HAZUS User Groups Success Story

3RiversHUG

Formed by the California University of Pennsylvania

Background

The 3RiversHUG is a forum for southwestern Pennsylvania public, private, academic, 
and third sector (not-for-profit) organizations that use HAZUS software and 
related technologies to develop public policy and programs for building 
disasterresistant communities. The initial meeting of the Steering Committee to 
organize the 3RiversHUG occurred on October 20, 2005. They have had monthly 
meetings since then to discuss goals, mission, projects, training opportunities, 
and outreach strategies. 

The mission of the 3RiversHUG is to offer a forum for southwestern Pennsylvania 
public, private, and academic organizations that use HAZUS-MH_ software and 
related technologies to develop public policy and programs for building disaster-
resistant communities.

This group began as Project Leader, Dr. Jamie Mitchem, and his colleague Dr. 
Thomas Mueller at California University of Pennsylvania realized the need for 
comprehensive planning for flood mitigation activities in southwestern 
Pennsylvania. With backgrounds in hazards geography and GIS respectively, this 
project married their research and service agendas perfectly. They reached out to 
regional leaders in academia and the public, private, and third (not-for-profit) 
sectors to set up a diverse Steering Committee to lead the 3RiversHUG so it can 
assist in improving flood mitigation and hazards preparedness in general in 
southwestern Pennsylvania using HAZUS and state-of-the-art geospatial technology. 

3RiversHUG Objectives

*   To advance opportunities for training in the use of HAZUS-MH software and 
technology;

*   To be a resource for hazard mitigation information and data;

*   To encourage and assist local governments in the establishment of hazard 
mitigation protocols;

*   To be a conduit for communication among public, private and third-sector (not-
for-profit) institutions for hazard mitigation efforts and best management 
practices.



Projects

The 3RiversHUG is in its initial stages of implementing projects. They are running 
a Level 1 analysis using the HAZUS flood module for Washington County, PA, and 
plan to discuss the results with the Washington County Flood Taskforce with the 
assistance of Chris Barton, the 911 Coordinator for the county and a 3RiversHUG 
member. They are also gathering data for a Level 2 analysis by focusing on 
improving the shelter capacity and available geodatabase for the county. Dan 
Campbell, earth loGIStics LLC, developed a website for the 3RiversHUG and worked 
with Rich Davies of the Western Disaster Center to post it on the www.hazus.org 
website. Keith High, earth loGIStics LLC, has agreed to serve as the private 
sector liaison for the group. Finally, Jamie Mitchem is participating in monthly 
national conference calls for HUG leaders and assisting Jamie Caplan Consulting 
with the implementation of the newly formed national University HAZUS User Group.


Benefits of Having a HUG

The benefits of having a HUG in southwestern Pennsylvania are already being 
realized. Communications and collaboration between academia and the public, 
private, and third (not-for profit) sectors are improving, and this is assisting 
multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional studies. The 3RiversHUG is helping all 
stakeholders with their goals because academicians are able to expand their 
research and service activities, their students gain valuable real world 
experience, the public sector receives much-needed assistance to complete valuable 
data gathering and analysis projects, and the private sector provides certified 
engineering analysis, advice, and gains networking opportunities and potential 
internship candidates. Finally, the community benefits from improved mitigation 
and preparedness activities which may reduce losses from future hazard events at a 
relatively low cost. The 3RiversHUG provides a win-win situation for all potential 
stakeholders while reducing the vulnerability of the region to disasters.


Project Cost / Funding Sources

Most of the work that 3RiversHUG does currently is voluntary in nature. The group 
is composed of committed volunteers interested in a common goal to reduce losses 
from disasters in southwestern Pennsylvania, with the disastrous flooding from the 
remnants of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 freshly on their minds. The 3RiversHUG plans to 
apply for grants to improve mitigation planning and emergency preparedness in 
southwestern Pennsylvania.

Contact

Jamie Mitchem
California University of Pennsylvania
Phone: 724.938.5969
E-mail: mitchem@cup.edu

Links and Resources

3RiversHUG
www.hazus.org/3RiversHUG/