RELIABLE INFORMATION - A KEY TO DISASTER RESPONSE

Abstract

The growing  concern over frequent wide-area disasters with massive destruction is parallelled by a qualitative jump in ICT-capabilities which can be utilized  in new ways of disaster response, especially with respect to the information  acquisition, processing and dissemination. In this paper we discuss the importance of information with respect to disaster response. The growing concern over frequent wide-area disasters with massive destruction is parallelled by a qualitative jump in ICT-capabilities which can be utilized in new ways of disaster response, especially with respect to the information  acquisition, processing and dissemination. This paper discusses the importance of information with respect to disaster response. After a short review of the history of organized  disaster response, the phases of a disaster and the types of stakeholders described. The relevant information for stakeholders is described, categorized and the associated activities discussed. The usefulness and applicability of Mass Communication and Crowd Intelligence for improving information acquisition, analysis and decision making is discussed.