Amy Sebring: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Forum Round Table! Amy Sebring: We have been featuring our EIIP Partners during these Round Tables and today is no exception. Amy Sebring: SALEMDUG, (State and Local Emergency Management Data Users Group) has been around for quite some time and is one of the EIIP Founding Partners. Amy Sebring: Their Website is presently located at: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Rampart/4818/index.htm ... Amy Sebring: and Preston will be telling us more about what they have planned for that. Amy Sebring: They have also recently had a successful conference in New Orleans, and here with us today to tell us about the conference and plans for the future is newly elected President, Preston Cook. Amy Sebring: You may recall that Preston was with us for the session we did on FEMA's Compendium and his bio is still posted at: http://www.emforum.org/vforum/981125.htm#COOK Amy Sebring: We are very pleased to welcome him back. Amy Sebring: We are also pleased to have Sue Krogman, past president with us today. Amy Sebring: Thanks for being with us Preston. Preston Cook: Thank you for the wonderful introduction. Amy Sebring: Are you ready to go? Amy Sebring: (ok, please continue) Preston Cook: yes Preston Cook: SALEMDUG is an association of State, local, and some federal emergency management personnel who share an interest in fostering the use of technology to support emergency management programs and activities. Preston Cook: The purpose of this organization is to promote the exchange of information, to encourage standardization throughout the emergency management community … Preston Cook: and to work together to facilitate the application of technology to emergency management problems and the transfer of automated data processing information among all levels of government. Preston Cook: SALEMDUG has been in existence for nearly 14 years. As an organization we have accomplished much in past years and we will continue to achieve. The best is yet to come. Preston Cook: We have undergone many changes in the past year. The most noteworthy is the way we receive our funding. In the past we have received funding from FEMA, but with the recent cuts we will now rely on funds from membership dues as well as from our corporate sponsors. Preston Cook: We are very encouraged by the increase in membership and our corporate partners. We look forward to future growth. in these and many other areas. Preston Cook: Our commitment to finding and bringing new technology to the emergency management community is stronger than ever. This will be evident through out the year as we continue to work with the different Federal, … Preston Cook: State, and Local Emergency Management Organizations across the country as well as our international counterparts. This will all be in attempts to find this new technology and its applications in emergency management. Preston Cook: The cost of technology is constantly decreasing but, the need for new technology in emergency management constantly increases. I see this as a perfect opportunity to bring new technology to bare quickly and at a minimal cost. Preston Cook: As an organization, we are currently working towards the completion of our strategic plan. This plan will help to guide us as we move forward in the coming years. Preston Cook: We are intent on increasing our organizational strength as well. Strong committees are one way in which we will do this. Our board members will chair a committee … insuring direct involvement in the efforts this organization is undertaking as well as show leadership by example. Preston Cook: I would just like to say a word or two about our last annual meeting held in the wonderful city of New Orleans. The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness was gracious beyond words. We can't thank them enough. Preston Cook: During the conference the vendors conducted training classes on the three main E.M. software packages available on the market today. Preston Cook: Following the training we had an opportunity to hear what the end user thought about each program. This was a great way to have hands on training as well as get a fair and impartial evaluation of the software. Preston Cook: We had wonderful speakers that covered topics such as Y2K, Cellular Emergency Alerting Services, new computer technology, National Weather Service issues, educational opportunities for emergency managers and many more. Preston Cook: In short it was a great meeting. Our next annual meeting will be held in Orlando, Florida. Yes in the land of Mickey. Y2K bug or not you can believe Disney will be operational. Preston Cook: The dates for next years meeting are April 23-26, 2000. Preston Cook: We will have a new and improved web site on line in the near future. Those of you who remember how wonderful the SALEMDUG BBS was, will now be able to come to our new web page for the … latest technical advances in emergency management as well as be able to share information about technology and other important emergency management issues. Preston Cook: We will encourage the sharing of products created by local jurisdictions and