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Disaster Information / Relief Agencies Index

DISASTER INFORMATION / RESPONSE | RELIEF / REFUGEE AGENCIES

Disaster Information / Response

• 72hours - San Francisco is exposed to a wide variety of hazards, both natural and man-made. Earthquakes, fires, severe storms, power outages, and acts of terrorism are just some of the potential emergencies we may encounter. Learn what to do in response to a specific disaster.
• Action Against Hunger (AAH) - Develops and runs emergency programs in nutrition, health, water and food security for countries in need. Also provides disaster preparedness programs with the goal of anticipating and preventing humanitarian crises.
• Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP) - Established in 1997, following the multi-agency evaluation of the Rwanda genocide. A unique network, ALNAP incorporates many of the key humanitarian organisations and experts from across the humanitarian sector. Members are drawn from donors, NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent, the UN, independents and academics. ALNAP uses the broad range of experience and expertise within its membership to produce tools and analysis relevant and accessible to the humanitarian sector as a whole. ALNAP's workplan is aimed at improving humanitarian performance through learning and accountability, and consists of core activities, project activities and linked activities.
• AirNow - Every day its Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your outdoor air is, along with associated health effects that may be of concern.
• American Red Cross - Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 67,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. Also see, In the News.
• Asian Disaster Reduction Center - Established in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, to facilitate exchange of disaster reduction experts from each country and concerned bodies, accumulate and provide disaster reduction information, and carry out research into multinational disaster reduction cooperation as the focus of this initiative.
• Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) - The ASFPM is an organization of professionals involved in floodplain management, flood hazard mitigation, the National Flood Insurance Program, and flood preparedness, warning and recovery. ASFPM has become a respected voice in floodplain management practice and policy in the United States because it represents the flood hazard specialists of local, state and federal government, the research community, the insurance industry, and the fields of engineering, hydrologic forecasting, emergency response, water resources, and others.
• BMS CAT - Specializes in commercial and industrial property damage restoration following fires, floods, earthquakes and other catastrophic events.
• Broadcastify - The radio communications industry's largest platform for streaming live audio for public safety, aircraft, rail, and marine related communications, a collaborative solution for collecting and disseminating radio communications data for public safety and hobbyist users.
• California Emergency Management Agency- Coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government.
• California Emergency Medical Services Authority - Statewide system of coordinated emergency medical care, injury prevention, and disaster medical response.
• California Wildfire: Philanthropy California Response - Philanthropy California is an alliance of Northern California, Southern California, and San Diego Grantmakers. This website provides essential information about how funders can help during this fire season.
• CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Site - Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Anthrax, Botulism, Cyanide, Mustard Gas, Radiological Emergencies, Ricin, Smallpox, VX.
• Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) - Working to obtain U.S. Government assistance for communities and families in Afghanistan and Iraq, while helping to shine a spotlight on the human costs of war.
• Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance - A direct reporting unit to the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) and other US COCOMs (combatant commands) and supports them in promoting disaster preparedness and societal resiliency. The Center also provides strategic advice to military, civilian and international organizations planning for and responding to complex humanitarian emergencies.
• Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue - An independent organisation dedicated to helping improve the global response to armed conflict.
• Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) - The Center, operated under a grant from the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and initial support from IBM, has become a valuable resource to the public, as well as U.S. government agencies, foreign embassies and international corporations, handling hundreds of thousands of public inquiries related to international emergencies.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
• Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) - A humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. CERF is a tool created by the United Nations to pre-position funding for humanitarian action.
• Conscience International - A non-governmental, private voluntary organization (NGO-PVO), incorporated in the State of Georgia, USA. Its purpose is to implement humanitarian relief programs internationally through cooperative networking with agencies, organizations, and individuals.
• Crisis Mappers - International community of experts, practitioners, policymakers, technologists, researchers, journalists, scholars, hackers and skilled volunteers engaged at the intersection between humanitarian crises, technology, crowd-sourcing, and crisis mapping.
