October 16, 2025

On October 16, 2025, members of the MIT Urban Risk Lab presented at the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center’s Third Thursday Webinar Series. The virtual event featured research scientists Mayank Ojha and Larisa Ovalles, research assistant Peter Hodge, and student Sabrina Su (BS ’25, MEng ’26).

Their talk, titled “Community Toolkits: Platforms for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery,” introduced a set of tools developed to support municipalities before, during, and after extreme weather events. The presentation outlined three main components: a situational awareness and hazard-impact mapping tool for emergency response teams, a visualization platform for future climate scenarios and vulnerability projections, and "ADAPT," a collaborative planning framework for housing recovery and resilience.

The team described how these platforms integrate downscaled climate data with local emergency management operations to strengthen preparedness and planning. By embedding these tools in community workflows, the Urban Risk Lab aims to help cities build coordinated systems for risk reduction, climate adaptation, and post-disaster recovery.