Greg Tune, Lead Program Manager, Disaster Assessment/GIS
Technology Response to
Hurricane Katrina and Rita
Unprecedented Response
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Unprecedented Response
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Voice Communications
• 19,000 plus cell phones in use from various vendors
• Three Hundred Eight-Nine orders were placed for T-1
connections in shelters for family linking and
communication
• NCS - Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)
proved invaluable in completing these orders, most of
which were handled in 12 hours or less instead of the
normal days or weeks.
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Voice Communications
• The Red Cross VSAT system terminated about
5,000 phone calls a week at the height of the
response
• An additional 3,000 phones calls were terminated
daily from the shelters with service and technology
donated by CISCO
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Collaboration
• A multi-vendor task force was convened by
the Red Cross to address the communication
needs of the over-whelming number of
shelters in the affected region.
• Partners included: CISCO, SBC, Avaya,
Microsoft, Intel, AMD and others.
• Over 10 million dollars worth of service and
equipment was donated
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Portable and Handheld Voice Satellite
• 500+ units deployed during the response to Katrina/Rita
• Provided instant logistical communications for supplies
• Multi-vendors used to prevent network overload
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Mobile Satellite Data
• 50+ Automatic Vehicle Location units
• Mobile Data Terminals in feeding units and kitchens
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Nurses & Security
Guards on the way
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
VSAT Network
• 80 node VSAT network
• Terminating 5,000+ telephone calls per week
• Providing office like technologies such as e-mail, fax, web
based applications and videoconferencing
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
VSAT Network Overview
• 2 LES located in Falls Church, VA and Austin, TX
• TDMA Network utilizing iDirect technology
• Currently allocated 9.6Mhz of bandwidth on
PanAmSat Galaxy 10R
• 24/7 Network Operation Center staffed primarily by
volunteers.
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Office like environment via Satellite
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Family Linking Via Satellite
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Diaspora led to need for non-traditional system
Collaboration with ICRC on initial website
800-LOVED-1s
Deployment of staff with cell and satellite phones to shelters
Katrinasafe.org
– Collaboration with Microsoft and San Diego
Supercomputer Center
– Gathered data from multitude of websites
• Results (11/02/05)
– Over 333,850 evacuee records on Katrinasafe.org
– Over 214,200 calls
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
VSAT Platforms
• Mobile (Emergency Communications Response Vehicles)
• Quick Deploy
• Fixed
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Extending 2-way Radio using satellite
WWL-TV
New Orleans
VSAT @ 500’
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
• Twelve 2-way radio sites installed and linked
via satellite using TelexVega VoIP Products
• Coverage from Mobile Bay to Jasper TX
• Utilized donated commercial tower space
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Disaster & Welfare Broadcast
• Utilized XM technology to
disseminate important Client & Staff
Updates
• DIRECTV provided 24/7 “Hurricane
Katrina / Rita Information” Channel
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Volunteers are the key to the Response
• The Response Technology Team utilizes Volunteers
with a technology background to deploy, manage,
and support all aspects of satellite communications.
• Volunteers go through a 40-50 hour training session
covering many technology solutions that can be
used in the relief operation
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
GIS via Satellite
remote sensing
data from
FEMA/NGA
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
GIS data was
available via
the web
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Google Earth
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Communication Support
• Slidell, LA – Approximately 20 hours after
power and all communications was lost, a
Red Cross ECRV arrived and provided
communications capabilities for the entire
parish for two and a half weeks.
• Support was provided for the Mayor, Fire,
Police and other departments critical to the
response.
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Issues
• Availability of additional equipment & activation
can be overwhelmed
• Long-term power outages/Lack of Fuel for
Generators
• VSAT interoperability between partner agency to
allow shared use of resources
• Flexibility for changing user needs & circumstances
• KISS
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University
Response Technology Partners:
National Conference on Emergency Communications Systems, George Washington University