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How pinwheels and Play-Doh could address post-tornado trauma in Lee County

Andrew Yawn

March 14, 2019 |

The Montgomery Advertiser |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alabama

Comfort kits provide children with a therapeutic outlet during times of disaster recovery. With disaster relief often centered on adult needs, the kits of Play-Doh, books and various toys distributed in the aftermath of tornado damage in Lee County, Alabama, specifically address stressors borne by the youngest members of families.

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Winter Park patrollers stay on the cutting edge of avalanche rescue with C-RAD

Lance Maggart

March 03, 2019 |

Sky-Hi News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Winter Park, Colorado

In Colorado, Winter Park ski patrollers are making an effort to utilize the most effective avalanche safety training in order to create a more efficient and successful search and rescue team. Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment, or C-RAD, trains the patrollers to become part of a rapid avalanche deployment team, a unit that combines efforts of paramedics, rescue dogs and handlers, and avalanche technicians.

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A new laser-toting disaster lab aims to save lives by saving data

Hallie Golden

February 26, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

Collecting data in the moments after a natural disaster occurs is key to understanding their impact as well as increasing preparedness. When a disaster strikes, the RAPID Facility, a partnership between several universities headquartered at the University of Washington, dispatches researchers armed with drones and other high tech to collect crucial data such as aerial photos of disaster zones, and 3D images of damage. RAPID then makes the data publicly available in an effort to improve hazard forecasts.

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How UNICEF sends lifesaving supplies anywhere within 48 hours

Melissa Locker

February 21, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

UNICEF is owner of some of the world's largest humanitarian warehouses, where workers and automated robots work in tandem to ensure that the kits that can help children and families in emergencies are ready to go whenever they are needed. The robots help to pull out supplies and keep track of expiration dates, and UNICEF uses its purchasing power to "push for innovations" that help everyone in their mission.

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A year of disaster relief shows how important cash is in helping to rebuild

Ben Paynter

January 04, 2019 |

FastCompany |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Puerto Rico

Nonprofit organization Direct Relief is providing financial assistance to organizations and communities struck by natural disasters or extreme poverty, in addition to traditional goods like medicines, vaccines, and equipment. Realizing the sustainability of cash over goods, Direct Relief's funding has helped organizations staff up in times of crisis, or install long-term solutions like converting to solar energy.

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Cellphones made it harder for Denver's 911 call takers to track people down. Finally, that's starting to change.

Jesse Paul

November 23, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

The same technology that helps companies like Uber find their customers is now available to public safety agencies to ensure accurate location detection from cell phone calls. Denver is among the first cities to implement the updated technology and since the city launched it in mid-2018, it has delivered an accuracy percentage in the 90s, which means first responders don't waste precious time trying to find someone in crisis. The key is for cell phone users to have updated operating systems.

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Houston Looks for a Smarter, More Equitable Path to Hurricane Recovery

Linda Poon

October 22, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

The city of Houston is changing its approach to measuring the full scope of damage from Hurricane Harvey so it can get help where it is most needed and improve future flood mitigation. Using data from numerous sources, Civis Analytics found unmet housing needs were far greater than initially recorded and low-income areas were hit disproportionately harder, even though recovery funding often goes to areas with higher housing values. Now city officials are working to implement solutions based on the data in order to allocate limited funds where they will be most effective.

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On Hurricane Maria Anniversary, Puerto Rico Is Still in Ruins

Frances Robles Jugal K. Patel

September 20, 2018 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico

FEMA’s response to Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Irma has been the “longest sustained domestic airborne food and water mission in the nation’s history. The agency has never distributed more food or installed more generators.” However, due to bureaucracy and delayed decision making, there are still thousands of Puerto Ricans who have not received aid, or were underserved.

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Nosara Firefighters Manage to Respond to 260 Emergencies This Year With Their Cell Phones

Noelia Esquivel

September 18, 2018 |

La Voz de Guanacaste |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica, Nosara

In Costa Rica, a group of volunteer firefighters use donated equipment, gear, and their own cell phones to fill in a big gap in emergency services. More residents are now accustomed to calling them directly for fires and other emergencies, and the community supports them financially. The firefighters are trying to integrate their work into the country's emergency alert system and to build their own fire station.

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Mobile phone data could help speed up crucial aid to disaster victims

Fergus Peace

August 28, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Haiti

When disaster strikes, people are often quick to provide help -- but that help is often misdirected because it is hard to know where those who need help are located. Researchers are now exploring how to use cell towers and mobile data to predict movement and provide better services.

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