Although the center is new, the expertise and experience in hurricane research is not. Louisiana State University has one of the greatest concentrations of faculty studying hurricanes and their many impacts anywhere in the world. This research expertise covers a very broad spectrum. It includes such areas as: remote sensing of storms and their impacts on the environment; real-time monitoring and modeling of hurricane winds, waves, storm surge and storm surge flooding; hurricane climatology and paleotempestology; wind and flood effects on the coastal environment, buildings and other infrastructure; transportation and behavioral aspects of evacuations; social support networks and access to services for disaster victims; and many others. Over the past sixteen months, these hurricane researchers have begun to work more closely with each other, to begin addressing large-scale problems requiring multi-disciplinary approaches and expertise.

The LSU Hurricane Center was born a year ago, developing out of several initial collaborative efforts related to helping Honduras recover from the devastation of Hurricane Mitch, examination of the relationship between hurricanes and chemical hazards, and coordination of real-time sensing and modeling efforts in support of the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness. Major accomplishments during the first year include: establishment of new collaborative research relationships, both within LSU and between LSU and other institutions development and submission of five multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional proposals to several funding agencies. Proposals included participation of over 30 LSU faculty and research staff, from 11 departments, in 7 colleges. recognition by the University as a research priority area, with subsequent allocation of funds for PhD fellowships creation of an internet conference on Hurricanes and Chemical Hazards Another very exciting effort is the development of a new academic program in Disaster Science and Management. Participating departments include Geography and Anthropology, Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Environmental Studies, Sociology, Social Work, Landscape Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Continuing Education. The program will combine traditional emergency management with a strong background in the natural sciences, behavioral sciences, and engineering. This combination will prepare future emergency managers to better understand the nature of the threats they face and the available mitigation techniques. It will be unique in the country. Approval for the new program is anticipated in the next few months, with students entering the program as early as Spring 2001. Although still awaiting final approval from the Louisiana Board of Regents as a state-sanctioned center, we are actively pursuing a number of new research, education, and service projects. These projects will benefit our state, the nation, and the world in the better understanding of and preparedness for the many hazards associated with hurricanes.