individuals. We will also explore a certification program in emergency management technology. Preston Cook: Emergency Management and technology are now synonymous and recognition amongst professionals is overdue. Preston Cook: This is just the tip of the iceberg. This will be a year of discovery and rebirth. We are very excited about the things to come. It will be a great adventure. Preston Cook: Thank you for giving of your time. I will take any questions you have at this time. Amy Sebring: Thank you Preston, and we will now turn you over to our audience and we also invite Sue to chime in as well ... Amy Sebring: audience please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: Ok, we are ready for your questions or comments. dwolfe: I would be interested in what (3) EM programs you referred and their (eval) outcome?? Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: ? Preston Cook: The three were Softrisk, EM 2000, and EIS. Sue Krogman: Pres - do you want me to answer that? Preston Cook: Sure Amy Sebring: Go ahead and add if you wish Sue. Sue Krogman: The evaluation we did was a very brief - non-committal one. Sue Krogman: We had to be very careful not to show favoritism. Amy Sebring: Avagene please. Avagene Moore: I find the idea of a technology certification fascinating. How far along are you with your plans for that? Can you give us anything concrete about criteria, etc.? Preston Cook: We are currently working with several people .. Preston Cook: producing the program. Mostly from the State of Va. Amy Sebring: In our experience we have found that the whole world is asking what do emergency managers need in terms of info and data ... Amy Sebring: I am beginning to wonder if that is not the wrong question ... Amy Sebring: maybe it should be what can emergency managers use? What is your sense about what is needed or can be used in this area Preston/Sue? Preston Cook: I think the issue is always how to use what is available.. Preston Cook: The ability to take technology and tailor it to your operation... Preston Cook: and not have to tailor your operations to it is critical. Amy Sebring: Sue any thoughts? Sue Krogman: I believe Amy is correct --- too often emergency managers do not realize how much is actually available. Sue Krogman: The need for sharing information is astronomical. Amy Sebring: Preston, I think you referred earlier to a notion that technology awareness ... Amy Sebring: among professionals is overdue. Amy Sebring: (I might agree with that!) Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: How do we increase this awareness? Preston Cook: not only awareness but recognition in that regard Preston Cook: We have to communicate... Preston Cook: Not be afraid to ask what are others doing... Preston Cook: There are a lot of wonderful things going on around the world... Preston Cook: Not only here in the United States. We have to be willing to explore.... Preston Cook: other ways of doing business. Amy Sebring: Avagene please. Avagene Moore: Along the same line as your comment and question, Amy; Preston, Sue, is it your opinion that emergency managers are looking for opportunities to learn and utilize technology -- or -- do we use it only when we are in a 'have-to' situation? Kellye Junchaya: ? dwolfe: ? Preston Cook: I think the desire is there for new technology... Sue Krogman: I believe that a most common problem with emergency managers is a lack of time. Sue Krogman: Too often we are forced to grab whatever we can at the last minute and try and make it work.... Sue Krogman: Instead of being able to research and develop what it is we actually need. Preston Cook: I agree and don't forget funding issues. Amy Sebring: Kellye please. Kellye Junchaya: Are there companies that specialize in emergency management technology? (Outside of the government, I mean) Like software companies, etc.? Sue Krogman: Usually, it takes a disaster to make us realize that. Preston Cook: Yes Kellye, there are a lot of companies getting into the emergency management business.. Preston Cook: I think the problem is how reputable are they and ... Preston Cook: how long will they stay around. Cautious is still the word Sue Krogman: Sorry to interrupt, but I must go. Thanks for the opportunity to join in! Amy Sebring: thanks Sue Amy Sebring: Dave please. dwolfe: I believe the state needs to take the leadership position and jointly work w/local EM to put in a state-wide data system.. dwolfe: If not we will have a situation where system don't talk with each other... sound familiar? Preston Cook: In some states that is possible but some are just not at that point... Preston Cook: I think technology is making the hurdles of yesterday more difficult... Amy Sebring: ? Preston Cook: to find... Preston Cook: please Amy Amy Sebring: go ahead and finish your thought Preston. Preston Cook: Today technology is decreasing in cost and increasing in.. dwolfe: In SC, the state EM jointly worked with the university (low cost, grant $$) to develop a statewide intranet-based system that appears to work well. Preston Cook: availability. We have to find the common threads which... Preston Cook: we can use to do this. The Internet is