The Disaster Loss Data Working Group is meant to study issues related to the collection, storage, and dissemination of disaster loss data. When human, monetary, or environmental losses occur as a result of a disaster, extensive loss data are collected and stored, but the thoroughness and accuracy of the data varies from country to country and even among local entities. Government agencies, private companies, and other organizations may collect and manage data related to their own areas of interest using their own standards and procedures, without significant collaboration with other groups. This results in gaps, inconsistent overlaps, and biases that ultimately affect the quality of research conducted and policies made based on the data. The Data Working Group has identified needs for:

• Education of users regarding data biases and issues of social loss data
• Comparable and accessible human disaster loss data to support research and policy
• Identification of existing loss database projects (from national to regional to global)
• Increased downscaling of loss data to sub-national geographies for policy makers
• Definition of a “loss” and creation of a methodology for assessing it

To meet these needs, the working group intends to establish an overall framework for disaster loss data for all providers, establish nodes and networks for databases, conduct sensitivity testing among existing databases, and create mechanisms for archiving loss data.