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Context:Many people living in the 5 inhabited US territories experience high rates of natural hazard exposure and social vulnerability to disaster impacts. Public health workforce development and evidence-based, culturally competent approaches to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery are needed in these regions. Program:In 2020, the Natural Hazards Center established thePublic Health Disaster Research Award Programwith funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program’s goal is to advance public health disaster research and practice by funding, training, mentoring, and connecting researchers, students, and practitioners in historically underserved areas with high natural hazard risk. Between 2020 and 2022, 26 research teams received up to $50 000 each to investigate public health disasters in 1 or more US territories. The program also supported awardees by providing individual consultations, online trainings, feedback on report drafts, and a virtual group workshop on the public health implications of research. Awardees authored final reports and presented at a public webinar. Evaluation:In 2023, the Natural Hazards Center developed and distributed an online survey to all principal investigators. The survey evaluated how awardees advanced knowledge about public health disasters in the US territories; what skills, resources, and connections they acquired; and how they translated their research into public health applications and otherwise disseminated their findings. Discussion:Our evaluation showed that the program is advancing knowledge of understudied hazard contexts and socially vulnerable populations in the US territories and supports awardees in sharing their findings with academics, policymakers, and practitioners. Moreover, it expanded the public health disaster workforce by bringing professionals from a diverse range of disciplines and institutions into the field, and by investing in students, early career scholars, and investigators based in US territories. Researchers are working with local partners to apply their findings to practice. 

This dataset includes information regarding 1,775 social science researchers who signed up for the Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) network between July 8, 2018 and December 31, 2024. Researchers’ information is collected via an online survey that consists of 19 questions and takes approximately 7 minutes to complete. The envisioned audience for this data and other information includes those who are interested in learning more about the composition of the social science hazards and disaster research workforce, the events that they study, and their skills and expertise. 

Abstract U.S. states, territories, and tribal areas develop State Hazard Mitigation Plans (SHMPs) to reduce the impact of disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approves SHMPs every five years as required for states to receive disaster relief grants and mitigation project funding. In 2023, FEMA’s updated policy guidance for SHMPs took effect, recommending more robust use of social vulnerability as an assessment of equity in multi-hazard risk assessments. Such approaches are necessary because social vulnerability emerges from systemic inequities that result in marginalized populations facing disproportionate exposure and impacts from natural hazards. We developed two novel datasets on the different population groups, definitions, and measures of social vulnerability included in SHMPs for all 50 U.S. states and the 5 inhabited U.S. territories. Our analysis shows that states differ in terms of how (and if) social vulnerability is defined and measured. All plans include at least one vulnerable population in their guidance – most often the elderly, children, or people with disabilities. Inclusion of other populations such as immigrants, LGBTQIA + persons, or unhoused persons is much more varied. The study concludes with recommendations for how SHMPs can advance equitable and inclusive planning processes that center robust definitions and measures of social vulnerability and socially vulnerable populations. 

Conducting field research—which often involves traveling to unfamiliar areas, visiting people’s homes, and interacting with strangers—inevitably results in some uncertainty about how to behave or react when faced with a difficult situation. This check sheet offers guidance on how to respond to ambiguous, awkward, or challenging moments that may accompany field research. About the CONVERGE Extreme Events Research Check Sheets Series: The National Science Foundation-supported CONVERGE facility at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder has developed a series of brief check sheets that are meant to be used as researchers design their studies, prepare to enter the field, conduct field research, and exit the field. The series offers best practices for extreme events research and includes check sheets that are free to the research community. More information is available at: https://converge.colorado.edu/resources/check-sheets. 

This project includes a survey instrument, data, and annual census reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) network, which is headquartered at the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) CONVERGE facility at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. The SSEER network, which was launched in 2018, was formed, in part, to respond to the need for more specific information about the status and expertise of the social science hazards and disaster research workforce. The mission of SSEER is to identify and map social scientists involved in hazards and disaster research in order to highlight their expertise and connect social science researchers to one another, to interdisciplinary teams, and to communities at risk to hazards and affected by disasters. Ultimately, the goals of SSEER are to amplify the contributions of social scientists and to advance the field through expanding the available social science evidence base. To see the SSEER map and to learn more about the SSEER initiative, please visit: https://converge.colorado.edu/research-networks/sseer. All social and behavioral scientists and those in allied disciplines who study the human, economic, policy, and health dimensions of disasters are invited to join this network via a short online survey. This DesignSafe project includes: (1) the SSEER survey instrument; (2) de-identified data, which is updated annually as new researchers join the SSEER network and returning members update their information; and (3) SSEER annual census reports. These resources are available to all who are interested in learning more about the composition of the social science hazards and disaster workforce. SSEER is part of a larger ecosystem of NSF-funded extreme events research and reconnaissance networks designed to help coordinate disciplinary communities in engineering and the sciences, while also encouraging cross-disciplinary information sharing and interdisciplinary integration. To learn more about the networks and research ecosystem, please visit: https://converge.colorado.edu/research-networks/. 

The U.S. Geological Survey-managed ShakeAlert® earthquake early warning system is the first public alerting system in the United States to provide rapid mass notification when an earthquake is detected. Although public alert delivery via mobile phones began in California in 2019 followed by Oregon and Washington in 2021, little is known about what might drive widespread implementation in at-risk institutional settings such as schools. For example, there has been limited research on how to best integrate earthquake early warning into existing emergency plans, alert systems, and drills to keep school children and personnel safe in an earthquake. To address this gap, in the spring of 2022, every school district superintendent in Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington was sent a 15-min online survey. The survey assessed superintendent knowledge of ShakeAlert, preferences for alert messaging, and perceived opportunities and barriers to incorporating the system in schools. The results showed that superintendents had low awareness of ShakeAlert but held positive perceptions of the system's potential to enable life-saving protective actions. A major barrier to adoption included the perceived financial cost of implementing and maintaining the system. There were some statistically significant differences in state responses, and future research could investigate the specific needs of each state based on school district size and composition, hazard exposure, and earthquake experience. Together these findings can help inform targeted strategies to increase ShakeAlert adoption in schools and ultimately improve the safety of school children and staff during earthquakes. 

