Practitioners' Views of the Natural Hazards Center

Abstract

This is an informal assessment of the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center (NHRAIC or the Center) from the perspective of emergency management practitioners. It is based on the writers' observations and experience and also on interviews with a small selection of practitioners involved with the NHRAIC over the past 25 years. This article is intended to provide a practical perspective on the Center's impact on the way our nation deals with natural hazards. For 25 years NHRAIC has been a vital, important information resource to the academic research world and to the community of people and organizations engaged in hazards or emergency management. The Center has made many unique contributions, particularly to knowledge of and commitment to hazard mitigation. It also has served as a catalyst and “seed catalog” that has led to the creation of a steadily expanding network of academic programs, research centers, and easily accessible information and key sources that will help practitioners and researchers deal with known as well as new hazards/threats that will face us in the new millennium.