Disaster Maps

In the wake of a disaster, Disaster Maps share real-time information with response teams, helping them determine things like whether communities have access to power and cellular networks, if they have evacuated, and what services and supplies they need most.

Features

Privacy

Disaster Maps use statistical techniques to maintain individuals' privacy. For example, we only share de-identified information and also add up data points in a given area (called a map 'cell' or a 'tile') to prevent re-identification. If there are only a few individuals in an area, we also smooth populations across tiles, meaning that we average the number of people in a given area with nearby areas, making it even harder to re-identify anyone.

Timeliness

Disaster Maps can be generated within 24 hours of a natural disaster — much faster than comparable tools— and update daily as the situation on the ground unfolds. This allows agencies to respond to changing circumstances in evacuations, connectivity, or supply needs.

Global Reach

Since the launch of Disaster Maps in June 2017, we have generated data for 100+ natural disasters, helping to guide response efforts around the world. During the 2018 hurricane season, our maps informed active disaster recovery in India, Guatemala, Indonesia, the Philippines, California, North Carolina, Florida, and other disaster-affected locations around the world.

The most provocative part of this data, from Direct Relief’s point of view, seems to lie in quickly getting a read on how people are actually behaving during emergencies, rather than how we suspect they ought to behave. That’s often the difference between intending to do good and accomplishing it.”

Andrew Schroeder, Director of Research and Analysis, Direct Relief

Who Uses Disaster Maps

International agencies

International agencies and UN organizations like UNICEF and the World Food Programme use Disaster Maps data to guide their local deployments to disaster-affected areas and support local governments in their response efforts.

Domestic non-profits

Domestic organizations like the American Red Cross, SEEDS India, and Humanity Road use Disaster Maps to support their local communities, track evacuations, and route supplies to the areas that need them most.

Universities and researchers

Universities and researchers use Disaster Maps to analyze how disaster-affected populations are using social services, whether they evacuate based on official orders, and how social ties affect their resilience after a disaster.

This Facebook population map shows the shift in people during the Camp Fire from the town of Paradise to the nearby town...

A woman receives services from SEEDS India following the floods in Kerala. SEEDS used Facebook Disaster Maps to better...

A man receives supplies from a Direct Relief worker in Puerto Rico. Direct Relief uses Facebook Disaster Maps to better...

A child receives a respiratory mask in the context of a wildfire.

A Medical Professional explains the supplies in a Direct Relief kit to a colleague.

A Direct Relief staff member in Puerto Rico oversees the distribution of supplies in Puerto Rico.

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Methodology

Facebook Disaster Maps show where disaster-affected populations are located, how they are moving, and whether they have access to cellular networks and power. All data is de-identified — that is, it doesn't connect to a person’s name or any other identifying information. To protect individual privacy, data sets are aggregated across time and space in the following ways:

Temporal aggregation

While timely data is needed during a disaster, aid organizations are unable to process and respond to new inputs in real time. For this reason, we share data at regular intervals, usually every 24 hours.
Spatial aggregation

We group map areas into 360,000 square meter tiles, or to local administrative boundaries, in order to gather overall insights about groups of people in a given area, rather than providing any insights about individuals.
Spatial smoothing

For each map area, we compute a weighted average of the population value in the tile with the values in neighboring tiles. This local averaging results in a map with a smoother, clearer signal, while preserving privacy.

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Case Studies

Using Facebook's Disaster Maps data, Direct Relief can tell the rate at which population densities have decreased and increased in certain areas throughout New South Wales, particularly in the dense... Using Facebook's Disaster Maps data, Direct Relief can tell the rate at which population densities have decreased and increased in certain areas throughout New South Wales, particularly in the dense coastal zone from Wollongong to Bega. Each map shows a snapshot of the relative density of Facebook users with location services enabled at 4pm local time that day.

