About the Center
The Center for Regional Disaster Resilience works on emergency preparedness and disaster resilience projects across the Pacific Northwest from its Seattle office. The CRDR operates under the umbrella of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), and 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
The CRDR has a long legacy of cooperation with states, municipalities, and other regions to develop disaster 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.
Since then, PNWER, with regional stakeholders, has organized six Blue Cascades critical infrastructure interdependencies Exercises:
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 dozens of resilience initiatives focused on topics such as, Maritime Transportation System Recovery, Information Sharing, Cyber Security, Transportation and Supply Chain Resilience, Energy Assurance, Port Recovery, Social Media, Public Health, Disaster Recovery and numerous 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.
Since then, PNWER, with regional stakeholders, has organized six Blue Cascades critical infrastructure interdependencies Exercises:
- Blue Cascades, a series of exercises focusing on infrastructure-related challenges associated with physical attacks and disruptions (2002)
- Cyber threats, disruptions, and impacts (2004)
- A major subduction zone earthquake (2005)
- Pandemic preparedness (2007)
- Supply chain resilience (2008)
- Public-health and safety impacts of major flooding (2010)
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 dozens of resilience initiatives focused on topics such as, Maritime Transportation System Recovery, Information Sharing, Cyber Security, Transportation and Supply Chain Resilience, Energy Assurance, Port Recovery, Social Media, Public Health, Disaster Recovery and numerous other initiatives
Staff Contacts
Eric Holdeman
Director, CRDR eric.holdeman@pnwer.org O: (206) 443-7723 C: (253) 376-6683 
Matt Morrison
CEO matt.morrison@pnwer.org (206) 443-7723 |
Steve Myers
Senior Program Manager steve.myers@pnwer.org (206) 443-7723 
Brandon Hardenbrook
COO brandon@pnwer.org (206) 443-7723 |
Nate Weigel
Program Coordinator nate.weigel@pnwer.org (206) 443-7723 |
