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Fusionpoint Enables Interoperability Among US Coast Guard, Canada Customs and Cities of Detroit and Windsor
Reprinted from The University of Windsor’s UWindsor Prepare newsletter (September 2011, Volume 1, Issue 2) available online here.
On August 23rd and 24th The University of Windsor utilized its emergency operations software when the City of Windsor, US Coast Guard, Canada Customs and Detroit Department of Homeland Security collaborated to test emergency preparedness on the Detroit River.
Exercise “Detroit River Readiness” dealt with a waterborne rescue and explosion on the U.S.-based tour boat, the S.S. Detroit Princess in the Detroit River. The exercise tested the potential impact of such a disaster on both sides of the river. There were simulated casualties in the river which the US Coast Guard and Windsor Port Authority “rescued” along with the assistance of several local Police Boat crews.
The University as well as Detroit and Windsor all activated their Emergency Operations Centres and had a chance to communicate using the University’s WebEOC software. Response support workers also shared a common situational GIS map using the Fusionpoint software acquired by the University and shared with the City of Windsor and County of Essex.
The exercise coincided with the annual Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police conference which was held in Windsor the same week. While presently, all partners in the region are pulling together their after-action analyses, the high-profile exercise went extremely well, a notable point being the effective on-line communication between the Windsor Police site command post and the City’s Emergency Operations Centre. The campus Emergency Operations Centre served as the frontline technical support hub and several members of the campus’ Emergency Response Group were present to practice using the software and share real-time information with their regional colleagues.
The exercise was both exciting for participants and observers on both sides of the river and truly demonstrates the University’s commitment to fostering regional and civic partnerships in an important and practical context.
EmerGeo Speaking at Red Cross Provincial Emergency Conference
Kingston, Ontario – November 6-9, 2011 – Mr. Mike Morrow, President of EmerGeo Solutions Inc, will host a panel of experts to present a joint abstract titled “Lessons from the 2011 Red River Floods & Exercise Central Gateway 1″. The presentations will reveal how technology and work-flow need to work together to ensure effective communication and true interoperability during disasters. Speakers from the Province of Manitoba and University of Windsor will review recommendations from the 2011 Exercise Central Gateway 1 US-Canada Cross Border Exercise and discuss developing an inter-agency approach to geo-spatial-based situational awareness for emergencies like the 2011 Manitoba Flood event. Topics covered will include key areas for improvement including the need for standardized plans & procedures, identifying information needs and data sharing agreements early, processes for creating map data products, and issues around storing and distributing information among stakeholders.
The purpose of this annual conference is to present emerging trends in emergency management and integrated approaches in disaster preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.
Conference sessions will assist with:
• Developing new strategies & promoting awareness
• Providing information, tools and solution development to common problems
• creating network opportunities
• Sharing of experiences with colleagues in other disaster management disciplines
The conference will have a series of plenary sessions, expert presentations and workshops.
Event Location:
The Ambassador Conference Resort
1550 Princess Street
Kingston, Ontario K7M 9E3
Tell: 800-267-7880 or 613-548-3605
More conference information is available at http://www.redcross.ca/ontemconference/.
EmerGeo Wins Alberta Emergency Notification Tender
Vancouver, B.C., – August 31, 2011 – EmerGeo Solutions Worldwide Inc. (TSX-V: EMG), a leading provider of emergency management software, is pleased to announce that it has secured a contract with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) to deliver an emergency notification solution. EmerGeo and its notification partner, ERMS Corporation, will deliver this service that will notify municipalities, communities and other stakeholders of critical information about potential hazards via phone and email.
During emergencies and disasters, timely information ensures agencies can increase their preparedness and establish communication links with other affected parties in time to save lives and protect essential services. The Alberta Emergency Notification System (AENS) will be used by AEMA to communicate in a timely manner with fire chiefs, deputy fire chiefs, directors of emergency management, deputy directors of emergency management, First Nation directors of disaster services, chief administrative officers and other key stakeholders of affected communities. Notifications can also be sent to AEMA staff, key Government of Alberta staff (such as business continuity officers), government emergency operations staff (liaisons and consequence management officers) and other key stakeholders.
EmerGeo Fusionpoint Running With ERMS
“We are pleased to be working with the Alberta government and ERMS on this important initiative”, said Michael Morrow, President of EmerGeo Solutions. “Like all of our government and industry customers around the globe, rapid, accurate and managed communications about hazards can save lives and protect property. ERMS provides a leading notification solution across North America and is an important added-value capability to our Fusionpoint situational awareness software suite”, explains Morrow.
About EmerGeo
EmerGeo develops emergency management software solutions and provides consulting services and support to government and industry around the globe. EmerGeo’s Fusionpoint™ and integrated emergency mapping applications are used to log, track and communicate critical information required by emergency and security personnel. By leveraging open web standards, EmerGeo’s software brings together data from dispatch, crisis management, mapping, camera and other third-party systems, providing a common operating picture. EmerGeo’s technology and people have been at the forefront of some of the world’s largest disasters and are proven effective in helping government and industry to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from potential or actual incidents, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or pre-planned events.
Fusionpoint is a trademark of EmerGeo Solutions, Inc. The International Mobile Satellite Organization is the registered proprietor of the trade mark INMARSAT and has granted to Inmarsat an exclusive licence to use the trade mark.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
EMERGEO SOLUTIONS WORLDWIDE INC.
“Timothy Webb”
Timothy Webb, CTO
For more information contact the Company at:
Telephone: (001) 604-681-0989
Facsimile: (001) 604-681-0079
Email: info
emergeo
com infoemergeocom
Website: http://www.emergeo.com
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor.
“Protecting People, Property & the Environment”
Case Study (Feb 2011): Fusionpoint Supports Major US-Canada Cross Border Exercise
EmerGeo in partnership with FutureShield and the University of Windsor joined forces with emergency responders to provide situational awareness and crisis management software in support of a major US-Canada cross border exercise called Exercise Central Gateway 1.
The purpose of this joint exercise was to test emergency preparedness and response during a mock terrorism event – one of the biggest Ontario exercises ever. With Windsor being so close to the US border and a vital traffic flow corridor for trade between the US and Canada, participants understood the value of securing their location for the economic well-being of Canada.
This event was a “first” for many things, and it seemed to be the most-used phrase among participants: “first time” things were tried, “first time” to see something function in the field, “first time” to see something work. And one of the biggest “firsts” that were shown in this exercise is the realization that private industry, academia, government officials and first responders can work together to enhance and improve our ability to keep our nation safe and secure.
With the incredible efforts among the exercise coordinators and participants, the government funding by organizations such as the DRDC Centre for Security Science and its CRTI and PSTP programs, with private industry like EmerGeo and FutureShield offering their technology support and products, this exercise showed that this first will not be the last.
Read the full Case Study here: <link to PDF document>
Atlas Telecom wins US$17 million military radio contract
EmerGeo Solution Worldwide Inc’s joint venture partner, Atlas Telecom, has won a 63 million Dirham (approx US$17 million) communications contract in the United Arab Emirates.
More information is available in this article from Gulf News:
http://gulfnews.com/business/features/atlas-telecom-wins-military-radio-contract-1.767440
Major-General Ahmad Naser Al Raisi, Director-General of Central Operations of Abu Dhabi Police, receives an award from Saeed Al Mutawa, Chairman, EmerGeo Solutions of Atlas Telecom. Image Credit: Abdul Rahman/Gulf News.