Disaster Maps

Australian Bushfires

Using Facebook's Disaster Maps data, Direct Relief can tell the rate at which population densities have decreased and increased in certain areas throughout New South Wales, particularly in the dense coastal zone from Wollongong to Bega. Each map shows a snapshot of the relative density of Facebook users with location services enabled at 4pm local time that day.

In addition to supporting health centers, medical teams and shelters with access to healthcare supplies, Direct Relief worked with CalOES and Facebook on a daily basis throughout the fire to ensure... In addition to supporting health centers, medical teams and shelters with access to healthcare supplies, Direct Relief worked with CalOES and Facebook on a daily basis throughout the fire to ensure that the state emergency management team had regular access to maps and useful interpretation of population dynamics based on anonymized and aggregated location data on Facebook's user base.

Disaster Maps

The Kincade Fire: Population Movement and Displacement

In addition to supporting health centers, medical teams and shelters with access to healthcare supplies, Direct Relief worked with CalOES and Facebook on a daily basis throughout the fire to ensure that the state emergency management team had regular access to maps and useful interpretation of population dynamics based on anonymized and aggregated location data on Facebook's user base.

Shenyue Jia, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Chapman’s Center of Excellence in Earth Systems Modeling and Observations (CEESMO) have teamed up with Facebook’s Data for Good initiative to investigate... Shenyue Jia, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Chapman’s Center of Excellence in Earth Systems Modeling and Observations (CEESMO) have teamed up with Facebook’s Data for Good initiative to investigate how people behave in disasters. The project aims to use the platform’s Disaster Maps to find patterns of human behavior during crises, information that can help decision makers deploy resources.

Disaster Maps

Facebook Data Has Implications for Disaster Planning

Shenyue Jia, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Chapman’s Center of Excellence in Earth Systems Modeling and Observations (CEESMO) have teamed up with Facebook’s Data for Good initiative to investigate how people behave in disasters. The project aims to use the platform’s Disaster Maps to find patterns of human behavior during crises, information that can help decision makers deploy resources.

Facebook launched a partnership with the city of Da Nang in July 2019. This is the first time Facebook is partnering with a local government in Vietnam for a public service campaign. The program... Facebook launched a partnership with the city of Da Nang in July 2019. This is the first time Facebook is partnering with a local government in Vietnam for a public service campaign. The program provides training to Da Nang officials on communicating disaster prevention and responses, using Facebook as a tool for gathering information and establishing communication channels between authorities, officials and the public.

Disaster Maps

Da Nang Signs Partnership With Facebook to Improve Disaster Response

Facebook launched a partnership with the city of Da Nang in July 2019. This is the first time Facebook is partnering with a local government in Vietnam for a public service campaign. The program provides training to Da Nang officials on communicating disaster prevention and responses, using Facebook as a tool for gathering information and establishing communication channels between authorities, officials and the public.

View All Case Studies

In the News

How Data is Helping Facebook Provide Disaster Management Maps livemint Using Data for Good - Video Open Data Science Facebook and Da Nang City partner for Disaster Response Lao Dong What is the partnership between Danang City and Facebook about? Thanh Nien Centers look to new Facebook tools for help during disasters AP Facebook Tool Helps Charities Find Evacuees Who Need Help US News and World Report Lifeboats Thrown by Social Media The Hindu Business Line How Facebook Has tripled its disaster maps partnerships Devex How Facebook’s Disaster Maps is helping aid organizations serve people affected by florence Fast Company

Get Involved

Please email the Disaster Maps team if you're interested in becoming an NGO partner.

Disaster Maps

Features

Privacy

Timeliness

Global Reach

Who Uses Disaster Maps

International agencies

Domestic non-profits

Universities and researchers

Methodology

Temporal aggregation

Spatial aggregation

Spatial smoothing

Case Studies

Australian Bushfires

The Kincade Fire: Population Movement and Displacement

Facebook Data Has Implications for Disaster Planning

Da Nang Signs Partnership With Facebook to Improve Disaster Response

In the News

Get Involved