• DARA - An independent organisation committed to improving the quality and effectiveness of aid for vulnerable populations suffering from conflict, disasters and climate change. DARA has recognised expertise in providing support in the field of humanitarian aid as well as climate change, disaster and risk reduction. It has conducted evaluations of humanitarian operations in over 40 countries across five continents for a variety of government, United Nations and European Union agencies as well as major international organisations, including the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
• Did You Feel It? (USGS) - Earthquake news and community interest maps. Also see Lastest Earthquake and Earthquake Hazards.
• Disaster Accountability Project - Improving disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and engagement, and policy research and advocacy.
• Disaster Information Management Reserch Center (DIMRC) - Develops and provides access to health information resources and technology for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
• DisasterAssistance.gov - Assists victims of disasters in locating the resources they need. Locate and apply for disaster relief.
• Doctors for Disaster Preparedness (DDP) - Promotes U.S. homeland defense and preparedness for disasters of all kinds, including war or terrorism.
• Doctors Without Borders - Delivers emergency aid to victims of armed conflict, epidemics, and natural and man-made disasters, and to others who lack health care due to social or geographical isolation.
• Earthquake Information from the USGS - Latest quake information.
• Earthquakes - San Francisco Chronicle Earthquake information.
• Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) - A congressionally ratified organization that provides form and structure to interstate mutual aid. Through EMAC, a disaster impacted state can request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently, resolving two key issues upfront: liability and reimbursement.
• Emergency Management in Australia (EMA) - Primary responsibility for the protection of life and property in Australia as a consequence of natural, technological and human caused disasters rests with state and territory governments.
• EMS News - Emergency medical service news.
• Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance (ELHRA) - A collaborative network dedicated to supporting partnerships between higher education institutions and humanitarian organisations and partners around the world.
• Esri Disaster Response - For many years Esri has provided assistance in the wake of disasters throughout the world. The support comes in many forms including software, data, hardware and people.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - A comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery to disasters. FEMA is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government. Also see:
  • FEMA Blog
  • FEMA Data Visualization
  • FEMA Disaster Declarations.
  • FEMA Mapping Information Platform - FEMA is initiating Risk MAP and has developed a multi year plan spanning FY10-FY14. The vision for Risk MAP is to deliver quality data that increases public awareness and leads to action that reduces risk to life and property.
• Find Shelter - The Federal Emergency Management Agency puts out information on hurricane shelters every 20 minutes during natural disasters through its application programming interface. Socrata is inputting this information into its geographic information system for a new web-based platform called Find Shelter.
• Flood Damage in the U.S., 1926-2003 - The flood damage estimates presented in this website are compiled from National Weather Service records and publications, supplemented by reports of other federal and state agencies. The accompanying report includes an evaluation of the accuracy of the estimates and recommendations for users of the data.
• FloodSmart.gov - Official site of the U.S. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Provides flood insurance, flood zone maps, floodplain maps and flood information to help protect your home from flooding and elevated water tables.
• Forced Migration Review - Aims to give comprehensive, impartial information and to promote increased awareness of human displacement issues to an international community of practitioners, policy makers, researchers, students or anyone interested in the field.
• Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) - A partnership of 41 countries and 8 international organizations committed to helping developing countries reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and adapt to climate change. The partnership's mission is to mainstream disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in country development strategies.
• GlobalCorps - Dedicated to matching the most qualified professionals in the development, humanitarian and disaster relief field with organizations looking for these individuals. Access information about organizations, projects, disaster relief efforts, field reports, latest research and more.
• Google Crisis Response - Seeks to make critical information more accessible around natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Contributions can include: updated satellite imagery of the disaster area, charitable donations to organizations on-the-ground, outreach through Google web properties, and engineering tools. Also see Google Public Alerts.
