Science & Technology Directorate Coastal Hazards Center of Excellence (CHC) COE S&T Review March 2014 Gavin Smith and Robert W. Whalin CHC Co-Directors Washington, D.C.

Coastal Hazards Center Overview COE Description  Mission Statement: To enhance the Nation’s ability to safeguard populations, properties, and economies and improve community resiliency to the consequences of natural hazards through research and education.

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Co-Leads  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill  Coastal Hazards Modeling  Engineering of Built and Natural Coastal Infrastructures  Disaster Response and Social Resilience  Planning for Resilience

 Jackson State University  Education and Curriculum Development  Campus Resilience  Emergency Management Analytics and Support

History and Funding  Established in 2008  CHC has received the following funds through OUP vehicles:  $17 M in base financial assistance funding from OUP  $0.34 M in financial assistance funding from other sources  $0.36 M in contract funding under the Basic Ordering Agreement

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UNC Research Overview Research Theme Areas  Coastal Hazards Modeling  Coastal Wave-Surge/Flood Modeling  ADCIRCLite-NC: Rapid evaluation of storm surge/flood and wave forecasts  Disaster Response and Social Resilience  Curriculum Development for Psychological Adjustment Following Coastal Disasters  Engineering  Infrastructure Damage and Restoration Modeling  In Situ Erosion Evaluation Probe  Planning for Resilience  Analysis of State and Local Hazard Mitigation Plans  Disaster recovery indicators Expected Uses

 More accurate flooding and storm surge prediction  Higher quality state recovery plans and guidance, informs FEMA policy counsel  Improved tracking of disaster recovery reconstruction and overall indicators  Higher quality state and local hazard mitigation plans  Improved delivery of post-disaster psychological counseling for families and children  More resilient civil infrastructure

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Customers

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FEMA National Flood Insurance Program FEMA Hazard Mitigation Division FEMA Disaster Recovery Division State Emergency Management Agencies (NC, MS, LA, CO, VT) Local Emergency Managers Association of State Floodplain Managers American Planning Association National Weather Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Coast Guard Presenter’s Name

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UNC End-to-End – Identifying the Driving Forces of Hurricane Recovery to Improve Planning Project Description  Research Context: Recovery is the least studied aspect of emergency management, with limited empirical assessment of recovery outcomes and processes. Post Hurricane Sandy, this study (begun April 2013) is helping to fill this critical knowledge gap to improve long term rebuilding and recovery strategies  Goal: Provide a mechanism to track and analyze coastal disaster recovery trends and processes for use within the National Disaster Recovery Framework

Impact & Relevance

End Users/Partners

 Pinpoint drivers of successful recovery across different communities (Sandy and Katrina), enabling:

 FEMA Recovery and Mitigation

 Geospatial analysis of recovery (trajectories, timelines, progress) for decision making  Targeted interventions to improve recovery  Rebuilding of communities in a more resilient way  Translation of findings to National Disaster Recovery Framework

 State and Local Governments  South Carolina Emergency Management Division  Federal agencies involved in the National Disaster Recovery Framework  Researchers

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UNC Education Overview Description  Provides higher education and professional development in storm surge/wave modeling (ADCIRC bootcamp) and Hazards Management (mitigation and recovery) Goals  Educate the next generation of natural hazards researchers and practitioners  Train current emergency management and hazards professionals

Collaborations/Partners  University of Hawaii Department of Planning, National Disaster Preparedness Training Center  Summer Teaching  Course Development  State Roles in Disaster Recovery  Classroom Use of Invited Practitioners, Researchers  Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Change Adaptation  ADCIRC Bootcamp  Seahorse Coastal Consulting and Aquaveo Inc.

Workforce Development  Graduate Certificate Program: Study of Natural Hazards and Disasters  Courses Developed: Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Change Adaptation; Survey of Natural Hazards and Disasters; Speaker Series  Student fellowships offered: MSI Summer Program  Type of COE-supported students: Master’s and Ph.D. candidates  Student graduates: FEMA National Recovery, Kansas University, IEM  Career Development Grant (planning and marine science) Professional Development  Professional development events and training programs delivered:  FEMA Advanced Disaster Recovery workshop, Oahu Hawaii, Indonesia  Summer teaching (disaster recovery), University of Hawaii  ADCIRC Professional Development (Bootcamp)  Psychologists, therapists, Red Cross (“Families Bouncing Back” web-based curricula)  Beyond the Basics website for hazard mitigation planning  MSI Faculty Enrichment Program Presenter’s Name

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UNC Education – Graduate Certificate Program in the Study of Natural Hazards and Disasters Description  The Graduate Certificate Program in the Study of Natural Hazards and Disasters will focus on the nexus between the threats and impacts of natural hazards and disasters on human settlements, and how individuals, organizations, communities, and larger systems of governance prepare for, respond to, mitigate against, recover from, and adapt to these events

Impact & Relevance  Educate the next generation of hazards scholars and practitioners  Involve students in conducting cutting edge multidisciplinary research  Coalesce the world class but currently disparate UNCCH faculty  Nationally and internationally recognized speakers  Student exchange program with University of Hawaii (Career Development Grant)

Educational Capabilities & Opportunities  Delivery of classes associated with new Graduate Certificate Program in the Study of Natural Hazards and Disasters  Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Change Adaptation  Survey of Natural Hazards and Disasters  Speaker Series  Delivery of FEMA-sponsored training through existing contract with the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center  Advanced Disaster Recovery for Local Communities  Coastal Disaster Resilience  Other Courses as assigned/developed

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UNC Research and Education Successes Accomplishment

Impact/End Users

An Interactive Website for Mitigation Planning, “Beyond the Basics” guides community planners through modules to develop or update hazard mitigation plans that meet FEMA requirements; Tool is based on best practices identified during national study of local hazard mitigation plans

 Beyond the Basics complements and enhances FEMA’s existing guidance material  FEMA, the National Hazard Mitigation Association, and several local communities have tapped into the Beyond the Basics website to access tools and best practices.

Advanced Circulation (ADCIRC) Storm Surge/Flood Model Transition: Development of: (1) ADCIRC Lite (rapid calculation capability), (2) Coastal Emergency Risk Assessment website to view storm surge/inundation forecasts ahead of storms, (3) Emergency Manager Survey and Training, and (4) ADCIRC capability for Puerto Rico

 Increased usability of ADCIRC for operational end users such as FEMA, U.S. Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, National Hurricane Center, State and local end users, Puerto Rico/Caribbean Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing System  Post-Sandy, FEMA Region II NY/NJ used ADCIRC hind casts of storm water levels to aid with rapid damage estimates for loss of life and property  FEMA is using ADCIRC modeling results to update NFIP maps

Annual ADCIRC Bootcamp training workshop provides hands-on instruction to users of the ADCIRC storm surge model

 The 4th annual Bootcamp (2013) had 42 attendees (up from 15 registered attendees in the1st year)  Registrants are a mix of academia, government (NOAA, USACE, NRL) and private sector (Bechtel, Moffat & Nichol, FTN Associates, IBM, etc)  International participants have attended from Korea, Turkey, Spain, Singapore, and Brazil

Disaster Recovery Planning: Transitioned research results from suite of projects (recovery planning, recovery indicators, E2E) that enable communities to better understand the drivers of recovery, measure recovery outcomes and develop more effective recovery plans within the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF)

 Results used to inform FEMA Long-Term Recovery planning guidance in accordance with the NDRF; State guidance forthcoming  Post-Sandy, FEMA’s Long Term Recovery branch and several States used CHC’s State Disaster Recovery Planning Guide to help develop recovery plans; Recovery Indicators Field Test  E2E (trajectory of reconstruction) application in Mississippi and New Jersey Presenter’s Name

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JSU Research Overview Research Theme Areas  Curricula Development  Coastal & Computational Engineering  Disaster Science & Management  Public Safety Management  Sociology (interdisciplinary)  Applied Science  Computer Science & Engineering  Emergency Management Analytics  Disaster Response Intelligent System (DRIS)  Campus Resilience  Storm Surge Protection  Comprehensive Barriers Expected Uses  Natural hazard and emergency management components for existing degree programs  Decision support products and systems  Emergency response operations  Teaching and student research  Surge protection for vulnerable urban areas

