FlashAid

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  Page to make an account.

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  Page to create a community post.

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  Page to view all community posts.

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  The home page of the app.

Inspiration

Natural and man-made disasters are unpredictable and can happen locally and globally. We realized that while many people want to be prepared, they often don’t know where to start. FlashAid was created to make disaster preparedness accessible, collaborative, and mobile-friendly.

What it does

FlashAid is a mobile web app that helps users identify disaster risks in their area, such as wildfires, earthquakes, or floods, and report their current location so that others in the area can stay safe. The app also helps users generate personalized prep checklists for safety kits and evacuation plans based on the disaster they want to prepare for. FlashAid helps keep communities safe and aware.

How we built it

FlashAid is a web application built with NextJS. NextJS is a full-stack framework that uses ReactJS components. The underlying programming language is TypeScript. We started by creating the main functionality, creating a plan with AI. We used Google GenKit to make this easy. We then created a database to store user information, like location. We then used the database to set up a post system that allows users to post about recent events.

Challenges we ran into

We initially wanted users to submit detailed experience posts, but balancing privacy and moderation made it difficult, so we instead switched to location-based disaster posts. Coding all the features we wanted into the timeframe meant prioritizing the functionality.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Created a functional web app that combines AI and crowdsourcing to improve users' safety. Incorporated location tracking and user accounts to create a dynamic forum system that allows users to view emergency posts created by other users and see the location of the post.

What we learned

Through building FlashAid, we learned how to manage our time and scope under pressure while still creating something innovative. We realized the importance of designing with the user in mind and how simplifying features can make an app cleaner and easier to use. We also got hands-on experience with full-stack development and quickly adapted our ideas based on technical limitations.

What's next for FlashAid

Comments so that users can post about which supplies helped them the most, their own experiences, and resources they found helpful. A push notification system so that users can be provided with real-time alerts and reminders to update or check safety kits based on local weather or emergency updates. Multilingual support to make disaster prep more accessible for non-English speakers and underserved communities. Offline mode so users can access vital safety info and checklists even without internet during a disaster.

Built With

• drizzleorm
• figma
• firebasestudio
• nextjs
• node.js
• npm
• radixui
• react
• sqlite
• tailwindcss
• typescript
• visual-studio
• voideditor