• HealthMap - Utilizes online informal sources for disease outbreak monitoring and real-time surveillance of emerging public health threats. Delivers real-time intelligence on a broad range of emerging infectious diseases for a diverse audience including libraries, local health departments, governments, and international travelers.
• Humanitarian Information Center for Iraq - An initiative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). A central location for data and information to assist co-ordination of humanitarian response activities.
• Humanitarian Policy Network (HPN) - HPN is an independent forum for humanitarians to share and disseminate information, analysis and experience. We publish specialist resources for practitioners and policy makers alike and facilitate debate through regular events and the Online Exchange discussion forum.
• Hunger Plus, Inc. - Not-for-profit relief agency that provides food and related supplies for emergency use. Partners with individuals, NGOs, government agencies, church and civic groups. Projects in self sufficiency focus on food preservation, agriculture, water, health, education, housing and technology.
• InciWeb - An interagency all-risk incident information management system. InciWeb developed and maintained by USDA Forest Service.
• InterAction - A diverse coalition of more than 160 US-based relief, development, environmental and refugee agencies working in more than 100 countries around the world committed to a set of rigorous ethical standards to ensure accountability to donors, professional competence, and quality service.
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) - Established in 1998 by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), is the leading international body monitoring conflict-induced internal displacement worldwide.
• International Crisis Group (ICG) - An independent, non-profit, multinational organisation, with over 100 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict. Based on information and assessments from the field, ICG produces regular analytical reports containing practical recommendations targeted at key international decision-takers. ICG also publishes CrisisWatch, a 12-page monthly bulletin, providing a succinct regular update on the state of play in all the most significant situations of conflict or potential conflict around the world.
• International Medical Corps - A global humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide where few organizations dare to serve.
• International Organization for Migration (IOM) - The IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: Assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; Advance understanding of migration issues; Encourage social and economic development through migration; Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
• London Fire Brigade - Fire and rescue emergency response in London.
• Lower Nine - The follow up organization to nonprofit Emergency Communities, which sprung up after Katrina in Waveland, MS, and in St. Bernard, Plaquemines, and Orleans Parishes providing early forms of disaster relief and recovery. To date, Lower Nine has rebuilt eighty-three homes and completed smaller repair and renovation projects on over two hundred more.
• Journal of Humanitarian Assistance - Promotes the exchange of new ideas, previously unpublished research, and the critical write-up of field experience by field workers and researchers in humanitarian assistance.
• MyShake - Earthquake early warning. MyShake uses smartphones as earthquake sensors, it can be used everywhere - even in countries without access to traditional seismic technology.
• National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) - An agency of the Philippine government under the Department of National Defense, responsible for ensuring the protection and welfare of the people during disasters or emergencies.
• National Hurricane Center (NHC) - The NHC mission is to save lives, mitigate property loss, and improve economic efficiency by issuing the best watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather and by increasing understanding of these hazards.
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) - NVOAD coordinates planning efforts by many voluntary organizations responding to disaster.
• Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder - A national and international clearinghouse for information on natural hazards and human adjustments to hazards and disasters.
• NC4 - Provider of crisis management software, serving public agencies, private entities, and non-profit organizations of all types and sizes. Team's collaborative software offers comprehensive functionality for the critical tasks of crisis management and is used in a variety of applications including emergency management, homeland security, biodefense, business continuity, disaster preparedness and recovery, event management, and exercises.
• New Jersey: Hurricane Sandy Information Center - Official site.
• New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) - Plans and prepares for emergencies, educates the public about preparedness, coordinates emergency response and recovery, and collects and disseminates emergency information for New York City. Official site.
• NYC Severe Weather - Official site of the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
• Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) - OFDA is the office within USAID responsible for providing non-food humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. Responsible for facilitating and coordinating U.S. Government emergency assistance overseas and to provide humanitarian assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering, and reduce the social and economic impact of natural and man-made disasters worldwide.
