6 Apps to Prepare for Natural Disasters in Asia

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Xairylle for Tech in Asia 2013-07-26 06:00:37 UTC

Asia has experienced its share of devastating natural disasters: earthquakes, tsunamis, storms and floods. Although some might say weather and calamities are unpredictable, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Thankfully, various groups and agencies have made apps geared towards disaster relief and preparedness. Here, we highlight six that could help you prepare for the worst.

1. Project NOAH

Image: Project Noah, Department of Science and Technology

Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) is the official mobile application of the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) website of the same name. The app provides a lot of useful tools and information such as weather news and flood forecasting and warning. It also provides a map view of the Philippine "Area of Responsibility" (PAR), rainfall contours, chance of rain, radar images (for Subic, Tagaytay, Cebu, Hinatuan, Tampakan), sensors and typhoon forecasts. Screenshots and information from the app can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail and even via Bluetooth.

2. Flood Patrol

Image: Flood Patrol, Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center

The Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center's (AJWCC) Flood Patrol works in harmony with the aforementioned Project Noah for flood monitoring and mapping in the Philippines. Not only does it give people a visual map of flood reports in a certain area, but it also allows them to send flood reports to NOAH to help with the site's flood mapping. These reports are also help pinpoint which areas need immediate rescue and evacuation.

3. Water4Thai

Image: Water4Thai

Water4Thai is an app that aims to keep people in Thailand informed and ready in the event of flood disasters. It provides important information such as weather and rainfall data from the national Department of Meteorology, and includes stats on water levels in rivers and dams from the Royal Irrigation Department. The app presents information via charts, graphs and lists that can be accessed in both Thai and English.

4. Tsunami Tracker

Image: Tsunami Tracker

The world was in shock after the South Asian tsunami in 2004, and again after a massive tsunami swept across Japan in 2011. Since those disasters, there has been a greater call for preparedness as well as information regarding earthquakes and possible tsunamis. Tsunami Tracker not only contains warnings for tsunamis and earthquakes directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminsitration (NOAA), but also allows fast emergency calls to emergency numbers in the Asia-Pacific region.

5. Disaster Alert

Image: Disaster Alert

True to its name, Disaster Alert covers lists and maps of disaster risks across the globe."Active hazards" are incidents that are deemed hazardous by the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and are recorded and listed by the app in real-time. Among the active hazards are common natural disasters in Asia such as tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods.

6. ubAlert – Disaster Alert Network

ubAlert Image: ubAlert

Unlike most disaster apps, ubAlert not only collects information from organizations and websites, but also from its users. Information is presented as graphs, lists, charts, maps, images and videos, and may be shared via email, Facebook and Twitter. Another unique feature is that it does't just cover natural disasters, but also other calamities such as terrorist attacks and pandemic virus outbreaks. As soon as it receives an event from one of its users, the information will be validated from a reliable source or organization. As soon as it is recognized as a potential threat, all users that may be affected within the impact area will be alerted so to reduce casualties and/or deaths.

Image: Museum Syndicate/Wikimedia Commons