Our society is challenged with tornadoes, hurricanes, high winds, storm surge, wildfires, drought, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, mudslides, flooding, and earthquakes that are expected to increase in frequency and severity with climate change. Additionally, humans continue to gravitate to coastal cities for their temperate climates and recreational and ecological resources. They have built sophisticated urban infrastructure systems and extensive manufacturing and industrial ecosystems where they work and live. Natural hazards threaten the safety and sustainability of both rural and urban communities and necessitate extensive research to reduce vulnerabilities to natural hazards.

Faculty at Cullen College are hard at work researching novel technologies, remote sensing, and simulation and modeling tools that aid in enhancing community resilience, reducing vulnerabilities to natural hazards and building sustainable and resilient communities in the face of increasing natural hazards and climate change.