National HAZUS-MH User Conference 
August 5-7, 2008 
San Diego, CA 
Agenda 
Tuesday, August 5 
7:00 a.m.  6:00 p.m. Registration 
1:00 p.m.  1:30 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks Michael Buckley, 
Mitigation Directorate, FEMA 
1:30 p.m.  3:00 p.m. HAZUS-MH in 2008 and Beyond: 
Three Perspectives 
Moderator: Tom Durham, PBS&J 
Panelists: 
Phillip Schneider, National Institute of Building 
Sciences (NIBS) 
Kevin Mickey, Polis Center 
Ray Lenaburg, FEMA Region IX 
The year 2008 marks an important crossroads in the development and use of HAZUS-MH. 
New technology  including the Comprehensive Data Management System (CDMS) and web-based 
portals  has been rolled out in 2008. New approaches to training and outreach are being offered to an 
expanding audience. And HAZUS-MH is playing a more prominent role in analysis support for federal 
and state mitigation programs, including Risk MAP. This session will bring together three leaders in the 
development and use of HAZUS-MH to share their perspectives and vision of the future of HAZUS-MH. 
3:00 p.m.  3:15 p.m. Break 
3:15 p.m.  4:15 p.m. Shake Map and HAZUS-MH: Two 
Innovative Applications 
Moderator: Tom Durham, PBS&J 
Panelists: 
Doug Bausch, FEMA Region VIII 
Charles Huyck, ImageCat 
ShakeMap data, made available online through USGS, is being used with HAZUS in California, Utah and 
Washington. Doug Bausch will present the methodology and outputs from two FEMA demonstration 
projects in Utah and Washington that use ShakeMaps and HAZUS-MH for earthquake risk assessments 
and disaster response. Charles Huyck will present the findings of a project to link HAZUS-MH damage 
functions with ShakeMap for real-time online building damage and casualty estimation. 
HAZUS-MH Hurricane Model: 
New Developments and 
Applications 
Moderator: Vanessa Glynn-Linaris, 
FEMA Region III 
Panelists: 
Frank Lavelle, Applied Research Associates 
Stacy Robinson, PBS&J 
The HAZUS-MH MR3 hurricane model has new features and capabilities that will enhance hurricane 
risk assessment, mitigation planning, and post-event exposure assessments. As the model continues to 
mature, new applications are being implemented. This session will highlight the current and planned 
capabilities of the hurricane model, and unique applications of the model for statewide risk assessment 
and mitigation planning. 
5:00 p.m. 
Join your colleagues for light refreshments and a cash bar! 
Reception sponsored by the National Institute of Building Sciences. 
All HAZUS Conference Events Will Occur at the Omni San Diego Hotel 
(The hotel is easily reached from the Convention Center by 
crossing Harbor Street and the Train and Trolley track) 
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Wednesday, August 6 
7:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m. Registration 
7:00 a.m.  8:30 a.m. Coffee break sponsored by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) 
8:30 a.m.  9:45 a.m. Innovative Applications of 
HAZUS-MH in California 
Moderator: Liz Wojdak, Southern 
California HUG 
Panelists: 
Hope Seligson, MMI Engineering 
Ray Lenaburg, FEMA Region IX 
Raymond Cheung, Orange County 
Sheriffs Department 
This session will highlight the use of HAZUS-MH for three innovative initiatives underway in California 
that address the earthquake risk: FEMAs Essential Facility Risk Assessment Pilot Projects, Use of 
HAZUS-MH for Hospital Safety Assessments, and local government support from California OES in the 
use of HAZUS-MH for earthquake risk assessments. These initiatives include the use of the Advanced 
Engineering Building Module (AEBM) in HAZUS-MH to assess the vulnerability of hospitals and other 
essential facilities in high risk areas of California. 
HAZUS-MH Comprehensive Data 
Management System (CDMS) and 
Web-Portals: The Technology and 
Implementation Strategies 
Moderator: Philip Schneider, National Institute of 
Building Sciences 
Panelists: 
Rod Erickson, PBS&J 
Stuart Moffatt, University of Utah 
The rollout of the CDMS provides HAZUS users with a streamlined tool for updating and managing 
statewide datasets in HAZUS-MH. Two states  Florida and South Carolina  are developing a web-
based portal to facilitate access to CDMS and the use of statewide or county data to carry out risk 
assessments and mitigation planning. This session highlights the technology and use of CDMS and the 
