Digital cameras and remote server storage for pre-disaster household inventories

We live today in a very advanced technology age. Almost everything done nowadays is stored in electronic format. We electronically store our wedding, vacation, family pictures, word documents, spreadsheets, databases, and maybe even genealogy information on hard drives, CD or thumb drives.

We store important paper documents like birth certificates, passports, and social security cards either in our homes in a fireproof safe or at a safe deposit box at a bank. Things that we tend to leave in our homes are marriage licenses, diplomas, artwork, our clothes, furniture, electronic devices like our computers, laptops, tools, cell phones or PDA’s, and vehicles which includes; boats, cars, ATV’s, motor cycles, or even a motor home. If we take inventory of our possessions, we usually take digital pictures and store them in electronic format on our hard drives or make data CD’s. Taking these CD’s to a safe deposit box every time we acquire something new is not done on a regular basis, and we tend to just leave them at home in a draw.

The inherent flaw in all of this is what happens to all those pictures and CDs’ if our home was to be destroyed by a flood, fire or tornado. The most logical answer is that we lose all the proof of what we ever had if we are to be reimbursed by our insurance companies. We have to be able to prove what our possessions were like before the catastrophe, but you say I stored my digital CD’s at my safe deposit box at the bank. Banks just like homes can be destroyed in a community as in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina or during September 11, 2001 in New York City when the twin towers were brought down by a terrorist act.

Businesses have been using remote server storage for a while, not only for important documents but also as a way of expanding their disk space without really buying new hard drives. WindowsNetworking.com has an excellent article on the use of remote server storage for businesses at http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Using-Remote-Storage-Extend-Available-Storage-Space.html.

You are saying to yourself I am not a big business, and I do not need a terabyte of remote server storage space. You would be right, and because businesses have been using this technology for some time, other companies have discovered that homeowners might have a need to have access to store important data on a secure remote server storage system. You might be running a small business out of your home but with a much smaller amount of drive space needed. You would still need to safeguard data and have photos of machines or inventory.

What is remote server storage? In plain terms it is the ability through software that you purchased from a reputable company and load on your computer to give you the ability to backup data from your PC to a remote server securely. I emphasize securely here because if the company does not have at least 128-bit encryption and preferably 256-bit encryption your data has a good chance of being hacked or stolen.

How much it costs depends on how much data you want to back up and store. Microsoft Vista Ultimate and Business has a backup feature included in those versions, and it is free. Here is the site for the information about Windows backup at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/features/backup.aspx

One of the online remote server storage companies is NetMass, and they have a solution where you can backup 250 MB of files for only $4.95 per month. Of course the more you want to backup the more it will cost, but then how much is your data worth to you. Here is the link to the PC backup service they offer at http://www.netmass.com/olb_overview.html



Picture retrieved September 12, 2008 from NetMass at http://www.netmass.com/olb_overview.html



Other companies that offer remote server storage services are:

http://www.symantec.com/business/online-backup
http://www.idrive.com/
http://www.memopal.com/en/
http://free-backup.info/online-storage-and-remote-backup.html
http://www.intronis.com/?gclid=CMD8wtno1JUCFQ8QagodbFUHXg
http://www.remotedatastorage.net/index.asp?idName=Home
http://www.tatacommunications.com/ads/data-storage.html?gclid=CNC-yf7o1JUCFQM-gwodSR7oXw


In my own case, I would want to document what I own, so that if a disaster occurred I would have proof that I actually owned what I am telling the insurance company I own. I also have scanned in important documents that I would want safeguarded and be available anywhere in the world like a copy of a passport, driver license, and birth certificate to be able to prove my identity in the event I lose my identification in a foreign country.

These are some of the things that I have taken digital photos of for insurance purposes:






This last picture is of something that to me is irreplaceable, as it took me over two years to build it, four years to find it, and I needed very good documentation of the restoration for the insurance company for what it is insured for. In case you do not know what type car this is, it is a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback GT A-code with a four speed with special factory options that has not only been restored but also made better and safer with today’s technology.




You must remember to catalog and update with photos of what you own, or cherish. You must store them in a safe and secured place in the event of disaster. A place where you can retrieve your inventory catalog and documents worldwide from a remote server storage system like the ones I mentioned.

