CrowdSource Rescue Helps Locate Disaster Victims
CrowdSource Rescue is a new web-based platform created in the spirit of emergency response. It was most recently used in the Florida panhandle to locate people after Hurricane Michael, as the storm resulted in a widespread and persistent wireless outage. As of two weeks prior to the date of this writing, volunteers sourced through the platform have sought out over 2,500 people that went missing after the hurricane.
How CrowdSource Rescue Works
CrowdSource Rescue was launched in August 2017 in response to Hurricane Harvey. It’s a tool designed to report people that are missing or in precarious situations. It graphically maps their locations via GPS technology, and actively seeks and dispatches local first line responders as well as vetted volunteers in nearby areas to execute search and rescue efforts.
CrowdSource Rescue operates independently but also offers a white label option that can be used by utilities or other companies to outsource their emergency mobilization efforts. Overall, the company’s platform currently manages over 14,000 rescuers, volunteers, and certified first responders, and claims to have helped over 37,000 survivors over eight storms.
This is a great tool for emergency preparedness. One of the largest impediments to response efforts is communication outages, but tools like social media and now CrowdSource Rescue can help plug the communication gap in these situations.
Not only can the platform save lives by speeding up the search and rescue process, it can also be used to optimize utility restoration dispatching processes, help municipalities execute evacuation protocols, and provide data that can be used to optimize recovery efforts. It will be interesting to see how many more tools like CrowdSource Rescue become part of our toolbox.
