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DisasterAWARE® Training and Preparedness Exercises
Using our extensive hazard data and unique DisasterAWARE platform, we can help you simulate realistic hazard scenarios to help gain a deeper understanding of hazard impacts on communities. We also can assist with exercising preparedness plans in advance of real-world events. Our exercise program can help test complex networks of organizations and response activities—making sure stakeholders respond effectively under high-pressure and ever-changing circumstances. Our experts can support any type of exercise and hazard scenario. We also provide online training and instructor-led training on our DisasterAWARE platform.
Your DisasterAWARE training starts here
Watch our self-paced DisasterAWARE training videos to master the basics or request an instructor-led DisasterAWARE training on-site, at your location or ours. We can help you accomplish nearly any training objective.
Disaster Preparedness Exercises
Exercise Options
Exercises help decision makers identify as much about what goes right with disaster preparedness plans as what goes wrong. We’ve helped organizations around the world design and conduct exercises and incorporate lessons learned into planning and preparedness activities.
Scenario-based Training
- Often focused on policy or strategic issues
- Smaller scope, less complex
Tabletop Exercises
- Provides facilitated analysis of an emergency situation
- Examines policies, procedures, and operations to validate and refine plans as needed.
- Informal, stress-free environment
Functional Exercises
- Fully simulated exercise
- Realistic event, testing response capabilities in time-pressured environment
- Involves multiple functions, agencies, and organizations
Full-scale Exercises
- Tests regional, national, subnational disaster management systems
- Simulates real event as closely as possible.
- Mobilizes emergency personnel and victims (actors), equipment, and resources
Benefits of our exercise
support program
- Leverage the best information to solve problems and make life-saving decisions using DisasterAWARE
- Accurately simulate real-world hazards and impacts based on DisasterAWARE historical hazard data
- Identify planning weaknesses and time-saving measures
- Reveal gaps in resources and information
- Improve organizational coordination and communications
- Clarify roles and responsibilities
- Enhance individual and team performance
Learn more about our customized exercises and training solutions
Recent Training Events and Exercises
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After concluding a year-long engagement with Barbados in which the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) presented the results of the country’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment, the Center reunited with its partners at the Barbados Department of Emergency Management (DEM) to participate in the 2024 Tradewinds exercise. Tradewinds is a large-scale, multinational exercise that takes place
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Recent collaboration between ASEAN and PDC includes the newly released assessment titled Strengthening ASEAN Multi-Hazard End-to-End Early Warning System for Natural Disasters: An Assessment of Current Capacity (February 2024). Jakarta, Indonesia—The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) recently announced the renewal of their long-held
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The University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and Sunway Center for Planetary Health join forces to combat the impacts of the planetary health crisis Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—During the recent 2024 Planetary Health Summit and 6th Annual Meeting which took place from April 15-19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center,
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Kihei, Hawaii–The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), a University of Hawaiʻi applied science and research center based in Maui, hosted a bilateral exchange with a delegation of nine disaster management experts from the country of Ghana, representing the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), during the week of April 8-12, 2024. Pictured above: Delegation from Ghana on
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Accra, Ghana—Following a year-long collaboration to assess disaster risk and preparedness among Ghana’s diverse communities, key stakeholders reunited on June 26, 2024, to participate in the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment Final Workshop and Exchange.
The workshop was held at the Accra Marriott Hotel and attended by Ghana’s key government agencies, community leaders, civil and military groups, and academic, scientific, and nongovernmental organizations. The event was also attended by a delegation of disaster management experts from the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) who partnered with Ghana’s national disaster management organization, NADMO, to conduct the assessment.
"It is our greatest quest to mainstream disaster risk reduction into all national developmental programs and activities."
"It is our greatest quest to mainstream disaster risk reduction into all national developmental programs and activities. In line with this, a comprehensive sector assessment, with a key focus on response agencies is seen to aid our understanding and efforts for holistic national development programming.
We are grateful once more to the United States and the PDC for granting our request for technical support towards the Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment," said Director General of Ghana’s NADMO, Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh.
Director General Agyemang-Prempeh welcomes PDC's Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai in Accra, Ghana.
PDC's Humanitarian Assistance Advisor presents results of the year-long project to assess disaster risk and preparedness.
The final assessment results were previewed by stakeholders for the first time during the workshop, providing new insights into current risks and vulnerabilities and the landscape of hazards anticipated from climate change. The assessment also included a comprehensive disaster management analysis and a five-year plan of prioritized actions to build national resilience and help mitigate disaster impacts.
During the workshop, stakeholders shared knowledge and identified additional data to be included in the final report.
PDC's Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai addresses the final workshop audience.
Photograph by Lorem Ipsum via Unsplash"Globally, we are facing a ticking climate time bomb and must accelerate a whole-of-society approach to prepare for the hazards ahead. As climate-related disasters continue to rise in frequency and severity, PDC has accelerated our work with partners around the world on the national baseline assessment to provide the tools and information needed to face these challenges,” said PDC’s Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai, presenting during the final workshop event in Accra, Ghana.
"The baseline assessment emphasizes a partnership-based approach to disaster risk reduction, bringing communities together across sectors to better understand risks and identify the most impactful actions and investments to build resilience. Our inclusive approach creates a comprehensive understanding of the issues and ensures all communities and sectors of society are actively engaged in the process. The system also features the world’s only early warning and alerting for floods, wildfires, and landslides at a global scale—hazards that are on the rise for Ghana due to changes in the climate," said Shirkhodai.
Data and results from Ghana’s national baseline assessment are scaled down to a subnational level to reflect the unique needs and concerns of each community. The information is also made available through PDC’s world-class early warning and risk intelligence platform, DisasterAWARE.
"Globally, we are facing a ticking climate time bomb and must accelerate a whole-of-society approach to prepare for the hazards ahead."
Pictured above: A snapshot of PDC's climate change projections for the year 2050 provided as part of the assessment.
DisasterAWARE centralizes disparate data from multiple agencies, streamlining access to critical information for disaster management planning, preparedness, response, and mitigation. This strategy has also been proven to enhance efficiency and comprehension of risk information during emergencies, facilitating more informed decision-making and coordinated responses. The system also features the world’s only early warning and alerting for floods, wildfires, and landslides at a global scale—all of which are on the rise for Ghana due to changes in the climate. Ghana currently faces a multitude of other adverse impacts from climate change including increased frequency of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and failure of crops, water scarcity, sea-level rise and coastal erosion, and ongoing health risks to name just a few. The system also features the world’s only early warning and alerting for floods, wildfires, and landslides at a global scale—all of which are on the rise for Ghana due to changes in the climate. Ghana currently faces a multitude of other adverse impacts from climate change including increased frequency of extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and failure of crops, water scarcity, sea-level rise and coastal erosion, and ongoing health risks to name just a few. Ghana’s national baseline assessment results and recommendations were delivered only eight months after the worst flooding disaster in Ghana’s history—the Akosombo Dam spillage (a deliberate release of water)—in which the flood gates of the dam were opened to release water pressure onto communities below in the Lower Volta River. The event was triggered by unprecedented rainfall, an extreme weather event linked to climate change. The dam spillage caused the displacement of more than 39,333 people downstream and affected more than 80,000 people in total. While no lives were lost, the loss of personal property and destruction of businesses in the Lower Volta River region were catastrophic. “Our partnership with the Pacific Disaster Center on the national baseline assessment is one of many recent initiatives by NADMO to transition from a reactive to a proactive approach as we face new and emerging risks resulting from climate change. From the full-scale exercises conducted with our U.S. partners that engaged hundreds of Ghanaians to the tools and information we have received through our collaboration with PDC, we continue to ensure we are better prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow,” said NADMO’s Director General Agyemang-Prempeh."Yet, our work is not complete. Everyone must do their part...The future is in our hands and together we can, and must, create a safer Ghana and world."Director General Agyemang-Prempeh continued, "Yet, our work is not complete. Everyone must do their part. This includes support from policymakers to formalize national disaster management legislation and the dedication of funding for the vitally important work to mitigate disasters and improve operations. We also solicit the help of our regional and international partners. We cannot do this alone. The future is in our hands and together we can, and must, create a safer Ghana and world." According to the Director General, NADMO and PDC plan to continue working together to support similar regional initiatives on disaster response and early warning beyond the completion of the assessment. The final report for Ghana’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment will be available once final workshop feedback is incorporated at www.pdc.org/ndpba. About PDC Winner of the 2022 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center is a global leader in disaster risk reduction. Recognized for its National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment, the Center is helping nations worldwide operationalize the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Development Goals. For more than 28 years, PDC has enabled its partners with indispensable tools and insights to support evidence-based decision-making. The innovative applications of the Center’s science, technology, and advanced analytics continue to grow in demand as PDC works with diverse communities to save lives and build resilience for a safer world. Want new articles before they get published? Subscribe to our Awesome Newsletter. ADVERTISINGNailing It On The Head With Free Internet AdvertisingMOTIVATIONBelieving Is The Absence Of DoubtTRAVELBig Savings On Gas While You Travel
Tradewinds is a large-scale, annual exercise that takes place in different locations throughout the Caribbean to improve interoperability, crisis readiness, and to help address shared security challenges. This year’s exercise garnered over 1,000 participants from civilian agencies, military, and observer/trainer teams from multiple countries who train together in ground, air, sea, and cyber operations. https://youtube.com/shorts/_9UHZaFzK8s?feature=shared“Tradewinds is an important exercise that not only strengthens our emergency management capabilities in Barbados, but the CDEMA regional response mechanism as a whole. Our partnership with PDC who has joined us in Barbados to support the Tradewinds event, enhances the exercise through the application of new hazard and risk data we've recently developed together during the Barbados National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment."
