Satellites Guide Disaster Relief | NASA

By Dauna Colter, Science@NASA, Posted 06/19/09

Link: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/18jun_servir.htm?list161497

"On Thursday, May 28th, at 2:24 a.m. local time, a deadly earthquake rocked Honduras, killing seven people and injuring several others, demolishing homes, damaging scores of other buildings, and sending terrified residents running through the streets. "I woke up immediately, and all I could do was hug my youngest son and pray," says Dalia Martinez of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. "After a few minutes, my family and I went outside, where my neighbors were already gathered, likewise terrified about what happened but grateful we were all okay. Since then, we've been sleeping with flashlights and telephones within reach, because the aftershocks have been strong." Fortunately for Martinez and other shaken residents, disaster officials knew exactly where to send help. A state-of-the-art Earth observation system called SERVIR1 directed them to the hardest hit areas."