Customers  Partner universities  Jackson State University (HBCU)  Alcorn State University (HBCU)  Johnson C. Smith University (HBCU)  Tougaloo College (HBCU)  Louisiana State University  University of Houston  Texas A&M University at Galveston  Mississippi Emergency Management Agency  County emergency managers  Houston/Galveston, TX and vicinity Presenter’s Name

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JSU End to End – Disaster Response Intelligent System (DRIS) Description DRIS combines data, information, and analytics within a single GIS-based framework for emergency management planning, response, and recovery. Originally developed for county emergency managers. Current focus is universities:  As a teaching tool in the fundamentals of disasters and disaster management

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 As a research tool to engage students in developing new applications and enhancements  As an operational tool supporting other campus resilience initiatives

Impact & Relevance  Provides emergency managers with common operating picture and analytic capabilities  Integrates university campuses with surrounding emergency management capabilities  Used by Yazoo County, MS Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response to two tornado events in 2010  Used by FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to provide common operating picture for the Mississippi River flood in 2011  Used by MEMA to provide common operating picture for Hurricane Isaac preparations in 2012

End Users/Partners Deployed  Mississippi Emergency Management Agency  Harrison, Jackson, and Pearl River counties in MS  Louisiana State University (teaching, research)  Johnson C. Smith University (teaching, research, operational) In Development  Tougaloo College (Campus Resilience Pilot Program)  Massachusetts Maritime Academy (teaching, research, operational) Presenter’s Name

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JSU Education Overview Description  Deliver developed natural hazard and emergency management curricula through concentrations and minors in existing B.S. and M.S. degree programs at partner universities Goals  Increase knowledge of natural hazard and emergency management topics in disciplines ranging from engineering to sociology  Produce graduates for employment in federal, state, local, and private components of homeland security enterprise Collaborations/Partners  Adjunct faculty from government or industry working with students and other mentorship arrangements:  Engineer Research and Development Center  Hinds County, MS, Emergency Management Agency  Sweet & Associates Law Firm  Jackson Heart Study  MS Department of Health  Other experiential student education:  Mecklenburg County, NC, GIS office  Louisiana Red Cross  Ascension Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

Workforce Development  Certificates or degree programs offered: engineering, computer science, applied science, social science.  Courses developed: linear wave theory, computational methods, emergency management, economics of disasters, environmental hazards, etc.  Research areas of COE-supported students:  Coastal & Computational Engineering (20)  Disaster Science & Management (80)  Student fellowships offered: 68 in previous year  Type of COE-supported students: B.S. and M.S.

Professional Development  JSU and several of its university partners are working on adapting material from developed curricula for delivery to professionals as training courses. The next slide describes one such example.

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JSU Education – Introduction to Coastal Engineering Description  Online descriptive course that presents physical processes in the coastal zone and their consequences, basic engineering approaches to reduce the impacts of those consequences, and the pluses and minuses of each approach. Emphasis would be on processes and consequences involved with disasters and catastrophes. Goals

 Increase understanding of natural and man-made coastal hazard environment across the emergency management community  Provide materials for additional individual study

Impact & Relevance  Course would be aimed at working professionals at the federal, state, and local level whose duties and responsibilities involve coastal hazards and resulting disasters and catastrophes  Providing these professionals with a common descriptive understanding of coastal engineering principles and concepts will improve their ability to communicate with the public, the media, each other, and technical experts

Educational Capabilities & Opportunities

 Existing curricula developed by JSU and its partner universities will provide both general context and specific content for this course  Additional context and content would come from course/s developed and taught through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s PROSPECT training program  Online delivery through the Corps’ Learning Center in Huntsville, AL, would be explored as an option

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JSU Recent Research and Education Advances Accomplishment

Impact/End Users

Conducted initial storm surge modeling for a comprehensive barrier for the Houston/Galveston area. Partners: Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) and Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Overall study team includes the University of Houston, Texas General Land Office, Galveston District of the Corps of Engineers, and Delft Technical University in the Netherlands (TU Delft)

