The White House has launched disasters.data.gov, a public resource to foster collaboration and the continual improvement of disaster-related open data, free tools, and new ways to empower survivors, first responders, and all levels of government with critical information and resources.

Some features of the site include:

• “Types of Disasters” Landing Pages: Categorizes open data sets, apps, and tools to make relevant resources easier to find.
• Apps & Tools: The portal includes apps and tools that can be deployed at minimal cost by first responders, emergency managers, volunteer organizations, survivors, and other stakeholders. The apps and tools featured were presented at the White House Innovation for Disaster Response and Recovery Demo Day.
• Call to Action: Data Stewards: Datasets relevant to disaster preparedness (including prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery) have traditionally been closed by default to the public. To help empower the community with information that can improve community resilience, the White House is working with stakeholders to open a series of disaster-related datasets from all levels of government and the private sector. Learn more here and email [email protected] if you are interested in participating.
• Innovator Challenge: We are unveiling the first in a series of Innovator Challenges that highlight pressing needs from the disaster preparedness community. The inaugural challenge focuses on a need identified from firsthand experience of local emergency managers, responders, survivors, and Federal departments and agencies, asking innovators: “How might we leverage real-time sensors, open data, social media, and other tools to help reduce the number of fatalities from flooding?
• Join the “Innovation for Disasters” Movement: Whether you visit the site as a tech entrepreneur, developer, hardware tinkerer, journalist, researcher, government official, first responder, survivor, or potential volunteer, there are numerous ways to join the Innovation for Disasters movement and get involved. Learn more here.