Author: Shane Schick
Date published: August 27, 2024
A flood or an earthquake can force mass evacuations with little notice. Fires can destroy homes and other critical infrastructure. The worst emergencies can lead to loss of life and prolonged economic upheaval.
So, how can technology help reduce the impact of natural disasters? Technology in emergency management plays a critical role to help first responders in the following ways.
As this report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) pointed out, advancements in digital tools and network communications can prove invaluable to first responders on multiple levels. This includes getting real-time information on the ground that can help guide immediate decision-making, as well as data that can be analyzed to improve efforts when disaster strikes again.
An effective emergency management program shouldn’t just be limited to responding to the crisis. Instead, public safety agencies have an opportunity to consider the role of emergency response technology long before a natural disaster begins, as well as how they conduct post mortems and in-depth analysis after the fact. This includes:
According to researchers in an article by Governing magazine, technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), coupled with sensors connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), could give first responders more time to plan their strategy and identify the fastest routes to an incident scene. This form of data analysis is particularly effective for natural disasters.
Drones can also be deployed to study conditions in advance of a potential disaster. This includes using them to measure changes in temperature, humidity and wind speeds, which might indicate the risk of a forest fire.
First responders can't afford to waste a second when they're on the scene of an emergency. That's why they need to ensure they have connectivity solutions in place that operate at a higher level of performance than traditional IT or consumer technology.
LTE connections like wireless priority service, mobile broadband priority service and preemption are examples of emergency response technology where public safety teams can depend on greater reliability to voice calls and the ability to share critical data.
It's not just a question of staying connected, of course. We need to ask: How can technology help reduce the impact of natural disasters? This is where identifying and deploying the right mix of applications can help. Team members can save time dialing by having a single number for both smartphones and desk phones, for instance. Push to talk (PTT) services can also streamline workflows by making it possible to reach out to team members with a simple button.
Telematics applications can help manage the safety of fleets in transit. A device can collect GPS (global positioning system) data as well as an array of other vehicle-specific data and transmits it via GPRS (general packet radio service), 4G mobile data and cellular network or satellite communication to a centralized server. A GPS receiver downloads information from GPS satellites and processes it for use with applications such as driver GPS navigation systems. It also transmits that information via GPRS to the web servers where it can be used to optimize dispatch. Other benefits include helping to reroute vehicles as well as track assets.
In July 2021, Verizon Frontline unveiled the Tactical Humanitarian Operations Response (THOR) vehicle, a rapid-response command center built with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and mobile edge computing, which made quite a splash. This prototype opens the door to public safety agencies and military that work in remote locations without connectivity or that could have been affected by a power outage. Thor can power mission-critical applications and to help first responders communicate on demand and in near real-time.
The command vehicle is designed to maintain connectivity under nearly any condition and has the ability to integrate with commercial drone applications. THOR is also equipped with a tethered drone for risk assessment and disaster response.
And, in the latest in its line of next-generation public safety communications innovations and emergency response technology, Verizon introduced THOR's Hammer, a 30-foot trailer that can serve as a standalone (SA) or non-stand alone (NSA) private 5G network, which can be managed from inside the trailer. For example, THOR’s Hammer could be positioned at an emergency operations center while THOR moves deep into a forest during a response effort. THOR’s Hammer is built to leverage the network and technology of Verizon Frontline, including Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband (UW), along with additional applications and advanced computing solutions such as network slicing capabilities.
Tornados, tropical storms and other extreme weather incidents can leave people scrambling to get out of harm's way, but they don't always have the time or resources they need. That means public safety agencies have to strike a delicate balance between coordinating effective search and rescue missions while limiting the risks to first responders' lives. Additional helpful technology in emergency management include:
Near real-time data provided by search and rescue drones provides first responders with a better understanding of the searchable area. Enhanced data capabilities can help lead to informed decisions about how and where to deploy SAR crews.
Thermal imaging cameras can help crews locate missing persons by tracking the heat signature and send data provided to ground crews in near real-time. In Utah, a drone pilot using thermal imaging was able to find a lost hiker in 10 minutes.
Most drones are equipped with spotlights that can flood an area with light and help first responders pinpoint the exact location of a victim. When a teenage kayaker became lost in a dense swamp section of a Rhode Island river that made it difficult for rescue crews to reach her, a drone's spotlight helped lead her back up the river to a location where first responders were waiting.
Drones for search and rescue operations can also help protect the health and safety of ground crews by replacing traditionally human-reported data with near real-time aerial data. When a snowboarder required rescue at North Fork Park in Utah, a drone helped quickly find the man and helped map out a safe path that was sent to rescuers' phones.
One of the biggest impacts of drone use in search and rescue operations is the ability to deliver resources or supplies to waiting victims or rescue crews on the ground. In June 2021, a drone delivered a life jacket to a woman clinging to a log in the river as rescue crews were making their way to her.
After action reports can involve exploring some of the root causes behind a disaster, as well as evaluating the way public safety teams responded. An analytical review can help foster improvements for the next disaster.
It's also important to examine what technologies worked best, and where improvements can be made. Hurricane Ida, for instance, was a lesson in the durability of radios when power systems went down.
How can technology help reduce the impact of natural disasters? In more ways than you ever thought possible. Building greater resilience post-disaster should also involve working with a trusted partner that has a proven track record in helping public safety agencies boost employee responsiveness and collaboration.
Discover Verizon's emergency response technology available to support public safety today.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.