Two researchers from the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC) of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), Haekal Azief Haridhi, S.Kel., M.Sc., Ph.D. and Dr. Tursina, S.T., M.T., have been selected to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), organized by the U.S. Department of State. This year’s program runs from June 1–20, 2025, with the special theme: “Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management : A Project for Indonesia.”
IVLP is a long-standing professional exchange program launched in 1946 and is considered one of the United States’ most important diplomacy tools to build stronger relationships with partner nations. Each year, it brings together emerging leaders and professionals from around the world, giving them the opportunity to meet U.S. counterparts, share best practices, and expand international collaboration networks.
In addition to the two TDMRC researchers, another participant from Aceh is Dr. Ir. Khairul Iqbal, S.T., M.T., a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, USK. 3 others participants were from Indonesian Red Cross and Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC). The program was fully funded by the U.S. Government and the administrative process support by the U.S. Embassy Jakarta and U.S. Consulate Medan. The IVLP participant traveled across the United States, visiting five states and five major cities: Washington D.C., Baltimore in Maryland, Salt Lake City in Utah, Pensacola in Florida, and Honolulu in Hawaii. The delegation’s itinerary includes meetings with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and universities working in disaster management, preparedness, and resilience.
Figure 1. Five states in the United States that visited locations by IVLP 2025 participants from Indonesia (Map source: Wikipedia)
Washington D.C
The first stop is the U.S. capital, Washington D.C., the center of American federal government. On day 1, Participants took part in a historical city tour, visiting the White House, The Willard Intercontinental Hotel, National Museum of American History, Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, U.S. Capitol, and Washington Monument.
Representatives from Aceh, Haekal Azief Haridhi, P.hd, Dr. Tursina and Dr. Khairul Iqbal (left to right) in front of The White House
IVLP participants in front of the U.S. Capitol Building
The following day, participants met with Civilian Research and Development Foundation Global (CRDF Global) for a program overview and introductions. CRDF Global is the official organizer of the IVLP program. We had a lunch meeting with CRDF staff, including Mrs. Morgan Fagioli, along with his team, and Mrs. Laura Mcadams from the U.S. Department of State, who oversees programs related to Indonesia and Timor Leste. After lunch together, we visited the U.S. Capitol Building. On the next day, activities continued at the CRDF Global office, where we attended an insightful session on Federalism, delivered by Prof. Michael Siegel, Professor of Government at Johns Hopkins University.
The following day, we held discussions with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is responsible for coordinating the federal government’s disaster response efforts. During the meeting, we received an overview of FEMA’s National Response Framework and were introduced to several of FEMA’s key preparedness activities and programs. One of the challenges highlighted was the issue of budget efficiency. In the discussion, we also shared information about Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), noting that both FEMA and BNPB share similar mandates and responsibilities in disaster management.
Meeting and lunch with the CRDF Global team and representatives of the US Department of State
With Prof. Michael Siegel from John Hopkins University
On the last day in Washington, D.C., which coincided with the celebration of Eid al-Adha June 6, 2025, we made an official courtesy visit to the American Red Cross (ARC) Headquarters. The American Red Cross is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education throughout the United States. During the visit, ARC representatives explained their direct involvement in the response to the 2004 Aceh Tsunami, which was part of their International Services for global disaster response. They also elaborated on their coordination mechanisms in disaster response operations. In addition, IVLP participants were given a guided tour of the headquarters building, where the history and legacy of the ARC were presented.
IVLP participants in one of the room at the Americans Red Cross Headquarters
Taking group photo IVLP participants with the American Red Cross team at the ARC Headquarters building in Washington D.C
Silver Spring & Baltimore, Maryland
At Silver Spring, Maryland, participants visited the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) headquarters. Discussions with William Bolhofer, Ph.D. focused on NOAA’s work in weather forecasting, storm warnings, climate monitoring, fisheries management, and marine.
