BAE Partners to Add Crowdsourcing Feature to FEMA App; DeEtte Gray Comments

BAE Systems and Eye Street Solutions have updated the Federal Emergency Management Agency‘s mobile application to allow first responders and citizens to upload photos and information about any emergency or disaster.

The companies built the Disaster Reporter feature with FEMA’s digital engagement team with an aim to centralize incident data on an interactive map with the use of a smartphone’s GPS, BAE and Eye Street said Wednesday.

“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 intelligence and security division at BAE Systems.

“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,” Gray added.

The new feature was used to coordinate efforts during the September Colorado floods.

The companies worked with the agency to develop the smartphone app in October 2011 and it is available for both Google Android and Apple iOS devices.

The application also includes disaster safety tips, an interactive emergency kit list, emergency meeting location information and a map to locate open shelters and FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.