Linked by Lifelines

Mobile phones and websites offer affordable options to keep information flowing before and after disaster

ADF STAFF

Catastrophe struck Kenya in late 2007 and early 2008. But the disaster wasn’t a flood, famine or earthquake. Protests in the wake of a closely contested presidential election quickly degenerated into widespread violence that resulted in 1,200 deaths, more than 300,000 displaced people, and 42,000 houses and businesses looted or destroyed.

In response to the crisis, a new technological tool was born. It shows that high-tech methods of preparing for and responding to disasters do not need to be complex or expensive.

The Rise of Ushahidi
As postelection violence raged in Kenya, a new website called Ushahidi was created to gather information on incidents around the country through “crowdsourcing.” It is the practice of obtaining services, ideas or, in Kenya’s case, information, from large groups of people, typically through cellphones and computers. Check out blog here – WebDesign499 for more details.

“It was really a sort of hacked-together technology tool that allowed people to send in reports of information and violence that was taking place,” said Chris Albon, director of data projects for Ushahidi, which is Swahili for “testimony.”

Since then, Ushahidi has expanded, and after five years, it has user sites in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. An example of what Ushahidi can do is summed up in a Ugandan site listed on the organization’s Web page. The Tamuko Alerts System is described as a “countrywide alerts system which allows people to send in their reports and incidences as they occur ranging from health, crime, accidents, disaster and infrastructure problems.”

Ushahidi is a free open-source software tool that anyone can download and host on a server to gather information. Once a website is set up, the public can send in information through texts, emails, tweets or on Web page forms. Information is reviewed, organized and plotted on a map. For example, during the Kenyan election crisis, people could send in information about violence in particular communities. Once vetted, that information was available for all to see on a map, letting the public know what areas were most affected.

“Our biggest disaster case was during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where Ushahidi was used on the ground to help relay information so people could send in information, and it was actually used by the U.S. military to help them decide where to send supplies,” Albon said.

Ushahidi can be set up to collect data about most anything, including infrastructure failures, corruption, missing people or requests for emergency assistance. “The idea is to not just get the information, but get the information in the hands of people who can make a difference,” Albon said.

Militaries and government agencies can use the application. Operational costs are virtually nonexistent, and the public can contribute information on even the most unsophisticated mobile phones. Because it is open source, any improvements must be made available to users everywhere. “If the disaster response that the military conducts is improved because of our software, then that’s an absolute win from our situation,” Albon said.

The Use of Information and Communication Technology
Information and communication technology (ICT) refers to broadcast media, mobile phones, computers and satellites, among other things. A 2012 World Bank report examined four types of ICT for climate resilience: geographic information systems (GIS), e-governance, early warning systems and wireless communications. GIS and e-governance typically are used in prevention and recovery. Wireless and early warning systems make disaster warning and response more efficient. Following are explanations of the four types of ICT:

GIS lets users visualize information in ways that reveal patterns and trends. In flood-prone areas, GIS maps can show topography, including which areas flood first, the types of housing in the area, and the location of drainage infrastructure. Anyone with Internet access can see the information.

E-governance refers to the computerization and Web-based dissemination of government information. E-governance tools can be applied to construction licenses and land purchases, and they often check flooding susceptibility before granting certifications. Controlling construction in flood-prone areas can reduce vulnerability.

Wireless communications such as mobile phones and radios offer obvious advantages. They are cheap, prevalent and a powerful tool for sending and receiving crucial information. Their use is growing exponentially. According to a World Bank study, there were fewer than 20 million fixed-line phones in Africa in 2000. By 2012, there were about 650 million mobile phone subscriptions.

Marcus Oxley, director of the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction, tells two stories of how mobile technology has been useful in disaster preparation and response. While traveling in Asia, people told him their relatives in the United States would watch 24-hour weather channels and then text them with information about severe weather in their area. Likewise, after the Haitian earthquake, emergency responders sent out text messages asking whether people were trapped in buildings or under rubble. People could press “yes” on their mobile phones. Global positioning systems helped responders set up search grids for rescue operations.

Madagascar has been using a “town crier” system administered by the National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) to warn of cyclones, according to the World Bank. A village leader walks through communities ringing a bell and shouting warnings. In 2012, the government tested an SMS warning system for people with mobile phones. The system also collects data about damage.

“Thanks to this system, we are able to monitor the impacts in less than 48 hours, and help to identify the most affected areas where the population needs immediate support,” said Raonivelo Andrianianja of BNGRC.

Sierra Leone in 2013 began leveraging mobile phone technology through the Trilogy Emergency Relief Application message system. The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) works with wireless carriers to warn thousands per hour of fires, floods and disease outbreaks. About 70 percent of Sierra Leoneans have mobile phone access.
“This system is a real lifesaver,” said Abubakarr Tarawallie, director of communications for the SLRCS. “We can use it to warn people when emergencies or outbreaks start and to give them vital information on preventing diseases like malaria and cholera. Even better, the system is two-way, so we can quickly assess the areas of greatest need after an emergency and respond to requests for information on a large scale.”

Early warning systems use things such as precipitation simulation software and sensors to forecast floods, landslides and even food shortages caused by drought. One example of such technology used in Africa is the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). Created in the wake of severe famines in 1985, FEWS NET monitors weather, climate, agriculture, prices and trade to identify emerging problems. This data collection and analysis helps governments and nongovernmental organizations plan for food emergencies.

Information is plotted on color-coded maps, showing near- and medium-term outlooks for food security, as well as weather data. Once an issue is identified, “FEWS NET uses a suite of communications and decision support products to help decision makers act to mitigate food insecurity,” according to the website. “These products include monthly food security updates for 25 countries, regular food security outlooks, and alerts, as well as briefings and support to contingency and response planning efforts.”

Keeping Costs Low is Key
Technology can be fast and efficient. It also can be costly. Funding is a primary barrier to buying and maintaining equipment, and training people to use it. In Africa, it makes sense to capitalize on widespread technology already in use. The swift proliferation of mobile phones is an example. Information is crucial when disasters strike, and even the cheapest mobile phones let average citizens share and obtain valuable information quickly.

Oxley said that ensuring the flow of information is essential during a disaster. “People need to know, governments need to know what’s happening, what the needs are, what the losses are,” he said. “We often talk about the pots, the pans, the blankets, the shelter, that type of hard things that people need. But actually information is absolutely critical.”