Group photo in front of the wave basin at NOAA in Silver Spring Maryland
Meeting with William Bolhofer, Ph.D meteorologist from NOAA Maryland
At Baltimore, Maryland, the program centered on urban resilience. Participants visited the Bloomberg Center for Government Excellence (GovEx) at Johns Hopkins University (govex.jhu.edu). GovEx develops data-driven tools and smart city strategies to enhance public services. At GovEx, we discussed how data and emerging technologies support public-sector decision making and how cities are using AI for service delivery and crisis management. They also share open collaboration for global in building more resilient and adaptive cities. The team also engaged with the Baltimore Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (DP3), which coordinates local disaster preparedness efforts and contributes to FEMA’s hazard mitigation planning for the city.
IVLP’s Participant with GovEx staff at Johns Hopskins University
Departemnt of Planning City of Baltimor
Salt Lake City, Utah
IVLP program and activities at Utah were coordinated by Utah Global Diplomacy. We began our visit in Salt Lake City with a hospitality program at the home of a local couple in Park City, Utah—Laurent and Tom. The agenda was to share stories about each other’s countries. They were delighted to hear about Indonesia, a country they had never visited and knew very little about. We shared about Indonesia’s geography, ethnic diversity, culture, and of course, the disasters that have occurred in our country. They were very warm and enthusiastic, hosting us with vegetarian pasta and apple pie that they had cooked themselves. At the end of the visit, we gave them a special Indonesian souvenir as a token of appreciation.
Home hospitality with Tom and Laurent at their home
Salt Lake City also houses a humanitarian center managed by The Church Emergency Response Office, which plays an important role in rapid disaster response at both the national and global levels. One of its key facilities is The Bishop’s Central Storehouse, capable of producing essential food supplies such as bread, cheese, sauces, and milk. We were also given a tour of the Welfare Square Humanitarian Center, a large facility equipped with modern infrastructure. The center stores food, clothing, sanitation items, and other basic necessities for distribution to communities affected by natural disasters, wars, and economic crises, both in the United States and internationally.
Warehouse for sorting used clothes for aid at Humanitarian Center
Welfare Square Humanitarian Center of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints. With Mr. Barlon and his wife Mrs. Barlon
IVLP participants became volunteers to pack cleaning kit aid
Utah is located within a major active seismic zone, the Wasatch Fault, situated along the western edge of the Wasatch Mountains in the states of Utah and Idaho, United States. On March 18, 2020, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred at a depth of 6 km. It was the strongest earthquake recorded since 1992. The event caused damage to several buildings, including Temple Square and the Utah State Capitol Building. As the earthquake occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of casualties and injuries was minimized.
During the visit, we also had the opportunity to tour the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS). This institution plays an active role in monitoring seismic activity across the state of Utah as well as other regions of the United States. Since 2012, UUSS has operated using the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) Quake Monitoring System (AQMS). In addition to serving as a key data provider for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), UUSS also monitors seismic activities related to mining operations to help mitigate risks of landslides and ground failures caused by excavation.
University of Utah, Seismograph Stations
On the same day, we continued our visit to Be Ready Utah, the State of Utah’s official emergency preparedness campaign. Managed by the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) under the direction of the Lieutenant Governor, Be Ready Utah adopts a bottom-up approach to preparedness, emphasizing that individual responsibility is the cornerstone of community resilience. Operating under the Department of Public Safety, with offices located in the Utah State Capitol Building, Be Ready Utah coordinates efforts in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery for emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events. During the visit, we were also given a tour of the Utah State Capitol Building, where we observed firsthand the implementation of earthquake-resistant design through the use of seismic base isolator technology, which enhances the resilience of critical infrastructure against future seismic hazards.
With the Be Ready Utah emergency management team
Application of earthquake-resistant building technology Seismic Isolator on the Capitol building of Utah
Pencasola, Florida
At Pensacola, Florida, the program focused on exploring coastal-based disaster management, particularly in relation to tropical storms and coastal evacuation. The visit was organized by the Gulf Coast of Diplomacy. Pensacola is located in the northwestern part of Florida, a coastal region highly vulnerable to natural hazards. Due to its geographical setting, the area is predominantly affected by storm surges and hurricanes. The most powerful hurricane to impact Pensacola was Hurricane Ivan, which struck on September 16, 2004.
