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Disaster in Paradise? Even the Sweetest Dreams Can Become Nightmares without Adequate Information and Preparation, Part 2 of 3

  • Mar 7, 2008
Previously, Leo and Sharon Wrobel helped us dream of moving to a place that encompasses the earth's natural beauty. But then they reminded us that volcanoes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and other calamities may also be part of the bargain. This three-part series continues with a discussion with Ted Sheppard of the Pacific Disaster Center, who literally has "been there and done that."
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Balmy Breezes? Or Terrifying Tornadoes?

Have you been lucky enough to move your place of business to somewhere warm, scenic, and wonderful? Probably not. If you’re still in the dreaming or planning stages, it’s important to consult an expert. For this article, we interviewed Ted Sheppard of the Pacific Disaster Center, located on the beautiful island of Maui (see Figure 1), to garner some useful insights on how to assess the probability of a disaster, including some firsthand input from this disaster-recovery expert.

Figure 1

Figure 1 Sunset on the beach in Lahaina, on the island of Maui in Hawaii, October 2007.

Ted Sheppard knows what he’s talking about: First, because he has some extraordinary modeling tools at his disposal; second, because he has taken the plunge many of us long to take—his office is on Maui! Ted talks candidly about what organizations like the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) bring to the emergency management party, and how such services can be valuable to commercial enterprises.

After the interview, we wrap up this part of the discussion by considering how you should apply this information to your own business.

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