Texas Geographic Society: Texas-based HAZUS-MH Training
The Texas Geographic Society (TXGS) is working on a Hazard Mitigation Planning
Grant as a sub-grantee to the Texas Governor’s Division of Emergency Management.
Under this project, TXGS has two primary areas of endeavor:
1. Providing hazard-related information through the Texas Hazard Mitigation
Package website (www.thmp.info) and
2. Providing training in the use of hazard analysis and loss estimation software.
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), a division of the
Department of Homeland Security, has developed the HAZUS-MH suite of software to
perform loss estimations for Floods, Hurricanes and Earthquakes. These software tools
are free extensions of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software sold by ESRI
of Redlands, California.
TXGS staff is among the first in the nation to be authorized to provide training in the use
of HAZUS-MH through FEMA’s Public Sector Initiative (PSI). PSI is a multi-year
project to select, train, and authorize a core group of HAZUS-MH vendors who will take
the lead in providing fee-based HAZUS-MH training, technical assistance and software
troubleshooting to a broad range of HAZUS-MH users throughout the country.
The TXGS HAZUS-MH courses described below are available for a limited time at little
to no cost due to the grant funding to TXGS for these purposes.
These courses are intended for mitigation planners, emergency response planners,
emergency managers, floodplain managers and others with interests and specialties in
hazard analysis, mitigation, preparedness and the use of GIS to support these activities.
All courses consist of brief lectures to cover principle lessons followed by hands-on
learning activities using the HAZUS-MH software. The courses are modular and can be
assembled in various ways to suit the needs of individuals or groups. Courses are teamtaught by Craig Eissler and Roddy Seekins, FEMA authorized HAZUS-MH instructors.
Introduction to HAZUS-MH for Riverine Flood Loss Estimation (1-day)
This course introduces students to the basic principles of HAZUS-MH and to the
operation of the Flood model. The morning is spent on software set-up and on
familiarizing students with the “Inventory” data, which are nation data sets used to
estimate the nature of the existing built and human environment. This information is
useful for all three of the HAZUS-MH hazard models (Flood, Hurricane and Earthquake).
The afternoon is spent on understanding the riverine flood model, performing loss
estimation for a Texas-based riverine flood example and familiarizing students with the
various reports and other products of the model.
This course uses HAZUS-supplied data out of the box, to generate damage and loss
estimates resulting from riverine flooding.
Prerequisite: proficiency in Windows OS basic functionality
Page 1 of 2
Texas Geographic Society: Texas-based HAZUS-MH Training
Introduction to HAZUS-MH for Flood and Hurricane Loss Estimation (2-day)
Day 1 of this course introduces students to the basic principles of HAZUS-MH and to the
operation of the Flood model. The morning is spent on software set-up and on
familiarizing students with the “Inventory” data, which are nation data sets used to
estimate the nature of the existing built and human environment. This information is
useful for all three of the HAZUS-MH hazard models (Flood, Hurricane and Earthquake).
The afternoon is spent on understanding the riverine flood model, performing loss
estimation for a Texas-based riverine flood example and familiarizing students with the
various reports and other products of the model.
On the morning of day 2 the coastal flood model is described and demonstrated through
hands-on exercises. In the afternoon the Hurricane model is described and demonstrated.
Following this, a significant time is spent examining the resulting loss estimations and
identifying potential mitigation strategies.
This course uses HAZUS-supplied data out of the box, to generate damage and loss
estimates resulting from riverine flooding.
Prerequisite: proficiency in basic Windows functionality
Advanced HAZUS-MH: Updating Inventory, Modifying Hazards and Mitigating
Loss (2-day)
This course expands upon the introductory material by first describing and demonstrating
various means of modifying or adding to the HAZUS-supplied inventory data using more
accurate local data (Level 2 analysis). Since the same inventory data is used in all the
hazard models this skill is applicable in flood, hurricane or earthquake analysis.
The afternoon of day 1 focuses on using the Flood Information Tool (FIT) for inputting
the product of local H&H studies and producing more refined flood analysis.
Day 2 focuses on mitigation approaches and provides in depth material on the damage
assessment and loss estimation portions of the software. It helps students identify the
information and methodologies needed to run and compare various mitigation scenarios
and understand and make good use of various analysis options.
Prerequisite: proficiency in Windows OS basic functionality, Intro to HAZUS-MH: Flood
& Hurricane course
For more information on HAZUS training or using the THMP Site, please contact
Craig Eissler at 512-912-9695 or craig@texasgs.org.
For more information about the Texas Geographic Society, please contact Roddy
Seekins at 512-507-8515 or roddy@texasgs.org.