, Myanmar

    6 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Flood - SE of Melut, Upper Nile, South Sudan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Dryden, Manitoba and Ontario, Canada

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Rufiji Basin, Great Ruaha, Rufiji and Kilombero Rivers, Tanzania

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - La Paz, Baja California, Baja California Sur and Sonora, Mexico

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Cobalt, Ontario and Québec, Canada

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Puyehue-Cordon Caulle, Chile

    7 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - SW of Remanso, Northeast Brazil

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Jubba Basin, N of Lagh Dera River, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Amazon Basin, W of Mamore River, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Earthquake - 5.4 - 29 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan

    7 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Amazon Basin, N of Maranon River, Brazil and Peru

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Jacareacanga, Pará, Brazil

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Breves, Pará, Brazil

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Egypt

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Bengawan Solo Basin, Indonesia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Boulia, Queensland, Australia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Langsa, Aceh and Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Newcastle Waters, Northern Territory, Australia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Chao Phraya Basin, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Brahmani Basin, SW of Brahmani River, India

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Torghay Basin, Russia and Kazakhstan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ganges Basin, E of Damodar River, India and Bangladesh

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Meghna Basin, Eastern Asia, China, Southern Asia, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, South-eastern A

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Huai He Basin, NW of Huai He River, China

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Irrawaddy Basin, Myanmar and Thailand

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Sukkur, Baluchistan, Punjab and Sind, Pakistan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Yancheng, East China

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Baoding, Hebei, China

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Vam Co Basin, NE of Vam Co River, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Naypyidaw, Naypyitaw, Myanmar

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Cauvery Basin, Sri Lanka

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Shieli, Qyzylorda, Kazakhstan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ob Basin, Kazakhstan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shatt Al Arab Basin, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - North Bay, Ontario, Canada

    7 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Earthquake - 5.7 - 19 km NNE of Hualien City, Taiwan

    7 hours ago WATCH

  • Flood - S of Astrakhan, Astrakhan, Russia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Dasht Kaur Basin, NW of Dasht River, Iran and Pakistan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Abadan, Khuzestan, Iran

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Kura Basin, Azerbaijan, Iran and Caspian Sea

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Dasht Kaur Basin, Iran

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Tsiribihina Basin, Madagascar

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Timika, Papua and Papua Barat, Indonesia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Tamale, Northern, Ghana

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Congo Basin, SE of Malagarasi River, Burundi and Tanzania

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Zambezi Basin, Angola and Dem Rep of the Congo

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Niger Basin, S of Dallol Bosso River, Algeria, Mali and Niger

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Niger Basin, Algeria and Niger

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ogooue Basin, Middle Africa, Dem Rep of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial G

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Sumbawanga, Rukwa, Tanzania

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Tukuyu, Mbeya, Tanzania

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Egypt and Sudan

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Bulungan Basin, Indonesia and Malaysia

    7 hours ago WARNING

  • Extreme Heat - Sri Lanka

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Pakistan

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Pocatello, ID Region, United States

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Vietnam

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Lufkin, TX Region, United States

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Longview, TX Region, United States

    8 hours ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Tanzania

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Flood - Tana Basin, NW of Tana River, Kenya and Somalia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Wildfire - W of Mumbwa, Central, Zambia

    9 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Earthquake - 5.1 - 82 km SE of Honiara, Solomon Islands

    11 hours ago ADVISORY

  • High Water Level - W of Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada

    11 hours ago WARNING

  • Wildfire - NE of Walpole, Western Australia, Australia

    11 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Severe Weather - Uruguay

    11 hours ago WARNING

  • Snowfall - Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Canada

    11 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Parana Basin, W of Paraguay River, Brazil and Paraguay

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Paraguay

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Earthquake - 5.0 - 190 km S of Nusa Dua, Indonesia

    14 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Joplin, MO Region, United States

    14 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Carlyle, IL Region, United States

    14 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Emporia, KS Region, United States

