AUGUSTA, Ga. – In response to the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, officials with the District of Columbia and the Haitian Ambassador to the U.S. have opened a Command Center at the Haitian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Command Center, which includes computers, telephones, and WebEOC® as the emergency information management system, will enable the Haitian Embassy to more effectively manage its relief efforts.
The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), with the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, set up the Command Center in the Embassy on January 17. The resources donated include 20 laptop computers, 20 telephones and phone lines, and training for Embassy staff in how to operate the Command Center. Verizon contributed the phone line installation, and ESi® is hosting the WebEOC emergency information management software.
“As families search for loved ones and governments coordinate relief efforts, communications resources become crucial to ensuring that the maximum support possible reaches Haiti,” said HSEMA Acting Director Millicent Williams. “My team and I look forward to working with Haitian Embassy officials and volunteers to ensure well-managed and effective communications.”
A team of WebEOC experts from ESi worked in the Embassy and from remote locations around the world to stand up an instance of WebEOC on ESi’s remote servers. The team created situation boards tailored to the needs of the mission, including boards for tracking missing persons, managing volunteers, and accepting donations.
“This is a significant opportunity for us to contribute to Haiti’s recovery from this terrible disaster,” said Nadia Butler, CEO and President of ESi. “We are proud and humbled that WebEOC can play a role in helping the people of Haiti in their time of need.”
In the coming days, staff from ESi’s Washington, D.C. office will continue to provide Embassy staff with support and guidance in emergency operation center best practices. Jerome DuVal, ESi VP for Federal Services and head of the D.C. office, stated, “We were able to get the Embassy Command Center fully operational within 48 hours, so they’ve moved from a paper process to an automated system for capturing data that quickly. The Embassy staff and volunteers are quick learners and have been wonderful to work with.”
About ESi Augusta, Georgia-based ESi®, the global leader in crisis information management technology, pioneered the market with WebEOC®, the world’s first Web-enabled emergency management communications system. Recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in Americain 2007, 2008, and 2009, ESi connects crisis response teams and decision makers at national, state and local agencies, healthcare providers, airlines and corporations worldwide, providing access to real-time information for a common operating picture during a crisis or daily operations. By offering a solutions package from initial design and installation through training, implementation and maintenance, ESi sets the standard for crisis information management. For more information, please visit www.esi911.com.
For more information, contact Norm Viksna ESi Phone: 706-262-2516 Email: nviksna@ESi911.com