2007 Fall Regional Search Presentation
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The document summarizes the use of GIS in searching for a missing 7-year-old boy with autism. GIS staff provided basic maps to the search teams within a few hours. Over the following days, they created additional customized maps and supported the search command center directly. Key lessons learned included establishing relationships with emergency personnel, obtaining neighboring jurisdiction's data, being prepared with portable equipment and data, and asking for help from colleagues when needed.
2007 Fall Regional Search Presentation
- 1. Lessons Learned Search and GIS
- 2. Benjy Heil – Age 7, Autistic Missing Thursday, June 14, 2007 – Nekoosa Found in pond about a ¼ mile away on Tuesday, June 19, 2007
- 3. Emergency personnel arrive and begin search shortly before 7pm. Around 3am, Incident Command contacts Dispatch Center and Emergency Management. Emergency Management contacts GIS staff at home. Staff in the office by 3:30am – Made a “best guess” of what types of maps were needed. Started simple: Streets and addresses with airphoto One and two mile radius around the residence Laser prints and a large mosaic were delivered to the site around 5:30 am, as sun was rising. How We Got Involved
- 4. Our work here is done! Yeah right! THE GOOD Friday morning more copies are needed Maps are being used They are posted for all to see THE NOT SO GOOD Maps were basic – I knew we could do better Hard to find the right people to talk to Continued to provide the basic maps for the weekend. Most people know maps, but they don’t know GIS
- 5. Solution to the Not So Good Create a variety of maps that “might” get used. Get creative and try to think of what they might want. Examples – Add grids, USGS DRGs, NAIP Airphoto, GPS Coordinates Well received, but still…. I felt that we could do more.
- 6. The Weekend – Father’s Day Maps left at Incident Command – they made photocopies for extras 600+ Volunteers ( Per Day!) 85 Vendors donate over $20,000 in food and supplies! The State authorizes resources Mobile Command Center More Experience with GIS Local DNR ranger heads up planning
- 7. Monday Morning Requested GIS support and more maps Set up in the Command Center Be a fly on the wall – observe the workflow Make suggestions
- 8. How I was Used Planning maps Each afternoon an action plan was created for the next day
- 9. Search Groups Maps Maps and search areas were handed out to the numerous search teams, dog handlers, etc. Provided lat and long to Civil Air Patrol How I was Used
- 10. Lessons Who’s the leader? It is vital to find out who is making the calls Sheriff, Local Police, Fire Dept, etc.? Get to the top of the chain of command
- 11. Lessons Geography of an event is vital! Picture look familiar? It should….Even if you weren’t at EWUG . Picture from Jim Murphy showing the GIS response with the Interstate bridge collapse.
- 12. Lessons Get Your Neighbors Data! 1 1/4 Miles from County Line The search focus went south. Having your map stop at the county line is NOT an option! WOOD ADAMS
- 13. A laptop is nice, but you'll still go back to the office Make ArcGIS portable! Store some data locally Think about a printer Late night access to your office Lessons
- 14. Know your stuff!!! Nothing will turn them off to GIS quicker than you fumbling around Be professional – They are! You need to be the one suggesting ideas GPS Integration? Can you plot way points from a recreational GPS? Can you provide lat and long grids or other Coordinates? Lessons
- 15. Call for help if needed! EWUG, WLIA, etc. are for making relationships with colleagues. Do it and use them! Deena Griffin (Rome) Mapping Specialists Lessons
- 16. After Action Review After-action review participants agreed, with some emphasis, that it is critical to involve supporting GIS personnel early in incidents, particularly in major incidents. The information and tools that GIS can provide can assist greatly in managing incidents, deploying and managing personnel, evaluating future actions and planning incident response.
- 17. Similarities of Events Minneapolis Nekoosa
- 18. Thanks for Listening! Anybody who knows someone who lives with Autism, Alzheimer's or a similar condition, please take a look at “Project Lifesaver”. www. projectlifesaver .org Radio Transmission System Wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. In over 1500 searches, there have been no reported serious injuries or deaths. Recovery times average less than 30 minutes.