How Mobile Devices are Transforming Disaster Relief and Public Safety

With its growing usage, mobile technology is greatly improving disaster relief and public safety efforts. Countries around the world face threats from natural disasters, climate change, civil unrest, terrorist attacks, and criminal activities, among others. Mobile devices, tablets, and smart phones enable emergency providers and the general public to manage these challenges and mitigate public safety concerns.In this paper, part of the Brookings Mobile Economy Project, we focus on how mobile technology provides an early warning system, aids in emergency coordination, and improves public communications. In particular, we review how mobile devices assist with public safety, disaster planning, and crisis response. We explain how these devices are instrumental in the design and functioning of integrated, multi-layered communications networks. We demonstrate how they have helped save lives and ameliorate human suffering throughout the world

The story of a shooting: recommendations for more effective crisis communication

A crisis narrative is used to tell the story of a shooting at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri, United States. The story provides a learning experience for institutions as they seek best practices in handling crises. Although it appears that the university followed procedures correctly in dealing with this situation, questions linger as to whether administrators truly communicated effectively with students. Technology was used to warn students of potential danger, but not enough information was provided so students could deal on a personal level with the crisis. Face-to-face communication is important especially in a crisis to “soften” the blows of the situation

HSP: A Tool for Heat Stress Prevention for Farm Workers

We present the initial development of an integrated application for heat stress and heat related illness prevention in farm workers. In developing the application we have follow the OSHA guidelines and an extended project includes the social, cultural and economic factors of farm workers. Even though, our development focus is on workers in the California fields, we believe our project will be useful in multiple situations where individuals are exposed to extreme heat working conditions. This paper describes the motivation for our development, the overall approach we are following, and the first version of our application

The Cowl - v.79 - n.11 - Nov 20, 2014

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol 79 - No. 11 - November 20, 2014. 24 pages

CAMPUS SAFETY AND THE IMPACT OF EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMS

The purpose of this quantitative study is to understand the impact emergency alert systems have on campus safety for Rowan University members using a quantitative survey. With a need to examine how universities and campus communities react to emergency scenarios, this study will focus on the reactions of those at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey and how they respond to emergency alerts. Through the research completed, we will look into how community members of Rowan University view their safety on the Glassboro campus, the effectiveness of Rowan’s emergency alert systems, when Rowan sends out the emergency alerts, and how Rowan University community members react when the alerts are sent out. This study will provide insight on how Rowan University views public safety issues and how safety is viewed on Rowan’s Glassboro campus. The study also allows for a deeper understanding of what can be improved to allow for a safer campus community. Findings include the difference between how commuters and residential students view their safety on campus as well as the difference between how males and females view their safety on campus. Additional findings from the study also show the need for an increase in emergency preparedness lessons for campus community members and more detailed emergency alert notifications

Mobile Apps Catalog

The Mobile Apps Catalog is a collection of emergency management and assistive mobile applications intended to assist first responders, emergency managers, and the public, specifically people with disabilities or others with access and function needs. Highlighted in this catalog are readily available preparedness and response apps that can be accessed by wireless devices, as well as assistive resources to advance the usability of wireless devices for consumers with disabilities. The apps are also helpful for the whole community. “Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s “Whole Community” approach to emergency management recognizes that individuals, families and communities are assets and keys to success (Fugate 2011).

Exploring the Role of Communication in Crisis Readiness

The goal of this study was to examine the role of communication in campus crisis readiness at an institution of higher learning that experienced a major crisis. In order to have a good understanding of the issues, the challenges, and the breakthroughs, the researcher interviewed an institution’s executives who had emergency and crisis readiness responsibilities. This study was designed as a case study to gain an in depth understanding of what prevails based on three instruments: interviews, online questionnaire, and document analysis. This study involved eight interviewees in a sit-down interview and 21 respondents in an anonymous online questionnaire. Evidence indicates the institution has made significant strides in the areas of communicating with stakeholders, engaging and monitoring of the social media, and making extensive use of technology in building a culture of campus crisis readiness. Respondents credited leadership for taking decisive action after the previous incident that served as a turning point in the institution’s history of crisis readiness

Generic Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Plan for State-Level Transportation Agencies, Research Report 11-01

The Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20 (HSPD-20) requires all local, state, tribal and territorial government agencies, and private sector owners of critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) to create a Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Plan (COOP/COG). There is planning and training guidance for generic transportation agency COOP/COG work, and the Transportation Research Board has offered guidance for transportation organizations. However, the special concerns of the state-level transportation agency’s (State DOT’s) plan development are not included, notably the responsibilities for the entire State Highway System and the responsibility to support specific essential functions related to the State DOT Director’s role in the Governor’s cabinet. There is also no guidance on where the COOP/COG planning and organizing fits into the National Incident Management System (NIMS) at the local or state-level department or agency. This report covers the research conducted to determine how to integrate COOP/COG into the overall NIMS approach to emergency management, including a connection between the emergency operations center (EOC) and the COOP/COG activity. The first section is a presentation of the research and its findings and analysis. The second section provides training for the EOC staff of a state-level transportation agency, using a hybrid model of FEMA’s ICS and ESF approaches, including a complete set of EOC position checklists, and other training support material. The third section provides training for the COOP/COG Branch staff of a state-level transportation agency, including a set of personnel position descriptions for the COOP/COG Branch members