CrisisReady

As climate change escalates, the frequency of extreme weather events is increasing. This has led to the development of innovative solutions like AI tools to predict river floods and other hazards of natural disasters.

However, the reliability of these AI models is a concern that must be addressed. Ensuring their accuracy requires collaboration between data scientists, meteorologists, and emergency response teams.

Dr. Satchit Balsari, co-director of CrisisReady, is at the forefront of this work. His research focuses on leveraging AI and novel data tools to strengthen resilience against climate change. This includes tools like Climateverse and CrisisReady’s ReadyReports, which are similar to the flood prediction initiative. These tools are designed to fortify medical systems and communities against the impacts of climate change.

He explains the role of these tools here: https://www.crisisready.io/harnessing-ai-and-novel-technologies-for-climate-resilience/

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South Asia has seen an unprecedented increase in catastrophic weather events over the past decade, posing significant risks to the region's most vulnerable populations.

Addressing these challenges requires climate adaptation, but this is hindered by data gaps, limited capacity, and the need for integrated approaches.

CrisisReady Co-Directors Dr. Caroline Buckee and Dr. Satchit Balsari are conducting research on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, food security, and health. Furthermore, CrisisReady's "Climateverse" initiative aims to make climate data in South Asia more accessible to researchers and decision-makers.

Understanding climate change impacts and improving data accessibility are crucial steps towards mitigating global climate risks.

Read more about the challenges and opportunities of climate adaptation in the region here: https://www.crisisready.io/unlocking-resilience-navigating-data-challenges-for-climate-adaptation-in-southeast-asia/

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Unlocking Resilience: Navigating Data Challenges for Climate Adaptation in South Asia • CrisisReady Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Vulnerability Challenges in Southeast Asia Over the past ten years, Southeast Asia, a region inhabited by roughly two billion individuals, has encountered a significant number of catastrophic weather events, surpassing the historical frequency of such disasters. ....

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for swift, coordinated responses to global crises. Despite initial measures like border closures and lockdowns, the virus spread, straining healthcare systems worldwide. Reflecting on this, it's clear that novel data can enhance our understanding of public health crises.

CrisisReady Co-Directors Drs. Caroline Buckee, Satchit Balsari, and Andrew Schroeder used mobility data early in the pandemic to study the impact of population behavior on viral transmission. This helped identify vulnerable communities and develop tailored public health responses.

In an article, Dr. Balsari discusses how this work can prepare us for future emergencies, emphasizing the importance of novel data in understanding crisis dynamics. Other experts also share lessons learned from the pandemic, highlighting the need for better coordination among public health experts, governments, and emergency response organizations, and the importance of investing in resources and testing protocols.

Learn more: https://www.crisisready.io/building-a-more-resilient-public-health-system-lessons-from-covid-19/

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Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Building a More Resilient Public Health System: Lessons from COVID-19 • CrisisReady The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in global health security, underscoring the urgent need to prepare for future outbreaks. The looming threat of another pandemic necessitates a proactive strategy to predict and preempt potential health crises in the future. In ...

In a study published in Health Affairs, CrisisReady researcher Caleb Dresser MD MPH, co-led research with his colleague Renee N. Salas, MD, MPH, MS that examined federal grants given to non-federal agencies from 2010-2020.

They found that the investments in and research did not adequately address the range of climate-sensitive exposures, health outcomes, and impacts on vulnerable populations.

Key Takeaways:
- Over the eleven-year period, 102 grants met the researchers' criteria, amounting to $58.7 million, or an average of $5.3 million per year (adjusted to 2020 US dollars).
- The majority of the funding was distributed by HHS, NASA, and NSF.
- The states that received the most funding were New York, California, and Massachusetts.
- The most studied issue areas included extreme heat, hurricanes, wildfires, and vector-borne diseases.
- Research on Indigenous communities, incarcerated populations, and sea-level rise were among the least studied.
- Only 1.6 percent of the research awards were designated as addressing populations from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.

For more details, visit this webpage: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/c-change/news/federal-investments-in-climate-change-and-health-research-are-inadequate-says-harvard-analysis/

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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Federal investments in climate change and health research are inadequate says Harvard analysis Critical knowledge gaps hinder an evidence-based response and are perpetuated by scarce federal research funds.

