Katie’s Experience: I’ve loved supporting the Photomappers project through the 2021 disaster season. This is the first GIS product available during and after disasters that shows images of damage on the ground. Emergency managers at FEMA and other Emergency Operations Centers use it to get a sense of the size and scale of disasters. It fills a crucial “imagery gap” between the time a disaster occurs and when aerial and satellite imagery becomes available.
Paul Paddock
Volunteering has been so fulfilling—helping fellow mappers across the world use the power of GIS to bring rescue, care, and repair efforts to areas in need SOONER after disaster strikes and making the seemingly unreachable reachable again for affected communities. Serving in these capacities speaks to my core, and I’m glad to be part of these missions, especially when they concern communities I have known for years, as was the case during the Hurricane Helene mission. Some of the hardest-hit areas in that storm were my homes away from home. Although I couldn’t be physically there to contribute, I was still glad to aid in the recovery efforts as “eyes from the sky” with the PhotoMappers. Everyone involved in these missions is always so engaging, and I’m very glad for the connections I’ve made in the process. Till the next mission!
