The Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation (CDM), established in June 1999, is a collaborative effort among local governments, the private sector and academia. Its main focus is to limit loss of life, injury and property damage from natural disasters, and to accelerate economic recovery, through implementation of mitigation measures.

The model of trilateral collaboration, with the purpose of hazard mitigation implementation, is unique, and capitalizes on the synergy that can be developed among local governments, businesses, non-profits and academia. In recognition of the benefits to be derived from CDM's activitites, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has funded CDM with a Hazard Mitigation Grant through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. The initial two-year funding is $500,000 from FEMA, with CDM pursuing an additional $169,000 in funding from local sources in order to meet the cost-share requirement.

CDM is located at San Jose State University (SJSU), providing an open environment ideally suited to foster and facilitate collaboration among all participants - public, private, non-profit and academic. SJSU is also a significant resource base for a multidisciplinary talent pool of students and faculty. The SJSU Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit corporation that meets state and federal guidelines, is responsible for handling all finances associated with CDM.

The purpose of the Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation (CDM) is to encourage and facilitate implementation of mitigation measures to minimize consequences of natural disasters, primarily in the Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, State of California. This region faces a major earthquake threat from one of the three faults - the San Andreas Fault, the Hayward Fault and the Calaveras Fault.

These counties also include Silicon Valley, home to the world's largest concentration of high technology industries. These industries represent a significant contribution to the US economy and a major disaster could cause severe economic losses that can jeopardize the US technological leadership. Working towards reducing the damage to our economic base will accelerate economic recovery.

CDM is focused on implementation before disaster occurs. It is not another research project or research center. A large body of knowledge and research findings on disaster mitigation already exists. CDM will translate currently available research into practical applications and work towards implementation.

In the case of companies, CDM can help them identify vulnerabilities in its facilities and processes so that corrective measures can be taken.

With CDM's unique trilateral collaboration - public sector, private sector and academia - hazard mitigation tools that have broad applicability can be initiated and developed jointly through CDM on a cost effective basis to improve hazard mitigation for all parties.

Further information about CDM can be found on its website at www.sjsu.edu/cdm. To contact CDM, please email sjsu_cdm@email.sjsu.edu.