MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 18 (UPI) -- An add-on feature to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's official mobile app has been launched by BAE Systems and Eye Street Solutions Inc.
Called Disaster Reporter, the application enhances situational awareness for first-responders, emergency managers, recovery teams and the general public by allowing users to upload photos and incident information from their smartphones.
The data is then pinpointed on an interactive map within a user's smartphone.
"Disasters affecting a large number of people spread across a wide geographical area present a significant challenge for emergency responders and community relief volunteers," said DeEtte Gray, president of BAE Systems' Intelligence & Security sector. "Crowdsourcing enables FEMA to quickly provide real-time images and intelligence to the people who need it to make decisions on when and where to deploy resources."
BAE Systems and Eye Street Solutions worked with FEMA's Digital Engagement team to launch the first release of FEMA's smartphone app for mobile devices in 2011. The FEMA App contains disaster safety tips, an interactive emergency kit list, emergency meeting location information, and a map to locate open shelters and FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers. The Disaster Reporter feature expands and enhances the base platform.
BAE Systems and Eye Street Solutions said the add-on application was first used by FEMA last September during flooding in Colorado.