The first location we visited was the Humanitarian Center of Florida, an organization that provides immediate disaster response both in Pensacola, across the United States, and globally. In addition to food supplies, the center is equipped with heavy machinery and wooden construction materials essential for hurricane response, such as clearing fallen trees from homes and roadways. The center also offers accommodation facilities for volunteers who participate in disaster response efforts. Notably, the Humanitarian Center of Florida was directly involved in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami response in Aceh, Indonesia. As part of its global service mission, volunteers were deployed to assist recovery efforts. One of them, Mr. Barlon, personally traveled to Aceh just five days after the tsunami, witnessing firsthand the devastating impacts of the disaster.
Humanitarian Center of Florida
Later on the same day, we visited the University of West Florida, where we participated in a community forum involving academics, local leaders, and community stakeholders. The session began with the IVLP participants introducing themselves and sharing about their professional work in their respective countries, followed by an open discussion.
During this occasion, the IVLP participants were honored with the title of “Honorary Citizen” of Pensacola, formally conferred by the Mayor of Pensacola and presented by Mr. Charles, a member of the Pensacola legislative council.
Haekal Azief Haridhi, Ph.d explained about the disaster management in Indonesia
Together with academics, local leaders and community stakeholders at the University of West Florida
The following day, we visited the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, where we were introduced to their flagship project “GreenShores”, aimed at restoring the urban shoreline of downtown Pensacola. The initiative involves planting specific coastal vegetation capable of thriving in shoreline environments and effectively preventing erosion. As part of the visit, we had the opportunity to volunteer by planting seedlings. These seedlings are first nurtured in a greenhouse and, once strong enough, are transplanted to designated coastal areas for restoration.
After that, we visited the Escambia County Emergency Operation Center, the regional coordination hub specializing in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The center employs an integrated system leveraging advanced technology, including sensors, communication networks, and disaster forecasting tools for hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. Furthermore, the center collaborates closely with BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies), a community-based organization dedicated to disaster management.
At the Department of Environmental Protection, polybags containing coastal plant seedlings were prepared as part of the shoreline restoration project
Escambia County Emergency Operation Center
The last, we visited the University Florida, where we received an explanation regarding the university’s role in addressing disasters, particularly coastal hazards, the impacts of sea level rise, and hurricanes. The campus features a specialized facility that demonstrates hurricane-resistant building design and includes a hurricane shelter that can be used as a protective shelter during hurricane events.
University Florida
Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii was the final stop of our visit. As a U.S. state comprising islands located in the central Pacific Ocean, Hawaii holds a unique geographical and strategic position. The journey from Pensacola, Florida, with a transit at Hudson, Texas, to Honolulu International Airport took approximately eight hours by plane. The city we visited was Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, situated on the island of Oʻahu. While in Hawaii, our program and activities were coordinated by The Pacific Forum.
Hawaiian Islands map
Our first visit in Hawaii was to the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) (www.tsunami.gov) , located on Ford Island. The PTWC is part of the U.S. National Weather Service and is responsible for providing tsunami warnings for the Hawaiian Islands, U.S. territories, and other countries across the Pacific and Caribbean basins.
We were welcomed by Dr. Laura Kong, Director of the International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC), and Dr. Charles McCreery, Director of PTWC, who had also attended the 20th Commemoration of the 2004 Aceh Tsunami during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Banda Aceh in 2024.
The PTWC plays a critical role in monitoring earthquakes and tsunamis, forecasting potential impacts, issuing tsunami warnings, and coordinating with regional and global partners. Meanwhile, the ITIC functions as both a domestic and international resource for research, training, and capacity-building initiatives in tsunami preparedness and resilience.
Before visiting the NOAA office, located within a U.S. Air Force base, we had the opportunity to tour Pearl Harbor and see the historical site and remnants of the Japanese attack on the American naval base
IVLP participants with Dr. Laura Kong, Dr. Charles (Chip) McCreery, and Melissa Behnken
PTWC Monitoring Room
The tsunami evacuation sign located in Taman Sari, Banda Aceh, is part of the official tsunami sign collection by NOAA Hawaii
The Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) is a U.S. Department of Defense organization dedicated to supporting civil-military coordination, academic research, and operational insights related to disaster preparedness and humanitarian response (www.cfe-dmha.org).