Provide probabilistic surge inundation statistics for a firstorder economic impact analysis supporting the evaluation and design of a comprehensive barrier protecting the Houston/Galveston area from catastrophic storm surge events

Developed and managed the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Faculty Enrichment Program for the Office of University Programs. Program provides 7-8 month research experiences at DHS COEs for selected tenured/tenure-track faculty from MSIs

Purpose of the Program is fourfold:  Provide faculty with meaningful research experiences  Incorporate results of those experiences into their MSI teaching and research  Enhance working relationships between COEs and MSIs  Build homeland security science and engineering capabilities at MSIs

Awarded Career Development Grants to a cohort of three coastal engineering M.S. students at JSU

Cohort consists of three high-performing students who received their coastal engineering B.S. degrees from JSU in May, 2013. Students are working with professionals at ERDC and TAMUG and with M.S. students from TU Delft

Established hazards courses, concentrations, and minors at six universities, four of which are HBCU’s, in seven different disciplines ranging from engineering to social sciences

Over 3,000 student enrollments in more than 140 courses. Graduates are working across the HSE, including the private sector; others are pursuing related advanced degrees

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Supplemental Material

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UNC Partners Principal Partners

Areas of Expertise/Core Capabilities

University of North Carolina (UNC) – Chapel Hill

Coastal hazard (storm surge/wave) modeling, hazard mitigation planning/policy, disaster recovery planning/policy, high-performance computing

North Carolina State University

Coastal engineering, built/natural environment dynamics

University of South Carolina

Disaster recovery and reconstruction

University of Oklahoma

Precipitation and hydrologic modeling

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Infrastructure decision support modeling

Jackson State University*

Education, emergency management support

University of Notre Dame

Storm surge modeling applications

Extended Partner Network Non-University Partners: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), New Hanover County Emergency Management Department, NC Division of Emergency Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Severe Storms Laboratory, NOAA National Hurricane Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (US ACE), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Environmental Protection Agency, State of Vermont, American Planning Association University Partners: University of Hawaii, Texas Southern University*, California Polytechnic State University, University of Colorado at Denver *Indicates MSIs

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UNC Student Placements Placements

Internships

DHS Federal Government

Jobs FEMA, Disaster Recovery Division

North Carolina Sea Grant

State and Local Government

NOAA Coastal Services Center, U.S. Army, Housing and Urban Development Texas Department of Public Safety; City of Boulder, Colorado

Private Sector

IEM

Mosher Engineering; Dar Al-Handasah Consultants; S&ME, Inc.; Baird & Assoc.; Aker Solutions; Stratitude; Stantec; Atkins; IEM; AECOM Engineering; Garver Engineering

Academia

NC State University; UNC Chapel Hill; University of Houston at Clear Lake; Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Isik University, Turkey; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Kansas;

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UNC Research and Education Areas Research Area

Approaches

Expected Uses

Customers

COE Partners

1. Coastal Hazards Modeling

 ADCIRC coastal hazard model  Precipitation and hydrologic modeling  High performance computing

 Integrated coastal hazard modeling suite for predicting storm surge, waves, wind, rain and inland flooding  Faster, high-precision hurricane storm tracking for emergency decision support  Scenario-based landuse planning and FEMA flood insurance mapping

 USCG  FEMA  NOAA/National Weather Service  US ACE  State and local emergency agencies  Infrastructure managers  First responders

 UNC-Chapel Hill  NOAA National Hurricane Center  US ACE  Louisiana State U.  U. of Oklahoma  Mississippi State U.  NOAA National Severe Storms Lab  US Coast Guard  NC Division of Emergency Management  University of Notre Dame

2. Engineering of Built and Natural Coastal Infrastructures

 Engineering scale modeling  Methodology / instrument development  Structural integrity analysis  Landform integrity analysis  Evacuation modeling  Decision support

 Coastal and hydraulic infrastructure (bridges, dams, levees) stability assessments  Infrastructure system design, emergency planning and restoration  Rapid coastal landform degradation assessment and restorative design  Evacuation planning

 FEMA  USACE  State and local emergency agencies  State transportation departments  Infrastructure managers  First responders

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UNC-Chapel Hill NC State U. Cal. Polytechnic U. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New Hanover County Emergency Management Agency Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Houston-Galveston Area Council of Gov. Texas Southern U. Louisiana State U. June 17, 2003

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UNC Research and Education Areas (Cont.) Research Area

Approaches

Expected Uses

Customers

COE Partners

3. Disaster Response and Social Resilience

 Web-based curriculum development  Survey of public perception of preparedness

 Post-disaster child coping management methodologies and curriculum  FEMA and community emergency planning that considers community, citizens and public official:  Risk perception  Preparedness perception  Preferences

 FEMA  State and local emergency agencies  First responders  Red Cross and other non-profit aid groups  Psychologists offering postdisaster counseling

 Louisiana State U.  U. Connecticut

4. Planning for Resilience

 Plan quality analysis  Policy analysis  End-user translation of research findings (research summaries)  Curriculum development  How-to-guide development/best practices

 Protocol for evaluating the quality of state and local hazard mitigation plans and state disaster recovery plans  Documented best practices and how-to guides for state and local hazard mitigation and disaster recovery plans  Presentation of findings to FEMA/incorporation of results into modified national policy  Development of State Disaster Recovery Planning Guide

 FEMA  State and local emergency agencies  State and local government  US Congress (Disaster Recovery Act proposed by Sen. Landrieu based on disaster recovery planning research conducted by the CHC)

 UNC-Chapel Hill  FEMA  NC Division of Emergency Management  State and local governments  Land use planners  Emergency managers

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UNC Highlights Accomplishment

Impact

ADCIRC model forecasts used by USCG during Hurricane Irene

 Informed by model forecasts, USCG relocated the Atlantic and District 5 command centers out of the path of major flooding (as predicted by the model) that would have crippled East Coast operations during Hurricane Irene

ADCIRC model used as basis of FEMA flood insurance rate maps

 FEMA has used the ADCIRC model to update National Flood Insurance Program maps and reevaluate flood evacuation maps along U.S. East and Gulf Coasts

Recovery Plan Evaluation Protocol; Disaster Recovery Indicators; Disaster Reconstruction Tracking

 FEMA has used State Recovery Guide as part of Sandy information/training protocols; other states are using guide to inform their recovery planning process; Recovery Indicators developed and field tested in Sand-affected areas; Reconstruction tracking post-Katrina and post-Sandy

Development of Mitigation Plan Quality Tools; Evaluation of State and local plans; Best Practices website

 FEMA used to evaluate Floodplain Management Plans under the Community Rating System of the National Flood Insurance Program (resulted in changes in national floodplain management policy); Best Practices Website developed in partnership with FEMA

Prototype of operational system for predicting wind, waves, surge and runoff in Tar/Neuse river basins in coastal NC

 Distribution of model results to emergency managers, National Weather Service weather forecast offices in North Carolina, and the National Hurricane Center through three web portals

Development of disaster management and hazard mitigation training module “Levee, Failure and Flooding”

 Module used by California State Emergency Management Training Institute, Department of Water Resources

Comprehensive engineering risk analysis of the California Bay Delta Levee System

 Used by California State Emergency Management Agency to develop the Risk Assessment section of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan

Development of In-Situ Scour Evaluation Probe

 Capability to quickly assess bridge stability following coastal storms (used by NC DOT to assess bridge vulnerability)

Down-scaling of ADCIRC coastal model for localized engineering analysis

 ADCIRC model used by US Army Corps of Engineers for efficient design alternative evaluation of Greater New Orleans Levee System Presenter’s Name

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JSU Partners Principal Partners

Areas of Expertise/Core Capabilities

Jackson State University (HBCU)

BS Civil Engineering (Coastal Engineering Track); MS Engineering (Coastal Engineering, Computational Engineering Tracks) - Natural Disaster Oriented

Alcorn State University (HBCU)

BS Advanced Technologies (Applied Science Program - Integrated Emergency Management & Natural Disaster S&T Into Program)

Johnson C. Smith University (HBCU)

BS Computer Science and Engineering (Integrated Emergency Management Related Technologies Into Program, Including Student Research)