• Open Arms - A non-governmental, non-profit organization whose main mission is to rescue refugees from the sea that arrive to Europe fleeing wars, persecution or poverty.
• Oxfam: Press Room - Oxfam's humanitarian, campaign, and program work.
• Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) - A federal information processing facility that supports emergency managers in the Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions.
• Palestinian Refugee Researchnet (PRRN) - A non-partisan project devoted to the dissemination of ideas and scholarly information, in an effort to foster scholarly collaboration, policy research, and innovative thinking on the Palestinian refugee issue.
• Pan American Health Organization - An international public health agency with more than 90 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas.
• Partners in Health (PIH) - PIH's vision, at its root, is both medical and moral. It is based on solidarity, rather than charity alone. When a person in Peru, or Siberia, or rural Haiti falls ill, PIH uses all of the means at its disposal to make them well-from pressuring drug manufacturers, to lobbying policy makers, to providing medical care and social services. Whatever it takes.
• Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting - The Center applies its hybrid journalism and educational non-profit model to maintain a spotlight on often ignored issues, ranging from water and food insecurity to homophobia and stigma to fragile states and women and children in crisis.
• RadioReference - The world's largest radio communications data provider, featuring a complete frequency database, trunked radio system information, and FCC license data. RadioReference is also the largest broadcaster of public safety live audio communications feeds, hosting thousands of live audio broadcasts of police, fire, EMS, railroad, and aircraft communications.
• RefWorld - Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from UNHCR's global network of field offices, governments, international, regional and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and judicial bodies.
• ReliefWeb - Clearinghouse for those needing timely information on humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. Designed to help the humanitarian community improve its response to emergencies.
• ReliefWeb: Countries (MapBox) - Maps provided by ReliefWeb. Excellent worldwide maps and current information on drought, disease, displacement, refugees, and more.
• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288) as amended - A United States federal law designed to bring an orderly and systemic means of federal natural disaster assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens. See Wikipedia.
• Sea-Watch - Rescuing refugees stranded in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Social Media 4 Good - Exploring the use of social media for NGOs, non-profit organizations and to support humanitarian relief.
• St. Bernard Project - SBP's mission is to ensure that disaster-impacted citizens and communities recover in a prompt, efficient and predictable manner. Since its founding in 2006, SBP has rebuilt homes for nearly 900 families with the help of 100,000 volunteers in New Orleans.
• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - While working to ensure the survival, protection and development of children and advocating a high priority for them in the allocation of resources at all times, UNICEF continues to give relief and rehabilitation assistance in emergencies.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) - The UNHCR provides protection and assistance to the world's refugees. Today, the UNHCR is one of the world's principal humanitarian agencies, with headquarters in Geneva, and offices in some 115 countries. More than 80 percent of UNHCR's 5,000-member staff work in the field, often in isolated, dangerous and difficult conditions.
• United Nations Office for Disaster Relief Reduction (UNDRR) - The United Nations focal point for disaster risk reduction. UNDRR oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supporting countries in its implementation, monitoring and sharing what works in reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk.
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Monitors and issues situation reports on natural disasters on a 24-hour basis. Tools used to disseminate this information incude: ReliefWeb and The New Humanitarian.
• United States Committee for Refugees (USCR) - Provides aid and resources for refugees worldwide.
• USDA Disaster Assistance - Agencies of USDA help in many ways in a disaster, but perhaps the most immediate is to ensure that people have enough to eat. There are many concerns following a storm, earthquake, civil disturbance, flood or other disaster, but none is more important than providing food in areas where people may find themselves suddenly, and often critically, in need.
• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) - A public safety system in the U.S. that allows customers who own certain wireless phones and other enabled mobile devices to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. Also see Wikipedia's Wireless Emergency Alerts.
• Women's Refugee Commission - An expert resource and advocacy organization that monitors the care and protection of refugee women and children.
• World Food Programme (WFP) - Set-up in 1963, WFP is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger.

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