News Archives
Anticipating wildfires: New AI-enhanced risk intelligence
In recent years, “wildfire weather” has emerged as a critical concept in disaster management. Catastrophes like the Lahaina wildfire in Hawai‘i, the California Palisades fire, and Canada’s wildfire disaster of 2023, illustrate the need for a fundamental shift in preparedness and planning…
Enhancing early warning capacity in Colombia
The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is advancing its Building Disaster Early Warning Capacity project in Cali, Colombia through recent completion of an in-person DisasterAWARE training and a dedicated Training of Trainers (ToT) program…
Case Study: Unifying response under pressure during Hawai‘i’s historic flooding crisis
A rare and compounding series of storms struck the Hawaiian islands in rapid succession during the weeks of March 9-22, as two powerful “Kona low” low-pressure systems inundated the state with historic levels of rainfall and powerful winds. The dangerous and uncommon meteorological event…
UNOCHA Office of the Pacific Islands and PDC partner on regional resilience
New agreement focuses on regional risk reduction and resilience building capacity among Pacific Island nations by establishing a framework for expanded regional collaboration and coordination into a structured, long-term partnership designed to support risk-informed decision-making before, during, and after disasters.
PDC, Twilio.org, UMBC collaborate on new disaster early warning for Colombia’s most vulnerable communities
Pacific Disaster Center, Twilio.org, and UMBC help strengthen early warnings and landslide risk awareness in Colombia.
PhilAWARE proves indispensable to responders in the face of unrelenting disasters in the Philippines
From crippling floods to powerful earthquakes and back-to-back typhoons, the Philippines hazard environment grew more complex by the month during 2025—and its Office of Civil Defense (OCD) charged with responding, leaned heavily on the system it had institutionalized just a year earlier.
Continuing Promise 2025: PDC supports U.S. Navy USNS Comfort mission stop in Ecuador
Mission to Ecuador encompasses various activities, from direct medical and dental care provided aboard the USNS Comfort and at community clinics, veterinary engagements, to community relations and engineering projects, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE), and more.
U.S. Ambassador endorses Madagascar’s risk reduction strategy at National Disaster Preparedness Workshop
Multi-sectoral stakeholders from across Madagascar gather for the final workshop of the country’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment.
Readiness efforts ramp up ahead of hurricane season with enhanced capabilities
As forecasters anticipate an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, preparations are accelerating across the region to protect communities potentially exposed to the devastating impacts of tropical cyclones.









