Iowa State University engineers, in collaboration with Polk County Emergency Management, are developing an innovative online training game to help emergency responders prepare for high-impact weather events like derechos. The project is funded by a $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Civic Innovation Challenge program.

The game simulates a fast-moving storm hitting a busy urban farmers market. Players take on roles such as firefighters, medical responders, and public works officials, making real-time decisions under pressure. The goal is to improve coordination, resource allocation, and decision-making in disaster scenarios.

Read the full article from Iowa State News:
When a derecho strikes: Engineers build emergency management training game