Frequently Asked Questions

SupplyScout is a mobile app that shows you where to find essential supplies during emergencies, like ice, propane, gasoline, and groceries. Think of it as "Waze for emergency supplies." Instead of driving store to store searching for items, you get real-time, crowdsourced information about supply availability. This helps you save time and money, and reduces stress during disasters.

The core SupplyScout features—viewing supply maps, searching for items, and reporting supplies—are always free. These features help the entire community. Premium features unlock advanced capabilities like automatic alerts when supplies you want become available nearby.

Store websites show inventory from their own systems, which may be outdated or inaccurate during disasters. SupplyScout gets real-time information from people actually at the store, plus verified data from partner retailers. Additionally, SupplyScout consolidates supplies from all stores in one place, so you don't have to visit multiple websites.

Great question! While individual reports could be inaccurate, our verification system strengthens data over time. When multiple people confirm the same information, it becomes increasingly reliable. We also partner with retailers who provide verified inventory data. The combination creates reliable, real-time information that's better than any single source during emergencies.

We've imported 5,000+ store locations from OpenStreetMap data, including major grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations, pharmacies, and supply retailers. If your area has limited coverage, you can help by reporting stores you know about! Community contributions help other users find supplies.

Yes, to use SupplyScout you'll need a free account. This is so we can track your reports, save your preferences, and send you notifications. You can sign up with just an email address and password.

We take privacy seriously. Your location is used only to show you nearby supplies and to verify your reports. We never sell location data to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for complete details. You can adjust location sharing in app settings.

On the login screen, tap "Forgot Password." Enter your email and we'll send a password reset link. Click the link and create a new password. If you don't receive the email, check your spam folder or contact support@supplyscout.org.

SupplyScout works on iPhone (iOS 13+) and Android devices (Android 8+). Download from the App Store or Google Play Store. It requires location permission to function properly.

First, make sure you've allowed SupplyScout to send notifications in your device settings (Settings > Notifications > SupplyScout). Also check that notifications are enabled in the app (Profile > Notification Settings). If you still don't receive notifications, contact support@supplyscout.org.

Tap the search icon at the top of the map and type what you're looking for (e.g., "ice," "propane," "gasoline"). SupplyScout will show all nearby stores that have reports for that item, color-coded by availability.

Find the store on the map, tap it, then tap "Report Supplies." Indicate which items are in stock, limited, or out of stock based on what you actually saw at the store. Your report appears immediately and helps other community members.

You should report only what you personally observed. Our system verifies reports based on location, so reports from outside a store are marked as less reliable. If you heard from someone else that supplies are available, encourage them to report it themselves!

✅ = In stock, ⚠️ = Limited availability, ❌ = Out of stock, ❓ = Unknown/no recent reports. These icons help you quickly see supply status without reading details.

Accuracy depends on how recent the reports are and how many people have confirmed them. The system decays older reports over time, so recent reports are weighted more heavily. Partner retailers with verified inventory data are also prominently displayed. Check the "Last Updated" timestamp on each store to gauge freshness.

Premium includes four features: (1) Supply Alerts—get notified when items become available at your chosen stores, (2) Disaster Alerts—early warning when disasters occur in your area, (3) Preparation Checklists—customize emergency prep lists for your household, (4) Favorite Stores—quick access to your preferred stores with history.

That depends on your needs! If you just want to check supply availability occasionally, free is perfect. If you want advance warning of emergencies, automatic alerts for supplies you need, and preparation tools, premium is worthwhile. Plus, your subscription supports SupplyScout's mission.

Yes! Cancel anytime in your account settings. You'll continue to have access through the end of your paid period, then revert to free features. No questions asked, no cancellation fees.

Your data is saved. If you re-subscribe later, your checklists and saved preferences will still be there. If you delete your account, all data is permanently removed within 30 days.

You can flag the report for review. Tap the store, find the report, and select "Report Issue." Explain why you think the report is inaccurate. Our team and regional admins review flagged reports and take action against repeat offenders.

Report serious issues through the app's flag system or email abuse@supplyscout.org. Provide the username/account details and a description of the abuse. We take this seriously and take action including warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent bans.

Yes. SupplyScout is designed for emergency use. All infrastructure is redundant and regularly tested. We keep our systems up even during regional disasters. If you can't access the app, call our emergency hotline or contact your regional administrator.

Many stores are already included from OpenStreetMap data. If your store isn't listed, contact partnerships@supplyscout.org. For verified suppliers interested in syncing inventory, see our Partner Guide.

Absolutely! We work with retailers, suppliers, emergency management agencies, and non-profits. See our Partner Guide for partnership options, or email partnerships@supplyscout.org to discuss.

Government agencies and non-profits can set up admin accounts to declare disasters, manage resources, and coordinate response. See our Admin Guide or contact admin@supplyscout.org for more information.

Yes! We provide a REST API for partners to integrate with SupplyScout. See our Developer Documentation for details, or contact dev-support@supplyscout.org.

We love feature ideas! You can suggest features within the app (Profile > Feedback & Suggestions) or email us at feedback@supplyscout.org. Please include context on why you think the feature would be valuable.

Thank you for helping keep SupplyScout secure! Email security@supplyscout.org with details. We take all security reports seriously and will work with you to resolve issues responsibly.