Simulation for emergency management; Taking advantage of automation in emergency preparedness

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Simulation; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/003754978905300303· OSTI ID:5348106

Walker, J A; Ruberg, G E; O'Dell, J J ^[1]

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1. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (USA). Management Systems Labs.

Currently, emergency responders are better prepared than emergency managers to accomplish their critically important functions. Emergency responders are those responsible for operational tasks during an emergency, e.g., fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, and rescue workers. Emergency managers are strategic or tactical decision-makers in leadership roles, either in the field or in remote command and control centers, who must manage an emergency, best characterized as an ill-defined problem with potentially severe consequences. Training and standards of proficiency currently exist for emergency responders in specific activities. In contrast, training and standards of proficiency are less advanced for emergency managers. Fortunately, understanding the reasons for this difference, and combining those reasons with the increased availability of computers in emergency management, offer real potential for improvement. This paper elaborates on the need for improvements in emergency management training. The reasons why training for emergency managers is difficult to develop and what currently available methods exist, including their usefulness and shortcomings, are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5348106
• Journal Information: Simulation; (USA), Journal Name: Simulation; (USA) Vol. 53:3; ISSN 0037-5497; ISSN SIMUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990100* -- Management
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
AUTOMATION
AVAILABILITY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COMPUTERS
CONTROL
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DECISION MAKING
EMERGENCY PLANS
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACT
ENVIRONMENT
FIRE FIGHTING
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LAWS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIATION HAZARDS
REMOTE CONTROL
RESCUE OPERATIONS
SAFETY
SIMULATION
TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS
TRAINING