one of the best ways today.. Its not the only one though Amy Sebring: I was going to ask you Preston what your plans were for the SALEMDUG Website. Preston Cook: We plan to make it very interactive... Preston Cook: We want to give everyone a forum to share information... Preston Cook: as well as get help with immediate problems they face... Preston Cook: We will attempt to match end users with possible vendors... Preston Cook: who can help them meet their needs as far as technology... Preston Cook: is concerned. That is only a small portion of what we will attempt... Preston Cook: to do.. We are looking at a new video conferencing technology.. Preston Cook: and we hope to be able to share it through the web site.... Amy Sebring: ? Preston Cook: Everything from surveys to unlimited ideas. Amy Sebring: Cool. You know my particular interest in video. What are you looking at? Preston Cook: How about the ability to have real time video conferencing.. Preston Cook: pc to pc for about $500.00 a system.... Preston Cook: The technology is available today and we are exploring its uses in emergency management. Amy Sebring: Other questions for Preston? Amy Sebring: Preston, you mentioned the international slant a couple of times ... Amy Sebring: anything in particular going on there? Preston Cook: In the past we have had interest in the international community... dwolfe: ? Preston Cook: We will reach out and build on those relationships. Amy Sebring: Dave please. dwolfe: Amy, Preston. Speaking of video, we have incorporated video stills into the EM package and I am presently looking at full-motion video. Very affordable.. Preston Cook: Great. I think the day of non face to face communication... Preston Cook: even in emergency management is slowly dying. dwolfe: This is in joint effort with the Civil Air Patrol using HAM developed technology. Damage assessment & evacuations. Amy Sebring: Which EM package are you referring to Dave? Amy Sebring: The one you mentioned earlier in SC? dwolfe: Intranet HTML accessible (Oracle) database developed by grad students.. Preston Cook: Sounds very interesting. Amy Sebring: ? dwolfe: Each county has been trained and its usage is for everything emergency related - large and small. local and widespread problems. Amy Sebring: Preston, I am hearing a lot about "information overload" ... Amy Sebring: and wondered if your members express the same thing to you? Amy Sebring: If so do you think there is interest in a core data approach? Preston Cook: Definitely. today more and more we find... Preston Cook: ourselves trying to decide what information is valid... Amy Sebring: That is, an orderly process to identify which data is most useful, and get it in place ahead of time? Preston Cook: That is going to be the push of the future. Historically we have adapted.. Preston Cook: to the amount of information we receive. Today... Preston Cook: I do think we have to find way to segment the information... Preston Cook: we readily need... I don't think there are solid answers yet. Amy Sebring: Can we finish up by a quick mention of some of the committees you referred to and where you are in that process? Preston Cook: We have several and the one we think will... Preston Cook: be the most active in the next few is the technology committee... Preston Cook: this is for obvious reasons. The corporate committee... Preston Cook: will play an integral part in all we do as well.. We are well under way to getting... Preston Cook: all committees staffed and will be moving along with starting a committee to handle the certification program we are developing. Amy Sebring: Info on how to become a member is on the Website? Preston Cook: One can email the sysop and make their interest known. We are moving all of the Website in the near future and .. Preston Cook: It will be better accessible and user friendly. Amy Sebring: Thank you Preston and best wishes for a successful term of office! Amy Sebring: Please let us know when the site moves again!! Preston Cook: Thank you very much, and sorry for typing so slow... Preston Cook: Will do. Amy Sebring: Before we adjourn, our upcoming events ... Amy Sebring: Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 5, 12: 00 Noon EDT, Paul Flores and Rick Ranous, EQE, Inc., will share insight on how-to-do Business Continuity Planning in the Virtual Classroom. Amy Sebring: Next week, Tuesday, May 11, 1: 00 PM EDT, the Round Table features Jack Long, SSI Services, Inc., and a representative of Pennsylvania School Boards Association to talk about emergency preparedness plans for schools. Amy Sebring: On Wednesday, May 12, 12: 00 Noon EDT, the Virtual Library hosts Paul Hoff and Marty Ditmeyer present National Academy of Pubic Administration (NAPA) to discuss findings from January ?99 Workshop on Limitations to Data Access for Disaster Management. Amy Sebring: FYI: Starting the first of June '99, both of our weekly sessions will be scheduled at 12: 00 Noon Eastern Time. We hope this will be less confusing for everyone. Amy Sebring: Thank you again Preston and thank you audience. We will adjourn for now, but you are invited to remain a few minutes longer for some open discussion.