Good morning. My Name is Sean McSpaden. I serve as Oregons Deputy g - - PDF document

Good morning. My Name is Sean McSpaden. I serve as Oregon’s Deputy g y p g p y State Chief Information Officer and as the Chair for the Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot’s Technical Working Group. On behalf of Oregon’s Adjutant General – Major General Raymond Rees, Oregon Emergency Management Director – Brigadier General Mike Caldwell, g g y g g the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate and the Virtual USA Pilot Member States it’s a pleasure to be with you all today to give you an overview of our collective progress over the past few years. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Over the next hour or so, I plan to:

• Outline a series of issues and problems that we face and some

potential solutions we could pursue as a nation

• Provide an overview of Virtual USA, the Generation III Prototype,

and the Regional Pilots that have been conducted to date in the and the Regional Pilots that have been conducted to date in the Southeast and Pacific Northwest regions since 2009

• And, close the presentation and give you all an opportunity to ask

any questions you may have. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Across the nation Emergency Managers and First Responders are confronted with an inability to access and share information within and across jurisdictions in real or near real time The operating environment for most is “Closed” and Siloed” The operating environment for most is Closed and Siloed . Systems and data are developed, managed and accessible to a limited few A series of known barriers limit effective information sharing at all g levels of government and with the public. All of this results in a siloed use of resources that significantly impedes the entire community’s ability to save lives and property. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

I’ve talked briefly about these issues from a National Perspective. y p Now I’d like to bring things down to the state level and provide some additional context by showing you a brief 5 Minute video focused on Virginia’s VIPER system (which stands for the Virginia Interoperability Picture for Emergency Response). g y p Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Even though these issues and problems can be addressed, as the VIPER videso h h i l f i h h i N Sil B ll T h l S l i shows, the simple fact is that there is No Silver Bullet Technology Solution out there for us all. Unfortunately, we all must travel down a much harder and more complicated road. Taking the Guidance provided by Safecom’s Interoperability Continuum to heart….. Without governance, policy, standard operating procedures, training & exercise and other non‐technical aspects of a solution, the best technology in the world WILL NOT create a more effective and open operational environment. p p Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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So what are some potential solutions we could look to implement to enhance p p cross jurisdictional information sharing and help create a Common Operating Picture? Create a Single National System that ALL must use? Align with the FEMA Regions concept and create 10 Regional Systems that ALL Align with the FEMA Regions concept and create 10 Regional Systems that ALL must use? OR Should we pursue and alternative path…. A path where we collaborate regionally and across the nation to create a Trusted information sharing capability, focused on leveraging existing systems and frameworks, so that ALL can access and use the capability on a daily basis? Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

An extended group of partners across the nation at all levels of government g p p g are working to develop and sustain that Trusted Information Sharing Capability through the Virtual USA Initiative. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

So What is Virtual USA…. REALLY?

• Virtual USA is a web‐based information sharing capability that enables users to access

and integrate public, multi‐jurisdictional, and private sector information

• Virtual USA is a dynamic catalog/library of web links that enables users to access data

that others within their state, region or across the nation have contributed to help improve situational awareness and enhance decision‐making

• Virtual USA allows users to share information with other designated users when they

want, with whom they want, for how long they want and in the form they want.

• Similarly it allows recipients of information to access and view information relevant to

them in the form that they want to see it. To be clear… Virtual USA is NOT….

• A federal mandate. Participation is completely voluntary and is practitioner driven.
• A data warehouse or geospatial platform (although it could be used as a disaster

recovery/business continuity option if existing systems fail)

• A duplication of other DHS or FEMA GIS systems initiatives and, in my view, should be

d l d bl b l l k viewed as a complementary and enabling capability to initiatives like SAVER, UICDS, DHS Earth, HSIN, etc.

• Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Virtual USA is built on the Core Principles that: p

• Events/disasters are local
• Response is local
• Most valuable Data/Information is Local

Those statements are validated by figures provided by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Alabama statistics highlight that, historically, for 87% of critical incidents, only locals get involved and Federal agencies get involved less than 2% of the time.

• Finally, Local practitioner needs must drive solutions and any solutions we

deploy must integrate with local systems used by operators on a daily basis.

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Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

In order to effectively share information between the Local, State, y , , Regional Tribal and National Emergency Management Communities, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, First Responder Technologies Division has created the Virtual USA Information Sharing Environment. Important Note: Practitioner/operator input has driven all development to this point in time. That practice and philosophy must continue to ensure Virtual USA’s ultimate success. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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After login, this is the user home screen. g , As you can see 19 states (in the Southeast, Midwest and Pacific NW regions currently have access to the site). In addition, FEMA Headquarters, FEMA regions IV and VI, Coast Guard, Health and Human Services, National Guard Bureau, NORTHCOM, US Geological Survey and a select group of private sector companies also have access. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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A Virtual USA user would use this screen and a three step workflow to p post a data feed (along with appropriate metadata about the feed). A similar screen and process are used when a user needs to upload a document, file or data set (although posting of URLs to data feeds is the preferred/predominate method of data sharing within Virtual USA) preferred/predominate method of data sharing within Virtual USA) Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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This is the data catalog/libraries section of Virtual USA. g/ Users are able to upload data sets or, preferably, URL (web site addresses) to data feeds for information sharing with specific

• rganizations, users registered under certain roles, or to make

information available as a common data feed to the entire Virtual USA community. Again, users are able to determine what that want to share, when, with whom, and for how long. I dditi bl t dd d t t /URL t d t t th h In addition, users are able to add datasets/URLs to datasets they have access to within Virtual USA to their “My Library”. I’ll come back to the significance of the “My Library” later in the presentation.

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Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Virtual USA provides users with two flavors of a basic viewing capability p g p y (Google Earth and ESRI Adobe Flex) so users can see information on a map prior to download. As I mentioned earlier – although Virtual USA is not meant to be used as a jurisdiction’s primary Geospatial Platform/viewer these basic viewers within Virtual USA could be used as a disaster recovery/business continuity option if Virtual USA could be used as a disaster recovery/business continuity option if existing systems fail or are inaccessible for some reason. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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A key enhancement to Virtual USA was made during the run up to the y g p December 2010 Pacific Northwest Pilot Demonstration. The enhancement took the form of a “My Library” Widget/Applet that was not only accessible within Virtual USA as depicted in this screenshot but could also be connected within a jurisdiction’s primary geospatial but could also be connected within a jurisdiction s primary geospatial platform or viewer. Once the widget/applet is connected ‐ a user organization has direct access to all the data, data feeds, documents, URLs, present within their Virtual USA My Library…NATIVELY within their own viewer. I’ll share various implementations of the use of the My Library widget later in the presentation.

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Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

This is the vUSA Resources Section. From this screen, Users can access:

• Code and instructions for installation of the vUSA My Library

Widget/Applet

• An overview of the vUSA Geofinder for the Environment (GFE) URL

masking/security tool

• A vUSA Generation III Prototype Users Guide
• A vUSA Generation III Prototype Users Guide
• Copies of the Southeast and PNW Regional Pilot MOAs, and
• Virtual USA Terms of Use for Federal Agency Access to Virtual USA

Note: A National User Agreement has been developed and will be available to all Federal, Tribal, State, Local Government and private sector entities involved in emergency management/response in the very near future. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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I’ve provided this slide as a recap of the key components/facets of Virtual p p y p USA. Bottom Line ‐ Virtual USA is a viable National Solution available to all of us…right now, today! Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>> Next Slide >>>>

At this point in the presentation I’d like to talk about the Virtual USA Regional p p g Pilots. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

