Chicago, IL, November 21 --The Chicago-based, Emergency Response & Research Institute(ERRI), today announced the formulation of an internal task-force to study a concept that could have far-reaching implications in disaster management. The idea involves the use of a "virtual" computer network that could be immediately activated in the event of a catastrophic natural or man-made disaster.
The size of the network could be determined by the size of the disaster. It would utilize the Internet, federal government resources, private leased lines, and those contained within individual emergency agencies to form a "virtual net". This network could formed at the time of the disaster, and grow in proportion to the needs of the locality affected by the emergency event. At the conclusion of the incident, the network could be quickly dismantled, until needed again.
It is anticipated that this idea could help to assist in obtaining supplies,emergency personnel, and equipment needed by a local area, that is "overwhelmed" by the magnitude of any disaster. Often, telephone and radio circuits quickly become congested and/or disrupted by disasters, while computer links may remain intact. Additionally, the use of the Internet could allow rapid transmission of data to a variety of national and even international sites on a timely basis. Requests for specific needs could be routed to a national database of resources, which could then assist in the dispatch of those supplies/equipment/personnel to the scene of a disaster.
Clark Staten, Executive Director of ERRI, said that the concept could be put in place within the United States at its onset, and then gradually expanded it to allow international cooperation and coordination of emergency events. He said that, if such a network were in place, that appropriate aid could have been rushed to the Kobe earthquake within hours of the devastating disaster. Additionally, he said that ERRI is unaware of any sort of easily accessable "resource databank" that currently catalogs the location, qualifications, and availability of specialized rescue personnel and resources that might be needed in a major disaster.
Staten concluded by saying that ERRI would begin the planning process for such a project, and undertake funding of some of the preliminary research to assess the feasibility of the idea, but that external funding and support would become necessary to carry the concept to complete implementation. Comments, questions, and suggestions about this study are welcomed.