Public Water System Damage Assessment

There are 3 assessment types with purpose to assess the level of damage to human safety & property; and need & eligibility for State and Federal response & recovery assistance which includes funding.

· Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA)
· Initial Damage Assessment (IDA)
· Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA)

RNA and IDA can be combined with PDA. IDA determines emergency response cost and disaster damage evaluation of infrastructure. PDA is the local, State and Federal governments working together as a team.

DOCUMENTATION, DOCUMENTATION is needed for resources such as funding from the State and Federal government. Photos are worth a thousand words where only a few will do. Photos with GPS and clear written location for each photo are needed to ensure timely reimbursement. Digital photos provides information much information faster than developing film.

During Katrina it was total chaos, you couldn’t find water systems where they should have been, and water operators were missing. This GIS map was later developed to keep track of systems. I remember one day we left command post and in 10 minutes we were lost for about 1 hour. I knew the way back but we had a very hard time finding our locations.

The assessments are based on three damage categories, destroyed (structure is lost), major (extensive repairs are needed) and minor (minor repairs are necessary). Public water systems are also determined based on fully operational, operating under boil order, not operational and unknown. This includes assessing sanitary aspects of critical facilities. Signs of flood water could include discolored water, damaged hatches or equipment.

The following photos should be taken for structural damage and signs of water intrusion: Water sources such as wells because additional treatment may be needed; Treatment units, clearwells and storage tanks can be determine whether you have the ability to bypass portions of your treatment train and whether doing so would render the water unsafe to drink; and the Distribution system for failure and low pressure which an boil order will be needed.

This pump house is in need of repairs or possible replacement. Bleach was used to try to clean the pipes but inside needed more than bleach.

However, water systems can also be damaged due to lack of resources to manage the facilities by upgrading the system.

Lessons learned from Ground Zero http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=6501464

U.S. EPA response to Hurricanes in 2005 can be found at http://www.epa.gov/katrina/

Assessment forms can be found at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/eop/index.html

Transportation Security & Digital Media

by Joey Matthews- ETM 567

In recent years, digital cameras and media have become integrated into our way of life. Everything from handheld digital cameras to cameras and video recorders attached to cellular phones has become second nature to many citizens across the globe. The American roadway is no exception to this, with freeway and roadway cameras being integrated across much of the country. While some may argue it is just another mechanism for “Big Brother” to watch your every step, these cameras can actually play a vital role in emergency management and response.






We all see them at varying intersections. But are they good, or bad? Turns out, they can be used to monitor traffic conditions using real time video and pictures. This can give managers the edge, and help communicate information to people on where to go. The end result: save lives and time.

In addition to digital cameras and videos, digital displays placed on streets can be used to convey vital information to motorists. When activated, these displayed boards can warn citizens of any incidents, and direct them where to go.

Emergency management for transportation comes into play for all levels, and that includes local government as well. In Phoenix, AZ, the City has a Street Transportation Department. Part of their function is to monitor traffic conditions throughout the city, and maintain roads throughout the city. By doing this, they ensure people can travel safely, and get from place to place in a timely manner. During an emergency or disaster, the information and statistics provided by this department would come into play, as they keep records on what streets are in good condition, prone to flooding, and are used or receive heavy traffic conditions on given times of day. By using this information, managers can best plan and communicate to the appropriate areas the safest and fastest travel routes for citizens. One example is shown here, the average Phoenix street volume map, showing the average vehicle load per street in the city.

http://phoenix.gov/STREETS/counts.html

The new Valley Light Rail system will be no stranger to security. In addition to rail cars to worry about, there will be human traffic as well to monitor. All of these factors will be taken into account by emergency managers when working on preventing any potential disasters. Much like the streets of our city’s and freeways, a camera security system is in place, monitoring the rail’s system every move, and ensuring that no incidents occur. If any accidents or deliberate events did occur, the security system would be able to quickly pinpoint it, and a response could occur immediately. For more information on Phoenix's new Light Rail system, check out this link. http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/ Seen below is a light rail station in Phoenix about to open, with camera system in place.

Digital technology will continue to play a major role in transportaion, and with these valuable tools, we will see increased security, and safer, more efficient roadways.

