Natural disasters were considered “;low-probability events”; four years ago when planning began here on a hazard preparedness training program, observed University of Hawaii professor Karl Kim.

But natural disasters have struck American Samoa, China, the Philippines and Haiti just in the past year.

“;These are not rare events,”; said Kim at the opening yesterday of the nation's newest National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.

“;And coupled with the proclivity to build and live in natural hazard zones,”; what were once considered 100-year events “;now are occurring with alarming frequency,”; added Kim, the center's executive director.

University and community leaders, national officials, emergency responders and educators celebrated the establishment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's seventh disaster preparedness training center at a ceremony at the East-West Center.

The new center also is hosting this week the quarterly meeting of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium of seven preparedness partners.

The Department of Homeland Security awarded UH nearly $5 million for fiscal year 2009, and a similar amount is budgeted for fiscal year 2010, to conduct research and develop training to prepare first responders, decision makers, policy analysts and urban planners to respond to a catastrophe.

U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Daniel Akaka, senior member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, spurred development of the Hawaii preparedness program.

Addressing the gathering by video, Inouye said the recent disasters “;must be a lesson to us all about the importance of being prepared, the importance of training. ... Never forget the work you do may someday save one life or the lives of an entire community.”;

UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said, “;I can think of no better place for this center than to be affiliated with the university. With its access to a wide range of university resources, this center can surely contribute to develop our nation's capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters.”;

Kim, a UH-Manoa professor of urban and regional planning, said of Hawaii, “;Perhaps there is no place on earth that is more exposed to the multiple hazards of earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, wildfires, floods and coastal storms, and yet we are geographically isolated. We also need to be prepared for terrorism and technological catastrophes.”;

The Hawaii disaster preparedness center is the first to focus on natural hazards because of the state's unique geography and strong science programs, coastal communities and resources. Each of the other training centers has a different mission.

Kim said the UH center and its partners are “;working toward a goal of resiliency. ... It's an opportunity to combine the latest science and technology with deep understanding of communities and culture in place.”;

The center's first Community Resiliency Leadership Award was presented yesterday to Aveao Faausu Fonoti, mayor of Amanave village in American Samoa. Most of his village was destroyed in last September's earthquake and tsunami, but “;many lives were saved because of his bravery, his knowledge, his leadership and his actions,”; Kim said.