June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 1 Optimizing Your Use of HAZUS through HAZUS User Groups and HAZUS.org Moderator: Jamie Caplan, Jamie Caplan Consulting Speakers: Rich Davies, Western Disaster Center Tom Gates, Calvin, Giordano & Associates Kevin Mickey, The Polis Center

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 2 Myths, Realities and Solutions HAZUS is free HAZUS default data is sufficient HAZUS training is all you need Data developers GIS Professionals Data Users Decision Makers

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 3 Tools to assist use of HAZUS HAZUS User Groups Supporting the HAZUS user community across the country, the ultimate on- line resource for everything HAZUS...

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 4 HAZUS User Groups The growing network of HAZUS User groups has proved to be a valuable mechanism for creating partnerships between public and private sector organizations and industry in which mutually beneficial alliances are formed, goals and objectives developed, and projects identified and executed. User groups throughout the country have found enormous benefits and opportunities to develop successful projects through collaboration, combining resources and the sharing of information, data, and tips on software usage.

Kevin Mickey The Polis Center Chair, Central HAZUS User Group (CHUG)

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 6 CHUG History The CHUG (Central HAZUS Users Group) was started in 2005 The CHUG (Central HAZUS Users Group) was started in 2005 CHUG was originally designed to have regular regional meetings with interim coordination by a strategic committee. CHUG was originally designed to have regular regional meetings with interim coordination by a strategic committee. Impractical due to participant travel limitations and lack of a funded logistical team Impractical due to participant travel limitations and lack of a funded logistical team

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 7 Current Composition Strategic committee currently made up of 25 individuals from each of the states in FEMA Region V. Strategic committee currently made up of 25 individuals from each of the states in FEMA Region V. Committee meets monthly by phone conference. Committee meets monthly by phone conference.

Strategic Committee Responsibilities Maintain awareness of how HAZUS-MH is being used within the region Maintain awareness of how HAZUS-MH is being used within the region Encourage use of HAZUS-MH with in the region among all user sectors Encourage use of HAZUS-MH with in the region among all user sectors Create opportunities for HAZUS-MH users to learn about HAZUS-MH thru a website, training, and other means. Create opportunities for HAZUS-MH users to learn about HAZUS-MH thru a website, training, and other means.

Strategic Committee Responsibilities Serve as the liaison between CHUG users and FEMA Serve as the liaison between CHUG users and FEMA Report major concerns about HAZUS-MH releases expressed by users Report major concerns about HAZUS-MH releases expressed by users Identify suggested improvements to HAZUS- MH Identify suggested improvements to HAZUS- MH Convey information about HAZUS-MH projects occurring within the region Convey information about HAZUS-MH projects occurring within the region The CHUG works closely with FEMA Region V which is represented on the Strategic Committee The CHUG works closely with FEMA Region V which is represented on the Strategic Committee

Strategic Committee Member Responsibilities Report on activities occurring in their states Promote the agenda of the strategic committee Serve as the liaison between local participants and the CHUG strategic committee

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 11 Key Accomplishments User group kickoff meeting – Indianapolis 2004 (100+ participants) User group kickoff meeting – Indianapolis 2004 (100+ participants) CHUG Conference – Chicago 2005 (25+ participants) CHUG Conference – Chicago 2005 (25+ participants) Training Training State sponsored State sponsored FEMA sponsored FEMA sponsored CHUG Website CHUG Website

Key Accomplishments HAZUS Project Documentation Guidelines (metadata with a HAZUS-MH focus) Goal is help users increase the credibility of their work with HAZUS-MH by creating proper documentation. Examples of information collected Who created project? What inventory data was modified and how? What local hazard data was integrated and how was it derived? Were any parameters modified when running the analysis? Applicable for all HAZUS-MH users

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 13 Future Plans Challenges Challenges Ensuring that the strategic committee remain an activity oriented group Ensuring that the strategic committee remain an activity oriented group Ensuring that strategic committee members actively promote the goals of the CHUG within their states Ensuring that strategic committee members actively promote the goals of the CHUG within their states CHUG is all volunteer. We need to identify logistical support to facilitate the goals of the CHUG across the region. CHUG is all volunteer. We need to identify logistical support to facilitate the goals of the CHUG across the region.

Opportunities New flood model features in HAZUS- MH MR3 are expected to significantly increase use of the model across the region.

Opportunities Identification and promotion of expert resources in the region Development of additional guidelines Inventory data collection and dissemination Hazard recommendations

Tom Gates Calvin, Giordano & Associates Florida HAZUS User Group (FLHUG)

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 17 Florida HAZUS User Group Overview of Florida HUG and sub chapters such as the Southeast Florida HUG Overview of Florida HUG and sub chapters such as the Southeast Florida HUG

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 18 Southeast Florida HUG

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 19 Similarities / Differences

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 20 Why more than a single Florida HUG?

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 21 When, Why, Who and How the SEHUG was formed

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 22 SW Florida Pilot project 2004 Lessons learned / White Paper Lessons learned / White Paper A Consortium and repository for State data updates A Consortium and repository for State data updates Ensure data standards are enforced Ensure data standards are enforced Local & County government data sharing agreements Local & County government data sharing agreements

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 23 Supporting User community / enhancing HAZUS Knowledge End users / Clients; End users / Clients; Educate to understand abilities and limitations, at a minimum enough to ask for what they need or want Educate to understand abilities and limitations, at a minimum enough to ask for what they need or want

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 24 Our officers, partners & users Open to all & made up of a core of advanced HAZUS Modelers / Power users from both public & Private sector Offering Diversity of Knowledge & Experience not just with HAZUS but GIS & Planning as well

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 25 Florida HUG Goals & Objectives FEMA / NIBS / Developers / Contractors FEMA / NIBS / Developers / Contractors FLHUG works closely with these players, to bring the user community greater understanding of the models and planned enhancements FLHUG works closely with these players, to bring the user community greater understanding of the models and planned enhancements

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 26 Bridging HAZUS and GIS with the Planner & Responder community Mitigation; Cost benefit Mitigation; Cost benefit Operations; Debris Management, Response; Overlay National grid for search and rescue / recovery Operations; Debris Management, Response; Overlay National grid for search and rescue / recovery

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 27 Training Opportunities State funded regional EMI HAZUS curriculum State funded regional EMI HAZUS curriculum Vision to transfer some HAZUS training to local academia Vision to transfer some HAZUS training to local academia

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 28 If we work together, we can get it done! A single person working alone can not accomplish this challenge A single person working alone can not accomplish this challenge A single person’s effort’s in concert with other like minded people working on a common goal is an unstoppable force. A single person’s effort’s in concert with other like minded people working on a common goal is an unstoppable force. That is FLHUG!!! That is FLHUG!!!

Rich Davies Western Disaster Center BAHUG and

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 30 Bay Area HAZUS User Group History Current State

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 31 History Current and Future

June 20, 2007 National HAZUS-MH User Conference 32 Key Resources