The Resilience, Education, and Advocacy Center for Hazard Preparedness (REACH) is one of the first resiliency hubs designed in the United States. This mobile outreach hub is equipped with adaptable technology and tools to help the City of Orlando respond to disasters. The hub was designed to deploy to areas with urgent need and serves as a temporary center offering electricity, internet access, emergency supplies, portable battery chargers, Wi-Fi, healthy snacks, water, and air conditioning during climate crises or emergencies.
Working closely with University of Central Florida researchers, VHB surveyed hundreds of individuals and conducted workshops that identified infrastructure, social connections, and educational needs specific to the community. VHB's stakeholder engagement approach prioritized community participation and inclusiveness, particularly with historically marginalized community members from under-resourced areas. The REACH hub was co-designed with youth, academic advisors, and city staff to create a replicable framework that other communities can adopt, addressing the disproportionate challenges vulnerable populations face during and after disasters and enabling faster community recovery.