In 2023, Brazil grappled with a complex emergency response situation.

A series of devastating natural disasters, including floods and landslides, swept across the country, displacing thousands and damaging critical infrastructure. This was compounded by an influx of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers, stretching Brazil's existing systems and infrastructures to their limits. Many response organizations found themselves struggling to cater to the needs of multiple internally displaced groups.

Fortunately, emerging data sources are allowing emergency and governmental organizations to understand displacement dynamics more comprehensively.

Whether in the event of natural disasters or humanitarian crises, using data to identify patterns of displacement can help decision makers adapt their strategies and increase the efficacy of the response:
https://www.crisisready.io/strengthening-brazils-approach-to-internal-displacement/

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Strengthening Brazil’s Approach to Internal Displacement • CrisisReady In 2023, Brazil grappled with a complex emergency response situation. A number of devastating natural disasters, namely floods and landslides brought on by record-breaking rainfall, swept over the country, displacing thousands and upending critical infrastructure. The country’s challenges were int...

Curious about the work and research we have done over the past year?

CrisisReady's 2023 Annual Report showcases our expanded scope of work in advancing global emergency response using innovative data analyses and technologies, and also features key highlights from our events and workshops.

Read and download the report: https://www.crisisready.io/2023-annual-report/

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CrisisReady 2023 Annual Report: A Year in Review and a Glimpse into the Future • CrisisReady CrisisReady 2023 Annual Report A Look at Our Impact Our team has seen significant expansion in our scope of work, programming, and international network. In doing so, we also broadened our knowledge about the intricate challenges of emergency response in ...

As climate-induced disasters escalate, how can we ensure consistent healthcare access and minimize health impacts, especially when populations are displaced?

CrisisReady's approach harnesses siloed data to address this critical need and bolster system resilience during emergencies. Working closely with responders and policymakers, we've developed tools that integrate public and private data to enhance response models.

Through data-driven strategies and practical methods, we've created a scalable model for developing evidence-based responses to a wide array of disasters.

Learn more about our team's novel framework: https://www.crisisready.io/publications/crisisreadys-novel-framework-for-transdisciplinary-translation-case-studies-in-wildfire-and-hurricane-response/

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Using Data to Address the Health Challenges of Climate Change: A Glimpse into CrisisReady's Novel Framework • CrisisReady Climate change continues to intensify extreme weather events, such as wildfires and hurricanes, leading to the temporary or even permanent displacements of populations. These events, compounded by disruptions to infrastructure, employment, and social ties, can severely hinder access to healthcare, ....

In the past year, CrisisReady has been instrumental in global disaster response efforts, reporting on over 23 major events including hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods worldwide. Using our digital reporting system, we've produced nearly 90 "ReadyReports" to aid local, regional, and international teams.

For a detailed look at our contributions, check out CrisisReady's 2023 Annual Report here: https://www.crisisready.io/2023-annual-report/

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As the intensifies, cities are experiencing more frequent and severe heatwaves, posing significant risks to the health and wellbeing of vulnerable urban populations. Proactive strategies are crucial to safeguard public health and safety against these extreme weather events.

Dr. Satchit Balsari, Co-Director of CrisisReady, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and emergency physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, underscored the urgent threat of heatwaves to urban communities, particularly in the Global South. He, along with other experts, discussed potential solutions at the "Future of Cities: Extreme Heat" event during Harvard University's .

For more details, visit this webpage: https://www.crisisready.io/the-growing-threat-of-heat-in-urban-environments/

The Growing Threat of Heat in Urban Environments • CrisisReady Climate change is an ever-intensifying global challenge. It is responsible for a wide variety of threats that place human wellbeing at risk. This includes rising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, receding ice sheets, and the growing prevalence of wildfires, among others. ...

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan swiftly established the Central Epidemic Command Center and implemented crucial measures such as universal mask-wearing and travel restrictions. They harnessed the power of digital technologies, particularly digital contact tracing apps, for an effective pandemic response.

