Overview of the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS)

Up-to-date and accessible information is essential to providing an effective, coordinated response to disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and tropical storms. The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) provides near real-time data, alerts, and impact assessments that can be accessed online. The interactive website integrates coordination tools with maps and satellite imagery relevant to an event, including NASA satellite imagery and MODIS-based flood mapping from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory. In this two-hour webinar, participants will learn how they can use GDACS to monitor real-time disasters, assess the impacts of an event, and develop response strategies for both national and international events. The training will include a presentation, followed by a demonstration of GDACS features and a case study with step-by-step instructions for obtaining satellite images, alerts, and crisis management information using GDACS.
Sessions are broadcast twice per day to allow for international participation. They will be held on Thursday, February 21, 8:00-10:00 a.m. and 5:00-7:00 p.m. EST (UTC-5).
A certificate of completion will be provided to participants that attend the live webinar