It is important to assure the continuous and proper operation of information systems in business continuity planning and information recovery in disaster recovery,

as we have discussed in the previous module. The relationship between information systems and disaster recovery has another perspective — how information system is leveraged to manage disasters.

Information systems and telecommunication infrasturctures have long been critical in emergency management.

We sometimes heard about from the news how a three-year-old kid even knows to call 911 to seek help in emergency. Nowadays, 70% of 911 calls are from mobile phone. FCC requires 911 calls to be transmitted even if a mobile phone doesn’t subscribe to any plan (FCC). Various apps for smartphones exist for emergercy management. This is just a beginning.

FCC (2012), FCC Wireless 911 Services.

Continuity_Compliance (2011), Disaster Preparedness Apps List for Smartphone.

Need C. (2011), Disaster Preparedness 2011: Smart Phones Enhanced with Nanotube Hazmat Detectors Bring a New Dimension to Preparedness.

Leggiere P., (2012), Emergency Management/Disaster Preparedness Survey: Smart Phones Driving New Patterns in Disaster Relief Donations. Homeland SecurityToday.

The Internet, of course, is also a means of help. Please check out the two websites below and see how the websites may help in the time of disaster or emergency.

FEMA, http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm.

Disaster Assistance Program, http://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Geographic Information System (GIS) is another example of information systems that is widely applied in disaster management. The following three presentations show comprehensively how GIS and other information systems have been applied in disaster management and emergency response:

McIntosh, C., (2009) Virtual USA (vUSA); Geospatial Interoperability for Emergency Response. Emergency Management Forum Presentation. http://www.emforum.org/.

Schuback P., Blanchard H. (2011), CrisisCommons: Connecting People, Tools, and Resources to Support Crisis Response. CrisisCommons EMForum.org Presentation.
Skinner R., (2010), GIS in Hospital and Healthcare Emergency Management; The Evolving Role. The Stoneybrook Group EMForum.org Presentation.

A less considered or known is probably how digitization itself has helped preservation of assets that might be totally lost in a disaster. Please briefly review the following. The key is to be exposed to this perspective. You don’t need to know of the details.

Video (2009). Digital Preservation and Nuclear Disaster: An Animation.

British Library (2012), British Library Digital Preservation Strategy.

AABC (2012), The Archives Association of British Columbia Archivist’s Toolkit: Preservation and Emergency Planning.