Despite the decline in cases and the easing of the pandemic's severity, the threat of disease outbreaks remains a critical concern for Taiwan.

CrisisReady, in collaboration with the National Taiwan University, spearheaded a workshop to foster discussions on the use of innovative data to enhance regional responses to public health emergencies.

Discover more here: https://www.crisisready.io/the-potential-of-novel-data-during-public-health-crises-in-taiwan/

The Potential of Novel Data During Public Health Crises in Taiwan • CrisisReady While Taiwan effectively managed many aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it still confronted significant challenges. From January 2020 to December 2022, Taiwan registered 8,872,955 cases and 15,253 deaths, underscoring the substantial public health issues it faced during the pandemic. In ...

📷 A look back at the Mitch +25 Forum in Honduras

The forum, which was held earlier this month, was a successful gathering of experts and leaders who examined best practices in disaster risk reduction.

Andrew Schroeder, CrisisReady Co-Director, led a presentation at the even where her emphasized the importance of secure data infrastructure in Central America and advocated for anticipatory action.

He highlighted the role of mobile data in emergency response and the need for strong ties between data providers, data privacy, and responsive networks for effective decision-making during crises.

CrisisReady's 2023 Annual Report is now available!

The report showcases our expanded work in advancing global emergency response using innovative data analyses and technologies, and also features key highlights from our events and workshops.

Read the report online here: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/425202376/

Learn more: https://www.crisisready.io/2023-annual-report/

Harvard Data Science Initiative Direct Relief Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University

CrisisReady 2023 Annual Report CrisisReady is excited to share our 2023 annual report! The report offers a comprehensive look at our work and our impact, showcasing CrisisReady's research initiatives, reporting efforts, and events over the past year. We thank our team and collaborators for this past year's support. As we move for...

CrisisReady has recently launched a new research initiative and platform, Climateverse, with the goal of addressing challenges in data procurement, processing, and analysis. The project aims to create a regional data ecosystem that is crucial for evidence-based policy-making.

Drawing on extensive research by the CrisisReady team at Harvard University, Climateverse incorporates diverse data types to provide a comprehensive view of regional issues, thereby enhancing decision-making.

Climateverse offers a uniform way of organizing public datasets and provides guidance on how data creators can make their data more user-friendly. It also acknowledges potential risks and offers examples of best practices for data sharing.

For a video demonstration of the tool, visit our website:
https://www.crisisready.io/climateverse/

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Climateverse: Unlocking the Power of Generative AI & Public Data for Improved Climate Action • CrisisReady Understanding the local impacts of climate change in South Asia is limited, hindering effective policy planning for mitigation and adaptation. In South Asia, a region recognized as the epicenter for climate change and home to nearly two billion people, policymakers ...

The Mitch +25 Forum, held in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, marked a pivotal gathering for anticipatory action in crisis management. Hosted by CEPREDENAC, this event brought together over 200 experts from the emergency response sector, including humanitarian agencies, government officials, and private sector representatives. Discussions focused on analyzing progress since Hurricane Mitch and crafting a roadmap for future resilience and collaboration within the Central American Integration System (SICA).

Highlights included the introduction of a Mutual Commitment Framework by the CrisisReady and Direct Relief team, emphasizing the crucial role of mobility data in anticipatory action. This event also featured critical insights into the challenges of data governance, the importance of building networks for collaboration, and the need for a balance between data-driven decision-making and local knowledge.

Explore key insights and watch the workshop recordings: https://lnkd.in/ergk_giU

Or, read the workshop summary in Spanish:
https://www.crisisready.io/novel-data-for-better-anticipatory-action-at-the-hurricane-mitch-25th-anniversary-conference-in-san-pedro-sula-honduras/

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Novel Data for Better Anticipatory Action at the Hurricane Mitch 25th Anniversary Conference • CrisisReady The fifth Regional Platform for Anticipatory Action – Mitch +25 Forum – took place in San Pedro Sula, Honduras between October 31st and November 2nd. Hosted by the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC), ...

Ever wondered how to protect personal information while using cell phone data to analyze disease spread? The CrisisReady team and its collaborators have devised a more straightforward method to safeguard personal information.

