When a disaster strikes, federal, state, and local governments need a coordinated strategy, accessible data, and a skilled workforce to manage the response. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods have devastating effects on communities across our country. Since 1980 the U.S. has sustained more than 200 weather and climate disasters, with cumulative costs exceeding $1.1 trillion.
How the Internet of Things Can Prepare Cities for Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods have devastating effects on communities across our country. Government agencies should consider leveraging the internet of things (IoT) and other web-driven technologies to obtain timely and accurate data that can better inform decisions and actions. However, progress will require more than just employing the IoT to improve emergency preparedness and response; response teams have to be ready to receive, interpret, and take action on the data. They should start by deploying IoT sensors on critical infrastructure in order to gather data before a disaster. This data can be combined with demographic data to inform plans about which citizens will need what kinds of assistance once a disaster strikes. During the disaster, real-time data from sensors can help agencies send current information to response teams and citizens as the situation changes.