American Red Cross Disaster Services Technology Disaster Services - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Disaster Services Technology American Red Cross Disaster Services Technology

Disaster Services Technology Summary • Disaster Services Technology volunteers are trained technology experts who ensure that the American Red Cross is successful in its mission to deliver aid and comfort to people who have been impacted by disasters.

Disaster Services Technology What is the Red Cross? • The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. • It is the designated US affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Disaster Services Technology American Red Cross services • Disaster relief • Health and safety training • Blood collection • Support of military families • International services

Disaster Services Technology Disaster Relief • Responds to more than 70,000 disasters each year. • Operates under a congressional charter. • Provides immediate care services such as shelter, clothing, food and water, mental health assistance, etc. • Assists in the transition back to normal life.

Disaster Services Technology Local Disaster Relief Operations • More than 650 local chapters provide the bulk of the Red Cross’s deployable volunteers and staff. • Local on-call Disaster Action Teams operate as first responders to local disasters. • House fires are the most common local disaster.

Disaster Services Technology National Disaster Relief Operations • After a large-scale disaster, or when one is anticipated, the Red Cross performs an impact assessment. • Based on that assessment, a national Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) may be declared. • At that point, national volunteers and supplies are dispatched to help manage the crisis.

Disaster Services Technology Activity Teams on DRO’s • Client Services – Casework, Recovery Planning, Health Services, etc. • Mass Care – Sheltering, Feeding, etc. • Planning – Disaster Assessment, etc. • Logistics • Disaster Services Technology • External Relations • Staff Services

Disaster Services Technology Disaster Services Technology DST is an internal support team responsible for providing and supporting technical services during a disaster. • Computer Operations • Communications • Networking • Customer Service

Disaster Services Technology During a DRO, DST turns this…

Disaster Services Technology …into this.

Disaster Services Technology DRO – Push Kits • The DST team on a DRO will be communicating with national DST. • National DST will immediately FedEx (yes, FedEx) a preassembled “push kit” of technology equipment from a warehouse in Austin to the new DRO’s ad-hoc operations center.

Disaster Services Technology DRO – Austin DSMC

Disaster Services Technology DRO – Push Kits

Disaster Services Technology DRO – Push Kits Common equipment includes: • Satellite internet dish, modem, etc. • Servers • Switches and routers • Laptops • VOIP phones • Cell phones • Laptops • Lots of cable

Disaster Services Technology Networking • Most Red Cross activities eventually require a phone, computer, and internet access. • Software systems play critical roles in our inventory processes, staffing processes, client data storage, client services, and most other activities.

Disaster Services Technology Networking • Large disasters often impact local internet service providers and computing facilities, so the Red Cross brings its own. • DST sets these systems up quite literally within hours of our arrival on a DRO.

Disaster Services Technology Networking – SurfBeam-2 • Our current deployable network system begins with the 30-lb airline-checkable SurfBeam-2 satellite dish.

Disaster Services Technology Networking – SurfBeam-2

Disaster Services Technology Networking – SurfBeam-2 • The SurfBeam-2 is set up in a designated and cordoned-off area and aimed a geostationary satellite. Alignment software is preinstalled on certain DST laptops. • The SurfBeam is then plugged into a ViaSat modem.

Disaster Services Technology Networking - ViaSat • Plugging the satellite modem into our push kit’s network router gives all of our systems immediate access to the Red Cross’s national DRO network. • By connecting large network switches to the router, we can then begin building a computer lab for the DRO’s headquarters.

Disaster Services Technology Networking - Switch

Disaster Services Technology Networking - Servers • The push kits also include network servers for handling local file storage and backup, network administration, DHCP IP configuration, and other tasks.

Disaster Services Technology Networking - Servers

Disaster Services Technology Computer Operations • The push kit also includes a large supply of preconfigured laptops, VOIP phones, and necessary peripherals. • This equipment is used to create numerous individual workstations throughout the operations center.

Disaster Services Technology Computer Operations

Disaster Services Technology Computer Operations

Disaster Services Technology Communications – VOIP • VOIP phones are used with the ViaSat system to provide communications between the local operations center and national resources. • VOIP phones need to be configured so that dialing 911 will reach the local dispatcher, as calls are otherwise automatically routed through our national operations center.

Disaster Services Technology Communications – ATA Fax • Push kits also include ATA Fax devices, which allow normal analog telephone devices to be connected to the Red Cross network, behaving as VOIP. • This allows us to use multifunction fax/ printer/scanner devices on our network.

Disaster Services Technology Communications - Cellular • Cell Phones are used with remote personnel, but are not always viable due to damaged local cellular networks. When the local networks are repaired or replaced, cell phones become the preferred tool.

Disaster Services Technology Communications - Satellite • Satellite Phones are available in DST push kits, and are authorized for use in some cases. • MSAT Fixed Site satellite phone systems are also available. MSAT’s use a remote satellite antenna, allowing use of multiple satellite phones within a building or other blocking structure.

Disaster Services Technology Communications - MSAT

Disaster Services Technology Communications - Radios • Push kits also include base, mobile, and handheld radios operated on VHF Low Band, 47.42 MHz. • Coax cables and base station antennas are included. • Our national call sign is currently KGB223.

Disaster Services Technology Communications - Radios

Disaster Services Technology Communications - DOIS • On a DRO, DST creates, distributes, and maintains a Disaster Operation Information Sheet, which is a phone and email directory for that DRO. • This is essential to ensuring clear lines of communication throughout the operation.

Disaster Services Technology Communications - DOIS

Disaster Services Technology Customer Service • As the resident technology experts on a DRO, DST is also responsible for running a help desk. • We provide support not just for our equipment, but for general technology assistance. • When we can’t solve a problem, we can get in touch with people who can, or provide alternatives. • “I can’t help you with that” is not in our vocabulary.

Disaster Services Technology Customer Service – Help Desk

Disaster Services Technology Networking - VSAT • Prior to the acquisition of the small ViaSat systems, we used larger VSAT terminals and satellite dishes. • These systems have now been demobilized.

Disaster Services Technology Networking - VSAT

Disaster Services Technology Networking - VSAT

Disaster Services Technology Emergency Communications Response Vehicles (ECRV’s) • Due to the size and complexity of the VSAT system, several were prepositioned throughout the country, attached to donated response vehicles with specially trained crews assigned to them. • The ECRV’s have since been deactivated, but served well for over a decade, participating in every major disaster relief operation and many minor DRO’s.

Disaster Services Technology ECRV’s

Disaster Services Technology ECRV’s In addition to VSAT dishes and modems, ECRV’s included a wide array of equipment: • 8,500 KWV generator • Monitor and GPS • 16 radio antennas and numerous radios • 52’ Will-Burt mast with 4 N-type RF cable runs • 10 Wi-Fi VOIP phones • 10 Wi-Fi laptops • 10 cellphones • 10 handheld UHF radios • 300’ Cat-5 cable • Pan-Tilt remote control camera • Frequency meter/SWR meter

Disaster Services Technology ECRV’s - Radios • ICOM IC-706MkIIG (HF/VHF/UHF) • 2 x Vertex VX-4000 (Low-Band VHF) • Midland 70-290 (CB) • 2 x Bendix-King GMH (VHF) • 2 x Bendix-King EMV (UHF) • 2 x Uniden BC780 XLT Scanner • Mitsubishi Satellite Phone • Blackberry 7290 • RELM RMU Plus (UHF) • Vertex FNB-29A Handheld (Low-Band VHF) • Motorola Micom 2E ALE (Channelized HF) • Kenwood TS-2000 (HF/VHF/UHF)