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HAZUS Use for Emergency Management . By Jamie Mitchem, Ph.D. and Thomas R. Mueller, Ph.D., GISP . California University of Pennsylvania. Department of Earth Science B.A. in Geography: GIS and Emergency Management concentration
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HAZUS Use for Emergency Management By Jamie Mitchem, Ph.D. and Thomas R. Mueller, Ph.D., GISP
California University of Pennsylvania • Department of Earth Science • B.A. in Geography: GIS and Emergency Management concentration • Unique combination of geospatial technologies with emergency management issues
Courses • Introduction to Geography • Impacts and Sustainability of Tourism • Demographic Analysis • Geographic Information Systems • GIS 2 • Climatology • Natural Hazards • Emergency Management • Disaster Vulnerability Assessment • Developing the Master Plan
HAZUS - MH • What is HAZUS? • Software is titled HAZUS- MH or "Hazards U.S.– Multi-Hazard” • Standardized, nationally applicable, loss estimation methodology that uses PC-based geographic information system (GIS) software (ARCMap 9.X). • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) software program for estimating potential losses from disasters.
HAZUS - MH • National Data - Census, Building, Infrastructure • Science – Engineering, Economics, Geology, Hydrology, Meteorology, GIS • Models: • Earthquake • Flood • Wind (Hurricane)
Displaced (Shelter) Population - 100-year Flood in Washington County, PA
3RiversHUG • What is the 3 Rivers HAZUS Users Group (3RiversHUG)? • Forum for southwestern Pennsylvania public, private, non-profit and academic organizations that use HAZUS software and related technologies to develop public policy and programs for building disaster-resistant communities. • 3RiversHUG Objectives: • To advance opportunities for training in the use of HAZUS-MH software and technology, • To be a resource for hazard mitigation information and data, • To encourage and assist local governments in the establishment of hazard mitigation protocols, • To be a conduit for communication among public, private and third-sector (not-for-profit) institutions for hazard mitigation efforts and best management practices.
3RiversHUG - Activities • Monthly meetings of Steering Committee • Conference Calls with national group • Web page on www.hazus.org • Listserv • Washington County HAZUS flood model for presentation to Flood Taskforce • Training • Student projects, internships • Student chapter of 3RiversHUG
HAZUS Student Project HAZUS default schools database for Washington County, PA Updated and added fields (number of stories, in floodplain?, shelter capacity, kitchen?, back-up power/generator) Location data not good, updated with GPS Provided to 911 Coordinator Similar projects with other counties
HAZUS Limitations • Better DEM (lidar) = better results • Aggregate data (out of box) = NOT site specific results (may be more or fewer buildings in floodplain if buildings are not evenly dispersed) • Missing/incorrect data • Model limitations • Human factor • Computation
Resources • http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/index.shtm • Order HAZUS-MH (free) • Using HAZUS-MH ->Mitigation and recovery Planning -> MD and PA State Flood Studies • FAQs • Training • http://www.hazus.org • Success Stories • Conference Calls • User Groups
Questions? mitchem@cup.edu or mueller@cup.edu