The Southeast Regional Operations Platform Pilot (ROPP) successfully completed its Phase I demonstration in November 2009. In the beginning, only two pilot participants had their own geospatial platform/viewer. Today, all 10 have that capability in place. The Pacific Northwest Pilot successfully completed its Phase I Demonstration roughly a year later in December 2010. Four (4) of the Five (5) states not have their own geospatial platform/viewer in place. New England: Work continues to form/conduct a pilot with six (6) New England states although a firm kickoff or projected demonstration milestone England states although a firm kickoff or projected demonstration milestone date has not yet been scheduled. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Each of the Virtual USA Regional Pilots was conducted with a common set of g purposes in mind. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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In addition, both regional pilots conducted to date followed common steps g p p and were designed to reach certain milestones prior to completion. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

As I said earlier, the Southeast region successfully completed its capstone g y p p demonstration in November 2009. This slide depicts four of the viewers in place at that time. During the Demonstration, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Virginia (not depicted) shared and viewed a variety of information (e g shelter status (not depicted) shared and viewed a variety of information (e.g. shelter status, road closures, county EOC activations, FEMA staging areas, etc.) and were able to view one another’s information in real or near real‐time. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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In January 2010, I had the opportunity to participate in the Southeast Regional Operating Platform Pilot Lessons Learned session in Orlando. At the session, the partners all agreed that they had in fact demonstrated the Technical capability to share a variety of information across the region. That said, the group pointed out that they had some work to do if they ever hoped to “operationalize” the system for regional use in times of disaster to operationalize the system for regional use in times of disaster. Much work on data standards and standard operating procedures would be required to take the existing regional capability to the next level. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

In January 2010, the Southeast states laid the foundation for a Phase II pilot to y p

• perationalize their individual and collective capabilities developed

throughout Phase I over about a year long guide path. AND THEN…. The Gulf Oil Spill happened and Virtual USA and the individual capabilities of each of the Southeast Pilot States had to be put into action. p Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Throughout the response effort, the Southest states were able to share g p information across borders in near real‐time via access to and use of Virtual USA. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

During the response, the Southeast Pilot states were able to extend that g p information sharing capability beyond public sector entities by sharing data and a common operating picture/view with British Petroleum and other public and private sector partners during the Gulf Oil Spill response effort. This screenshot shows that common operating picture made possible through Florida’s ESRI Flex Viewer – Gator Florida s ESRI Flex Viewer – Gator. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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At this point in the presentation I’d like to show a brief 3 min video focused on p p Alabama – where they began and where they are headed through the expanded use of Virtual Alabama beyond use within and for the emergency management and response community. l d Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Now I’ll shift across the country to the Pacific Northwest Regional Pilot. y g As I mentioned earlier I serve as the chair of the Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot’s Technical Working Group. and led Oregon’s Technical Team throughout the successful completion of the Pilot in December 2010. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

For the Pacific Northwest Regional Pilot states – involving Alaska, Idaho, g g Montana, Oregon, and Washington ‐ our journey began in September 2009 in Tacoma, Washington. At the kickoff meeting, the Adjutant General’s of the pilot states agreed to create a Pilot Demonstration within a year – focused on a Severe Winter Storm Scenario. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

This slide highlights some of the significant activities the Pacific g g g Northwest Pilot states engaged in from September 2009‐December 2010 culminating in the successful completion of our Capstone Demonstration

• n December 16, 2010.

Next Slide >>>> Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Paramount among those activities was the development and execution of the g p Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The MOA was signed by Oregon on October 1, 2010 and by Idaho on October 8, 2010 – executing the MOA on that day. Washington and Montana signed the MOA soon after. A Technical Appendix accompanies the executed MOA focused on pp p ‐ File Formats ‐ Metadata ‐ Common Information Needs (i.e. Datasets the Pilot members will share) In the future the Technical Working Group will focus on ‐ Symbology; AND ‐ Security – ensure appropriate level of secure access to data N t Slid >>>> Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

