About the Center
The Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) builds upon a long legacy of Pacific Northwest Economic Region's (PNWER) work to enhance the economic resilience of the region, through all-hazards disaster preparedness and resilience. The CRDR is committed to working with states, provinces, territories, and communities to create public-private partnerships, develop action plans, and undertake pilot projects and activities to improve regional disaster resilience cooperation.
Our region's interconnected economies and shared critical infrastructures are subject to far-reaching and cascading impacts from disasters. The CRDR works with key public and private stakeholders to create and implement workable solutions to local and regional infrastructure vulnerability by raising awareness of infrastructure interdependencies; providing training and education; and developing tools, technologies, and approaches that build on existing capabilities. These can be utilized across the United States, Canada, and in the international community.
Our region's interconnected economies and shared critical infrastructures are subject to far-reaching and cascading impacts from disasters. The CRDR works with key public and private stakeholders to create and implement workable solutions to local and regional infrastructure vulnerability by raising awareness of infrastructure interdependencies; providing training and education; and developing tools, technologies, and approaches that build on existing capabilities. These can be utilized across the United States, Canada, and in the international community.
History of the Center
The CRDR has a long legacy of cooperation with states, municipalities, and other regions to develop disaster resilience. Since 2001, the CRDR has developed, participated, and held regional forums devoted to infrastructure interdependencies. Through the CRDR, infrastructure owners and operators from all sectors meet and build partnerships to understand interdependencies for a more resilient region. CRDR continues to lead the region in fostering and developing meaningful relationships and identifying interdependencies to build resilience.
The first initiative to address regional infrastructure security issues was the creation of The Partnership for Regional Infrastructure Security in November 2001. The Partnership brought private critical infrastructure stakeholders across the states and provinces in the Pacific Northwest together with officials responsible for emergency management and public safety. These stakeholders, along with elected officials from each state and province in the PNWER region, identified opportunities for acting proactively to strengthen their infrastructures. This meeting led to the first Blue Cascades Exercise, which focused on infrastructure interdependencies and cascading failures from a hypothetical terrorist attack on the regional energy sector.
The CRDR, with regional stakeholders, has organized the Blue Cascades Interdependencies Exercises Series:
These exercises have led to the development of a regional action plan to address the major gaps discovered. Many of the recommendations have been fulfilled and other recommended projects are currently underway.
In addition, the Center has led numerous resilience initiatives focused on topics related to Critical Lifelines, Cyber Security, Technology for Public Safety, Public Health, Disaster Recovery and several of other initiatives.
The first initiative to address regional infrastructure security issues was the creation of The Partnership for Regional Infrastructure Security in November 2001. The Partnership brought private critical infrastructure stakeholders across the states and provinces in the Pacific Northwest together with officials responsible for emergency management and public safety. These stakeholders, along with elected officials from each state and province in the PNWER region, identified opportunities for acting proactively to strengthen their infrastructures. This meeting led to the first Blue Cascades Exercise, which focused on infrastructure interdependencies and cascading failures from a hypothetical terrorist attack on the regional energy sector.
The CRDR, with regional stakeholders, has organized the Blue Cascades Interdependencies Exercises Series:
- Blue Cascades I (2002)- Hypothetical terrorist attack on the regional energy sector
- Blue Cascades II (2004)- Cyber threats, disruptions, and impacts
- Blue Cascades III (2006)- A major subduction zone earthquake
- Blue Cascades IV (2007)- Pandemic preparedness
- Blue Cascades V (2008)- Supply chain resilience
- Blue Cascades VI (2010)- Public health and safety impacts of major flooding
- Blue Cascades VII (2018)- Recovery from a major subduction zone earthquake
These exercises have led to the development of a regional action plan to address the major gaps discovered. Many of the recommendations have been fulfilled and other recommended projects are currently underway.
In addition, the Center has led numerous resilience initiatives focused on topics related to Critical Lifelines, Cyber Security, Technology for Public Safety, Public Health, Disaster Recovery and several of other initiatives.
Staff
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