—Barbados DEM CAPT Robert Harewood
According to Bosse, PDC supported the entire Tradewinds 24 planning phase to ensure the goals and objectives of the humanitarian assistance and disaster response portion of the exercise could be achieved. With support from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and their Starlink, PDC established a real-time Common Operating Picture (COP) at the scene, crucial for coordinating response efforts and guiding personnel incoming to event location and those operating at the Barbados Emergency Operations Center.“We were excited to put the recently concluded assessment for Barbados into immediate operational use during Tradewinds 24, especially as hurricane season approaches.
The disaster management training we conducted with partners at the Barbados Department of Emergency Management headquarters in support of the exercise emphasized the use of data and decision support systems to improve speed, coordination, and effectiveness of response efforts. Having access to the Barbados national assessment data in a centralized location through PDC’s DisasterAWARE decision support and risk intelligence platform exemplified the value of our collective efforts." —PDC’s Senior Disaster Management Specialist and Response Lead
The event was co-led by the Barbados DEM and the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) and encompassed Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), and Incident Command System (ICS) operations.
PDC has supported the Tradewinds exercises for the last three years, and remotely supported previous years as well, using DisasterAWARE as the common operational picture for sharing information and coordinating multi-agency response activities.
These are important activities, said Bosse, because they strengthen regional partnerships and multi-lateral humanitarian assistance capabilities during real-world events. This is critically important as the region prepares for the upcoming hurricane season.
Tradewinds focuses on building capacity for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), regional agencies and institutions, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as well as partner nations engaged in the exercise from the Caribbean Basin, U.S., Canada, France, Netherlands, and United Kingdom. About PDC Winner of the 2022 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center is a global leader in the innovation and application of life-saving disaster management science, early warning technology, and advanced analytics. Our risk intelligence products provide decision-makers with the essential insights and information needed to act early to protect communities from hazards and build more sustainable, resilient communities for a safer world. The Center’s DisasterAWARE platform is used by tens of thousands of disaster management and humanitarian assistance practitioners around the globe. DisasterAWARE is the most comprehensive, ready-made “Early Warning for All” solution that provides global, multi-hazard early warning for natural and manmade hazards. DisasterAWARE offers advanced situational awareness tools including the highest resolution all-hazards impact model, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI)-augmented information. The Center’s public Disaster Alert app, powered by DisasterAWARE, has been downloaded over 3.2 million times worldwide.“Exercise Tradewinds provides a unique opportunity for allies and partners in the region to develop and enhance HADR skills sets, build trust and enhance interoperability when responding to natural disasters."
—Lt Col Simpson from the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC)
“We are honored to continue our successful and longstanding partnership with the AHA Centre. Our work with ASEAN spans more than two decades and we’ve celebrated numerous successes with the AHA Centre since it was first initiated as a regional hub for disaster risk reduction nearly fifteen years ago.
Through our collaboration with experts at the AHA Centre, the first regional multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform known as the Disaster Monitoring and Response System, or DMRS, was launched in 2012 to serve all ASEAN Member States. Today, DMRS provides near-real-time impact analysis advanced analytics, insights, and actionable information, for a multitude of hazards, empowering decision-makers to understand risks and quickly mobilize life-saving humanitarian resources." —PDC Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai
DMRS is powered by PDC's DisasterAWARE technology and was launched as a collaborative effort between PDC and the AHA Centre in 2012. PDC and the AHA Centre have since collaborated on disaster risk assessments and exercise engagements over the years, including ARDEX, ADMM-Plus, and national-level exercises and have continuously enhanced DMRS to bolster the readiness and resilience of Member States.
