Natural Hazard Series
Reducing America´s Risk from Landslides and Wildfires

Thomas J. Casadevall
U.S. Geological Survey

Jerome V. De Graff
USDA Forest Service

Michael S. Rohde
Orange County Fire Authority

Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2325
Washington, DC

Even after the smoke clears from a wildfire, the danger is not over. Other hazards such as debris flows (fast-moving, destructive landslides) can also occur in the aftermath of a wildfire. Wildfires and landslides occur in every State and Territory; they kill people and cost American taxpayers billions of dollars in disaster aid, disruption of commerce, and destruction of homes and critical infrastructure.

Come hear how the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners are working together to meet the challenge of reducing America’s wildfire and landslide risk.

• Tom Casadevall: Natural Hazards Science - A Matter of Public Safety (5.72 MB)
• Jerome De Graff: After the Wildfire (1.19 MB)
• Mike Rohde: Chaparral Wildfire - The Changing Fire Environment in Southern California (5.48 MB)

Hosted by:  National Fire Protection Association

• Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Representative Earl Blumenauer
• Representative James Moran
  

Refreshments will be served

Please share this invitation with others in
your organization who may be interested.

• Natural Hazards Gateway: http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/
• Landslides: http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/landslides/
• Wildfires: http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/wildfires/

• Firewise: http://www.firewise.org/

Speaker Biographies (Word file 23 KB)

Thomas Casadevall — Thomas Casadevall has been the Regional Director, of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Central Region since January 1, 2000. From November 1998 through December 1999, he served as Deputy Director of the USGS. As Regional Director, he is responsible for helping to lead the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency in its mission to provide the scientific data that enable decision-makers to create sound policies for a changing world. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Association of Geologists for International Development, and the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of Earth's Interior. His honors and awards include the Department of the Interior's Superior Service Award in 1994 and Meritorious Service Award in 2000.

Jerome De Graff — Jerome De Graff has worked for the USDA Forest Service for more than 25 years as an environmental or engineering geologist on National Forests in Utah and California. He is currently the Province Geologist for the Southern Sierra Province consisting of the Sierra, Stanislaus, and Sequoia National Forests. He has extensive experience in addressing landslide hazards for public land management and has served on the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) as a team leader or geologist from 1981 to present. He received the E. B. Burwell Jr. Award for the Geological Society of America’s Engineering Geology Division and the Clare Holderidge Award from the Association of Engineering Geologists for his co-authorship of the textbook, “Principles of Engineering Geology.” In 2004, the Engineering Geology Division honored his continuing contributions to the field with their Distinguished Practice Award.

Michael Rohde — Michael Rohde is a Battalion Chief with the Orange County [CA] Fire Authority where he has recently held positions as Battalion Commander and Deputy Fire Marshal for Strategic Planning. In previous assignments, he initiated and commanded his department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team. Prior to his duty in Orange County, he was employed by the California Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service. He currently serves on the training cadre for State and National emergency command and hazardous materials courses. During 2003, he commanded structure protection branches on two major southern California wildfires, the Old and Grand Prix incidents. His firm, Rohde & Associates, specializes in emergency, occupational safety, and environmental planning, training, and response. Current projects include wildland-urban interface fire protection initiatives, oil and hazardous materials emergency response, and tactical decision exercise training programs.

For information on the Natural Hazards Science - Reducing America´s Risk series on Capitol Hill, please call 703-648-4455.