This method employs , a technique that introduces random 'noise' into data sets. This noise ensures the privacy of individuals but still maintains the data's usefulness for analysis.

The team tested this method using ten distinct strategies to monitor the spread of . They found that despite the added noise for privacy protection, the results remained accurate.

This novel approach, detailed in a publication in the PLOS Digital Health journal, is adaptable and can be tailored to various research requirements:

https://www.crisisready.io/publications/a-standardised-differential-privacy-framework-for-epidemiological-modeling-with-mobile-phone-data/

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A standardised differential privacy framework for epidemiological modeling with mobile phone data • CrisisReady Ensuring Privacy in Disease Spread Research Using Differential Privacy Techniques Members and collaborators of the CrisisReady team have published research that presents a new way to keep people’s personal information safe when studying how diseases spread using mobile phone data. ...

On November 4, 2023, northwestern Nepal was hit by a series of devastating earthquakes.

In response to this crisis, CrisisReady generated a ReadyReport, providing crucial data on population movement in relation to the affected areas. This report offers valuable insights for disaster response and recovery efforts.

You can download the report here: https://www.crisisready.io/earthquakes-in-nepal-updates-readyreports/

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Earthquakes in Nepal: Updates & ReadyReports • CrisisReady On the evening of Friday, November 3, 2023, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake according to Nepal’s National Seismological Centre, hit the western part of Jajarkot, a municipality in northwestern Nepal. The tremors were so powerful that they caused buildings to collapse ...

Our partner organization, Direct Relief, has published a new post featuring our team's 2023 annual report. This report highlights a year of significant contributions towards improving global emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

For a deeper understanding of our past year's work and the insights that have supported disaster responders, visit Direct Relief's website: https://www.directrelief.org/2023/11/crisisready-shared-new-insights-with-disaster-responders-over-past-year/

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CrisisReady Shared New Insights with Disaster Responders Over Past Year Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and wildfires can create massive population displacement with serious impacts on communities and human health. One initiative looks at the patterns these dynamic si…

Curious about CrisisReady’s latest research and projects?

Our 2023 Annual Report is now live! It highlights our innovative work in enhancing global emergency response using cutting-edge data analyses and technologies.

For an interactive experience, check out the report here:https://online.flippingbook.com/view/425202376/

Or, for more in-depth information, visit our landing page: https://www.crisisready.io/2023-annual-report/

CrisisReady 2023 Annual Report CrisisReady is excited to share our 2023 annual report! The report offers a comprehensive look at our work and our impact, showcasing CrisisReady's research initiatives, reporting efforts, and events over the past year. We thank our team and collaborators for this past year's support. As we move for...

As climate change intensifies, leading to more frequent extreme weather events, Google has stepped up with an innovative solution: an expanded AI tool designed to predict river floods in North America.

Dubbed the Flood Hub, this initiative will now cover over 800 riverside communities across the U.S. and Canada, providing vital information to more than 12 million residents and emergency response agencies. This development underscores the growing trend of using AI to tackle the challenges of our changing climate.

However, the dependability of these AI models is a primary concern. Ensuring their accuracy and reliability requires a collaborative effort between data scientists, meteorologists, and emergency response teams.

Dr. Satchit Balsari, co-director of CrisisReady, is leading research at the forefront of this intersection of climate response, novel data analytics, and AI-powered applications. In an interview with Newsweek, he discussed how CrisisReady is leveraging AI and new data tools, akin to Flood Hub, to fortify medical systems and communities against climate change. This includes tools like Climateverse and CrisisReady’s ReadyReports.

You can learn more about these initiatives here: https://www.crisisready.io/harnessing-ai-and-novel-technologies-for-climate-resilience/

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Harnessing AI and Novel Technologies for Climate Resilience • CrisisReady In response to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change, Google has unveiled an expanded AI tool designed to predict river floods in North America. This new initiative, known as the Flood Hub, will extend its ...

How can we protect personal data in mobile-based epidemiological modeling?

This was the guiding question of research led by the CrisisReady team and its collaborators at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and OpenDP.

