CCI Programs

Schedule a Post Disaster Assessment Workshop

When disaster strikes, will you be prepared? As engineers, you’re often called upon to make on-the-spot evaluations and decisions regarding the continued entry, use, operation, and occupancy of damaged buildings and other facilities. Make sure you and your members are prepared schedule a workshop for your local section.

The ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure (CCI) is offering Post-Disaster Safety Evaluations training workshops that focus on ATC materials, including ATC-20: Procedures for Post-earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings and ATC-45: Safety Evaluation of Buildings After Wind Storms and Floods. The procedures were developed to evaluate the safety of buildings and other infrastructure systems after earthquakes, winds, floods, and fire, and are written specifically for volunteer engineers, as well as building inspectors and municipal engineers.

Workshop requirements include: a minimum of 15 participants and host facility. Registration fees are $75 for ASCE and IAEM members and $100 for non-members. Workshop materials include: an *ATC-20-1 or an *ATC-45 manual, a student manual, and box lunch.  Workshops are approximately 6 hours and attendees will earn valuable PDHS.

*The ATC-20 manual summarizes the post-earthquake safety evaluation procedures in brief concise format designed for ease of use in the field and the ATC-45 manual explains three different building safety evaluations in detail and gives advice on evaluating building and occupant safety.

To schedule a workshop contact: Catherine Tehan, Manager, Critical Infrastructure, 202-789-7853 or ctehan@asce.org

 

Disaster Management (Preparedness, Response, and Recovery)

Whenever a disaster strikes, whether natural or man-made, ASCE members are actively involved in response and recovery activities, as well as post-disaster analysis activities to understand and communicate lessons learned. Additionally, engineers have a role to play in planning and mitigation efforts. Learn more about ASCE involvement in disaster management, about training opportunities, and volunteer to be on-call for future disaster response activities by enrolling in the ASCE Disaster Assistance Volunteer Directory.

 

Infrastructure Champions

The ASCE Infrastructure Champion (IC) Program serves as a conduit for the ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure (CCI) to ASCE local units. The IC Program provides grassroots leadership regarding critical infrastructure protection, security, and resiliency from the effects of multihazards. Areas addressed include planning, design, preparedness, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance, as well as event response, mitigation, and recovery. The IC Program provides local guidance to build coalitions that undertake activities in critical infrastructure resilience. For More Information and to Enlist as an Infrastructure Champion

 

ASCE Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with International Association of Emergency Managers

In an effort to address the need for increased coordination in all aspects of emergency management worldwide, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) signed a memorandum of cooperation. The new agreement establishes a relationship designed to promote awareness of the state of our nation’s critical infrastructure, and to encourage the involvement of the engineering community in supporting emergency managers. While IAEM activities are dedicated to promoting the goal of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters, both organizations acknowledge the need for the engineering community to support the preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation phases of emergency management.

As a means of implementing this partnership to advance disaster management, ASCE encourages its Section and Branch leaders to develop related partnerships and joint activities at the grassroots level. For additional information about IAEM and a list of local contacts, please visit: http://www.iaem.com/about/membership/regions/intro.htm.

 

Donations For Disaster Victims Made Easy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging people who want to help disaster victims to make donations through voluntary organizations that are active in ongoing disaster operations. Tthere is an easy way to provide financial support, donate time and skills or donate needed products. The National Donations Management Network is a Web-based system where individuals and the private sector can offer their support online to the voluntary organizations that are actively engaged in the ongoing disaster.

FEMA works in partnership with the affected states, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), the Aidmatrix Foundation and the private sector to direct donation offers to voluntary agencies in need as they support the thousands of displaced people. FEMA and Aidmatrix entered into a cooperative agreement, in 2006, to develop this donations management network. The Aidmatrix Foundation offers an online way to connect private sector or individuals wanting to offer support to the leading organizations in humanitarian relief.