The PNW Pilot states are faced within a number of challenges. When we began the pilot, the Pacific Northwest region did not have a regional capability to seamlessly share real‐time, or even static, information. Four (4) of the five (5) states now have geospatial platforms/viewers in place. The simple fact is that the five states within the region have varying levels of capabilities, and they face various unique challenges. In part those challenges stem from a sprawling geography and a dispersed p g p g g g p y p

• population. In some of the pilot states, the people, processes, systems and data are

simply not yet in place to enable information sharing across their state or the region…. Although that has changed rapidly through the successful completion of the PNW pilot. From the beginning, each of the pilot states expressed concerns regarding the current lack of dedicated resources and the need to establish sustainable funding d b d h il Th d fi i l ill and support beyond the pilot. Those concerns are most definitely still present today. Finally, in the Pacific NW the traits of independence, autonomy, and self‐reliance run deep. Building effective and sustainable Governance across the five states will be a challenge….. BUT … we are making progress toward that end. The execution

• f the Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot’s Memorandum of Agreement was a significant

and positive first step forward and positive first step forward. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

The December 16 Demonstration was based on the actual events that

• ccurred during the February 1996 Winter Storm that resulted in damages

exceeding $300 Million across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Unlike the actual events of 1996, the demonstration showcased the four states, the National Guard, and FEMA Region X's ability to share real‐time g y information utilizing visualization tools each state implemented during the course of the year long pilot project. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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To paraphrase the saying “a picture (in this case a map and the common

• perating picture it helps create) is worth a thousand words”.

As an outcome of the PNW Pilot and other complementary efforts Geospatial Platforms viewers have been developed in the state’s of Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington. FEMA Region X has also g , , g g developed an operational system called ERUPT which is depicted in the bottom right corner of the slide. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Oregon’s Phase I Prototype – Virtual Emergency Network of Multnomah – was g yp g y developed in partnership with Multnomah County (Oregon’s largest county that serves roughly 20% of Oregon’s population and includes the city of Portland). Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

This is a screen shot of the VENOM log in screen. g At log‐in the user can choose to go straight to the interactive map or to access the data and services page.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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This is screen shot of VENOM’s Interactive Map. p It’s important to note that at the outset of the pilot Oregon had a choice. Create a state viewer and push adoption of that viewer downward to Oregon’s Counties and Cities OR support the development of a Local Government capability and, after pilot, scale the system upward to the state. We chose that latter path and that has and will prove essential to our ultimate success. Oregon chose to implement the platform based on ArcGIS Server and

• Silverlight. We did that for a variety of reasons

1) Multnomah County’s technical development standards are aligned with Microsoft’s product stack and 2) Virginia had developed VIPER (based on ArcGIS Server and Adobe Flex); Alabama had developed Virtual Alabama (based on ArcGIS Server and Google Enterprise Server). We felt it would be beneficial to have a third primary viewer software code base to share with the broader emergency management community across the nation.

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Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

And this is a screenshot of VENOM’s Data and Services page. Via this page, an p g p g authorized user can view, edit, upload or download a dataset or data service/feed. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>> Next Slide >>>>

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A user can also use this “My VENOM” data service loading feature. use ca a so use t s y O data se ce oad g eatu e. At this point in time, either a REST Service, an RSS or GeoRSS feed can be loaded via this feature with more data types to be added in the near future. In this scenario, I’m adding the FEMA Region X News RSS Feed. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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And this is how the FEMA Region X News Releases ‐ RSS Feed displays within g p y VENOM when it is accessed by the user. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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A third way to access data within VENOM is via the Virtual USA “My Library” y y y widget/applet. Again, a user would log in to Virtual USA and Add data services/feeds of interest to their “My Library” Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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The data is then available within the My Library Widget shown here y y g within the Virtual USA environment. This is the typical “look and feel” of the Widget that the user would see within any of the Adobe Flex based geospatial platforms/viewers.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Within VENOM we’ve implemented a modified version of the widget in p g the form of a vUSA Feeds tab available in the Map features section on the right side of the screen.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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This is an important slide for us because it demonstrates the collaborative p information sharing that was made possible through the Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot. Through partnership with the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana we are now able to see Department of Transportation road cameras from p p Oregon’s southern border with California to Washington’s northern border with Canada and all the way to Montana’s eastern border with the Dakotas. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Jurisdictions within Oregon utilize multiple web‐based incident/crisis g p / management systems. We are now able to view GeoRSS feeds from the statewide OpsCenter system and the WebEOC system utilized in the Portland UASI region.