The researchers developed a simpler method for privacy-preserving data analysis that uses — a technique that adds random ‘noise’ to data sets to safeguard individual privacy while maintaining the data's usefulness for analysis.

When tested, the new method proved to be robust and versatile, capable of providing accurate results across various approaches to disease modeling without revealing any sensitive information about any individual in the dataset.

The method and its applications are detailed in a study published in the Digital Health journal. You can learn more about it here:
https://www.crisisready.io/publications/a-standardised-differential-privacy-framework-for-epidemiological-modeling-with-mobile-phone-data/

Affiliations: Opendp, Harvard Data Science Initiative, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Institute for Quantitative Social Science (IQSS), Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Direct Relief

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Over the past year, CrisisReady has had the opportunity to contribute to the multiple global disaster response efforts, reporting on over 23 major events ranging from hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods across various regions from the US Gulf Coast to northern Libya.

Using our new digital reporting system, our team has been able to produce close to 90 situation reports, known as "ReadyReports," which have supported the work of local, regional, and international teams.

For those interested in the specifics of our contributions over the last year, we invite you to read CrisisReady's 2023 Annual Report:
https://www.crisisready.io/2023-annual-report/

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Direct Relief Harvard Data Science Initiative

We’re excited to share CrisisReady’s 2023 Annual Report!

This report not only highlights our achievements over the past year but also underscores the urgent need to enhance global emergency response models with innovative data analyses and new technologies.

Our team has significantly expanded its scope of work, programming, and international network, contributing to the advancement of emergency response worldwide. We believe that this report will serve as more than just a record of our accomplishments. It’s a roadmap that illustrates the immense potential of data in improving global response strategies.

Read and download the report here:
https://online.flippingbook.com/view/425202376/

CrisisReady 2023 Annual Report CrisisReady is excited to share our 2023 annual report! The report offers a comprehensive look at our work and our impact, showcasing CrisisReady's research initiatives, reporting efforts, and events over the past year. We thank our team and collaborators for this past year's support. As we move for...

The is escalating the frequency and severity of heatwaves, especially in cities. This presents major risks to the health and wellbeing of those in vulnerable urban populations.

To combat these extreme weather events, proactive strategies to ensure public health and safety must be developed and implemented.

Dr. Satchit Balsari, Co-Director of CrisisReady, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, and emergency physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, highlighted the urgent threat heatwaves pose to urban communities, particularly in the Global South. He and other experts explored potential solutions at the "Future of Cities: Extreme Heat" event during Harvard University's .

https://www.crisisready.io/the-growing-threat-of-heat-in-urban-environments/
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The Growing Threat of Heat in Urban Environments • CrisisReady Climate change is an ever-intensifying global challenge. It is responsible for a wide variety of threats that place human wellbeing at risk. This includes rising sea levels, intensifying hurricanes, receding ice sheets, and the growing prevalence of wildfires, among others. ...

Members and collaborators of the CrisisReady team have come up with a new, simpler way to protect personal information when using cell phone data to analyze disease spread.

Their technique, known as , adds random 'noise' into data sets to protect individual privacy while preserving the data's utility for analysis.

They evaluated this technique using 10 different approaches to track the spread of and discovered that it continued to yield accurate outcomes, despite the inclusion of privacy-preserving noise.

This new approach, introduced in a PLOS Digital Health journal publication, is flexible and can be adjusted for different research needs.

https://www.crisisready.io/publications/a-standardised-differential-privacy-framework-for-epidemiological-modeling-with-mobile-phone-data/

Research Team:
• Caroline Buckee
• Satchit Balsari
• Nishant Kishore
• Andrew Schroeder
• Koissi SAVI
• Salil Vadhan
• Navin Vembar
• Wanrong Zhang
• Akash Yadav

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Opendp Harvard Data Science Initiative Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

A standardised differential privacy framework for epidemiological modeling with mobile phone data • CrisisReady Ensuring Privacy in Disease Spread Research Using Differential Privacy Techniques Members and collaborators of the CrisisReady team have published research that presents a new way to keep people’s personal information safe when studying how diseases spread using mobile phone data. ...