Supported by a GT alumni, the Georgia Tech Health and Humanitarian Logistics (HHL) Center faculty are working on a Caribbean Hazard Assessment Mitigation and Preparedness (CHAMPS) initiative. The group, headed by Dr. Reggie DesRoches from Civil Engineering, is interdisciplinary including civil/earthquake engineers, planners from School of Architecture along with HHL faculty and students. The sub-projects include: Hazards Assessment; Infrastructure Inventory; Building Codes; Building Materials, Recycling, and Use of Local Materials; Disaster Preparedness Plans; Debris Management; Vulnerability Index.

CHAMPS will be mainly working on 6-7 countries  including Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Belize. The research agenda includes site trips to talk to local stake-holders and responders. The first trip is to Puerto Rico during the week of December 19, 2011.