How aid organizations can prepare in an era of intensifying disasters
monday.com Emergency Response Team
2024 has been a year of unprecedented challenges, with extreme weather events breaking records in both frequency and impact (WMO). In the United States alone, there have already been over 24 billion-dollar weather-related disasters, making it one of the most destructive years on record. From relentless heatwaves to devastating wildfires and severe storms, the rising costs of these climate-driven disasters are stark reminders of the urgent need for better preparedness.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), high-cost disasters now account for over 85% of weather-related losses since 1980—a figure climbing steeply due to climate change and human activities in vulnerable areas.
As we look toward 2025 and beyond, it’s clear that organizations, governments, and communities must rethink their strategies to adapt to this "new normal."
Here are three critical priorities for preparing effectively in an era of escalating climate impacts:
1. Build a flexible tech stack
Why it matters: Disasters are becoming increasingly unpredictable, and technology needs to keep up.
Flexible, adaptable tools are essential for responding to rapidly changing circumstances. Platforms like monday.com with the support of the Emergency Response Team enable real-time adjustments to response plans, while mobile tools such as Twilio’s SMS capabilities ensure quick communication during crises. Advanced tools like GIS mapping further empower teams to reroute supplies and adapt strategies instantly.
Integration is key. Partnerships like the Indian Red Cross’s collaboration with Google Flood Hub and Twilio show how predictive flood alerts, combined with SMS delivery, can save lives by ensuring critical information reaches communities in time. Developing mobile, integrated solutions equips organizations to address the uncertainties inherent in future crises.
Read more about this collaboration.
2. Cultivate agile and resilient operations
Why it matters: Combining agility with resilience ensures organizations can adapt to fast-changing conditions while staying grounded in preparedness.
Agility ensures rapid, effective responses during crises, while resilience equips individuals and systems to recover, rebuild, and thrive amidst uncertainty. Resilience in disaster preparedness is not just about systems; it’s about people and attitudes too.
For communities, resilience involves taking active roles in their preparedness through initiatives like community drills, localized emergency plans, and reinforcing building codes. For governments, it means investing in sustainable infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather. Internally, resilience empowers teams to make quick decisions under pressure, collaborate across sectors, and adapt to new challenges as they arise.
When paired with agile workflows organizations can seamlessly respond to changing conditions. Digital solutions help operationalize both agility and resilience, ensuring teams are prepared to adapt, recover, and emerge stronger after every crisis.
3. Embrace dynamic preparedness
Why it matters: Reactive approaches are no longer enough; adaptability is the future.
Dynamic preparedness focuses on creating flexible plans that evolve alongside a crisis. This means investing in resources like mobile command centers, real-time updates, and scalable solutions to meet unforeseen challenges.
In Chile’s wildfire response, for instance, preemptively equipping organizations—sometimes before they even exist—proved essential to success. Tools like monday.com for Emergency Response operationalize this approach, offering a central hub for live updates, mapping, and resource tracking. By embracing dynamic preparedness, organizations can stay ahead of crises and adjust strategies in real time.
Learn more about dynamic preparedness.
The road ahead
As the frequency and severity of natural hazards intensify, the need for proactive disaster preparedness has never been clearer. The record-breaking disasters of 2024 highlight the urgency of building resilience across all levels.
By focusing on adaptable technology, cultivating agility, and embracing dynamic preparedness, aid organizations, governments, and communities can improve response times, maximize resources, and strengthen their ability to face increasingly unpredictable disasters. The time to act is now.