Hurricane Ian Destroyed Their Homes. Algorithms Sent Them Money

Jason Friesen, an American paramedic who had served in Haiti after the earthquake, realized that many poor communities in the Caribbean were lacking the equivalent of the United States’ 911 emergency medical services, and were facing increased death tolls as a consequence. Friesen realized he could help such communities set up emergency response systems through the use of volunteers and a simple text message exchange. Now, his organization Trek Medics simplifies and democratizes the emergency dispatch system, and, as a result, saves lives in rural communities.

Biztrack is a mobile financial management application that helps farmers keep track of their business information and finances with ease. It records information on deals, sales, and general performance and has since been downloaded by more than 47 area farmers. The app also allows farmers to store the data in a safe, easily accessible place, as opposed to traditional bookkeeping.

With wildfires becoming more and more common, Californians have become improved their evacuation procedures. Alerting residents earlier via cellphone and then ongoing door-to-door notices have made a difference, along with residents trusting the evacuation calls more than before. Notable improvements have been made in hospitals, with staff making arrangements with other hospitals as soon as they receive the evacuation notice.

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey showed the power of social media to share real-time alerts and information as well as get resources to people more quickly when official channels like crisis hotlines are clogged. Officials originally discouraged the use of social media fearing panic and misinformation, but those attitudes changed as they saw the immediate impact it had on getting people help. More local and national organizations shifted to using social platforms to guide their emergency response efforts.

In war zones, people have a difficult time finding clean water and safe areas to inhabit. Social media, smart phones, and technology applications are aiding in people’s survival. In Aleppo, Syria, the International Committee of the Red Cross posted a map on Facebook to show alternative sources of clean drinking water that reached approximately 140,000 people.

The nonprofit GiveDirectly is providing no-strings-attached, direct cash payments to households that receive SNAP benefits and were impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The payments are sent directly to the debit cards already use for SNAP, and households were chosen based on poverty data and data about the worst-hit areas.

Donors are cutting out intermediaries and funding local organizations through direct cash transfers to ensure a higher amount of aid goes directly to the people who need it. The flexibility also lets communities prioritize their needs as they see fit, as they know what will work best.

Groups of women in Nigeria are forming rotating savings programs on WhatsApp because formal banking is often inaccessible. Essentially operating like an informal credit union, each member of the group gives an equal amount to a chosen admin, and a payout is given to a different member every month based on need.

The Pakam initiative is taking care of waste mismanagement in Lagos with a digital marketplace for waste and recyclable materials. The app pays households for their recyclables and connects those generating waste with those who collect it to ensure it’s properly disposed of.

Food banks and charities in London are partnering with the web platform FaceDonate so they can distribute grocery funds to those in need using facial recognition on their phones. The technology allows charities to ensure the money is spent on food and that only those eligible are spending it.