Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC) Active
USGS staff are connecting with natural hazards researchers based in the Caribbean and those specializing in the region to find out which natural hazards are of primary concern, learn about their mitigation efforts, and explore the potential for research collaboration.
A Region Vulnerable to Hazards
Many Caribbean countries and U.S. Caribbean territories have been severely impacted by natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and landslides. These hazardous events can exacerbate preexisting vulnerabilities such as health risks (e.g., contaminated water supplies), and conditions are expected to worsen with climate change. Some natural hazards impacting these small islands are driven by regional-scale processes that are linked to those of neighboring countries. Collaborative investigations on regional-scale hazards such as coastal storms, flooding, sea level rise, freshwater scarcity, earthquakes, droughts, and coral reef degradation will help us to better understand these physical processes and develop more accurate numerical models to predict their impacts, which could reduce loss of life and property.
USGS Natural Hazards Research in the Caribbean
Building Relationships to Enhance Natural Hazards Science
As part of the Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC) project, the USGS team aims to:
- Connect with scientists who are conducting, or have conducted, natural hazards research in the Caribbean;
- Build relationships with local experts in Caribbean countries and U.S. territories to learn about natural hazards of primary concern, mitigation efforts, and areas of overlapping interest;
- Construct a database of local experts to lay the groundwork for future collaborations;
- Inventory and create a list of regional natural hazard resources;
- Develop a framework for collaborating with international partners on natural hazards research in the Caribbean; and
- Document engagement strategies, best practices, key takeaways, and lessons learned.
The SENHIC project is jointly funded by the USGS Risk Community of Practice and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. It is being led by Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Dr. Legna Torres-García of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. The team intends for this project to lay the foundation for future collaborations and information exchange to build resilience across the Caribbean region.
Project Milestones
- April 2022 – SENHIC team granted funding from the USGS Risk Community of Practice and the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
- May 17, 2022 – Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist participated on Department of the Interior Environmental Justice panel, “Reframing the Science-Inequity Paradigm: Global Perspectives to Addressing Environmental Justice in Science”
- October 2022 – Dr. Legna Torres-García presents on, “Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Resource Development in the Caribbean” at Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Diversity in STEM conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- January 24-25, 2023 – SENHIC hosted the panel discussion, “Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean” at the Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida
- February 13, 2023 – Federal Register Notice closed for public input on, “Agency Information Collection Activities; Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean.”
- February 2023 – SENHIC project participated in the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy Caribbean Community of Practice Meeting in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Click here for more information on past events and milestones.
Meet the Project Leads
If you are involved in natural hazards research in the Caribbean or are interested in collaborating with the USGS SENHIC team, please contact Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist or Dr. Legna Torres-García.
SENHIC Project Milestones and Meetings
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Water Resources | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Recursos de agua
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Landslides | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Deslizamientos de tierra
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Hurricanes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Huracanes
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Ecosistemas y contaminantes ambientales
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Coastal | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Costas
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
Colorized satellite imagery from 2017-09-19 15:00 UTC of Hurricane Maria impacting the Eastern Caribbean. Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of NOAA and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator.
Colorized satellite imagery from 2017-09-19 15:00 UTC of Hurricane Maria impacting the Eastern Caribbean. Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of NOAA and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator.
USGS project Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC) featured in White House Fact Sheet, "Vice President Harris Announces New Initiatives to Strengthen U.S-Caribbean Partnership"
Vice President Kamala Harris and Caribbean leaders launched the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030), the U.S. Government’s flagship partnership with Caribbean partners to advance climate adaptation, build resilience and expand clean energy access across the region.
Donya P Frank-Gilchrist, Ph.D.
Research Physical Scientist
Legna M Torres-García, Ph.D.
Research Oceanographer
USGS staff are connecting with natural hazards researchers based in the Caribbean and those specializing in the region to find out which natural hazards are of primary concern, learn about their mitigation efforts, and explore the potential for research collaboration.
A Region Vulnerable to Hazards
Many Caribbean countries and U.S. Caribbean territories have been severely impacted by natural hazards such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and landslides. These hazardous events can exacerbate preexisting vulnerabilities such as health risks (e.g., contaminated water supplies), and conditions are expected to worsen with climate change. Some natural hazards impacting these small islands are driven by regional-scale processes that are linked to those of neighboring countries. Collaborative investigations on regional-scale hazards such as coastal storms, flooding, sea level rise, freshwater scarcity, earthquakes, droughts, and coral reef degradation will help us to better understand these physical processes and develop more accurate numerical models to predict their impacts, which could reduce loss of life and property.
USGS Natural Hazards Research in the Caribbean
Building Relationships to Enhance Natural Hazards Science
As part of the Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC) project, the USGS team aims to:
- Connect with scientists who are conducting, or have conducted, natural hazards research in the Caribbean;
- Build relationships with local experts in Caribbean countries and U.S. territories to learn about natural hazards of primary concern, mitigation efforts, and areas of overlapping interest;
- Construct a database of local experts to lay the groundwork for future collaborations;
- Inventory and create a list of regional natural hazard resources;
- Develop a framework for collaborating with international partners on natural hazards research in the Caribbean; and
- Document engagement strategies, best practices, key takeaways, and lessons learned.
The SENHIC project is jointly funded by the USGS Risk Community of Practice and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. It is being led by Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist and Dr. Legna Torres-García of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. The team intends for this project to lay the foundation for future collaborations and information exchange to build resilience across the Caribbean region.
Project Milestones
- April 2022 – SENHIC team granted funding from the USGS Risk Community of Practice and the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
- May 17, 2022 – Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist participated on Department of the Interior Environmental Justice panel, “Reframing the Science-Inequity Paradigm: Global Perspectives to Addressing Environmental Justice in Science”
- October 2022 – Dr. Legna Torres-García presents on, “Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Resource Development in the Caribbean” at Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Diversity in STEM conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- January 24-25, 2023 – SENHIC hosted the panel discussion, “Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean” at the Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida
- February 13, 2023 – Federal Register Notice closed for public input on, “Agency Information Collection Activities; Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean.”
- February 2023 – SENHIC project participated in the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy Caribbean Community of Practice Meeting in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Click here for more information on past events and milestones.
Meet the Project Leads
If you are involved in natural hazards research in the Caribbean or are interested in collaborating with the USGS SENHIC team, please contact Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist or Dr. Legna Torres-García.
SENHIC Project Milestones and Meetings
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Water Resources | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Recursos de agua
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Landslides | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Deslizamientos de tierra
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Hurricanes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Huracanes
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Ecosistemas y contaminantes ambientales
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Coastal | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Costas
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
Meaghan Emory and Drs. Legna Torres-Garcia and Donya Frank-Gilchrist engage with stakeholders and explore potential partnerships across Caribbean nations and territories to further enhance USGS natural hazards research at the 2023 SCDRP annual meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
Donya-Frank Gilchrist facilitates session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the SCDRP Annual Meeting
linkDr. Donya-Frank Gilchrist of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center facilitated a session on "Approaches to Resilience from the International Caribbean" at the 2023 Southeast and Caribbean Disaster Resilience Partnership (SCDRP) Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
From left to right: Meaghan Emory, Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist, Dr.
Colorized satellite imagery from 2017-09-19 15:00 UTC of Hurricane Maria impacting the Eastern Caribbean. Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of NOAA and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator.
Colorized satellite imagery from 2017-09-19 15:00 UTC of Hurricane Maria impacting the Eastern Caribbean. Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of NOAA and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator.
USGS project Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC) featured in White House Fact Sheet, "Vice President Harris Announces New Initiatives to Strengthen U.S-Caribbean Partnership"
Vice President Kamala Harris and Caribbean leaders launched the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030), the U.S. Government’s flagship partnership with Caribbean partners to advance climate adaptation, build resilience and expand clean energy access across the region.