DisasterHelp.gov

DisasterHelp.gov is a unified point of access to disaster-related information and services for citizens and emergency organizations. This Web portal offers convenient access to critical disaster information from relevant government agencies and collaborating local, state, tribal, federal, and non-government organizations.

During and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, DisasterHelp.gov provided access for resources relating to hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery. Government agencies used DisasterHelp.gov to share documents with employees. These documents included situation reports, health advisories, various government forms, maps of the disaster area, SOPs, response and operations plans, bulletins, and emergency declarations.

DisasterHelp.gov provided access to assistance and critical information to hurricane victims, including organizations accepting donations and volunteers, emergency contact systems such as next-of-kin registries, health and safety tips, government status reports, and the evacuation plans for the states of Texas and Louisiana. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration used DisasterHelp.gov to supply public advisories, storm-tracking maps, and flood-repair and flood-recovery information.

The initial thrust of DM initiatives has been to provide information and services related to the four pillars of all-hazards DM: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. DM's commitment to emergency responders' needs will continue in the program's next phases. These phases will focus on delivery of integrated, cross-agency processes and services to citizens, governments, and non-governmental organizations.

If this month's Metrolink train-wreck scenario happened in your community, how would you share the incident data? Would you have access to the no-cost tools necessary to share critical information? DM can help you and your agency prepare for such eventualities.

Copyright 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning