The National Academies Press

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Pages 135-150

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From page 135... ... Each scenario shows elements of IT use across the goal areas identified in the report, though a scenario may naturally highlight the importance of some goals more than others. Some descriptions may seem more compelling because they are closer to the direct human impact of a disaster, but gaining an understanding of and improving on disaster management practice at all levels are critical to saving lives and reducing economic impacts. Read the entire page →
From page 136... ... The alert reader will identify a number of technologies used: video, chemical sensors, public safety radio, operational control systems (Metro system) , commercial cellular telephone, commercial land telephone, and text messaging during the first few moments. Read the entire page →
From page 137... ... Unit 300S: "Unit 300L is with me and we are 5 minutes out." 7:46:40 a.m. Metro Dispatch: "Emergency -- All units' chemical sensors going off, lower level Metro Center. Read the entire page →
From page 138... ... . everyone exiting Metro Center must go through the decontamination center and be cleared by hazmat." Metro Dispatch: "10-4 -- FBI is asking for your location and EOC would like an update when you have a moment. Read the entire page →
From page 139... ... Numerous people down -- we have at least three units inside Metro Center that are not responding. Fire has decontamination set up and are washing down, but we can't control everyone coming out and direct them to the decon area -- I'm afraid we are going to get some off-gassing exposures. Read the entire page →
From page 140... ... . most of my resources are at Metro Center. Read the entire page →
From page 141... ... ; impaired video capability; limits of commercial cellular infrastructure; lack of access to redundant or alternate technologies (e.g., text messaging, wireless Internet) ; inability to disseminate and share information; reduced timeliness and limitations of sensor data; absence of dissemination of sensor data to responders, hazmat units, and hospitals; and inability to distinguish different information needs of various responders. Read the entire page →
From page 142... ... Technologies highlighted in this scenario include computer modeling, simulation, weather sensors, satellites, WiFi and mobile networking, traffic cameras, and unmanned vehicles with onboard communications. For this scenario, information and communications flows are centered largely on the state Emergency Operations Center, with raw data flowing in, being processed, and analyzed; actions being formulated; and instructions flowing back out. Read the entire page →
From page 143... ... EOC staff work through the night with computer programs projecting damage to key areas, residential areas, and infrastructure; these become rapid reconnaissance plans. Intermittent reports from pre-positioned recon teams and law enforcement provide some indication of damage, but the winds and rain must die down before the Coast Guard can fly or reconnaissance teams can venture out. Read the entire page →
From page 144... ... Rescue teams deploy miniature unmanned helicopters to geolocate survivors on roofs, remotely talk with them, and also look around roofs and attics for signs of survivors trapped inside. The Coast Guard sends manned helicopters to the suburbs to lift survivors from the rooftops, while the rescue teams talk directly with the pilots and provide prioritization and data on rooftop conditions from a portable anemometer. Read the entire page →
From page 145... ... As a team passed a WiFi hot spot, the laptop could download new information from flyovers, and the Weather Service could transmit video to the incident commander on a priority basis and then to the EOC. Decision support tools could begin combing emerging information, correlating and analyzing who needs Read the entire page →
From page 146... ... Law enforcement could have access to centralized databases, with pre-identified authorization for efficient and accurate screening of affected areas. NATIONAL RESPONSE TO AN EARTHQUAKE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA The third fictional narrative describes the occurrence of a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area and the resulting response. Read the entire page →
From page 147... ... Significant casualties are also expected. The information from the models is enough for the secretary of DHS to declare an Incident of National Significance, to activate the Catastrophic Incident Annex of the National Response Plan, and to deploy specialized resources. Read the entire page →
From page 148... ... . The Berkeley earthquake is demonstrating that the two operations centers are still operating independently. Read the entire page →
From page 149... ... Army Corps of Engineers, this is the largest mobilization and deployment of people and resources since Hurricane Katrina. The Corps has activated its contracts with vendors and has ordered hundreds of truckloads of bottled water and ice. Read the entire page →
From page 150... ... Without a significant level of confidence in status information, managers cannot be sure that they know what impacts have occurred, what resources are needed, or what resources are responding. Models could also be valuable to responders and other on-the-scene personnel whose perspective might lead to insights not necessarily accessible to more distant emergency managers. Read the entire page →

From page 135...

... Each scenario shows elements of IT use across the goal areas identified in the report, though a scenario may naturally highlight the importance of some goals more than others. Some descriptions may seem more compelling because they are closer to the direct human impact of a disaster, but gaining an understanding of and improving on disaster management practice at all levels are critical to saving lives and reducing economic impacts.