web portals, including an overview of their application for inventory data development that is being 
undertaken by the US Geological Survey. 
Guidance will be given on replication of the web-portal technology in other interested states. This 
session will also showcase a web application that was developed at the University of Utah as part of the 
Disaster Resistant University project. 
9:45 a.m.  10:00 a.m. Break 
10:00 a.m.  11:00 a.m. HAZUS-MH Users Groups: 
New Directions 
Moderator: Jamie Caplan, Jamie Caplan 
Consulting 
Panelists: 
Rick Burgess, Florida HUG 
Liz Wojdak, SoCAL 
Ed Leachman, Arkansas Tech University 
HAZUS User Groups (HUGs) are public-private partnerships that collaborate on HAZUS-MH use for 
the benefit of all involved. Over 20 HUGs exist throughout the United States. In this past year, several 
new HUGs have formed and a new HUG website has started. The focus of this session is the HAZUS 
Higher Education Resources Clearinghouse, the Florida HUG and its CDMS Web-Portal Project, and the 
SoCalHUGs development.This is an important session for those interested in HAZUS-MH collaboration 
through HAZUS User Groups. 
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Use of HAZUS-MH for Scenario 
Development and Exercises 
Moderator: Brian Shumon, FEMA Region II 
Panelists: 
Tom Durham, PBS&J 
Nicholas Delmedico, FEMA Region X 
In recent years, HAZUS-MH has become a valuable tool for scenario development and exercises of all 
categories. In this session, panelists will highlight the use of HAZUS-MH for planning, training and 
exercises for catastrophic earthquakes and hurricanes, and for major floods. HAZUS-MH is also being 
used for the popular course at the Emergency Management Institute (EMI)  Integrated Emergency 
Management Course, which will be covered during this session. 
11:00 a.m.  12:15 p.m. Use of HAZUS-MH for Flood 
Analysis and FEMAs Risk MAP 
Strategy 
Moderator: Vince Brown, FEMA HQ 
Panelists: 
David Montague, ABS Consulting 
Kevin Mickey, The Polis Center (IN) 
Jesse Rozelle, FEMA Region VIII 
The improvements in the HAZUS-MH MR3 Flood Model coincide with new flood hazard analysis 
strategies that will identify flood hazards, weave them into watershed-based risk assessments and 
into State and local hazard mitigation planning efforts. Panelists in this session will focus on new 
developments in the Flood Model, and how they have been used in state and regional flood hazard 
mitigation planning. 
The Use of HAZUS-MH for 
Managing Hurricane Disaster 
Operations 
Moderator: Joe Rachel, FEMA Region IV 
Panelists: 
Frank Lavelle, Applied Research 
Associates (ARA) 
Tom Durham, PBS&J 
HAZUS-MH has become an important tool in hurricane risk assessment and response operations, at 
the federal and state level. This session will address three interrelated dimensions of effective hurricane 
response using HAZUS-MH: 1) understanding the model and associated uncertainties; 2) preparation 
and use of HAZUS-MH outputs or templates for assessment and response; and 3) integration of 
HAZUS-MH into a suite of tools to be used for geospatial preparedness and response. 
1:30 p.m.  3:00 p.m. International Applications of 
HAZUS-MH 
Moderator: Doug Bausch, FEMA Region VIII 
Global interest in HAZUS-MH continues to grow. This roundtable session will provide a forum for 
discussion on the adaptation of the HAZUS-MH technology to national initiatives from beyond the 
U.S. This is an opportunity for networking on the international level, and for colleagues in the hazards 
community to interact with the HAZUS model developers and practitioners from the U.S. 
3:00 p.m.  5:00 p.m. HAZUS-MH 101: A Workshop Workshop presenter: Kevin Mickey, The Polis 
Center 
This workshop will explore the capabilities that HAZUS-MH provides for estimating losses that might 
result from floods, earthquakes, or hurricane winds. Numerous demonstrations of HAZUS-MH tools and 
output will be offered during the session. All demonstrations will be conducted using actual data from 
locations around the United States. This workshop is designed for a non-technical audience and will be 
of particular interest to those individuals who are interested in learning about how HAZUS-MH can be 
used to support planning and mitigation activities. It is assumed that participants in this workshop will 
have had little or no exposure to HAZUS-MH prior to attending. 
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Thursday, August 7 