    14 hours ago WARNING

  • Flood - Carrollton, MO Region, United States

    15 hours ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Popocatepetl, Mexico

    15 hours ago ADVISORY

  • Wildfire - E of Victoria Daly, Northern Territory, Australia

    17 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - SE of Palumpa, Northern Territory, Australia

    17 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - S of Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory, Australia

    17 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Wildfire - E of Khor, Khabarovskiy kray, Russia

    18 hours ago INFORMATION

  • Flood - Zomba, Zomba, Malawi

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Jawhar, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Somalia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Tocantins Basin, W of Araguaia River, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Nabire, Papua, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Dem Rep of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Abuna, Rondônia, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Kimbe, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of McMinns Lagoon, Northern Territory, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Santa Maria, Guatemala

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - N of Mazabuka, Southern, Zambia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Hai He Basin, China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Qiqihar, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Nei Mongol, China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Angoche, Nampula and Zambezia, Mozambique

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Yingkow, Liaoning, China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Shanghai, East China

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Congo Basin, Tanzania

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Jubba Basin, SW of Shabelle River, Ethiopia and Somalia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Attica, IN Region, United States

    1 day ago WARNING

  • High Water Level - E of Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

    1 day ago ADVISORY

  • Flood - Zhu Basin, China and Macao

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Sandakan, Labuan and Sabah, Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Kununurra, Northern Territory and Western Australia, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Geraldton, Ontario, Canada

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Sao Luis, Maranhão, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Moosonee, Ontario, Canada

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Rio De La Plata Basin, SW of Salado River, Argentina

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Parana Basin, South America, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Rio De La Plata Basin, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Wewak, East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Amazon Basin, Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Bulungan Basin, Indonesia and Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Hari Basin, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Merauke, Papua, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Indus Basin, India and Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Pakchan Basin, N of Pakchan River, Myanmar and Thailand

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Amur Basin, NW of Ussuri River, China and Russia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Mekong Basin, Mekong, Sap and Hau Rivers, Cambodia and Vietnam

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Karachi, Sind, Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NW of Karachi, Sind, Pakistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Irrawaddy Basin, Bangladesh and Myanmar

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Aral Sea Basin, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Congo Basin, Middle Africa, Angola, Eastern Africa, Burundi, Central African Republic, Camer

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ob Basin, E of Irtysh River, China and Kazakhstan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Abadan, Khuzestan, Iran

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - W of Dasht Kaur Basin, United Arab Emirates and Oman

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Zhem Basin, N of Zhem River, Russia, Kazakhstan and Caspian Sea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Conakry, Conakry, Guinea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Zaranj, Nimroz, Afghanistan

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Orange Basin, Namibia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Middle Africa, Dem Rep of the Congo, Eastern Africa, Rwanda, Northern Africa, Su

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - NE of Asosa, Benshangul-Gumaz, Ethiopia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Abhe Bad Basin, Eastern Africa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Lake Turkana Basin, Eastern Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Nile Basin, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Niger Basin, Nigeria

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Quelimane, Zambezia, Mozambique

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SE of Massawa, Debub, Eritrea

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - E of Mbalmayo, Centre, Cameroon

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Chad Basin, Middle Africa, Cameroon, Western Africa, Niger, Nigeria and Chad

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - SW of Kumaka, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Guyana

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Abhe Bad Basin, Eastern Africa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - S of Cottica, Sipaliwini, Suriname

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Paulo Afonso, Northeast Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Ternate, Maluku and Maluku Utara, Indonesia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Northern Brazil

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Severe Weather - Central India

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Storms - Eastern Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Storms - Peninsular Malaysia

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Northern Pacific Islands

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Greece

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Italy

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Spain

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Puerto Rico, United States of America

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Central United States

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Southwestern United States

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Northwestern United States

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Drought - Hawaii, United States of America

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Flood - Carthage, MS Region, United States

