Virtual Badge mobile app helps thousands of hurricane victims
Hurricane season is fully underway and our new mobile app, Virtual Badge, developed with Pathfinders Task Force, is helping victims of the powerful storms access all the resources they need.
Virtual Badge is a mobile application that aggregates crowdsourced data from evacuees, law enforcement, and government agencies. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have required large-scale deployment of Pathfinders Task Force, a disaster recovery firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Virtual Badge, which has registered thousands of users since Harvey made landfall on August 25.
When hurricane Irma was predicted to make landfall in Florida, local law enforcement warned that 911 services might be unavailable and encouraged victims of the storm to download the Virtual Badge mobile app to assist agencies in allocating resources across the state.
Those app users have requested help, detailed flood damage and road closures, and enabled law enforcement and disaster recovery people from FEMA and non-profits to more effectively deploy resources in Texas and Florida.
“Our team has been working around the clock to support the recovery efforts for this year’s hurricane season,” said Brian Samson, founder and president of Ten Forward Consulting. “I’m proud that our software can play a small part in helping victims of these devastating storms gain access to food, water, and other basic services.”
Over the past three weeks:
- More than 4,500 individuals have enrolled in Virtual Badge
- More than half have “checked in” with the app
- Countless hours have been saved in assigning and reacting to conditions on the ground
Small resupply for one of the 7 Points of Distribution spread across the Keys pic.twitter.com/R6b52ZDlFk
— Pathfinders (@PathfindersTF) September 17, 2017
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