Data + disasters : rethinking the role of Metro Boston's data intermediaries in disaster management

Abstract

Recent U.S. hurricanes such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017 have raised urgent questions about the role of data providers in disaster response and recovery. Digital tools such as maps that display emergency shelter locations or levels of E.Coli contamination in floodwaters are typically created and managed by a local data intermediary. A data intermediary is defined by the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership as a mediator between data and local stakeholders such as community groups and residents who use data from advocacy to program planning and policymaking. Currently, the Data Services department at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the regional planning agency for Metro Boston, serves as a data intermediary for the region. This research will argue that in addition to their daily functions, MAPC should assume new roles as the 'disaster data intermediary' during times of crisis given their technical capacity and ability to be more localized than their federal and state counterparts. Natural disasters impact regionally as they tend to cross jurisdictional boundaries and require coordination amongst many municipalities and players who could benefit from shared resources. Drawing conclusions from interviews of data entities who experienced Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, this thesis will propose new tasks for MAPC. From enacting an internal protocol during emergencies to long-term advocacy for open data policies and portals, these recommendations are organized in the context of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.