GeoHazards International

05/30/2026

Our California-based GHI board and staff, including CEO Veronica Cedillos, had the honor of attending the distinguished lecture by Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

The event, hosted at Stanford University, focused on the shared global commitment to build safer and more resilient communities. Kamal offered insights on today’s increasingly complex global disaster landscape, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger preparedness, risk-informed development, and collective action.

Our GHI team was energized by the strong cross-sector participation. Assembling private sector representatives, university researchers and NGOs to exchange ideas for collaboration is how progress will happen. Thank you Kamal for an inspiring day!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kamal-kishore-ndma_last-week-i-was-invited-to-deliver-the-shah-ugcPost-7460742598559821824-Guzn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABnLWyYBUt1VL3dolyWk56MsBanXzAupMzI

05/20/2026

GHI was honored to join the United Nations in Bhutan’s dialogue on disaster risk management in Bhutan, bringing together Delhi-based partners, technical experts, diplomatic missions, and organizations including Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure to advance collaboration on resilience priorities.
We were pleased to contribute perspectives from our work. Encouraging discussions on resilient infrastructure, preparedness, urban resilience, and capacity building continue to strengthen momentum toward a safer and more resilient future.

Strengthening Disaster Resilience for Bhutan

Today in New Delhi, the United Nations in Bhutan convened a working meeting on disaster risk management, bringing together some of the region's foremost experts, development partners, and diplomatic missions to focus on one of Bhutan's most urgent priorities.

Bhutan is one of the most multi-hazard exposed countries in Asia, facing seismic risk, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, and increasingly erratic weather patterns. As Bhutan's economy and infrastructure grow rapidly, the window for proactive investment in resilience is now, before a major disaster, not after.

At today's dialogue, UN Resident Coordinator Gaurav Ray opened the conversation with a clear message: Bhutan has the institutional foundations. What is needed now is sustained technical assistance, knowledge transfer, and targeted support to close the preparedness gaps.

Experts including the World Bank, GeoHazards International, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) shared cutting-edge insights on Bhutan's seismic risk, preparedness gaps, and the path toward disaster-resilient infrastructure. Representatives from WFP, UNICEF, FAO, WHO, and UNFPA added ground-level perspectives from across the UN system's work in Bhutan.

The United Nations in Bhutan is committed to playing a coordinating role, bringing together the Royal Government, civil society, and development partners around a coherent, Sendai Framework-aligned agenda. Because resilience is built before disaster strikes.

05/19/2026

GHI is excited to be continuing our work to increase to and coastal hazards in and the . We are working in schools and churches to train local leaders, and raising awareness with students, families, and the community to know what to do before, during and after earthquakes and other potential disasters. We are collaborating with the experts at in Haiti and in Dominican Republic enabling long-term integration of our efforts into practice. GHI’s Gefthé Dévilmé and Garmalia Mentor-William (Haiti) as well as Delka Espinal (Dominican Republic) have kicked off events, including a three-day Training-of-Trainers in Anse-a-Veau, Haiti and workshops in Santiago de los Caballeros.

Embajada de los Estados Unidos en República Dominicana, Ambassade des États-Unis, Port-au-Prince (Haïti), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

05/15/2026

Enfrastrikti sante nan peyi Dayiti ekpoze ak plizyè kalite danje, akoz batiman yo gen gwo feblès nan estrikti yo epi fonksyònman yo frajil anpil, sa ki mete lavi anpil moun an danje. Kòm entèvansyon apre yon katastwòf koute chè anpil, prevansyon dwe vin n yon priyorite ijan nan tout aksyon n ap poze kounye a.