Louisiana State University

Undergraduate and Graduate Minor in Disaster Science and Management

Tougaloo College (HBCU)

Interdisciplinary Minor in Disaster and Coastal Studies (Through Social Sciences Department)

University of Houston

MS Industrial Engineering (Public Safety Management Concentration Added)

Texas A& M University at Galveston

Storm surge barriers and gates

Center for Defense Integrated Data

Emergency Management Decision Support; Geographic Information Systems

Northrop Grumman Center for High Performance Computing

Numerical model development (Computational Fluid Dynamics)

US Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Coastal and Hydraulic Engineering

Extended Partner Network Non-University Partners: Jackson MS Public Schools, Vicksburg/Warren MS Public Schools, Clinton MS Public Schools, Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Technical Center of Expertise, Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Pearl River County MS EMA, Harrison County MS EMA, Jackson County MS EMA, Entergy Corporation, Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, National Institute for Hometown Security University Partners: Tennessee State University (HBCU), California State University at Long Beach (HSI), University of Texas at El Paso (MSI), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

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JSU Student Placements Placements

Internships

Jobs

DHS

FEMA Corps

FEMA

Federal Government

Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency

Corps of Engineers, US Army

State and Local Government

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency

Mississippi and Illinois Departments of Transportation, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi Department of Finance, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Recovery Authority, Louisiana Parish Emergency Operations Centers

Private Sector

Academia

Moffat & Nichol Engineers, HDC Engineers, Baker Engineering, Innovative Scheduling, Air Liquide, Pritchett Engineering & Planning Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, Tougaloo College, Louisiana State University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina, Purdue University

North American College

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JSU Research Areas Research Area

Approach

Expected Uses

Customers

1. Curriculum Development

 Integrate coastal natural disaster S&T into existing degree programs  Produce a continuous flow of undergraduate and graduate students with coastal natural hazards expertise

 Produce students with specialized skill sets to support holistic, creative, and resilient responses to coastal natural disasters

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2. Emergency Management Analytics

 Develop and deliver a common framework for analytics, situational awareness, and decision support during disasters

 Provide emergency managers with a common operating picture and analytics for response and recovery operations  Provide universities with a teaching and research tool

 State and local emergency management agencies  Universities

3. Storm Surge Protection

 Develop comprehensive surge protection for vulnerable urban areas

 Application to Houston/Galveston, TX and vicinity  Potential example for other areas

 City of  Texas A&M Galveston, TX University at  City of Galveston Houston, TX  Engineer Research  Six counties and Development surrounding Center Galveston Bay, TX Presenter’s Name June 17, 2003

FEMA USACE USCG NOAA State and local emergency management agencies

COE Partners

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Alcorn State U. Jackson State U. Johnson C Smith U. Louisiana State U. Tougaloo College University of Houston

 National Institute for Hometown Security  Center for Defense Integrated Data  Johnson C Smith U.  Louisiana State U.  Tougaloo College

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JSU Highlights Accomplishment

Impact

Disaster Response Intelligent System (DRIS) transitioned to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, three counties, and two universities. Two other university deployments are in development.

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Provides decision-support system to inform disaster planning and response and to support disaster education and research.

Principal member of team developing comprehensive surge barrier concepts and designs for Houston/Galveston, TX, and vicinity.

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Catastrophe protection for fast-growing urban area that supports critical petrochemical and shipping infrastructure for the nation.

Center partner, Tougaloo College, was one of seven universities selected to participate in the DHS Campus Resilience Pilot Program.

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Tougaloo is leveraging the CHC-developed Disaster Response Intelligence System (DRIS) to enhance campus resilience.

STEM Bowl Competition challenges teams of students and a faculty coach to develop science solutions to creatively solve real world natural disaster problems. The 2013 STEM Bowl welcomed new partner, Cascade Designs, Inc., which has a CRADA with DHS S&T. Cascade Designs provided teams with its SE200 electrochlorinator to incorporate into a postdisaster scenario where drinking water was unavailable.

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$67,500 in scholarships awarded to 45 students and teachers from 10 high schools in the central Mississippi area. Other event sponsors include Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Solutions and the USACE’s Engineer Research and Development Center.

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