CFE-DM partners with a wide range of government and non-government actors, as well as academic institutions, to strengthen collaboration and enhance capabilities in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. During the meeting and discussions with CFE-DM, they shared their active involvement in the humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in Aceh. Additionally, CFE-DM continues to implement several projects in Indonesia within the broader context of disaster management.
Together with the staff of the Center for Excellence Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
On the same day, we visited the office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) (www.poh.usace.army.mil), the military engineering branch of the United States Army. The Corps is responsible for implementing flood risk management projects aimed at reducing flood damage in vulnerable communities across the nation, in collaboration with non-federal partners. We also conducted a meeting with the O‘ahu Department of Emergency Management (DEM), located at Honolulu City Hall. DEM is responsible for coordinating disaster management efforts across the island of O‘ahu, encompassing activities related to preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Dr. Tursina at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office
With staff from the Oahu Department of Emergency Management
On the final day, we visited the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (www.soest.hawaii.edu). SOEST is a world-class research and academic institution that addresses the needs of Hawai‘i and is actively engaged in developing solutions to pressing socio-environmental challenges. During the meeting with Dean Chip Fletcher, researchers, and students, several research findings were presented, including studies on the impacts of tsunami, sea level rise, climate change adaptation, disaster-mitigation-based urban planning, numerical tsunami modeling, and volcanology-related hazards.
Dean Chip Fletcher present the overview of SOEST
Research presentation by researchers from SOEST, University of Hawaii
Program Closing and Synthesis Session
The program concluded the following day with a synthesis session led by Susan Stahl, Senior Advisor at the Pacific Forum. Participants were invited to share their impressions and reflections on the most impactful aspects of the program. The closing ceremony was held virtually and featured remarks by Morgan Fagioli, International Visitor Exchange Specialist at the U.S. Department of State, and Kayla Collins from CRDF Global.
IVLP participants with Susan Stahl, Senior Advisor at the Pacific Forum
The IVLP program successfully provided a holistic perspective on disaster preparedness and response, combining academic research, government frameworks, community engagement, and international cooperation. For Indonesia, the lessons learned from the U.S. experience can strengthen ongoing efforts in disaster risk governance, community-based resilience, and science-based policy-making. Through participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response, TDMRC researcher gained valuable insights into the United States’ multi-level disaster management framework.
Key Action Points for TDMRC:
1. Strengthen Science Communication and Risk Awareness
• Develop risk communication strategies inspired by Be Ready Utah and BRACE Florida.
• Translate research (tsunami, sea level rise, hazard maps) into accessible formats for policymakers, schools, and communities.
2. Enhance Data-Driven Disaster Management
• Integrate AI and big data (lessons from GovEx, Johns Hopkins) into decision-support systems.
• Promote open data collaboration with local and international partners to improve transparency and multi-stakeholder participation.
3. Advance Science-Based Disaster Mitigation Research
• Expand ongoing work in tsunami modeling, early warning validation, and sea level rise adaptation, drawing on insights from SOEST Hawai‘i and the University of Utah Seismograph Stations.
• Initiate pilot projects on coastal restoration and urban resilience in Aceh, adapting best practices from Florida’s GreenShores project.
4. Foster International Collaboration and Capacity Building
• Build sustained partnerships with NOAA, FEMA, ARC, CFE-DM, and U.S. Universities for joint research, training programs, and exchange initiatives.
• Position TDMRC as a regional hub for disaster science in Southeast Asia program to enhance regional cooperation and policy influence.
This photo taken on Last day in U.S. IVLP participants with Intepreters Shawn Callanan and Sih Pramukti
This activity support the implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially No. 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal No. 17 (Partnership for Goals).
Get in touch with us:
– Twitter: https://x.com/tdmrc
– LinkedIn: https://id.linkedin.com/company/tsunami-and-disaster-mitigation-research-center-tdmrc
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tdmrc.usk
– YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tdmrcmedia1966