    1 day ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Sheveluch, Russia

    1 day ago ADVISORY

  • Earthquake - 5.5 - Kermadec Islands region

    1 day ago WATCH

  • Drinking Water - SW of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada

    2 days ago ADVISORY

  • Extreme Heat - Eastern India

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Extreme Heat - Southern Africa

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - Southern Africa

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Landslides - Kyrgyzstan

    2 days ago INFORMATION

  • Floods - Afghanistan

    2 days ago INFORMATION

  • Severe Weather - Mexico

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Drought - Central America

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Extreme Heat - Central America

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Floods - Haiti and Dominican Republic

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Floods - Mauritius

    2 days ago INFORMATION

  • Cholera - Haiti

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Cholera - Comoros

    2 days ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Klyuchevskoy, Russia

    2 days ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - Ebeko, Russia

    2 days ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - Ruang, Indonesia

    3 days ago WARNING

  • Volcano - Lewotobi, Indonesia

    3 days ago WARNING

  • Health - SE of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada

    1 week ago ADVISORY

  • Volcano - La Cumbre, Fernandina Island, Ecuador

    1 month ago WARNING

  • Cholera - Somalia

    2 months ago WARNING

  • Cholera - Mozambique

    1 year ago WARNING

  • Dengue - Guatemala

    7 months ago WARNING

  • Measles - American Samoa

    1 year ago WARNING

  • Drought - Djibouti

    1 year ago WARNING

Working together to create a Safer World

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global) is an applied research center managed by the University of Hawaii that supports the most demanding governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide in helping to create a safer, more disaster resilient world. For more than 25 years, we’ve helped our partners enhance disaster management capacity, save lives, and reduce disaster losses through the application of our advanced tools and technologies, evidence-based research, and analytical information.

 

The Center’s DisasterAWARE platform is used by tens of thousands of disaster management professionals—from the senior-level decision maker to the operational practitioner. It provides global multi-hazard early warning, hazard monitoring, and risk intelligence to support rapid and effective disaster response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. DisasterAWARE includes the highest resolution all-hazards impact models, advanced analytical reports, and augmented information through artificial intelligence. The system features the largest, scientifically-vetted big data catalog for disaster management decision making in the world—derived in part from PDC’s unique National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment as well as its Global Risk and Vulnerability data.

 

DisasterAWARE provides near real-time analytics about impacts to population, capital, and key infrastructure for multiple hazards, calculating likely humanitarian needs down to a scale of 30 x 30 meters. DisasterAWARE is free to disaster management practitioners and the humanitarian assistance community at https://disasteraware.pdc.org.

 

 Customized versions of DisasterAWARE have been deployed by PDC in locations around the world and are used operationally by national and regional disaster management agencies for all aspects of disaster management.

 

PDC’s mobile app, Disaster Alert, is also free and designed for use by the public as well as disaster managers on-the-go. It offers customizable early warning alerts for any type of natural hazard in any location around the globe. Visit https://disasteralert.pdc.org.

 

In addition to offering advanced decision support technology, PDC is pioneering the scientific application of artificial intelligence for disaster risk reduction through its AI for Humanity™ program. Learn more about these innovations at www.pdc.org/aiforhumanity.
The Center also provides specialized research on a range of topics ranging such as national fragility, national disaster preparedness, women, peace and security, and climate change. PDC also supports disaster preparedness training and exercises.

A brief history of PDC

Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Iniki to the Hawaiian Islands in 1992, Pacific Disaster Center was conceived as a center to improve systems of communication and technology for disaster prevention at home and beyond. PDC now serves a global audience, helping to increase disaster management capacity and embolden more effective decisions, policies, and actions for a safer world.

