White House launches Disaster.Data.Gov

Laura Pedulli | December 19, 2014 | Health Exec | Economics

The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy has launched Disasters.Data.Gov, a public resource to foster collaboration and the continual improvement of disaster-related open data.

The tool offers “new ways to empower first responders, survivors and government officials with the information needed in the wake of a disaster,” according to a White House blog. Some features of the challenge include:

“Types of disasters” landing pages, includes pages for earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, severe winter weather, tornadoes and wildfires.
Apps and tools to help first responders, emergency managers, volunteer organizations, survivors and other stakeholders.
A call to data stewards to encourage stakeholders to open disaster-related datasets from all levels of the government and the private sector.
An invitation to join the “Innovation for Disasters” movement.

In concert with the launch, the White House unveiled the first in a series of Innovator Challenges that highlight pressing needs from the disaster preparedness community.

Read the announcement.