|
The Emergency Management Take: Winter 2019
|
|
 The Emergency Management Take by Lesia Dickson
Using advanced FirstNet tools
|
|
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) is starting the new year by highlighting new tools and enhancements for FirstNet subscribers. Read on to learn about how to effectively use them in emergency management.
New insights into the network status
One of the enhancements I’m most excited about is the Advanced Network View in the FirstNet Network Status Tool, which increases situational awareness for emergency managers. Launched in October 2019, this tool gives an agency’s FirstNet account administrators and other qualified agency personnel more visibility into the FirstNet network, including access to outage information for individual towers. This level of detail gives emergency managers important information about the current status of outages, established network coverage, and other real-time information.
As a previous emergency management professional, I would have been thrilled to use this tool. Going into an incident like a hurricane or wildland fire, an emergency manager has to make all types of logistical decisions. When deploying personnel or staging assets, you want to select locations you know have network coverage– or know that supplemental communications tools will the necessary. The Advanced Network View gives FirstNet subscribers real-time insight into impacted towers. That data can be used in conjunction with maps of available staging sites to help emergency managers make informed decisions.
Effectively using deployables
I always encourage emergency managers to learn about FirstNet deployables, which can be sent to planned events or large emergencies to boost coverage at no extra cost to subscribers. The current fleet has 76 deployables including three flying cell on wings, 72 satellite cell on light trucks, and one aerostat or blimp—and the deployable fleet is expanding.
Emergency managers also need to know how to effectively use deployables. I recently presented at the All-Hazards Incident Management Team Association (AHIMTA) Training & Education Symposium with some best practices for requesting deployables:
DO:
- Explain your communications needs. Specify why a deployable is being requested, where coverage is needed, numbers of users, types of devices, function of devices (voice calls, texts, apps, video feed, etc.)
- Provide incident conditions. Include environmental concerns, extreme cold or heat, high winds, potential hazards, and size of the incident site.
- Discuss terrain and access. Know if roadways are passable and if they have steep inclines, sharp curves, deep dips, or wash-outs. If deployable is to be placed on parking garage or other structure, know the clearance and turning radius. Is an escort required?
- Discuss site setup. Ensure the site is secure, level, consistently accessible, with a minimum 100-foot safety perimeter and a clear view of the southern sky for satellite connectivity.
- Coordinate with other jurisdictions. State emergency operation centers may be asked to deconflict requests from multiple jurisdictions because deployables are accessible to all FirstNet users in the area regardless of who makes request.
- Have Band 14 devices. FirstNet deployables are equipped with Band 14, which can be turned on for use by public safety only. Other bands can allow access by commercial traffic.
- Use FirstNet for hotspots. Connect non-FirstNet devices via WiFi to FirstNet hot spots in order to provide broadband access to smaller, localized groups such as incident command, staging sites, field medical operations, etc..
- Request early for planned events. 30-days advance notice is required.
DON’T
- Wait until disaster strikes. Plan for accessing and using FirstNet services before you need it.
- Specify a solution. Pre-supposing a solution may cause better alternatives to be overlooked.
- Monopolize resources. Be cognizant of the limited satellite bandwidth. Only use high bandwidth applications if necessary to the mission. Educate other users.
- Assume event request was made. Discussing an event with a FirstNet representative does not equal a request: always submit the form.
Your experience
What is your experience with using FirstNet in emergency management? I’d love to hear from you. Email me or find me at one of these upcoming events:
|
|
 Hitting one million FirstNet connections for more than 10,000 public safety agencies was a major milestone for FirstNet in 2019. Stay tuned for the exciting progress planned for 2020!
|
|
 With over 75% of the network built, FirstNet coverage and capacity continues to expand with new cell sites in Yamhill, OR, and Clinton, PA.
|
|
 FirstNet gives public safety its own fast lane during network congestion at events like the NFL’s Super Bowl, college football’s Iron Bowl, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame events.
|
|
 More than a broadband network, FirstNet is driving a new marketplace for public safety technology—with over 100 FirstNet Ready™ devices and 100 apps created for first responders.
|
|
Tech, Innovations, and Hot Topics in Emergency Management
Read what we’ve been hearing from public safety in the field about trends and drivers for emergency management and emergency communications.*
In the case of a public health crisis, like an anthrax attack or an influenza pandemic, a large number of people would need access to medication within a short timeframe. The Minnesota Department of Health has turned to technology to dispense meds during a pandemic. They developed a pair of apps to guide citizens through a screening process and to find a location dispensing the medicine. “The application is architected in such a way that it would support any scenario, any disease; you just have to provide the questions,” said Joseph Pugh, development operations supervisor with Minnesota IT Services. Minnesota will conduct a full scale exercise using the apps in June.
|
|
|
|
FirstNet's dedicated fleet of deployables provides coverage and capacity to public safety at no cost to FirstNet subscribers. FirstNet deployables have supported 450+ operations, including wildfires, hurricanes, search and rescue, large crowds, and flooding.
|
|
Lesia Dickson is an Area Director and the First Responder Network Authority Emergency Management Subject Matter Expert. Learn more about Lesia or email her with your questions. |
|
|
|
Top photo: FirstNet One – an approximately 55-foot aerostat – is the 76th deployable network asset to join the nationwide FirstNet fleet of deployables.
|
|
|
|
*FirstNet Authority may provide hyperlinks for third-party, non-governmental websites in order to offer additional context and added value for our users. FirstNet Authority does not endorse any product or service and is not responsible, nor can it guarantee the validity or timeliness of the content on hyperlinks outside of the federal government. In addition,users may wish to review privacy notices on non-government sites since their information collection practices may differ from ours.
|
|
|
|
|
