Disaster Response

From site assessments to recovery work, civil engineers play a crucial role in disaster response, ensuring that communities build back safer and more resilient.

Read the latest on disaster response

Preparing for climate extremes

Civil engineers are devising ingenious solutions and resilient infrastructure.

A night-time wildfire is burning up homes.

New computationally efficient model will ‘tame’ fire

Its ability to capture the likelihood of building damage in a wildfire...

How civil engineers must adapt to the new risks of flooding

Relying on historical climate trends to predict future flooding is no longer...

A first responder in full orange personal protective gear and thick goggles stands on a mound of collapsed structure.

Engineers share critical safety tips for helping at natural disaster sites

Being an engineer at a disaster site is dangerous. Safety best practices...

aerial picture of development featuring solar panels on roofs and body of water

Engineers vs. hurricanes: How to protect people, mitigate damage

Storms cost the U.S. billions annually. How can resilience engineering help?

Substation Structure Design Guide, MOP 113

Design a substation that satisfies future electric demands with updated ASCE manual of practice

A new second edition of Substation Structure Design Guide, Manual of Practice...

Photograph shows the lines on a seismograph.

Structural engineers are adapting earthquake technology

It can lead to more sustainable design outcomes.

Technology: Climate tools map hazards into the future

National Climate Assessment shares two online tools and data for public use.

Shock, heartbreak fill civil engineering community as tragedy strikes iconic Baltimore bridge

The civil engineering world awoke Tuesday morning to the terrible news of...

Workers repairing a water main break, with water spraying from main

The 1994 Northridge earthquake still offers lessons on pipeline resilience

Researchers measure seismic ground displacement and estimated pipe strain to learn how...

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REFERENCES

Ways to help / technical tools

ASCE Foundation

ASCE Foundation Disaster Response Fund – Assists civil engineers in addressing disasters and empowers them to assist in the response and recovery efforts and to design resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding future disasters.

U.S. Domestic

American Red Cross – Initiatives include feeding stations, first aid, temporary shelter, hygiene kits, clothing, emergency transportation, home repairs, and medical supplies.

Maui Strong Fund – The Maui Strong Fund is providing financial resources that can be deployed quickly, with a focus on rapid response and recovery for the devastating wildfires on Maui.

The Salvation Army– Provides mass and mobile feeding, temporary shelter, counseling, search and rescue, medical assistance, and resource distribution.

Volunteers of America – Delivers initial response services to meet disaster victims' critical needs.

International

High Atlas Foundation – The Morocco-based U.S. nonprofit is providing food, water, and shelter to families displaced by the Sept. 8 earthquake, and will assist in long-term restoration and rebuilding.

International Medical Corps – These first responders are helping Libyans displaced by flooding with immediate needs such as shelter, water, mobile health services, and sanitation.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – Donations support local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 192 countries. The world’s largest humanitarian network.

UNICEF – Provides emergency aid, including medicines and supplements for children and nursing mothers, temporary shelters for families, and longer-term support to enhance resilience.

Doctors Without Borders – Responds to medical emergencies around the world.
Florida International University Pedestrian Bridge Collapse: Analysis of the NTSB Report

Performance-Based Structural Fire Design

Federal Emergency Management Agency – Coordinates and facilitates the U.S. government response to domestic disasters.

Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance – Leads and coordinates the U.S. government’s official response to international disasters.