Illustrative Projects:
Independent Review and Program Evaluation
Provide independent third-party review; form expert advisory panels to support decision-making; develop review methods and procedures; evaluate projects and programs; and recommend changes and support their implementation.

Post-Disaster Recovery Plan Review
ROA participated in an independent review of the effectiveness of the City of Los Angeles’ recovery and reconstruction element of the city’s emergency response plan, which was implemented after the 1994 Northridge earthquake to deal with redevelopment, recovery management, financing, and intergovernmental relations.

Program Evaluation and Technical Assistance, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
Because of ROA's knowledge of the Latin America-Caribbean region, ROA provides disaster preparedness programs and training evaluations and technical assistance. Recent activities include evaluating national government responses to El Niño in three countries, designing an evaluation for OFDA’s regional training programs, preparing new course materials, and evaluating the responses to Hurricanes Georges and Mitch in another three countries.

Hurricane Andrew Response Evaluation
The South Florida Water Management District manages hundreds of miles of flood control canals and systems in southern Florida. Hurricane Andrew damaged parts of the system, destroyed many employees' homes, and caused major response and service restoration problems for the District. An ROA team completed a headquarters and field evaluation of the District's response and advised top management on an improved hurricane mitigation and preparedness program.

Independent Review, Foothill Communities' Law and Justice Center
This San Bernardino County building was the first in the United States to use a base isolation foundation system. ROA formed a panel of earth science and engineering experts to conduct an independent technical review of the design. ROA's work contributed to improved design, construction, and inspection processes, and to the County's acceptance of this innovative foundation system.

Policy Assessment of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
ROA wrote a policy assessment of the first ten years of the program for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This required interviews with key people in the earthquake community and the Congressional and Executive branches of the Federal Government; an exhaustive search for documentation about the program and the events leading up to its passage and implementation; a review of the activities of the agencies involved; and research into the various federally-supported regional and state programs.

Independent Review, Los Angeles County Fire Command and Control Facility
ROA formed a panel of earth science and engineering experts to conduct an independent review of the County Fire Department's plans for a new command and control facility using a base isolation foundation system. This involved reviewing plans and specifications and convening a series of project review meetings and preparing a report.

State Participation in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
ROA prepared a report with supporting program and financial data for Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment. The report focused on federal-state coordination and earthquake safety policy and program development in about 30 states.

Return to Projects page