U.S. state, territorial, and tribal government officials develop State Hazard Mitigation Plans (SHMPs) to assist in reducing the risk of disaster impacts on people, physical infrastructure, and the natural environment. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approves SHMPs every five years as a requirement to be eligible to receive funding for FEMA disaster relief grants and disaster mitigation projects. As of April 2023, updated FEMA policy guidance for SHMPs is in effect that calls for greater community engagement in the planning process and stipulates that plans consider equity and climate change. In response to these changes, this project takes the position that more robust conceptualizations of socially vulnerable populations and inclusive use of social vulnerability data can help states in the development of multi-hazard risk assessments. Social vulnerability emerges from systemic inequities, resulting in populations facing disproportionate impacts in disasters. It is a helpful framework for identifying underserved and marginalized populations. Given the crucial importance of considering social vulnerability in mitigation planning, our research team developed two novel datasets with descriptive data of the populations, definitions, and different measures of social vulnerability included in SHMPs for all 50 states and 5 inhabited U.S. territories. Specifically, this project includes two datasets: (1) a quantitative dataset where mentions of socially vulnerable populations and concepts are marked with a binary indicator of inclusion or exclusion in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan and (2) a qualitative dataset that contains quotes and locations of populations and concepts throughout each SHMP. The corresponding mission for each dataset includes: (1) the State Hazard Mitigation Plan dataset; (2) a data dictionary with description of each variable output; (3) variable definitions for the population groups included in State Hazard Mitigation Plans; and (4) a READ ME file with important information. These datasets and associated materials can help State Hazard Mitigation Officers and their technical partners identify gaps in addressing social vulnerability as they update the SHMPs for the areas they serve. These resources are available to researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and others who are interested in addressing social vulnerability in hazard mitigation planning. 

This dataset includes information regarding 1,230 social science researchers from around the world who signed up for the Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) network between July 8, 2018 and December 31, 2020. Researchers’ information is collected via an online survey that consists of 19 questions and takes approximately 7 minutes to complete. The envisioned audience for this data and other information includes those who are interested in learning more about the composition of the social science hazards and disaster research workforce, the events that they study, and their skills and expertise.This project includes a survey instrument, data, and annual census reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) network, which is headquartered at the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) CONVERGE facility at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. The SSEER network, which was launched in 2018, was formed, in part, to respond to the need for more specific information about the status and expertise of the social science hazards and disaster research workforce. The mission of SSEER is to identify and map social scientists involved in hazards and disaster research in order to highlight their expertise and connect social science researchers to one another, to interdisciplinary teams, and to communities at risk to hazards and affected by disasters. Ultimately, the goals of SSEER are to amplify the contributions of social scientists and to advance the field through expanding the available social science evidence base. To see the SSEER map and to learn more about the SSEER initiative, please visit: https://converge.colorado.edu/research-networks/sseer. All social and behavioral scientists and those in allied disciplines who study the human, economic, policy, and health dimensions of disasters are invited to join this network via a short online survey. This DesignSafe project includes: (1) the SSEER survey instrument; (2) de-identified data, which is updated annually as new researchers join the SSEER network and returning members update their information; and (3) SSEER annual census reports. These resources are available to all who are interested in learning more about the composition of the social science hazards and disaster workforce. SSEER is part of a larger ecosystem of NSF-funded extreme events research and reconnaissance networks designed to help coordinate disciplinary communities in engineering and the sciences, while also encouraging cross-disciplinary information sharing and interdisciplinary integration. To learn more about the networks and research ecosystem, please visit: https://converge.colorado.edu/research-networks/. 

This dataset includes information regarding 1,396 unique social science researchers who signed up for the Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) network between July 8, 2018 and December 31, 2021. Researchers’ information is collected via an online survey that consists of 19 questions and takes approximately 7 minutes to complete. The envisioned audience for this data and other information includes those who are interested in learning more about the composition of the social science hazards and disaster research workforce, the events that they study, and their skills and expertise.This project includes a survey instrument, data, and annual census reports from the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) network, which is headquartered at the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) CONVERGE facility at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. The SSEER network, which was launched in 2018, was formed, in part, to respond to the need for more specific information about the status and expertise of the social science hazards and disaster research workforce. The mission of SSEER is to identify and map social scientists involved in hazards and disaster research in order to highlight their expertise and connect social science researchers to one another, to interdisciplinary teams, and to communities at risk to hazards and affected by disasters. Ultimately, the goals of SSEER are to amplify the contributions of social scientists and to advance the field through expanding the available social science evidence base. To see the SSEER map and to learn more about the SSEER initiative, please visit: https://converge.colorado.edu/research-networks/sseer. All social and behavioral scientists and those in allied disciplines who study the human, economic, policy, and health dimensions of disasters are invited to join this network via a short online survey. This DesignSafe project includes: (1) the SSEER survey instrument; (2) de-identified data, which is updated annually as new researchers join the SSEER network and returning members update their information; and (3) SSEER annual census reports. These resources are available to all who are interested in learning more about the composition of the social science hazards and disaster workforce. SSEER is part of a larger ecosystem of NSF-funded extreme events research and reconnaissance networks designed to help coordinate disciplinary communities in engineering and the sciences, while also encouraging cross-disciplinary information sharing and interdisciplinary integration. To learn more about the networks and research ecosystem, please visit: https://converge.colorado.edu/research-networks/.