Preliminary Damage Assessment
Citizen Reporting Form
Complete Your Preliminary Damage Assessment Form
Preliminary damage assessment forms (PDAs) may be done by a trained NGO linked to a PubSafe organization or a citizen not part of PubSafe. The goal is to share accurate information, as quickly as possible, with decision-makers managing a disaster situation.
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Each PubSafe organization gets a unique link which can be used by team members to conduct PDA which then appear in the organization PubSafe portal.
Data Sharing Consent
PDAs are shared with PubSafe organizations and members and may be exported to third parties such as the Red Cross Disaster HUB or goverment to be part of a larger data set accessed by additional agencies or organizations. PDAs submitted to PubSafe by an organization member will insert the report into the organizations web portal. The organization then controls who the information is shared with and how. All data may be passed to third parties as part of the overall disaster response effort. None will be shared, sold or otherwise for gain unrelated to disaster response.
Submitting this form means you understand and agree to the data sharing in an effort to improve disaster outcomes.
Tips for Reporting Damage
1. Only for residential main structures. No commercial buildings, businesses, barns, fences or carports.
2. Include multiple clear photos. Take close up detailed photos as well as wide perspective photos. Photo size is limited to 5 mg so you may need to adjust your camera settings.
3. Be sure the address & location on the map is accurate along with your contact information.
4. Only submit one report per property.
5. Avoid personally identifiable information such as photos, documents, deceased people, etc.
View FEMAs Damage Assessment Toolkit
Why Accurate Damage Assessment Matters in Emergency Response
Accurate damage assessment is a critical component of effective disaster response and recovery. When emergencies occur, having reliable, real-time information allows organizations and responders to understand the scope and severity of the situation quickly. The PubSafe damage assessment form is designed to streamline this process, ensuring that important details are captured consistently and efficiently.
By collecting structured data such as location, type of damage, severity, and supporting images, the platform helps eliminate confusion and reduces the risk of incomplete or inaccurate reporting. This level of detail allows response teams to prioritize the most urgent cases, allocate resources appropriately, and avoid delays that could impact safety and recovery efforts.
Another key benefit is improved coordination across multiple teams and organizations. When everyone is working from the same set of accurate data, communication becomes clearer and decision-making is more effective. This is especially important in large-scale disasters where multiple agencies and volunteers are involved.
In addition, well-documented damage reports support long-term recovery and planning. The collected data can be used for reporting, funding applications, and future preparedness strategies. It also provides valuable insights into how disasters impact communities, helping organizations improve their response over time.
Ultimately, accurate damage assessment helps bridge the gap between immediate response and long-term recovery. By providing clear, actionable information, the PubSafe platform enables faster decisions, better coordination, and more effective support for affected communities.