Mike, I would endorse your viewpoint based on a recent EMO event.
A major flood event in occurred in February 2004 in the lower North Island of New Zealand - this was New Zealand's single biggest natural disaster in terms of costs - thankfully, and somewhat amazingly no one lost their lives. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/2004024.html <-- Some good remote sensed images While things kicked in at the national level with all the resources that the State can draw on - at the local level it was a completely different matter. With limited staff resources that could be applied into the GIS area, those first days - and they were VERY long days - no-one works an eight hour day in an Emergency Management situation - being able to call upon outside GIS professionals would have been very beneficial - even if was do the very simple most basic of tasks such as printing of maps and just to assist where directed - It's all about delegation!!! While it is important to maintain standards and to document everything that gets done for the follow up de-brief and the learning curve that it provides, none of that can be done if your struggling with staffing and allocation with competing priorities. Regards Blair M. Rogers -----Original Message----- From: Michael Jenne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, 1 September 2005 11:15 a.m. To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Bagwell,Ross; Mapinfo List Subject: [SPAM]RE: MI-L Louisiana Brian, That's a good answer, and I'm sure that the federal agencies will tap into the GIS resources through the system that you describe. On the other hand, based on my experience working at the local level with emergency management, there are probably plenty of State, county, and local level agencies who would be very receptive to the helping hands offered by Ross and Eric. This would be particularly true in those areas that are hard hit but outside the major population centers like New Orleans, Gulfport, and Biloxi. While it would probably would be great to have GISTs that are trained to high standards available to all these communities in need, the reality is that most of the immediate federal assistance is going to go to those areas most prominent on the radar (and television) screens, and that there is probably many a small town mayor or local EMA director who would be delighted to get some mapping assistance regardless of whether or not it met exacting federal standards. GIS is an incredibly powerful technology for emergency management and disaster response, and I can't fathom any emergency response manager saying that they have all the GIS that they need, especially since (as Ross and Eric obviously understand) the GIS operators and machines don't necessarily have to be physically at the scene to be of assistance. Brian and Eric, regardless of whether you get an opportunity to help out, you did the right thing by stepping up when there was a potential need for your services. Thanks. Mike Jenne -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Aug 31, 2005 9:12 AM To: "Bagwell, Ross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Mapinfo List <[email protected]> Subject: RE: MI-L Louisiana Hello List, Just some FYI information. Although there may be a need right now, this type of info is probably being handled on the Federal Gov't end by the Incident Management Teams that are down their to provide relief. I myself am a federal GIST, recognized within the resource ordering system as one. You would have to be a GIST within ROSS and be made "available" to help. Even if you have years of experience, you can't just me made a GIST because there are protocols for data collection, naming conventions, etc. that are taught to GIST's. There was a huge need for GIS in the Columbia Space Shuttle response but I am not sure how much out of house personnel was used. That incident was managed in the same way the Katrina response is now. Also be aware that the federal standard for these type incidents is ArcGIS. I am not saying that there no chance your services might or can be used, just making the point of what is probably going on. On a side note, my wife is down there with a federal response team and they have no need for GIS services on their team at this time. Brian Van Druten (Embedded image moved to file: pic00491.jpg) "Bagwell, Ross" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] alaccess.net> To "Eric Gagnon" 08/31/2005 09:44 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Mapinfo AM List" <[email protected]> cc Subject RE: MI-L Louisiana This is good stuff, Eric. I would definitely be willing to donate my time... -Ross E. Bagwell GIS Manager Vanco USA www.vanco.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: Eric Gagnon [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 8:37 AM To: Mapinfo List Subject: MI-L Louisiana I was wondering... Would there be any GIS/Mapping agencies in the State of Louisiana that would need our help. Since they lost everything and probably don't have working computers. Would they need some help regarding cartography, number crunching or spatial analysis. Maybe we could somehow lend a hand. Just wondering. Eric Gagnon, B.Sc., GIS Specialist --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 17683 *************************************************************** Any opinions expressed in the email are those of the individual and not necessarily the company. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering it to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any dissemination, distribution, copying or use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, or if you are concerned with the content of this email please e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The contents of an attachment to this e-mail may contain software viruses which could damage your own computer system. While the sender has taken every reasonable precaution to minimise this risk, we cannot accept liability for any damage which you sustain as a result of software viruses. You should carry out your own virus checks before opening any attachments to this e-mail. --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 17685 --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 17696 --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 17700
