Challenges of Emergency Communication Networks for Disaster Response 9 th Annual EMAT Leadership Symposium
Ice storm 1998 Montreal
Increase of reported Natural and Technological Disasters between 1900-2012
Source: EM-DAT The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters
Scale of hazards in the US Source: Sperling s
«Why Can t We Talk When Lives Are at Stake? The inability of our public safety officials to readily communicate with one another threatens the public s safety and often results in unnecessary loss of lives and property» Source: «When They Can t Talk Lives Are Lost», National Institute of Justice, National Law Enforcement & corrections Technology Center
Top communication needs for Public Safety Agencies 78% want to easily interoperate with neighboring agencies 73% want to connect different devices and networks together Source: 5 Trends transforming Public Safety Communications by Motorola
Key Emergency Response Communication Problems Inadequate and drastically reduced funding to sustain communications systems. Lack of radio communication equipment. Limited radio signal coverage for some agencies Obsolete and ineffective radio systems, radio towers, and antenna systems. Disparate frequency bands Proprietary radio systems that do not meet the current P25 suite of standards. Source: Emergency Management: Identifying Problem Domains in Communication
38% of Emergency Managers say they had experienced Communication Problems in Crisis Situations in Short-Term Planning Situation awareness (72 mentions) Issues related to joint company-authorities rescue drills (47 mentions) Communication at the time of impact and immediately after (34 mentions) Communication at the accident site including the media (31 mentions) Co-operation between organizations at the site (22 mentions) Issues related to communication systems (21 mentions) Analysis of accidents (18 mentions) Usage of secured communications network (12 mentions) Source: Emergency Management: Identifying Problem Domains in Communications
Texas Communications Challenges Texas faces a full spectrum of threats, and our state s vast size, geography, and large population present unique challenges to public safety and homeland security, said DPS Director Steven McCraw. Accordingly, our emergency responders must be on guard every day ready to quickly and seamlessly work together to protect our communities. [2013 Texas Emergency Management Conference] Source: Texas DPS Report on Interoperable Communications to the Texas Legislature
¼ of Texas is fully interoperable
IN CRISIS SITUATION THE SURVIVAL RATE IN THE GOLDEN 72 HOURS IS 90% Within 24 hours 50% Between 25 to 48 hours 20% Between 49 to 72 hours 5% After exceeding 72 hours Source: Challenges of Emergency Communication Network for Disaster Response
Source: Interagency Communication Networks During Emergencies, American Review of Public Administration
9/11 Communications Challenges Effective use of IT by first responders to extreme events is critical. The lack of functional handheld radio communications, which was the same problem 8 years previous at the same location with the same number of potential civilian casualties, was a fiasco. NYCOEM relocated. Effective decision making in response to the WTC terrorist attack in New York City was hindered by limited coordination and interorganizational communications. The NYDP s 9-1-1 operators and the FDNY dispatch were not adequately integrated into the emergency response. The same reason (inadequate communication) hindered the Port Authority s response. Source: Interagency Communication Networks During Emergencies, American Review of Public Administration
Source: Interagency Communication Networks During Emergencies, American Review of Public Administration
Study: Interagency Communications Networks during Emergencies: Boundary Spanners in Multiagency Coordination Study concludes that emergency response planning is essential; emergency response institutions, procedures, and ressources must be retained, even when threats seem distant; communication systems must be made more redundant; emergency response procedures must assume communication breakdowns and allow for decentralized decision making. Study does not take into account need to know vs. need to share Source: Interagency Communication Networks During Emergencies, American Review of Public Administration
Study: information technology and the intersecting work of police, fire and paramedics Carrie Sanders Defines emergency interoperability as socio-technical ability of emergency personnel to immediately communicate and share information little research on the impact these technologies have on solving the problem of inadequate emergency interoperability Police, EMS and Fire have distinct mandates, standard operating procedures and policies that establish legal distance between them. Police and EMS work under provincial regulatory statutes such as Freedom of Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act that place organizational constraints on the amount of information that can be shared with other agencies. The theory is that the new fire system and ours will match, but the reality is that some of the information we collect is strictly governed by the rules of privacy. Source: Information, Communications & Society, Wilfrid Laurier dep't. Of Criminology
Technologies used in Emergencies RADIO NETWORKS Silos communications Tower out of reach Overloaded cellular network MOBILE NETWORKS Tower collapsed or out reach Silos Communications PORTABLE SATELLITE PHONES Bandwidth capacity Cost Silos Communications
Study: Challenges of Emergency Communication Network for Disaster Response There are 7 challenges, called 7-ability, that have to be addressed when designing an ECN Researchers combined data from major Asian Earthquakes & Floods. Summarized factors that caused unnecessary hindrance to the disaster response operations: Paralysis of transporation systems Paralysis of communications networks (15 days) Lack of professional disaster response workers Dysfunctional administrative command system Draw conclusion that effective communication systems must be built using popular devices (tablets) and mounted with ad-hoc networks (MAnet/Mesh networks) Source: Challenges of Emergency Communication Network for Disaster Response
Proposed solution for large-scale deployment 7 Abilities of Emergency Communication Network for Disaster Response Practicability Low development cost Easily access to the equipment Construct rapidly and easily Popularity Large amount User friendly Usability Task oriented communication services Mobility Adequate quality of service Long standing time of terminals Source: Challenges of Emergency Communication Network for Disaster Response
Proposed solution for large-scale deployment Capacity Sufficient number of concurrency users Resist the burst of call request Sustainability Long sustained time Rapid recovery Operability Have operation and maintain functions Can adjust network topology, bandwidth allocation and accord to the requirement of response workers Adaptability Disaster awareness Self-adjustement Source: Challenges of Emergency Communication Network for Disaster Response
Study: Design challenges for an integrated disaster management communication and information system (IEEE) Abstract: disaster response and recovery efforts require timely interaction and coordination of public emergency services in order to save lives and property. IT is used in this field only to a limited extent, but there is a tremendous potential for increasing efficiency and effectiveness in coping with a disaster. According to experts polled, maintaining communication is the primary challenge during a disaster. They stated the following major requirements were not met in a satisfactory way: Integration and linkage of information Fast data access Timeliness and updating of information Standardization of information Source: IEEE Workshop on Disaster Recovery Networks
Proposed communication architecture sketch Source: IEEE Workshop on Disaster Recovery Networks
Technology is a great enabler for new interoperability requirements Challenges remain on many fronts when integrating technology to operations Technology needs cash Technology increases the need for proper interagency preparedness & planning to improve joint response Source: IEEE Workshop on Disaster Recovery Networks
THANK YOU 9 th Annual EMAT Leadership Symposium (855) 900-3539 f.raveneau@basecampconnect.com www.basecampconnect.com STOP MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGE THE EMERGENCY