CrisisReady

12/05/2023

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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12/03/2023

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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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. ....

12/01/2023

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

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 ...

11/30/2023

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

Critical knowledge gaps hinder an evidence-based response and are perpetuated by scarce federal research funds.

11/29/2023

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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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...

11/28/2023

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 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 ...

11/27/2023

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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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, ....

11/24/2023

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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11/22/2023

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/

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. ...

11/21/2023

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/

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 ...

11/20/2023

📷 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.

11/18/2023

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 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...