Tri-Cities Police Units Embrace New Tech for Emergencies
In an effort to streamline mass evacuations during emergencies, the Dana Point Police Services unit from the Orange County Sheriff's Department recently collaborated with neighboring cities San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. This collaboration focused on mastering a new technology known as "Field Maps", designed to efficiently track and manage evacuations in crisis situations.
Field Maps is a sophisticated tool that allows police officers to map out areas and track which households have been contacted during an evacuation. This application was tested through a simulated terrorist event scenario at a local church, where deputies had to ensure residents were informed and evacuated swiftly.
How Field Maps Works
The "Field Maps" application is a modern solution developed by a mapping software company. Officers use their department-issued cellphones to access the app, which includes detailed data on evacuation zones and residential addresses. During the simulation, deputies recorded residents' information such as names, contact numbers, and evacuation status, which was marked as "Leaving Now," "Leaving Later," "No Answer," "Refused," or "Shelter in Place."
The application stores this information on a cloud-based server, making it readily accessible for command posts to monitor the progress of evacuations in real time. This real-time access ensures that duplicated efforts are minimized, enhancing communication and efficiency during critical situations.
Benefits and Future Applications
According to Captain Jay Christian, Chief of San Clemente Police Services, the real-time insights provided by "Field Maps" greatly reduce redundant efforts, leading to a more organized and effective evacuation process. It also aids in better communication between the command center and field personnel.
Further, this technology is anticipated to help the OCSD address other emergencies like fires and floods, showing its versatility beyond law enforcement scenarios. Officials are optimistic about its potential to improve safety and coordination with fire departments, ensuring each entity can focus on its specialized role during crises.
Challenges and Prospects
Despite the promising outcomes from the simulation, OCSD acknowledges the challenges of familiarizing all deputies with the new system quickly, especially during high-pressure situations like wildfires. Captain Todd Hylton emphasized the importance of ongoing training and feedback to refine the application, noting its user-friendliness as a critical success factor.
Overall, the introduction of "Field Maps" represents a significant step forward in leveraging technology to improve public safety efforts. As training and implementation continue, authorities hope to widen its use across Orange County, providing a robust tool for efficient, large-scale evacuations in the future.
