The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) is proud to announce the launch of Buyers Aware https://buyersaware.org, a web-based analytical tool to assess the flood and wildfire risk to individual residential structures in Hurricane Harvey-impacted areas in Texas. Created for free public use by the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas at Texas A&M University with support from the Texas Division of Emergency Management, Buyers Aware is designed to increase awareness and help Texans make better decisions to protect themselves from the impacts of hazards. Users can simply enter a street address or click on a parcel and receive a comprehensive, easy-to-understand graphic and statistical risk assessment for a selected property.
At IDRT, we seek to turn knowledge into action. Our vision is a disaster resilient Texas as a direct result of decision-making tools, data, and research that IDRT and our partners provide. Our priority is to ensure our research and tools directly respond to the needs of Texas residents by listening to our users throughout the process of designing and building tools for the public.
Buyers Aware was developed through a combination of state-of-the-art risk assessment analytics with a human-centered design process, guided by the voices of Harris County home buyers, sellers and renters seeking accurate and timely information about the risks of flooding and fire at their homes or a home they may buy or rent. The result is a robust, research-backed and user-friendly public information tool that provides the information Texas home buyers and sellers are seeking about the risks of flooding and fires at a specific property, and how these risks can be mitigated.
This tool is a great example of how we can convert innovative disaster data analytics into actionable tools that can educate the public about hazard risks and facilitate more resilient decisions. Our work would not be complete without the great feedback we continuously receive. Thank you for all your time and continued support.