An kolaborasyon ak Ministè Sante Piblik ak Popilasyon (MSPP), n ap reyalize premye evalyasyon yo nan sis (6) lopital nan peyi a. Se enjenyè ayisyen nan nivo nasyonal ki fòme k ap dirije evalyasyon sa a, k ap kouvri aspè estriktirèl, non-estriktirèl, ak sistèm fonksyonèl batiman yo. Evalyasyon sa yo antre nan kad yon pwojè k ap dire de (2) zan, gras ak finansman Fon Akseleratè pou Rezilyans Enfrastrikti nan kad Koalisyon pou Enfrastrikti ki Rezistan kont Katastwòf (CDRI-IRAF) Pwojè sa a vize ranfòse kapasite teknik lokal yo, pouse politik piblik ki priyoritè yo, epi amelyore nòm konstriksyon yo ak plan ijans yo. Atravè fòmasyon byen sible, priyorite nou se transfòme done nou rasanble yo an aksyon konkrè pou n ka pare tout bon vre anvan pwochen tranblemanntè, siklòn, oubyen kriz sante piblik ki ta ka frape. Lopital an Ayiti yo pa dwe kite okenn katastwòf pran yo pa sipriz. Nou eksprime rekonesans nou bay Gouvènman Lend, Ostrali, Wayòm Ini ak Inyon Ewopeyen pou sipò finansye yo atravè Fon Akseleratè pou Rezilyans Enfrastrikti nan kad Koalisyon pou Enfrastrikti Rezilyan kont Katastwòf (CDRI- IRAF)

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Government of Haiti: MSSP

05/15/2026

Haiti’s health infrastructure is exposed to multiple hazards, with facilities that are structurally vulnerable and operationally fragile putting many lives at risk. Post-disaster response is also costly, making prevention essential and a clear priority for action now.
In partnership with Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health, we are carrying out the first assessments of six hospitals that will cover structural, non-structural, and operational systems, led by trained national engineers. The assessments are part of a two-year project, funded by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure's Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (CDRI-IRAF), that will build lasting local expertise, advance priority policies, and strengthen infrastructure standards and emergency planning. Through targeted training, we will focus on turning assessment data into practical readiness in anticipation of the next earthquake, hurricane, or public health emergency. Haiti’s hospitals should not be caught unprepared. We extend our gratitude to the Governments of India, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and to the European Union, for their financial support through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure's Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (CDRI IRAF).

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Government of Haiti: MSPP

05/05/2026

Before disasters strike, radio helps communities prepare, sharing knowledge that can reduce risk and save lives. And when risk rises, it remains a trusted lifeline, reaching people quickly and clearly.
We very much support this message from . GeoHazards International has seen how powerful radio can be, using it regularly in Haiti to help communities stay informed, ready, and resilient.
https://youtu.be/WviLVdagG4A?si=CgoRyUqHsCBKuC_t

04/29/2026

Earthquake preparedness can feel like an uphill battle. Long gaps between major earthquakes can create a false sense of security, and the benefits of pre-earthquake readiness efforts often go unseen as the devastation they prevent never happens.
Today, on the first International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes, we pause to honor those whose lives have been lost. And we remind ourselves of something fundamental — the catastrophe that earthquakes can cause is not inevitable.
Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but their impacts can be reduced. In that spirit, this day calls on us to move from remembrance to action, to build disaster resilience now, before the next earthquake strikes.
Since our founding in 1991, GeoHazards International has worked to spark pre-disaster action in some of the world’s most at-risk communities. One ongoing example: our 10-year collaboration in far western Nepal, where we’ve been promoting safer building practices and risk-informed planning alongside interim solutions like Earthquake Desks providing practical, immediate ways to protect lives while longer-term change takes hold.
On this first observance, we honor earthquake victims everywhere by recommitting to the work that makes future tragedies less likely.

04/24/2026

On May 8, 2026, Stanford University is hosting a distinguished lecture by Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction & Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Local GHI team members are excited to attend this engaging lecture, and we hope to see you there. This free event requests registration.
https://www.linkedin.com/events/7444877322614185984/

04/18/2026

04/17/2026

Two inspiring days in Barangay Carretunan, Calatagan! Together with local officials and community groups, we did interviews, site visits, and a participatory workshop, kicking off a year-long effort to integrate Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into the Barangay’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan. Great conversations, shared ideas, and a community working together for a safer, stronger future.
Supported by Arch Group Foundation and Catalyst Foundation, the project builds community resilience against disaster and climate risks. In earlier phases, we worked with over 4,000 local stakeholders and conserved mangroves along 6 km of coastline that protect a community of 60,000 people. This new phase focuses on institutionalizing much of this progress in order to sustain conservation efforts into the future.