Community Readiness Networks
Communities need rapid access to local action
information during an emergency, according
to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA).
Several western states (Idaho, Oregon, Washington,
and Utah) in Extension's
Disaster Education Network (EDEN), in
an effort to enhance access to
EDEN 's resources, are testing the development and training of local responders
by 4-H Youth Tech Teams. Through community readiness networks (CRNs), these
teams are learning to provide customized access to emergency information and
alerts.
EDEN came into existence during the 1993
flood disasters that affected the Midwest
and has proven its worth during several more
recent emergency events, such as Hurricane
Isabelle in 2003. Local responders—fire,
police, and emergency medical personnel—access
the valuable content of EDEN 's searchable
databases. The community readiness networks
take the position that tools like EDEN and
CRN are useless to communities unless people
have the information technology skills to
use them.
CRNs are a partnership of local government,
local 4-H Tech Teams, the Land-Grant University
System, USDA's Rural Development Agency,
and “MyStateUSA.” The latter
is a company in Idaho that develops the software
used by the youth tech teams and community
partners to customize and localize the
local Web interface that features content
from DHS, USDA, the Cooperative Extension
System, and EDEN , as well as local sources
of content from schools, government agencies,
and community organizations.
Youth 4-H Tech Teams collect local content,
serving as cyber-journalists, update and
manage the content, and train the local community
to use the access software. Links to
emergency information from state and national
organizations (EDEN, DHS, etc.) are found
beside that of local interest information.
Citizens learn and become comfortable with
accessing the dynamic local information and
are able to use the same tool in times of
emergency. During non-emergency times, a
CRN can be used for rapid access to social,
economic, and environmental updates.
CSREES provides national leadership and
technical support to this effort through
the role of information technology education,
which gives users the skills they need to
use these communication tools effectively.
See a video
clip (.exe executable file) about the
use of Alert Response Software in a “Community
Readiness Network” pilot project
designed to improve first responder’s
communication linkages in emergency situations.
The pilot project is active in select small
rural Idaho, Oregon and Utah towns. This
partnership between Washington State University,
in cooperation with the Community Response
Network, 4-H programs nationwide, and USDA’s
Cooperative State Research, Education and
Extension Service, benefits local and state
police, sheriffs, rescue personnel, tribal
individuals and other community members.
Teen Tech Networks allow technology savvy
youth to teach other community members
how to apply current Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems
(GPS) technology to emergency and non-emergency
situations. For more information, contact
CSREES staff member Tom
Tate.
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