UNL Team’s ArcGIS StoryMap Empowers Communities to Build Flood Resilience
By: Zhenghong Tang & Kerry McCullough-Vondrak, College of Architecture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
A persistent challenge during flood recovery and prevention has been the lack of accurate and timely disaster information, especially for vulnerable populations. Non-English speakers and individuals with limited digital access often face significant barriers to obtaining critical, life-saving information. These challenges are further exacerbated by inefficient spatial data systems, undermining community resilience.
To address these issues, the research team from the Community and Regional Planning program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has developed the “Nebraska Flood Resilience” through ArcGIS StoryMap Collection, a multilingual and user-friendly platform designed to improve flood information accessibility. The ArcGIS StoryMap Collection is a visual and interactive tool available in English and Spanish. It focuses on improving information delivery for multicultural audiences, particularly Spanish-speaking users, enabling them to better understand and act on disaster-related data. It aims to enhance public awareness and build capacity in communities severely affected by the 2019 floods, preparing them for future flood events.
In addition to its multilingual capabilities, ArcGIS StoryMap empowers communities with an intuitive interface to explore flood risk data, visualize past flood events, and identify high-risk areas. By integrating maps, images, and narratives, it bridges the gap between complex geospatial information and actionable insights for local decision-makers and residents. The platform also supports collaborative planning by allowing stakeholders to share information, build scenarios, and engage in informed discussions about flood mitigation strategies.
The StoryMap Collection also supports the creation of a digital twin of Nebraska, an advanced technology that integrates geospatial data to produce a virtual replica of the real world. This innovation is vital for disaster prediction, infrastructure design, and urban planning. By leveraging ArcGIS StoryMap's powerful visual storytelling and data visualization features, communities can better anticipate, prepare for, and respond to flooding events, ultimately strengthening resilience and saving lives.
“This innovative tool will serve as an essential information platform to serve economic development and climate resilience as a demonstration model for planners and policy makers at the local, state and national levels” said Dean of College of Architecture, Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg.
“The StoryMap Collection provides developers, urban planners and researchers with critical data for informed decision-making, laying the groundwork for Nebraska's future disaster management and sustainable urban development,” said Community and Regional Planning Program Director and Professor Zhenghong Tang.
“Multilingual support is a key element in reducing the information gap and helping vulnerable populations more easily access their flood risk,” said Yunwoo Nam.
CRP Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer Jiyoung Lee said, “the StoryMap Collection is transforming communication between communities and experts by organizing spatial data into an accessible and engaging format. The platform includes interactive features such as a map swiper, zoom functionality, interactive scale bars, layer selection tools and legends. These tools allow users to explore critical datasets, such as the Natural Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), land values impacted by the 2019 floods and demographic profiles of affected areas, providing actionable insights rather than simply presenting raw data.”
The project is already making a significant impact. “The StoryMap Collection has not only improved disaster information accessibility for vulnerable populations but also helped communities establish more efficient and precise disaster response systems,” said CRP student Jahangeer Jahangeer. “Additionally, the digital twin technology plays a pivotal role in strengthening Nebraska’s sustainable development and long-term disaster resilience strategies.”
“This project is a prime example of how technology can address social challenges,” noted Post Doctoral Research Associate Jesse Andrews. With ongoing contributions from the UNL GeoAI team, the ArcGIS StoryMap Collection continues to evolve, incorporating more data and features that enhance Nebraska’s safety and resilience. Beyond being a disaster information tool, the platform fosters inclusive and sustainable communities, supports recovery efforts and sets new benchmarks for urban and disaster management strategies.
Risha Singh, a master student in the Community and Regional Planning Program, is developing community-based flood risk maps to inform landowners, developers and policymakers about flood risks. These working products are shared with stakeholders to enhance community resilience planning, contributing to the project’s goal of creating a safer and more informed Nebraska.