Critigen

Sector: Emergency

State Emergency Mgmt Div.

Background

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is designed to allow hundreds of state and federal agency representatives to conduct the urgent business of disaster response and relief with minimum interference. But the EOC is only the face of the massive effort underway: they are in constant communication with 67 counties, numerous state agencies, and civilian organizations to accomplish their important goal of responding to numerous disasters scenarios.

Challenge

To manage the overwhelming logistical communication challenges involved specifically for a large southern state, the state's division of emergency management recognized the necessity for an efficient, robust disaster management solution. They required a tailored solution that would map to their business processes; they did not want a one-size-fits-all software package that would require them to alter the system that has worked so well for decades.

Solution

To manage the overwhelming logistical communication challenges involved specifically for this state, they engaged Critigen to build a Web-based collaboration tool that allows for the sharing of documentation related to specific incidents, such as hurricanes, wildfires, tornados, etc.

Result

Critigen created a secure web-based portal to meet the state's specific needs.

At first glance, the portal seems deceptively simple. However, it contains five tools that automate and integrate the work of thousands of people. It is comprised of a mission tracking tool, an Info tool, a Reports tool, an Essential Elements of Information (EEI) tool, and a Contacts tool. The Missions tool, which initiates, assigns, tasks, tracks, and helps bring a mission to completion, performs the bulk of the work. The Info tool provides the ability to request and respond to mission-related information. The EEI tool provides forms for collecting information from county-level emergency management on critical preparedness and response status factors, and assists the affected counties in assembling their situation reports. The Contacts tool provides a storehouse for personnel information.

The portal has become the state's first-tier response tool. It is in the process of weathering the state's third consecutive hurricane season without incident.