There is no typical day for a first responder.
Every natural disaster, whether domestically or internationally, is different and unpredictable but the response should always be quick, efficient, and coordinated. What if, after any natural disaster, you had a dashboard showing all the damage, which locations were hit the hardest, and where you can locate displaced people? With ArcGIS, that’s exactly what search and rescue teams all over the world are getting.

John Morrison, of the USAID Urban Search and Rescue team, knows firsthand how effective collaboration and coordination can be with the help of GIS technology. In 2023, when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Eastern Turkey and Syria, the United Nations stepped in to offer international aid. With over 90 countries and organizations under the United Nations umbrella, being able to collaborate, coordinate, and mitigate disasters such as that deadly earthquake through GIS technology was paramount in preventing duplicated efforts while saving time and lives in the process. GIS technology allows first responders to effectively reach people by working quickly to locate damaged areas and sharing that information cross-functionally to all the organizations involved.

What used to take search and rescue teams hours, now takes minutes with GIS but what Morrison finds the most rewarding is being able to save lives. The ability to provide that service anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice represents the best of what search and rescue teams can do as first responders and GIS technology is a huge part of that.

Learn More: https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/public-safety/overview