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Our Team

Executive Management

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Ray Shirkhodai is responsible for PDC’s strategic development, market and partnership expansion, and all aspects of the enterprise operation. Serving in information management and senior leadership roles since 1991, Ray first joined PDC in 2002 as the Chief Information Officer before his selection for Executive Director in 2007. During his tenure at PDC, Ray architected PDC’s flagship DisasterAWARE® risk intelligence platform and mobile applications, developed and oversaw strategies for PDC’s expansion into the global hazard and risk reduction markets, and increased the Center’s competitive project revenues, augmenting PDC’s base research and operating budgets. Ray has led the Center’s support of major international disaster relief operations. He has served as a chief technology advisor to regional and national disaster management offices around the world. Ray has written for numerous United Nations publications on analytical software design for risk reduction. He has been an invited keynote speaker, lecturer and participant at many international events focused on technologies for risk reduction and resilience. Ray is on the advisory board of the University of Hawaii Maui College Applied Business and Information Technology (ABIT) program. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from George Mason University followed by graduate studies in Artificial Intelligence at George Mason University.

Ray Shirkhodai

Executive Director

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Chris Chiesa has more than 30 years of experience developing and leading enterprise applications of geospatial information technologies and has been actively involved in disaster management activities for the past two decades. He directs international deployments of PDC’s disaster management decision support DisasterAWARE® platform. Chris has extensive programmatic and institutional experience in the Asia Pacific region. His work has also taken him to Europe, Central and South America, and Africa. In 2005, Chris received Esri’s prestigious Special Achievements in GIS Award in recognition of the Center’s support to the Indian Ocean tsunami response. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan (BSME, MSNR) and the University of Arizona (MBA).

Chris Chiesa, MS, MBA

Deputy Executive Director

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Dr. Joseph Green is an expert in the practical application of risk information for humanitarian assistance and resilience-building initiatives worldwide. His analytical work spans more than two decades, with specialized focus on the examination of the intersection between social vulnerability, health outcomes, and disaster resilience. Joseph earned his PhD in epidemiology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Prior to earning his PhD, Joseph earned a master’s degree in medical geography from the University of South Florida and worked as a research fellow at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Joseph Green, PhD

Director of Applied Science

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Dr. Erin Hughey is the Director of Global Operation for the Pacific Disaster Center. A recognized leader in global disaster management and disaster risk reduction, Dr. Hughey developed the only operationalized approach to the United Nations Sendai Framework for Action. Known as the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA), this program has been implemented by more than 20 countries worldwide and aids national, regional and international disaster risk reduction initiatives. With a PhD in geography, Dr. Hughey has dedicated her life’s work to the innovation and the application of new science and technology for disaster management—empowering practitioners and senior leadership alike with the tools and information needed to support data-driven decision making.

Erin Hughey, PhD

Director of Global Operations

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Cassie Stelow brings with her more than 10 years of experience in the development and execution of enterprise-wide IT solutions and strategies. She oversees PDC’s data management solutions and was the key architect for transforming the organization’s data services into a single source. Cassie is responsible for the implementation of data governance, adherence to IT standards and the institutionalization of enterprise tools. She holds a Master of Science in Geospatial Information Science and Technology from North Carolina State University.

Cassie Stelow, MS

Acting Director of Information Technology

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Scott Okada is responsible for PDC’s fiscal planning and management in all areas of budgeting, financial analysis, procurement, and business information technology applications. He has experience and training as a financial forecaster, auditor, tax-compliance officer, and report compiler for national and governmental organizations. His experience also includes high-level oversight of human resources management and loss prevention, as well as cash management and cost control functions. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Scott Okada, BBA, MBA

Director of Finance & Administration

Other Staff

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Bear (Bernd) McConnell

Senior Advisor

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Steve Recca has held several security policy positions with the State Department, Department of Defense, and in academia. He was Director of the University of Colorado Springs Center for Homeland Security where he managed research programs in civil security, defense-related topics, as well as institutional and government agency collaborative relationships. He is on the Editorial Review Board of four peer-reviewed journals and is a frequent guest lecturer on civil security topics for academic institutions across the United States. Steve holds a Master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Steve Recca

Humanitarian Assistance Programs Senior Advisor

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