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Houston Looks for a Smarter, More Equitable Path to Hurricane Recovery

Linda Poon

October 22, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

The city of Houston is changing its approach to measuring the full scope of damage from Hurricane Harvey so it can get help where it is most needed and improve future flood mitigation. Using data from numerous sources, Civis Analytics found unmet housing needs were far greater than initially recorded and low-income areas were hit disproportionately harder, even though recovery funding often goes to areas with higher housing values. Now city officials are working to implement solutions based on the data in order to allocate limited funds where they will be most effective.

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On Hurricane Maria Anniversary, Puerto Rico Is Still in Ruins

Frances Robles Jugal K. Patel

September 20, 2018 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico

FEMA’s response to Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Irma has been the “longest sustained domestic airborne food and water mission in the nation’s history. The agency has never distributed more food or installed more generators.” However, due to bureaucracy and delayed decision making, there are still thousands of Puerto Ricans who have not received aid, or were underserved.

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Nosara Firefighters Manage to Respond to 260 Emergencies This Year With Their Cell Phones

Noelia Esquivel

September 18, 2018 |

La Voz de Guanacaste |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Costa Rica, Nosara

In Costa Rica, a group of volunteer firefighters use donated equipment, gear, and their own cell phones to fill in a big gap in emergency services. More residents are now accustomed to calling them directly for fires and other emergencies, and the community supports them financially. The firefighters are trying to integrate their work into the country's emergency alert system and to build their own fire station.

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Mobile phone data could help speed up crucial aid to disaster victims

Fergus Peace

August 28, 2018 |

Apolitical |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Haiti

When disaster strikes, people are often quick to provide help -- but that help is often misdirected because it is hard to know where those who need help are located. Researchers are now exploring how to use cell towers and mobile data to predict movement and provide better services.

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People are donating their frequent flyer miles to reunite families separated at the US-Mexico border

Andrea Diaz

August 10, 2018 |

CNN |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

Donating frequent flyer miles is a powerful way to help people experiencing disaster. Miles4Migrants, which typically transports Syrian refugee families, is using crowdsourced miles to reunite migrant families separated in the United States.

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Seeking the Lost

Katelyn Newman

July 19, 2018 |

U.S. News & World Report |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles County is offering trackable bracelets in a voluntary program for people with conditions—such as autism and dementia—that can lead to wandering and becoming lost. In this way, people who may have difficulty remembering or communicating information such as a telephone number or home address can be safely found by first responders.

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The Disaster Response Program That's Building More Than Homes

NationSwell

June 12, 2018 |

NationSwell |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, El Segundo, California

Combining veterans and disaster relief efforts has proven itself to be a successful method for bridging the gap between pre and post service life. Although not entirely made up of veterans, Team Rubicon aims to utilize the skills of service members to help cleanup areas that have been hit by disasters such as tornadoes and earthquakes.

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A Single Drone Helped Mexican Police Drop Crime 10 Percent

Jack Stewart

June 11, 2018 |

Wired |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Ensenada

Unmanned drones are increasingly providing valuable services in non-military situations such as rescue operations. In one city in Mexico, just one drone prompted 500 arrests and a drop in the crime rate of 10 percent, with a 30 percent drop in home burglaries. But drones also remain very controversial because of their start as weapons of war and unease over their surveillance capabilities, making careful regulations for their use essential.

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#MeToo sex scandals spur interest in standards for the aid sector

Ben Parker

May 02, 2018 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

There is no international watchdog monitoring the estimated 450,000 humanitarian aid workers operating worldwide. After sex-for-aid abuses in West Africa became high-profile news in 2002, initiatives were established to regulate the sector. But without third-party enforcement, these initiatives continue to rely on the voluntary buy-in of NGOs and IOs, allowing sexual abuse and other malpractice to continue.

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Sun, sand and thousands of refugees: the Lesbos volunteer

Lucy Lamble Gabriela Jones

April 25, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Greece, Lesbos

Ayesha Keller was part of a group of volunteers that went to the Moria Refugee Camp in Lesbos, Greece to help. Since they weren’t part of an NGO, they were not allowed inside the camp, and instead helped thousands of refugees staying outside of the camp in the surrounding olive grove. The volunteers set up their own systems and used the skills they had to respond to the needs of the community. “It was always about seeing about the gaps were and responding in a very organic way.”

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