Surviving Disaster Zones: The Rise of Digital Survival Kits
As climate change accelerates, natural disasters are becoming more frequent and devastating. In response, innovative apps are emerging to help people prepare for and navigate these crises. One such app, GOES, has seen an 800% spike in usage in the Los Angeles area since the recent wildfires broke out.
A Personal Connection to Disaster
Viktor Makarskyy, head of technology at GOES, experienced the terror of disaster firsthand when he flew back to Los Angeles from an anniversary trip to find his neighborhood under evacuation orders due to the Sunset Fire. “It was like entering a war zone,” he described. Makarskyy’s work on the GOES app, which provides critical health advice and services for remote areas, suddenly became deeply personal.
The GOES App: A Digital Survival Kit
GOES, founded in 2021, offers a comprehensive digital survival kit for users. The app provides localized tips on dealing with bug and animal bites, altitude illnesses, rashes, and other challenges. Hikers can gauge hypothermia risk, and backpackers can plan for heat waves or set broken bones. All content is written or approved by wilderness medicine doctors and can be accessed offline, except for real-time weather and wildlife risk indexes.
From Wilderness to Urban Environments
Initially designed for outdoor adventurers, GOES is now becoming essential for urban residents facing sudden disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and catastrophic fires. Since January 6, the number of new users in California has tripled, with users relying on the app for air quality checks, national alerts, wildfire preparedness guides, and more.
A Spike in Usage
GOES is not alone in seeing a surge in usage. The Watch Duty app, developed by a nonprofit group, has become ubiquitous in the LA area since the fires erupted, providing residents with precise readings on fire locations, evacuation zones, and power outages.
The Future of Disaster Preparedness
As climate disasters intensify, apps like GOES are evolving to meet the growing need for urban survival tools. With features like hyperlocal air quality measurements and pocket safety guides, these digital survival kits are empowering individuals to take control of their safety and well-being. As Camilo Barcenas, co-founder and CEO of GOES, notes, “The outdoors is changing, and we need to be able to understand what these risks are so we can do better.”
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