How web based disaster warnings should work based on experience in Black Saturday bushfires and monitoring Queensland Floods

1. Disaster Warnings My thoughts on how it should work @rexster 14/01/11

2. Current Situation Where data is available it appears as a Flag/marker on a map A user cannot get granular information about whether they are subject to a direct threat and when it is expected to hit them

3. Black Saturday Royal Commission All bushfire warnings issued in Victoria must use clear language, avoid euphemisms, and contain explicit information in relation to: the severity, location, predicted direction and likely time of impact of bushfires on specific communities and locations; and the predicted severity of impact of the bushfire and whether a specific fire poses a threat to human life.

4. Prototype Solution Provide Overview Search Based App allows user to go granular Show Current state and predicted state using transparent overlays not flags or markers Allow user to animate over time

7. Application to QLD Floods Available data is much more granular Flood Maps sites are showing flags and markers so don’t allow user to identify specific threat or when it is predicted to hit Show data using overlays and time control