5.4.3 Alternative Technology
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Develop Alternate Communication Technologies – “There are two parts to communications: communication technology—the physical ability to send and receive a message; and social communication—the content of the message. Communication technology disasters overwhelm telephone networks, [so] provide alternate communication methods, use the internet, consider interoperability of radio equipment, use mass media as an alternate means of communication.”
Oklahoma City: Seven Years Later: Lessons for Other Communities
“New technologies provided communication alternatives that proved successful in the emergency response efforts for internal agency decisions. In both cities, agencies reported that interactive pagers that use push technology, such as the Blackberry pager, were extremely useful on September 11 when other forms of communication were unavailable.”
Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: Cross-Cutting Study
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Use Alternative Communication Technology, but Also Realize It May Be Inadequate – “Use of cell phones allowed better communication; although, it was also spotty. Trucks going back and forth also allowed the passage of messages across either side of the border. The Detroit–Windsor Truck Ferry staff, while in radio communication with Canadian Customs, lost the ability to transmit information through their advanced notification and reservation system that normally facilitates the movement of cargo across the border.”
Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: August 2003 Northeast Blackout Great Lakes Region
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Use Email for Internal Communication – “Internal e-mail, for example, helped Port Authority staff communicate internal decisions to the various divisions of the agency when telephone communications were difficult. Both New York City Transit and New Jersey Transit had ‘mobile’ communications centers (transit buses equipped with satellite and computer technology), which were used as command posts for communications and decision-making.”
Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: Cross-Cutting Study
February 7, 2006
Publication #FHWA–HOP-08-015
