ArcUser article - Making More Information Available in Emergencies: "Making More Information Available in Emergencies GIS Aids Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination In an increasingly urbanized world, the effects of disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis are more acutely felt. As coastal areas, in particular, become more densely settled, more people and property are threatened by these events. GIS benefits all aspects of the emergency management cycle from planning, mitigation, and preparedness through response and recovery by integrating complex data in a geographic framework that produces actionable information."