According to the federal government’s official emergency preparedness website Ready, technology is quickly becoming one of the most beneficial emergency management tools. Technological advancements aren’t only revolutionizing how people work and socialize, but also how they learn and communicate about emergencies.
Changing Roles
Historically speaking, technology allowed responders and organizations to communicate, store data and warn citizens. Today, technology-based solutions allow emergency managers across different organizations to preemptively keep each other in the loop and save the lives of victims impacted by disasters. Technology quickly restores connectivity to impacted areas by allowing government agencies to broadcast to citizens. Instead of phone systems being overloaded with frantic family members trying to find loved ones, there are technological alternatives such as email and texting. Within minutes of arriving at a disaster zone, responders use technological solutions to work efficiently, coordinate rescue missions and re-establish normalcy.
Disaster Predictions
Advanced software programs use modeling and statistics to better track, collect and analyze disaster data. Armed with this information, government decision makers can resolve chronic problems, develop better solutions and ultimately save more lives. For example, GPA based geographic hazard mapping empowers government agencies and emergency organizations to identify areas prone to natural disasters. As a result, geo-hazard maps are created and used to speed up recovery processes during natural disasters. Equally important, state and national leaders can use information obtained through big data analytics to synchronize organizational efforts.
Early Warning Systems
FEMA now offers a unique text messaging services that provides subscribers with updates regarding disasters and emergencies. Weather apps and web-based weather services, such as Intellicast and Accuweather, allow users to subscribe to emergency weather updates. The National Weather Services provides a resource list of over 50 text or email weather alert services. When it comes to helpful and lifesaving texts or emails from government agencies, recipients appreciate the opportunity to proactively protect themselves and their families.
The Cloud
The cloud is positively impacting emergency response organizations everywhere by transforming preparation activities and management responses. During disasters, telecommunications systems and equipment will be damaged and overload, which burdens emergency communication systems. However, cloud-based solutions solve this problem because data is virtually stored far away from the disaster and accessible around the clock. Even better, the scalability of cloud-based solutions is very flexible, which means that IT administrators can restrict online traffic and volume to help emergency responders.
The Benefits of Social Media
Social media platforms allow emergency response agencies to use Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to share valuable information about emergency preparedness. Social media is a platform for online communities to communicate and help each other. These virtual networks can be used to issue public warnings and raise awareness of potential problems. Social media allows first responders to receive messages from people who are trapped or injured. Social media platforms are basically mass-notification systems that can immediately push out vital information to people during an emergency.
Clearly, technology will continue to improve response times, optimize communication systems and streamline emergency management operations.