User Guide

How to use StormPath

StormPath is a real-time road status platform for your community. This guide covers everything from reading the map to submitting reports and using the first responder tools.

📋

Overview

StormPath shows road conditions submitted by community members on an interactive map. Roads with active reports are highlighted in colors that indicate the type of condition. Anyone can view reports without an account. Submitting reports requires a free account.

Reports expire automatically after 3 days to keep information current. First responder reports are additionally marked as confirmed and carry extra visual weight on the map.

🗺️

Reading the Map

Roads on the map are overlaid with colored lines when reports exist for them. The color corresponds to the reported condition. A road with no reports appears in the default map style.

Status colors

  • Clear — Road is passable under normal conditions.
  • Snow Covered — Road has snow coverage affecting travel.
  • Ice / Icy Patches — Road has ice or patchy icy conditions.
  • Blocked — Tree — Road is blocked by a fallen tree.
  • Blocked — Power Line — Road is blocked by a downed power line.
  • Accident — Vehicle accident on the road.
  • Road Closure — Road is officially closed.
  • LZ Active — Active helicopter landing zone, use caution.

Confirmed badge

Reports submitted by a verified first responder or administrator display a green ✓ Confirmed badge. These reports are also thicker on the map to make them easy to spot. Confirmed reports feed automatically into the Waze partner feed.

Tip: Use the Legend item in the Info menu (desktop) or mobile menu to see a quick color reference at any time.
👁️

Viewing Reports

On the map

1
Tap or click a colored road segment. A panel opens showing the report details — status, segment, notes, and whether the report is confirmed.
2
On mobile, a slide-up sheet appears. Swipe down or tap the handle to close it. If you are signed in, an Edit Report button is also shown here.
3
Tap a GPS coordinates link in the notes. If coordinates were included in the notes, tapping them drops a marker on the map at that exact location.

In the report list

Open the Road Reports sidebar (desktop) or tap Road Reports in the mobile menu to see all active reports sorted by time. Use the search box to filter by road name. Tapping a report in the list zooms the map to that road.

📝

Submitting a Report

Account required. You must be signed in to submit a report. Create a free account if you don't have one.
1
Tap or click any road on the map. Roads that already have reports also show them; you can still add a new report to the same road.
2
Choose which part of the road to report. You can report the entire road, a single segment (intersection-to-intersection), or select multiple segments.
3
Select the road status. Pick from the color-coded status options. Choose the one that best describes current conditions.
4
Add notes (optional, up to 500 characters). For blocked roads, GPS coordinates of the blockage are pre-filled. You can refine them using the location tools below.
5
Tap Submit Report. The report appears on the map immediately for all connected users.

GPS & location tools

When reporting a blocked road (tree or power line), the coordinates where you tapped on the map are automatically placed in the notes so responders know the exact location of the hazard.

  • Click map to set location — Available on both desktop and mobile. After clicking this button, tap anywhere on the map to update the coordinates in the notes to that point.
  • Use my GPS location — Mobile only. Inserts your device's current GPS coordinates into the notes. Useful when you're at the scene.
Reports expire after 3 days. Once conditions improve, consider submitting a Clear report on the same road to let others know it's passable.
👤

User Accounts

Creating an account

1
Go to Sign In → Create Account. Fill in a username (3–32 characters, letters/numbers/underscores), an optional display name and email, and a password of at least 10 characters.
2
Submit the form. Your account is created with pending status. An administrator must approve it before you can sign in and submit reports.
3
Wait for approval. The local administrator reviews new accounts. Once approved, you can sign in normally.

Signing in

Tap Sign In in the navigation bar. You can sign in with your username and password, or use a passkey (fingerprint, Face ID, or hardware security key) if you have set one up.

If two-factor authentication is enabled on your account, you will be prompted for a 6-digit code from your authenticator app after entering your password.

Account settings

Once signed in, click or tap your name in the navigation bar and select Account Settings. From there you can:

  • Update your display name and email address
  • Change your password
  • Add or manage passkeys for passwordless sign-in
  • Add or manage an authenticator app for two-factor authentication
🔔

Notifications

StormPath can send browser push notifications when new reports matching your chosen status types are submitted — even when you don't have the app open.

1
Open the Notifications section. On desktop, it's in the sidebar. On mobile, tap Notifications in the menu.
2
Enable notifications. Toggle the switch on. Your browser will ask for permission the first time.
3
Choose which status types to be notified about. Toggle individual types (e.g. "Blocked — Tree", "Accident") to match what matters most to you.
Tip: Your notification preferences are saved to your account when you're signed in, so they carry over to other devices.
⚡

First Responders

Users with the First Responder role get access to additional tools designed for field use. All reports submitted under this role are automatically marked Confirmed and appear on the map with a thicker overlay and badge. Confirmed reports also flow into the Waze CIFS feed.

Requesting the First Responder role

1
Check the "I am a First Responder" box during registration. An additional panel appears asking for your agency/department name, role (firefighter, EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, or other), and optionally your call sign, badge, or unit ID.
2
Submit your registration. Your first responder claim is reviewed by the administrator before the role is granted. The information you provide helps the admin confirm your affiliation.
3
Optional: Verify instantly with ID.me. If your StormPath instance has ID.me enabled, you will see a Verify with ID.me button after registering. ID.me can independently verify first responder credentials and automatically approve your role — no wait required.

FR Quick Report

When signed in as a First Responder or Admin, a red ⚡ FR Report button appears in the lower-right corner of the map.

1
Tap ⚡ FR Report. The cursor changes to a crosshair and a prompt appears: "Tap a road to report." On mobile, your GPS location is used to automatically select the nearest road.
2
Tap the road. A compact overlay appears showing the road name, the nearest intersection-to-intersection segment, and an optional notes field.
3
Tap an incident type to submit instantly. No separate submit button — tapping the incident type (Accident, Closure, LZ Active, Blocked, Snow, Ice) submits the report immediately as Confirmed.
LZ Active — Use this status to mark an active helicopter landing zone. It signals caution to drivers and is visible to all connected users and on the Waze feed.
📋

Admin Tools

Administrators have access to the Admin Panel (linked in the navigation dropdown). From there you can:

  • Review and approve pending user registrations, individually or in bulk.
  • Approve or deactivate existing accounts.
  • Change user roles between User, First Responder, and Admin.
  • Delete accounts that are no longer needed.
  • See each user's first responder claim details including agency, role, and whether verified through ID.me.

The admin navigation dropdown also shows the last map data rebuild date, total road count, and any merge issues from the most recent build.

🟠

Waze Integration

StormPath automatically generates a Waze CIFS-compatible JSON feed at /waze-feed.php on your StormPath instance. This feed includes all confirmed reports from the past 3 days.

The local administrator registers this feed URL in their Waze For Cities partner account. Waze polls the URL automatically every few minutes, and confirmed incidents (accidents, closures, LZ operations, blocked roads, snow, ice) appear on Waze's map for all Waze users in the area.

Only confirmed reports appear in the Waze feed. Reports from community users without the First Responder role are not included — only those submitted by first responders or admins.