In any emergency or disaster recovery – communications are critical.
Proper communications allow those affected to seek help. It guides first-responders to those in need in the most efficient manner.
Emergency communications organize resources such as police, medical teams, heavy equipment to lift collapsed buildings, boats to rescue those in floods, and firefighters to control fires.
It works with utility teams to shut off gas lines, redirect traffic for evacuation, while still keeping roads open and water available for first-responders as needed.
Modern communications can place “boxes” on collapsed buildings and bridges to sense tapping, movement, and even shouting – in order to more effectively guide rescuers to trapped persons. Communications teams record the names of survivors and actively work to reunite families. They also record photos and the DNA of the dead, especially if massive death requires rapid burial or cremation in order to control the spread of disease.
Communications are essential to helping organize relief planes, trucks providing food and water, and manage funds.
In a number of recent disasters, we have watched when recovery efforts fail because resources cannot get to where they are needed. In other cases, the efforts have worked pretty well.
Confusion and miscommunication need not delay rescue and recovery efforts. Having a good disaster recovery and communications template ensures a more successful outcome and many groups continue to update those.
The purpose of TeleFuture International is to share the current “best practices,” communications devices, and emergency response and disaster recovery templates available.