smart phone apps for emergency managers

SMART PHONE APPS FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS“Theres an app for that!”

Agenda• Why Smart Phones?• Apps

• Daily use• Emergency• Other Apps

• Built-in Capabilities• Summary• Putting it all together

Why Smart Phones

Pros

• Portable• Can be synced with email

client, calendar, and contacts

• Information in your hand• Availability

Cons

• Have a battery• Depend on connectivity• Limited text entry

capability• Small screens • Some screens are difficult

to read in sunlight

Would you rather carry this?

Or one of these?

DAILY USE APPS

Dropbox• Platform:

• Android• Iphone,• Blackberry

• Cost: • 2GB for Free• $9.99 a month for

50GB• Description:

• Cloud based storage• Ability to sync files

across desk tops, laptops, and mobile devices

• Can upgrade to share files with others

Evernote• Platform:

• Android• Iphone,• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free• $5.00 a month for

1GB per month• Description:

• Cloud based storage• Ability to sync files

across desk tops, laptops, and mobile devices

• Create shareable folders

• Web clipper• Captures text, voice,

and picture• Sort into notebooks

Shush!• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free• Description:

• Restores ringer after a certain amount of time

Wifi Analyzer• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free• Description:

• App that looks for wireless networks

Droid Scan• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free• Description:

• Turns documents into scanned images

• Can email, or share with other applications

GroupMe• Platform:

• Android• Blackberry• Iphone• “Dumb Phones”

• Cost: • Free

• Description:• Setup groups• Reply all• Conference call

Doodle• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free• Description:

• Web-based scheduling software

• Access your calendar

• Invite attendees from your address book

• Users can add comments

• View the scheduling from your device

Cisco WebEx• Platform:

• Android• Iphone• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free app• Service is $19.99

a month for unlimited meetings with up to 8 participants

• Description:• Mobile web

conferencing app• With the computer

based version you can record web conferences

Twitter• Platform:

• Android• Iphone• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• Social media

Facebook• Platform:

• Android• Iphone• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• Social media

• Platform: • Android

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• Consolidate

Facebook and Twitter feeds

Tweetdeck

Live Profile• Platform:

• Android• Iphone• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• Instant messaging

application• Not app specific

WeatherBug• Platform:

• Android• Iphone• Blackberry• “Dumb phones”

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• Weather

information• Desktop notifier• Weather alerts

CrossLoop• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free app• 5 computer access

for $39.95 year• Description:

• Screen sharing• Remote desktop

access

Firefox• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free app• Description:

• Browser• Sync history,

bookmarks, etc. across devices

APPS FOR EMERGENCIES

FireAlert• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free app• Description:

• Text message notifier

• Works even when phone is on vibrate

• Can set up to five alert profiles

WISER• Platform:

• Android• Iphone• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• Hazardous Materials

reference• Search by chemical• Information related to

users role

Cargo Decoder• Platform:

• Android• Blackberry

• Cost: • Free app

• Description:• 2008 Emergency

Response Guidebook

• Searchable

NIMS ICS Guide

• Platform: • Android• Blackberry• Iphone• Kindle• Nook

• Cost: • $9.99

• Description:• Field guide for ICS

• Other versions are available for:

FireEMSLaw Enforcement

Compass• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free• Description:

• Save locations• Add notes

Units Convert and Calculator• Platform:

• Android• Cost:

• Free• Description:

• Conversion for up to 90 different units of measurement

Other Apps

News and Information

• RSS readers• Major news outlets• FEMA• CDC• DHS

Mental Health

• Kindle• Audible• Games• Movies• Music

Built-in Capabilities• Camera• Video Camera• File Storage• Voice Recorder• Alarm Clock• Calculator• Phone• GPS

Summary• Smart phones are a part of our lives• Hundreds of apps are being produced everyday• They have limitations• Another tool in the toolbox

Lets put it all together• Schedule a meeting with Doodle to write a HAZMAT

response plan• Before the meeting you put your phone on vibrate using

Shush!• Some participants attend the meeting over WebEx • You take a picture of the whiteboard using Evernote• You add a copy of the plan to your Dropbox• While at home playing a game on your device• Get a message from dispatch using FireAlert• While on the way you send a message to your staff using

GroupMe letting them know whats going on

Lets put it all together (cont.)• Then you message your EM counterpart in the next

county using Live Profile• When on scene you send copy of shipping papers using

Droid Scan to HAZMAT team along with pictures• You use Cargo Decoder to pull up the ERG• Consult WISER for additional information• Check the weather using WeatherBug• Make posts to your agencies Twitter and Facebook

accounts • Consult the ICS Field Guide• Mark an LZ using Compass

Lets put it all together (cont.)• You pull up the plan using Dropbox but realize you left off

the checklist• You air card dies and you use WiFi Analyzer and find a

new connection• You use CrossLoop to access your work desktop and

save the checklist to your smart phone• You use the RSS reader to monitor any information

coming from the media• During the event you set alarms on your phone to remind

you of conference calls or to brief the media• And on the way home you use the music player to listen

to something relaxing

QUESTIONS?Jeremy JerniganEmergency Management CoordinatorColumbus Regional Healthcare System &Columbus County Health DepartmentO: 910-640-4649C: 910-398-0223jjernigan@crhealthcare.org