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Jason Marks, Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness, Peoria County GovernmentThe rapid pace of technological change and the utilization of computer-based tools has revolutionized almost every aspect of daily life, including emergencies. As a result today’s emergency manager must accept this challenge and then embrace it. First, because for the most part the public relies on many of these platforms day-to-day and perhaps just as importantly because these tools can improve our communities ability to mitigate, respond to and recover from disasters. Preparing for and responding to the wide variety of threats that exist in today’s world is difficult work, technologies can help to overcome the challenges that come with those hazards.
As with all tools, the value of technology is in the application of its use. Building technology into a community-wide preparedness program requires emergency managers and community partners to be visionary in uses of social media, GIS applications, and other systems. There are many examples of how our colleagues have identified ways to use some of these tools and incorporated them into emergency plans. It would not be appropriate to share regarding those uses without emphasizing the foundation of community planning being in relationships. As more dramatic incidents continue to affect our communities, it is more vital than ever to promote engagement between all disciplines. Identifying ways to share technological resources across sectors is a great way to build on that foundation.
An all hazards approach to emergency planning does not mean that communities plan for every possible contingency; rather, all-hazards preparation focuses on planning for those hazards that are most likely to affect a community or organization while remaining adaptable to effectively respond to the unexpected. That may mean utilization of technology to not only conduct a quick assessment of a threat or the result of an incident, but to share the situational awareness obtained with decision-makers. By utilizing one of the multitude of emergency management software products available, with partner support and engagement, communities are able to improve their ability to provide the necessary operational coordination, resource management, and situational awareness to ensure a common operating picture. During the COVID-19 pandemic agencies utilized various tools to provide reporting on the evolution of the pandemic with decision-makers as well as their communities.
Today’s population has access to information 24 hours a day every day of the year from around the world in more formats and platforms than ever before. As rapidly as technology changes, social media platforms change at one seems like an even quicker pace. What individuals are utilizing today to get information may not be what they are using tomorrow, next week or in the future. As these changes occur, emergency managers must develop strategies to effectively communicate with the public during times of crisis using a multitude of available tools. These apps have been used in many ways during disasters. Often times individuals download useful apps prior to disasters that can provide them information on carpooling or finding fuel and other resources. Some apps are designed to assist individuals in notifying family members of their location and still others include checklists and tips for specific hazards. Sharing platforms have supported those seeking assistance following disaster by offering free temporary accommodations or providing rides to shelters. As emergency managers we must work with our public information teams to ensure these technologies are utilized and incorporated not only during disaster but day-to-day.
“Building technology into a community-wide preparedness program requires emergency managers and community partners to be visionaries while using social media, GIS applications, and other systems.”
Another area in which digital technology is having a profound effect is in medical treatment and the use of telemedicine. Throughout the recent COVID-19 pandemic emergency managers coordinated with health clinics, hospitals, and public health departments in utilizing various platforms for investigating outbreaks, conducting contact tracing and ensuring responder health. A common issue in many communities is a lack of physicians, nurses and other medical trained personnel. Often times individuals evacuating a threat or affected by a disaster neglect to remember prescriptions or in the rush to evacuate are unable to retrieve necessary healthcare items. Additionally, stressful situations can lead to health conditions or make existing health conditions worse. Telemedicine provides an opportunity to assess the severity of a patient’s injuries while allowing healthcare personnel to begin planning for care. By collaborating with the appropriate community partners, emergency managers should envision incorporating telemedicine into plans that could be potential carried out by non-medics while ensuring appropriate patient care both physical and mental.
Often time’s locations affected by disaster are difficult to access or pose a potential chemical, infectious disease or radiation. The use of drone-based technology or unmanned aerial vehicles can be invaluable in their ability to access difficult or dangerous places and provide immediate situational awareness. This could be the location of medical evacuees in hard to get locations as a result of floodwaters or damaged infrastructure or during search and rescue operations. Drones can be used in the assessment of damage by mapping areas of destruction and evaluating infrastructure for safety and potential hazards pose to first responders. Combining the use of drones and UAV-based technology with existing community Geographic Information System (GIS) emergency managers are certain to identify more innovative ways to utilize these technologies in mitigating, responding and recovering from disaster.
This technology transformation is occurring across each discipline and stakeholder in the community; collaborating together to improve safety, resilience and recovery should be a focus of emergency managers. Tomorrow’s emergency management workforce while focusing on how to maintain collaborative partnerships must identify ways to incorporate technology innovations into their comprehensive emergency management program. Emergency managers may not be subject matter experts in how these technologies work, but with the proper collaboration can lead communities on how to envision their implementation.
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