Mr. Lee Yam Ming pointed to recent case studies in which the AHA Centre’s use of DMRS and PDC analytics was vital to life-saving operations including the recent response to Tropical Cyclone Mocha (a Category 5-equivalent storm) to several ASEAN Member States in 2023.“The AHA Centre is mandated to facilitate the coordination of disaster management among ASEAN Member States, providing early warning and impact analysis through DMRS, as well as training and capacity development. The work we’ve done with PDC over the years to enhance DMRS, as well as their expertise in risk assessment and predictive analytics has been integral to our operations and to the overall disaster risk reduction objectives of the region.”
—AHA Centre Executive Director Mr. Lee Yam Ming
Shrikhodai shared Mr. Lee Yam Ming’s sentiment about the importance of the partnership, stating, “Our future endeavors will create an even safer ASEAN region and will help nations build resilience to the rapidly changing landscape of hazards and climate change by ensuring decision makers have access to the best science, risk analytics, and early warnings for all.”
About PDC
Winner of the 2022 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center is a global leader in disaster risk reduction. Recognized for its National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment, the Center is helping nations worldwide operationalize the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. For more than 28 years, PDC has enabled its partners with evidence-based decision making and innovative applications of the Center’s science, technology, and advanced analytics to save lives and build resilience for a safer world.
The University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and Sunway Center for Planetary Health join forces to combat the impacts of the planetary health crisis
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—During the recent 2024 Planetary Health Summit and 6th Annual Meeting which took place from April 15-19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center, and Sunway University formalized their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The first collaborative activity planned under the new MOU is a Planetary Health Assessment to create a baseline understanding of the impacts of the planetary health crisis including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution on the human and earth systems at the national level.
Sunway has been a leader in the Planetary Health movement with a commitment to applying the best science and technology to address slow-onset disasters resulting from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The joint assessment is the next step in both Sunway's and PDC's commitment to a healthier and safer planet for all and dovetails with PDC's expertise in early warning and advanced analytics. The assessment will leverage PDC data holdings and provide an analysis derived from numerous scientific sources as well as new insights to guide the urgent action needed across the spectrum of government, private, and civil sectors of society.“Our work with Sunway University’s Centre for Planetary Health marks another pivotal moment in PDC’s commitment to meaningful partnerships to advance global resilience and sustainable futures. Through our new Memorandum of Understanding with Sunway University, we forge a partnership that transcends borders and unites us in a common quest to promote Planetary Health awareness and the related agenda worldwide.”
—Pacific Disaster Center’s Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai
“The recently completed Planetary Health Roadmap and Action Plan provides clarity on what we must do to find a way through our current predicament. That starts with having a baseline understanding of the health of the planet; a baseline that we can use in order to prioritize actions across governance, education, engagement with the private sector, and how we communicate effectively.
Leveraging PDC's strength in data analysis and its global reach provides a great opportunity to correlate health indicators to the state of the planet for the first time.”
—Sunway Centre for Planetary Health’s Executive Director, Jemilah Mahmood
"Together with Sunway, we’ll also be working to equip a cadre of Planetary Health Alliance members and civil society actors with the information and resources they need to successfully communicate Planetary Health concepts and inspire action,” said Hughey. Hughey emphasized that while a global movement, Planetary Health communication must be localized and adapted to the concerns of different audiences and sectors of society. Both Sunway and PDC have already started laying the groundwork for a Planetary Health assessment expected to be completed and released by the end of 2024.“We hear decision makers say they need more data, but data alone does not provide insight. With this assessment, and through our overarching partnership with Sunway University on the Planetary Health Roadmap and Action Plan, we will compile a wealth of data into actionable and easy-to-understand material to support decision-makers. This effort will also help identify any potential data gaps.
—PDC's Director of Global Operations Dr. Erin Hughey
PDC also announced its membership application to the Planetary Health Alliance—a growing consortium of over 400 universities, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, and government entities from over 60 countries around the world. The Planetary Health Alliance is a transdisciplinary, solutions-oriented field committed to understanding and addressing the impacts of global environmental change on human health and well-being.
