Pacific Disaster Center

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Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) was established by the U.S. Congress following Hurricane Iniki's devastation of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai in 1992. Originally created to mitigate against the impacts of natural disasters in Hawai‘i, today the PDC is a robust “all-hazards” information management and analysis center dedicated to "fostering disaster-resilient communities through information, science and technology in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions and beyond."

The Center’s headquarters is located on the Island of Maui in Hawai‘i, with additional presence on the Island of Oahu. From 2001 to 2006, the East-West Center was PDC’s managing partner, helping to sustain its expanding research, development, and application capabilities. In 2006, the University of Hawai‘i became PDC's managing partner.

PDC assists all levels of disaster management—from senior policy making through the emergency management of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities.

Since its inception, PDC has provided extensive support for multiple disasters including the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina (2005), and severe flooding in Hawai‘i (2000 and 2006), as well as the humanitarian crisis that resulted from the the conflict in Afghanistan (2001). PDC is often engaged as a partner in efforts undertaken by United Nations agencies, the Association of South East Asian Nations and many government and non-governmental organizations throughout (and beyond) its established Area of Responsibility.

PDC’s web site provides information about current hazard and disaster-related activities in the region. It also describes Center’s services, capabilities, and products—which have been applied in places including the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Fiji, Vanuatu, Guam, American Samoa, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Afghanistan, and the Caribbean.

Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) is a public/private partnership sponsored by the PDC Program Office (ASD/NII). The content of the information here does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Government and no official Government endorsement should be inferred.