Next Slide >>>> Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Similarly we are able to view 911 dispatch incidents in real or near‐real y p time via a GeoRSS feed provided to the public by the City of Portland’s 911 Center.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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For the first time, Oregon’s emergency managers are now able to view , g g y g flood zone and river gauge information in relationship to schools, hospitals, or extended care homes that might be affected by flood.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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We are also now able to connect emergency managers directly to source g y g y data, as an example in this case, via hyperlinks embedded within RSS feeds to the National Weather Service River gauge information. To access the source information a user would click the URL at the bottom of the RSS feed dialog box displayed here bottom of the RSS feed dialog box displayed here.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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And the user is taken directly to the National Weather services – y Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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In these last few slides I’d like to highlight another enhancement that g g was put in place just before our pilot demonstration in December 2010. Working in partnership with the Virtual USA team and their contractor G&H International, we deployed a planning tool. This tool essentially allows a user to mark up a map and then share those markups with other allows a user to mark up a map and then share those markups with other users within their state or across the nation via Virtual USA.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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In this example, I’ve marked up the map and shared a URL to the p , p p Planning REST Service to the vUSA community within Virtual USA. A User, in this case within Oregon, can then add the Planning Rest Service to their My Library and access it on a continual basis within the vUSA tab within VENOM vUSA tab within VENOM.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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The same Planning REST Service can be accessed within Virtual USA g using the My Library Widget.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Via the Virtual USA My Library Widget, the same Planning REST Service y y g , g can be accessed by ANY OTHER VIEWER in the world in real or near real‐ time.

The same would apply for any other data feed or service made available via Virtual USA. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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It’s important to note that the Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot has been a true p catalyst for the development of strong state and federal government partnerships. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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The same is true within Oregon. The Virtual USA Pacific NW Pilot has g provided us with the great opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and develop new partnerships among Tribal, State and Local governments across Oregon. Our primary partners to date include:

• Multnomah County
• City of Salem
• City of Eugene
• University of Oregon
• Oregon Military Department
• Oregon Emergency Management
• Oregon Department of Transportation
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
• Oregon Department of Administrative Services
• FEMA Region X
• Department of Homeland Security – Virtual USA

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Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

In the interest of time, I’ll briefly touch on a few of the Lessons Learned we y were able to glean from our Virtual USA Pacific Northwest Pilot experience. 1) Cross‐jurisdictional and cross‐disciplinary leadership was and will be essential to pilot and successful transition to operations. Within the Pacific NW Pilot we had leadership from the Adjutant Generals and State Emergency p j g y Managers and within Oregon we had leadership from the Multnomah County Emergency Manager and GIS Manager and at the state level from Oregon Emergency Management and the Office of the State CIO. 2) We recognize that we’ll always be in a multi‐viewer environment and we developed VENOM with that in mind. If we had mandated use of a single viewer for all, it would have been a fatal

• flaw. Instead, we’re relying on open file formats so that data can be accessed

and shared natively within whatever viewer is being used. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Although we were all focused on developing a Common Operating Picture for Emergency Management/Response within our respective states and across the Pacific NW region…. The concept can be extended to all other areas of Government Most other communities in government have a need for a common operating picture environment that enables them to see where services are being provided, where there’s overlap and redundancy, where funds are being spent, and how they can work together to provide services more