Responding to Sewer Overflows

When ensuring public health and safety of the environment the sanitary sewer system is overlooked as an emergency response situation. When a sewer line is blocked from debris or rocks within a sewer pipe an operation staff has limited time to respond. One may ask why invest into the cause of a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). The answer s is simple – an SSO not only impacts unwanted sewage in a public place, but the SSO may impact drinking water if the SSO is occurs near a public well. A potential disease outbreak may occur for the public when an SSO occurs near a river or stream. The SSO may also indicate damage to sewer line and replacement of the line may be needed. “EPA estimates that there are at least 40,000 SSOs each year. The untreated sewage from these overflows can contaminate our waters, causing serious water quality problems. It can also back-up into basements, causing property damage and threatening public health.” EPA Sanitary Sewer Overflows - Office of Wastewater Management . These are just some of the reasons EPA has sited into developing a program not only to manage a sewer system, but respond to emergency such as an SSO. http://www.epa.gov/npdes/sso/control/index.htm

An SSO typically comes through a manhole and is the first indication to an operator an SSO is occurring. As demonstrated in the photo, the City of San Diego uses digital photos not only train personnel, also to estimate total volume of sewage spilled. Once an SSO has occurred a vacuum truck is sent to restore flows to the system. A vacuum truck that is used for routine cleaning and during an emergency situation involving sewer it becomes a response vehicle. Once flow has been restored the investigation into the probable cause starts. Documentation using photos has been conducted for years, but with the use of technology this has become even more intricate. Today a Closed Caption Television (CCTV) is used to capture video or digital pictures for the use investigating if the sewer system is functioning properly after a SSO event. The camera is sent down the sewer through a manhole. The operator is looking into the system integrity to find if the sewer pipe is damaged or the block occurred from large foreign debris such as rocks. Depending on the findings the sewer system maybe dug up and repaired or not further action may be needed. Capturing what the operator saw with a digital photo documents the situation which is used by operations, regulators and engineers to determine the proper course of action.

The use of photo documentation not only helps in day to day operations, but also assists in emergency responses. By using digital photos in sewer overflows, this has helped in determining the probable cause and next course of action to avoid the same situation at a particular site.

References:

Rosenberg, M., Vian, K. Sanitary Sewer Flow Estimation. Presented at Tri-State Seminar Septmber 29, 2006

EPA Sanitary Sewer Overflows - Office of Wastewater Management

http://www.epa.gov/npdes/sso/control/index.htm

MIHS Disaster Drill Scenario, 10 Sept. 2008

Maricopa County Hospital

Disaster Drill Scenario

by: Jayne Abraham, ETM567, ASU Polytechnic College of Technology and Information

On an ordinary 100 degree day in the valley of the sun, Metropolitan Phoenix experienced a specialized Emergency Management Disaster Drill at the county hospital. A mock episode was played out using the premise of an airplane which had crashed at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, which was containing radioactive substances. The hospital emergency department was notified of several incoming patients with exposure to radioactive substances, and they were advised to set up their decontamination tents and prepare for the incoming wounded.

This video link recovered from MyFox Phoenix 10 on 12 September, 2008 is a visualization of the activities which occur during the preparation for the casualties. http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=AA4FC30B952F717DFA173785CB0062E0?contentId=7399582&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

With the location of this hospital in close proximity to Phoenix Sky Harbor, evacuation to this facility is realistic and disaster preparedness training for such events is taken very seriously. During the scenario, several patients were treated and run through the decontamination process. The hospital runs these exercise scenarios often, and reviews any issues at the debriefing meeting which may need additional attention or modification to standard operational procedures.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Maricopa+Medical+Center&sll=33.4573,-112.026901&sspn=0.003316,0.007741&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=33.448022,-112.010679&spn=0.027715,0.046864&z=15&iwloc=addr

The staff roles in these scenarios are basic incident command structured positions with available personnel fitting into the pre-determined roles for the event. Cross training is an important factor in disaster response as bringing a host of skills, knowledge and abilities to the table shows value and experience when most needed.

References:

Maricopa Medical Center:

http://www.mihs.org/images_content/FrontPage001_170x100.jpg

Handheld Geiger counter:

http://www.casanovasadventures.com/catalog/metaldetector/HaysHGC-2web.JPG

Decontamination Tent:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonianspecial/2007/10/large_tent2.JPG