Over the past decade, the Gulf of Mexico has faced both natural and human-caused disasters, including hurricanes, oil spills, tornadoes, droughts, harmful algal blooms, and wildfires. While we cannot prevent these severe events, we can reduce their impacts by helping to prepare federal, state, and local decision makers for a variety of hazards and threats.

NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center (DRC) establishes an unprecedented regional NOAA presence that expands the federal capacity to plan for and respond to hazards of all types. Located in Mobile, Alabama, the center is focused on the five states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The facility is designed to survive up to Category 5 hurricane winds, contains a Force-5 tornado shelter, and has backup power systems to continue operations in the midst of severe weather. Intended to serve as a safe and ready command center during major disaster responses in the Gulf, the DRC also offers facilities for drills, trainings, workshops, and planning activities

This facility brings together NOAA-wide resources to improve preparedness, planning, and response capacity for natural and human-caused disasters along the Gulf Coast. The DRC, dedicated in 2012, has since become the bedrock for NOAA's new Disaster Preparedness Program — a program that will build on the DRC's existing operational capabilities and knowledge to ensure that commerce, communities, and natural resources can recover from disasters as quickly as possible. Learn more by subscribing to our quarterly email newsletter. Questions? Contact us at gomdrc@noaa.gov.