Four Key Challenges in Disaster Response

Abstract

This paper summarizes a project to explore challenges associated with information sharing in disaster response and identify innovative solutions. Challenges associate with domestic disaster response such as volunteer organizations are well-documented (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, 2011; Militello, Patterson, Bowman, Wears, 2007). To obtain a deeper understanding of these problems, we conducted several site visits to experience the environment in which these decisions are made. We identified four key challenges across these domains that must be addressed in order to improve training and operations: coordination among groups involved in the response, communication among these groups, timely information exchange, and effective information technology support for emergency responders in the field. As a potential solution, we conceptualized an integrated software package that combines the flexible capabilities of mobile applications for personnel with desktop software to be used in static planning to allow individuals to gather and distribute information, as well as query for specific information when needed. The envisioned tool would allow the State Emergency Operations Center to gather data from multiple sources. The software would organize information according to functional needs, providing easy access on demand for use by responders in a range of roles and settings.