UCS can alert the public to a situation, provide instructions, and also offer an inbound hotline for further information. The system has a sophisticated mapping module that allows for geo-targeted alerting. UCS meets and even exceeds NENA standards for an emergency alerting and notification system. UCS can be used for many applications:
Hurricane evacuation
- State and local Emergency Management officials use the system’s mapping capabilities to identify the persons living in vulnerable coastal areas to be affected by the hurricane surge.
- The notice of evacuation is given. Persons are asked by the automated system if they need assistance with transportation. The phone numbers of those requiring assistance are captured and called back to make arrangements.
- Those self-evacuating can call into a designated hotline, say their zip code and be told their evacuation route. After being evacuated, evacuees without a place to stay can call into the system to learn the location of the nearest open shelter.
- Post-hurricane notification is also critical. Public officials in hurricane states know that it is a significant challenge to be able to tell people when it is safe to return. Some areas may still be under water, some under Marshall Law, still others without potable water or utilities.
- An automated inbound telephone notification system can let evacuated citizens know by zip code or even street address the conditions in their areas and when it would be safe to return.
Water Contamination
A leak occurs in a major water tank line in a reservoir servicing a major metropolitan area. Use of this tap water without boiling it can result in intestinal illness. Particularly at risk are children and the elderly.
- UCS can be used to issue a boil water alert.
- A geo-coded online map of the area’s water distribution lines is used as a guide to precisely identify the area affected.
- UCS’s geo-coded mapping system generates a list of phone numbers and calls all affected households.
- Citizens’ inbound calls to the water department for additional information are diverted to the UCS inbound system, avoiding strain on agency resources.
- When the boil water alert ends, out dial calls reassure residents that their water is now safe to drink.
Smallpox Outbreak
It is determined that, either as a result of terror or natural causes, an outbreak of Smallpox (10 cases) has occurred in a Midwestern city. Unfortunately, most physicians have never seen Smallpox outside of medical textbooks.
- To alert physicians to be on the lookout for cases, out dial calls are made using UCS by the State Health Department.
- Physicians are instructed to read a fax or email, sent simultaneously with the call, containing the photographs of the symptomology of the disease.
- The physician calls into an 800 number and enters a unique code (license number, etc.) to confirm he has read the fax/email.
- If the physician has further questions or believes he may have treated a case, he presses the # key and is transferred into a conference bridge with other State Health Department officials.
- UCS can display call results on a map – even as calls are being returned. This can potentially aid health officials in identifying the spread of the disease.
Train Wreck/ Chemical Spill
A train carrying a variety of toxic and volatile chemicals derails. Several chemicals ignite and create clouds of toxic smoke. Perchloroethylene, an industrial solvent and carcinogen, flows into a stream near the tracks and vapors fill the air. Two tank cars containing anhydrous ammonia and muric acid respectively are in danger of being breached by fire.
- Using UCS, EMA officials use a geo-coded computer map to generate evacuation call lists. Some residents are called to evacuate; others shelter in place. The NTNS mapping function provides the most effective evacuation route for each household and business.
- UCS is also used to mobilize first responder police and fire. First contacting Transcaer as to the chemicals and the nature of their effects, UCS then uses phone, fax, email and text alerts to communicate instructions to those on the ground, who are attempting to contain the situation.
- Using a water line map overlay fed into the UCS geo-mapping system, call lists are generated. Then “Don’t drink the water” calls are made to those residents whose water may be contaminated by the perchloroethylene.
Abducted Child
A 2-year old boy is abducted in Virginia, and reportedly spotted with his kidnapper in Kentucky.
- The Frankfort, Kentucky EMA uses UCS’s GIS-Mapping function to define a 2-mile radius from the pair’s location.
- The Mapping program automatically generates a list of all phone numbers within that radius.
- The system calls more than 3,000 residences and businesses, giving a description and asking people to call 9-1-1 if they see the pair.
- Within 20 minutes, several calls come into the 9-1-1 center. Police quickly apprehend the kidnapper and recover the child.
- This event occurred September 29, 2006.Please see the story.
Missing Child Press Release
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