• efficiently. This applies to economic development, natural resources

management, public health/safety, and human services. From our perspective vUSA is a great program and serves as a model for From our perspective vUSA is a great program and serves as a model for federal, state, local partnerships because it’s not a top down mandate, but a true partnership. We need more federal programs that share that same philosophy. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

The importance of the Federal, Tribal, Regional, State and Local government p g g partnerships we’ve built through our Virtual USA experience is grounded in the fact that disasters and the required emergency response that follows them simply don’t confine themselves to neatly to a single jurisdictional boundary. The flooded river will flow wherever it wants to flow, so to speak. At the end of the day, our primary goal within the PNW pilot was to ensure that a common operating picture for emergency management and response existed within each of the pilot member states. We firmly believe that if we can demonstrate this kind of information sharing capability within Oregon we can surely do it as a region. If we can create this ki d f bili i h ifi h i h i l d i ifi kind of capability in the Pacific Northwest ‐ a region that includes significant portions of the Pacific Ocean and over 1 million square miles of land – a national virtual information sharing environment and the common operating picture it enables is within our grasp. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

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Throughout the presentation, I’ve talked about the importance of open data file formats, about technology and about Geospatial platforms and the importance of the MAP. That said…

• It’s about more than a Map.
• It’s about relationships, partnerships and collaboration
• It’s about the information we share with one another to protect lives,

property and the environment … AND No Matter What…. We must ensure that the solutions we deploy meet practitioner needs! We MUST remember who the Common Operating Picture is supposed to serve! Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about preparing our west coast communities and emergency responders p p g g y p for large scale disasters like a Tsunami that could result from an earthquake

• ff the coast of Alaska.

Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about ensuring that emergency managers across the region have the g g y g g information they need to plan for and recover from catastrophic disasters like the great earthquake we know will come at us all in the not too distant future. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about the Fire and Rescue teams and FEMA staff and volunteers that respond in time of severe flooding. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about the hotshots and fire crews who respond to wildfires in our state p and national forests. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about the Hazardous Materials Response teams who clean up our roads p p and the environment and keep us safe from exposure to chemicals and other hazardous substances. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about the transportation and utility crews who work to clear the roads and p y restore power during severe winter storms. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

It’s about the Public Safety Answering Point Dispatchers & the police, fire and y g p p EMS professionals they support 24x7 each and every day of the year. As long as we keep the needs of the practitioners at the forefront of everything we do… the Virtual USA program and the efforts that fall from it will be a success. If we focus only on technology, on GIS viewers and data….we’ll fail. It’s just that simple. N t Slid Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

Together, we’ve spent a decade or more: g p

• Building strong relationships
• Building up capacity within our organizations and improving our ability to

share develop and share relevant information

• Although we didn’t know at the time what big opportunities would be

presented to us or what they would be called presented to us or what they would be called….

• We’ve all been preparing for this moment in history. The moment has

come… in the form of Virtual USA. Next Slide ‐‐‐‐‐‐ >>>>

SHOW Video‐‐‐‐‐ Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank a few people for their help and support

• ver the past year. On behalf of the Pacific NW Pilot, I want to thank FEMA

Region X Pacific NW National Labs the National Guard Bureau DHS Science Region X, Pacific NW National Labs, the National Guard Bureau, DHS Science and Technology and the entire Virtual USA Team for working with us in partnership. Personally, I’d like to thank: Chris Johnson (Alabama), Bobbie Altristain and Chris McIntosh (Virginia), Bob Greenberg (G&H International) Jose Vasquez and Dr David Boyd (DHS Science Greenberg (G&H International), Jose Vasquez and Dr. David Boyd (DHS Science and Technology Directorate) ‐ In my view they serve as the mothers and fathers of the Virtual USA concept and we all owe them a debt of gratitude for their vision and their work over the past few years. ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Thank you all for your time and attention At this point I’ll close the Thank you all for your time and attention. At this point, I ll close the presentation and open things up for any questions you may have.