Case Study: Philippine Red Cross achieves faster, more accurate disaster response with what3words

Identifying disaster zones with what3words and the Philippine Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross operates a 24/7 Operations Center that coordinates dispatch, mobilization and tracking of people and vehicles during floods, typhoons and other emergencies. Locating people and assets is especially difficult in the Philippines because street and building addressing is often inadequate, rural locations are described by landmarks, and disasters can destroy signage and communications.

To solve this, the Red Cross adopted what3words, using fixed 3-word addresses that can be shared by voice or SMS and work offline. This has enabled faster, more accurate dispatch of ambulances and search-and-rescue teams, improved coordination of ground crews and the storage of precise asset locations (schools, hospitals, evacuation centres), with proven impact during major events such as Super Typhoon Haima.

Philippine Red Cross

Richard Juico Gordon

Chairman