Reacting quickly and calmly is vital. When official resources may be stretched, resiliency maps enable individuals and communities to evaluate needs and cooperate quickly.
A Resiliency Map stores information about assets, resources and hazards within a given geographical area. They can be printed and housed offline -a crucial advantage when electricity and connectivity may down or disrupted for days. During the first few hours or days following an event, essential services are likely to be unavailable and people should expect to act on their own. These maps provide critical information to people during an emergency response, turning awareness into action.
Some of the useful features highlighted on a Resiliency Map may include fire hydrants, cisterns, shelters, construction sites and chemical hazard warnings posted outside gas stations, car repair shops and the like. Following an event, these maps can also be used to track damage.