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Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Predict Disasters

Science and research to the rescue!

We are rapidly moving into a new brave world of emergency management — and science will play a significant role. Science will be translated into commercial applications and those will be used by companies to either make money by providing a service, or with government, be incorporated into their programs to better protect people and property.

See this article, AI's Next Challenge: Predicting Natural Disasters. I noted that the commercial endeavor One Concern was mentioned in it. This is the only commercially available product I know of today. The focus of it is being predictive of where damages will occur "immediately" after an earthquake. This takes the concept of Hazus to a whole new level, way beyond its meager abilities to be predictive. Property insurance companies and reinsurance companies are a prime target for One Concern since they are betting the farm on who and what they insure. 

The problem all of us have with technology is the cost. Before you jump into the idea of contacting One Concern to see if they can help you, take a stiff drink, check out how you might mortgage your home, sell your kids and cash out your retirement savings, then maybe you can be ready for a conversation ... $$$$$$$

As my wife and I say often, "It is what it is."

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.