ICIMOD and Nepal Red Cross launch disaster-preparedness app for Nepal

Kathmandu: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) have partnered to develop a new mobile app to strengthen community resilience and disaster preparedness in Nepal. 

The app, called ‘PrakopAlert‘, is targeted at members of the public and provides users with weather forecasts for rainfall, temperature, lightning alerts, hail warnings, wind speed, and stream flow information for rivers across Nepal.

Through access to timely and accurate information, the app is designed to empower communities take steps to mitigate risks associated with extreme weather events and potential floods.

Nepal is frontline to extreme events linked to temperature rise. Between 2012 and 2021, in property losses alone, extreme climate events have cost the country $17 million each year, according to the Asian Development Bank. The economic impact of river flooding could triple in the next six years.

“This app marks a major step forward in providing forecasting to communities at risk in Nepal,” said Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General of ICIMOD, “helping protect property and lives by allowing users to access real-time weather updates and river discharge data from satellite and other monitoring technologies.”

This mobile app is also designed to support Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) practitioners, volunteers, and organizations focusing on anticipatory actions. It features hourly weather forecasts, flood updates tailored to specific areas of interest, and color-coded icons for quick comprehension. The app is available in both Nepali and English languages.

“Through innovative solutions like the ‘PrakopAlert’ app, we are dedicated to bridging the gap between science, technology, and local communities,” stated Rudra Adhikari, Deputy Director at NRCS. “Our commitment lies in leveraging science and technology to enable timely communication and proactive actions, ultimately ensuring resilience and prosperity.”

The ‘PrakopAlert’ app is now available for free on the Android Play Store and will be continuously improved based on user feedback to better meet the evolving needs of communities.