Technology Response to Hurricane Katrina and Rita

1. Greg Tune, Lead Program Manager, Disaster Assessment/GIS Technology Response to Hurricane Katrina and Rita

2. Unprecedented Response

3. Unprecedented Response

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Mobile Satellite Data • 50+ Automatic Vehicle Location units • Mobile Data Terminals in feeding units and kitchens

9. Nurses & Security Guards on the way

10. 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

11. 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.

12. Office like environment via Satellite

13. Family Linking Via Satellite • 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

14. VSAT Platforms • Mobile (Emergency Communications Response Vehicles) • Quick Deploy • Fixed

15. Extending 2-way Radio using satellite WWL-TV New Orleans VSAT @ 500’

16. 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

17. Disaster & Welfare Broadcast • Utilized XM technology to disseminate important Client & Staff Updates • DIRECTV provided 24/7 “Hurricane Katrina / Rita Information” Channel

18. 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

19. GIS via Satellite remote sensing data from FEMA/NGA

20. GIS data was available via the web

21. Google Earth

22. 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.

23. 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

24. Response Technology Partners: