📋 In This Guide
Admin Overview
The SupplyScout Admin Panel is designed for emergency management agencies, community coordinators, and disaster response leaders. It provides tools to coordinate emergency response, communicate with your community, manage supply information, and track preparedness metrics.
Who Should Be an Admin?
Admins are typically:
- Emergency Management Directors
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) coordinators
- Local government officials
- County/regional disaster coordinators
- Large organization emergency preparedness managers
Accessing the Admin Panel
If you're designated as an admin for your region, you'll have access to the SupplyScout Admin Dashboard. Access it through:
- Desktop at admin.supplyscout.org
- Mobile app under Profile > Admin Panel (if you have admin privileges)
Admin Roles & Permissions
SupplyScout supports multiple admin roles with different permission levels. Contact your regional administrator to request a role change.
Super Admin
Full System Access
Can manage all aspects of SupplyScout for their region including disaster declarations, alerts, administrators, templates, and community moderation.
Typical Role: County Emergency Management Director or equivalent
Coordinator
Operational Management
Can declare disasters, manage alerts, set up resources, and moderate community contributions. Cannot manage other administrators or change system settings.
Typical Role: CERT coordinator or community preparedness manager
Moderator
Community Management
Can view reports, moderate community contributions, and respond to user reports. Cannot declare disasters or manage overall settings.
Typical Role: Community volunteer or assistant coordinator
Managing Disasters
When emergencies occur in your region, you can declare them in SupplyScout to alert the community and coordinate response.
Declaring a Disaster
Step 1: Open Disaster Manager
In the Admin Dashboard, click "Declare Disaster" or select from the Disasters menu.
Step 2: Select Disaster Type
Choose from pre-configured disaster templates (Hurricane, Flood, Power Outage, etc.) or create a custom disaster type.
Step 3: Set Details
Provide disaster details: affected areas, severity level, expected duration, and custom guidance for your community.
Step 4: Configure Resources
Add emergency resources available in your area: shelters, supply distribution centers, medical facilities, etc.
Step 5: Publish
Review and publish. All premium users in the affected area receive immediate notification.
Disaster Information Fields
When declaring a disaster, provide:
Clear name: "Hurricane Helene" or "Regional Power Outage"
Geographic scope: specific neighborhoods, zip codes, or countywide
Critical, High, Moderate, Low—helps users prioritize
Links to official sources, evacuation orders, or shelter-in-place instructions
How long the disaster is expected to last (helps with supply planning)
Emergency hotline, coordination center, or agency contact
Managing Active Disasters
Once declared, disasters appear on the map and in user alerts. You can:
- Update disaster information in real-time
- Change severity levels as situation evolves
- Add or update resources available
- Broadcast additional alerts to affected users
- End the disaster when situation is resolved
Setting Up Alerts
Beyond disaster alerts, admins can set up scheduled supply alerts and community notifications.
Types of Admin-Initiated Alerts
Supply Shortage Alerts
Alert your community when critical supplies are expected to become scarce (e.g., "Ice shortage expected during heat wave").
Resource Availability Alerts
Announce when supplies or services become available (e.g., "FEMA distribution center now operational at [location]").
Scheduled Reminders
Set up recurring reminders for preparedness (e.g., annual hurricane preparedness reminder in May).
Community Announcements
General notifications about preparedness updates, new resources, or community initiatives.
Creating an Alert
1. Go to Alerts Manager
From the Admin Dashboard, select "Create Alert" or navigate to Alerts.
2. Choose Alert Type
Select what kind of alert you're creating and customize the template.
3. Set Targeting
Decide who receives the alert (all users, premium only, specific geographic area, etc.).
4. Schedule Delivery
Immediate, scheduled for later, or recurring (daily, weekly, annually).
5. Review & Publish
Preview how the alert will appear, then publish to your community.
Disaster Templates
Templates speed up disaster declaration. SupplyScout comes with standard templates, and you can create custom ones for your region.
Standard Templates
Pre-configured templates for:
- Hurricane preparedness and response
- Winter storms and severe cold
- Flooding and water emergencies
- Power outages
- Heat waves
- Wildfires and smoke
- Supply chain disruptions
Customizing Templates
Templates can be customized with:
- Your region's standard resources (shelter addresses, distribution centers)
- Regional guidance and links to your agency
- Pre-defined supply lists relevant to the disaster type
- Local contact numbers and websites
Creating Custom Templates
If standard templates don't fit your needs, you can create custom disaster types in the Template Manager. These become available to all admins in your region.
Community Moderation
To maintain data quality and community health, admins monitor and moderate user submissions.
Reported Submissions
Users can flag reports they believe are inaccurate. These appear in your Moderation Queue with:
- Original report and report time
- Reason for the report
- Reporter comments
- Current report status (pending, verified, contested)
Moderation Actions
Verify a Report
You've confirmed the report is accurate. This increases the report's confidence level.
Dismiss a Report
You've determined the report is inaccurate or dispute-driven. The report is marked as unverified.
Issue a Community Warning
If a user is repeatedly submitting false reports, issue a warning visible in their account.
Suspend Reporting
For users with persistent issues, temporarily suspend their ability to submit new reports.
Spam and Abuse
Report severe issues (spam, offensive content, etc.) through the Flagging system. These escalate to SupplyScout's trust and safety team.
Managing Emergency Resources
Admins can add and manage emergency resources available during disasters: shelters, supply distribution centers, emergency services, etc.
Resource Types
Shelters
Emergency shelters, warming centers, or cooling centers with capacity and current occupancy.
Supply Distribution Centers
FEMA distribution, community supply centers, or public assistance distribution points.
Medical Facilities
Emergency clinics, hospitals, or medical supply distribution (generators, oxygen, insulin, etc.).
Utility Services
Power restoration crews, water service information, or utility emergency numbers.
Custom Resources
Anything else critical to your community (donation centers, volunteer coordination, pet shelters, etc.).
Adding a Resource
1. Open Resources Manager
From your disaster's detail page, select "Manage Resources."
2. Add Resource
Provide name, address, resource type, contact information, and operating hours.
3. Set Details
Add capacity information, current status, website links, or special notes (e.g., "First 100 people only").
4. Publish
Resources appear on the map and in disaster alert details immediately.
Keeping Resources Current
During active response, resources change. Update:
- Operating hours (may extend during disasters)
- Current status (operational, partial, full)
- Capacity and availability
- Special notes or changes in operation
Best Practices for Admins
Before Disasters Occur
- Set up your regional templates and customize them
- Build a directory of emergency resources
- Establish relationships with other local agencies
- Test your alert systems
- Train team members on SupplyScout features
During Active Disasters
- Declare disasters quickly—every minute matters
- Update resource information continuously
- Monitor community reports and moderate as needed
- Send timely alerts about supply shortages or available resources
- Coordinate with other agencies using SupplyScout
After Disasters
- Archive disaster information for post-event review
- Share lessons learned with partner agencies
- Analyze community reports for preparedness insights
- Plan improvements for next event