The course is designed to address preparation for natural and manmade disasters in which normal communications are often disrupted by system overload, weather conditions, or natural features such as terrain. Site selection, planning and design considerations, and the purposes and uses of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) will be featured, along with the requirements for interfacing between EOCs and the normal telephone and radio networks, including radio amateurs. Participants will tour several types of EOCs, communications centers, and commercial radio or television facilities. Special focus will be on methods of tracking and exchanging critical information prior to, during, and after an emergency, including use of computerized maps, data management, modeling and communications. The course will cover vulnerability assessment and telecommunications infrastructure development requirements for disaster-prone regions, and operational issues such as emergency access to telephone central offices and reordering of existing radio networks. Participants will be introduced to a wide range of new technologies including Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), wireless mobile and fixed satellite and terrestrial communications and remote sensing. Participants will be given the tools to help them evaluate which technologies will be of most potential use to them for a wide range of emergency situations including refugee management and terrorism.

Participant learning objectives include the ability to anticipate disaster-related communications needs and to develop an understanding of how to integrate available communications facilities and services into a disaster network.

Managerial, planning, preparedness and technology applications

August 18, 2000

August 21-25, 2000

Rockville, MD

K2-217, K2-218