7:00 a.m.  Noon Registration 
7:00 a.m.  8:30 a.m. Coffee break sponsored by URS 
8:30 a.m.  9:30 a.m. Using HAZUS-MH for State Moderator: Doug Bausch, FEMA Region VIII 
and Local Flood Loss 

Panelists: 
Reduction Strategies Shelby Hudson, AMEC 

Shanna Michael, Watershed Concepts 

This session will feature two innovative applications of HAZUS-MH to support flood risk analysis: 1) 
Use of HAZUS-MH data to fill gaps in availability of Q3 and digital DFIRM to provide a consistent flood 
boundary datasets (Watershed Concepts) and 2) Statewide application of 
HAZUS to study county flood losses for the state of Mississippi.


Non-Traditional Applications of Moderator: Rod Erickson, PBS&J 
HAZUS-MH 

Panelists: 
Bill Bohn, Tetra Tech 
Kevin Mickey, The Polis Center 
Tom Alexander, Small Business Administration 

HAZUS-MH has become an important tool in support of Federal agency missions. In this session, 
panelists will highlight the role of HAZUS-MH in carrying out focused studies for the Small Business 
Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, and US Agency for International Development. Presentations 
will address the project methodologies, the specific outputs from HAZUS-MH, and plans for continued 
use of software tool for future studies in support of the agency missions. 

9:30 a.m.  10:30 a.m. Technical Roundtable with Moderator: Philip Schneider, National Institute of 
Model Developers Building Sciences 
This session is an opportunity for HAZUS-MH users to pose questions to the model developers, 
and provide valuable input on user experience with each of the models. Also, SAIC and PBS&J will 
be demonstrating the use of HAZUS-MH on SAICs Geospatial Enterprise Appliance as a concept 
for disseminating data and leveraging HAZUS output and enabling users in field or deployed 
environments. 

10:30 a.m.  11:30 a.m. General Session and Award Speakers: Eric Berman, HAZUS Program Manager, 
Presentations FEMA 

Conference Closing Ceremonies Dr. Jack Dangermond, President, ESRI (Invited) 

11:30 a.m.  1:00 p.m. Luncheon sponsored by ABS Consulting and Tetra Tech, Inc. 
1:00 p.m.  3:00 p.m. Workshop on Data Management Workshop presenter: Kevin Mickey, 
for HAZUS-MH The Polis Center 
This workshop will focus on the HAZUS-MH inventory. It is recommended for GIS analysts, database 
administrators, and others who will be responsible for migrating local data into the HAZUS-MH 
database structure. The focus of the workshop will be the use of the Comprehensive Data Management 
System (CDMS) and other tools developed by FEMA for HAZUS-MH users interested in improving the 
accuracy of hazard loss estimations by integrating local  non hazard related - data into the HAZUSMH analysis process. The workshop will help participants by identifying those inventory elements that 
have the most impact on the estimation of losses for flood, earthquake, and hurricane events. 

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