Anticipate the Threat, Shape the Response: Real-World Lessons in Emergency Preparedness and Resilience

This IBM Institute for Business Value report examines how governments can improve emergency preparedness using AI, forecasting, and operational intelligence. Designed for public-sector leaders and emergency managers, it presents three case studies covering flood prediction, wildfire detection, and frontline response, including a 20-25% improvement in precipitation forecast accuracy.

Readers will learn how to turn early warnings into coordinated decisions and strengthen responder safety. Flood View extends preparedness windows from roughly six hours to up to 48 hours, while NOAA’s wildfire system has been adopted by all 122 National Weather Service forecast offices. The report also examines drone-based hotspot detection and provides four leadership actions. As IBM Institute for Business Value states, “Technology creates value when it strengthens human judgment.”