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PDC, Twilio.org collaborate on new disaster early warning for Colombia

A landslide buries homes in the Siloé neighborhood of Cali, Valle del Cauca in March 2021. credit: Cali mayor's office

Colombia’s UNGRD responds to a February 6, 2026 landslide that buried several homes in the rural area of Mallama, Nariño, Colombia. Credit: UNGRD

A February 6, 2026 landslide that buried several homes in the rural area of Mallama, Nariño, Colombia. Credit: UNGRD

The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has announced an innovative technology and risk reduction collaboration with Twilio.org and the City of Cali, Colombia to strengthen disaster early warning communications and landslide risk awareness. The project will leverage PDC’s DisasterAWARE platform for the new capabilities to be developed as well as to build operational capacity for the technology among Cali’s disaster management organization, Sistema de Gestión de Riesgos de Emergencias y Desastres (SGRED).

Funded by Twilio.org, and in collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), the initiative is designed to ensure that critical disaster information reaches vulnerable communities quickly, clearly, and in their native language. The program enhances Twilio powered multilingual alerts, enables WhatsApp distribution, and builds local capacity to deliver life-saving information.

PDC’s free Disaster Alert app already reaches more than three million subscribers worldwide, providing public access to crucial real-time hazard information. By adding new technologies such as WhatsApp and automated Spanish translations, PDC will expand its ability to reach those most in need, including underserved and hard-to-reach populations not only in Cali, but around the globe.

The project focuses on developing new communication mechanisms within DisasterAWARE and supporting local institutions in operationalizing DisasterAWARE Pro as a real-time decision-support and alerting tool. It also expands landslide risk analysis tools and capabilities for early warning within the DisasterAWARE platform to mitigate risk for landslide-prone communities in Cali. By combining technology innovation and risk analysis with capacity-building and collaboration, the initiative aims to close critical information gaps that often place at-risk populations at greater danger during emergencies.

“We share a common goal of reducing risk, protecting lives, and strengthening resilience in Cali. This project builds on years of strengthening early warning capabilities and reflects the value of our partnership with PDC and UMBC,” said Ricardo Peñuela Munevar, SGRED Secretary for Risk Management, Emergencies and Disasters.

A central component of the initiative is the expansion of DisasterAWARE Smart Alerts to include WhatsApp as a supported alert distribution channel. With more than three billion active monthly users in over 180 countries, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used and trusted communication platforms globally, particularly in communities where mobile messaging is the primary means of receiving information. Integrating WhatsApp into Smart Alert will significantly extend PDC’s ability to deliver timely, actionable alerts directly to people where they already communicate. 

Participating in the project inception was rewarding. This initiative reflects our mission at Twilio.org: providing the digital technology and funding that help nonprofits and public sector organizations scale their reach to deliver life-changing services. We applaud PDC, the City of Cali, UMBC, and the other organizations involved, and we will continue to support the team through a successful implementation ,” said Lauren Hewitt, Twilio.org Director of Business Operations, Social Impact

PDC will apply artificial intelligence technologies to automate the translation of alert content into Spanish, ensuring that essential information about what is happening, where it is occurring, and how severe the situation is can be understood immediately by local audiences. Additional DisasterAWARE-supported languages are expected to follow, further expanding access for diverse and multilingual communities.

“This project breaks new ground for the Center in many ways: Our collaboration with Twilio.org, working with a large municipality like Cali, and new ways to communicate with those at most risk,” stated PDC Director of Early Warning Solutions Chris Chiesa.

Through joint efforts with SGRED and partner organizations in Cali, the project will strengthen local capacity, enhance operational readiness, and improve the delivery of disaster information across Colombia and globally— helping to ensure early warnings for all. 

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About the Pacific Disaster Center

Winner of the 2022 UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction, the University of Hawai’i’s Pacific Disaster Center is a global leader in the application of life-saving disaster management science, early warning technology, and advanced analytics. Our disaster risk intelligence products provide decision-makers with the essential insights and information needed to act early to protect communities from hazards and to build more sustainable, resilient communities for a safer world.

About Twilio.org

Twilio.org is the social impact arm of Twilio, dedicated to helping nonprofits and public sector organizations use digital communications to scale their reach and deliver life-changing services. By providing discounted technology, funding, and strategic expertise, Twilio.org enables organizations to engage constituents more effectively across SMS, voice, video, and more.

About SGRED

The Secretaría de Gestión del Riesgo de Emergencias y Desastres (SGRED) is the municipal authority responsible for disaster risk management in the District of Santiago de Cali. SGRED leads risk reduction, early warning, and emergency response efforts, coordinating institutions and communities to protect lives, critical infrastructure, and essential services.