NCJ Number
210843
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2005 Pages: 132,134,137
Date Published
July 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes interoperability experiments in Canby, OR, and Washington State that have efficiently and effectively achieved the sharing of preincident emergency plans and the coordination of multiple-agency responses to large-scale crises.
Abstract
For years the Canby Fire Department (Oregon) had been the only agency in its community with detailed layouts of buildings and their contents. These resided within two software programs: Fire Zone, which is used to draw detailed floor plans; and First Look Pro (FLP), a database program used to locate and organize preincident plans on mobile computers. With the aim of achieving interoperability between the fire and police agencies, the preincident-planning software was introduced to police officers for use on mobile data computers. This enables both agencies to engage in joint planning and response that involves specific buildings and areas displayed in the software. In addition to fire and police personnel, the 911 dispatcher also has a critical role as interoperability is implemented. By having access to the same preincident plans as fire and police personnel, dispatchers can coordinate and provide information to all responders during a major incident, even responders without preincident software in their vehicles. Washington State has adopted a similar interoperability program for a statewide emergency preparedness program for all high schools. The next step underway in Canby is to install a wireless network for sharing preincident plans.