Through this project, I was able to learn about the whole impact of the water crisis. The most obvious impact was the lack of water for a few days, but many businesses, hospitals, schools, and regular routines of residents were disrupted through the crisis. On a more technical side, I learned how to use ArcGIS online better, as I had created my own layers to create the maps for the Story Map. What I enjoyed the most about the project was doing the research to find the impact, as I found it interesting to read about how much people depended on running water.

The task of creating a story map that investigated the cause, impact, and solutions to the recent water crisis allowed students to give voice to their personal experience while also exploring the broader perspective. Students were able to see the interconnectedness of the Richmond Metro area and how when one party does not fulfill its obligations, many other areas are compromised. My hope was that the students would see GIS as an advocacy tool, a way to analyze and visualize data and as a means to improve our community.