Director General Agyemang-Prempeh emphasized that the technical exchange between PDC and NADMO promised immense benefit to other disaster management institutions throughout the entire subregion of West Africa. “Ghana’s capacity over the years has been of mutual benefit to all neighboring countries, most notably through training exchange programs, relief support, and response operations.” PDC’s Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai reinforced the Director General’s sentiments, expressing the importance of collaboration in building the capacity of communities to cope with climate change and extreme hazards globally."Climate change exposed Ghana to prolonged rainfall which led to the dam spillage of 2023. Over 80,000 individuals were affected due to the overflow of river bodies upstream and the impact of the dam spillage. The affected population includes different demography of vulnerable groups including persons with special needs. I am delighted to be present here at the Pacific Disaster Center headquarters, not only in the spirit of institutional solidarity but mainly for the opportunity to identify best practices towards disaster risk reduction.”
—Director General of Ghana’s NADMO, Hon. Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh
The weeklong engagement included a review and collaboration on the preliminary final results from Ghana’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment. Through this partnership and NDPBA process risk, vulnerabilities and unique coping capacities of Ghana were identified. Further NADMO leadership shared the challenges and success they experience as they focus on ensuring robust disaster management frameworks for the nation. The assessment includes anticipated climate hazard impacts that were developed using PDC’s advanced data science, historical hazard data, and the world’s best climate models.“The disasters our communities are contending with are just two among dozens of catastrophes that inflicted suffering for millions of people in 2023. The increase in frequency and severity of climate-related disasters underscores the need for improved risk assessments, advanced early warning systems, and partnership based resilience-building efforts worldwide.”
—PDC’s Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai
“PDC is working with countries around the world to reduce disaster risk through the Center’s internationally recognized baseline assessment program which includes a risk evaluation at the national and local level. By extending the use of assessment data and analytics into our multi-hazard early warning and risk intelligence platform, DisasterAWARE, countries like Ghana can apply risk information to their daily operations—acting early to save lives and improving the disaster planning, response, and mitigation process.”
—PDC’s Director of Global Operations Dr. Erin Hughey
When asked by NADMO’s Deputy Director General what went well in Maui’s response, Geisea said, “Everybody was working together. Despite everybody being stressed as much as you can imagine, we're all doing our best. Everybody feels like everybody is giving their best effort to try to solve this problem, despite the fact that a lot of the tools that we normally use were not available, such as air support.” Design by PDC Global NADMO and MFD discussed the long-term engagement of their communities in emergency education and training programs and brainstormed ideas that help would help bolster and sustain their efforts."Imagine your two worst fires in the history of the state are happening at the same time in the same jurisdiction, plus two more fires. It’s a high wind event, basically and we can't use helicopters and the cell phones are down.”
—MFD Assistant Chief Jeffrey Giesea
“Exchanges between different stakeholders like PDC, Ghana, and the Maui Fire Department are commendable because they help to forge new and innovative strategies for managing hazard risks. This includes sharing and optimization of limited resources, fortification of response operations, and improved planning for resilience to the increase in hazards we all face,” said the University of Hawaiʻi’s President Dr. David Lassner who lauded the commitment of all stakeholders to disaster risk reduction. “On our current trajectory, no place on Earth will be left unimpacted by climate change, so the work PDC is doing to build strong partnership networks and support risk-informed decision making is more important now than ever.” About PDC Winner of the 2022 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center is a global leader in disaster risk reduction. Recognized for its National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment, the Center is helping nations worldwide operationalize the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. For more than 28 years, PDC has enabled its partners with evidence-based decision making and innovative applications of the Center’s science, technology, and advanced analytics to save lives and build resilience for a safer world. PDC-GHANA PHOTO GALLERY“Our success story, concerning the spillage of the dam is the fact that we didn’t record even a single death. That was the result of planning and the full-scale simulation exercise that we did with the community through support of the UN agencies and United States government like USAFRICOM and North Dakota;s National Guard, and it’s really helped us.”
—Director General Agyemang-Prempeh on the dam spillage exercise which took place in Ghana in May 2023.
2020 – 2021 EXERCISE SUPPORT DURING COVID-19
PDC continues to support training and exercises throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Most activities have been transitioned to a virtual platform to ensure the health and safety of all participants.
Have questions or want to request exercise support?