BRADLEY DIEUTTO

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

SAFE & WELL WEBPAGE PROPOSAL

M.S. I N D I SA STER PR EPAR EDNESS AND EMER G ENCY MA NAG E ME NT I NF O R MATICS IN D P E M I NS T R UCTOR : DR . F E L E CIA R I VE R S

Purpose
Creation of an example ASU Safe & Well Webpage as part of DPEM Informatics Project .
Serves as a means to demonstrate to ASU officials and DPEM students how a simple webpage could be created and added to the ASU portal for Safe & Well or other similar status notification. Allows for concerned loved ones all across the world to search for ASU registrants posted messages, to see that they are safe in the event of a disaster.

Why this project is of interest to me

Became interested in capability after reading about Boston Marathon Bombing victims having difficulty contacting loved ones to notify them of their safety.
Believe students are more apt to discover and use this capability if the university has an ASU branded version to The American Red Cross Safe & Well website versus students intentionally seeking out and visiting The American Red Cross site.

Why we need an ASU Safe & Well Webpage

ASU does not currently have, advertise, or advocate use of any form of a Safe & Well like capability for status notification in the event of a disaster.
Cell phone coverage may be nonexistent due to tower damage after many disasters. Cell phones become unreliable in areas of disasters due to high call volume. Wireless towers are designed to only handle a certain amount of call volume, and call blocking can occur when too many calls are made from a certain geographic location or via a certain networks cell tower (Farrell, 2013).

Background & Historical Use

With cell phone service suspended following the Boston Marathon terrorist bombings, nervous relatives and friends turned to the Red Cross and Google to help locate the missing(Knowles, 2013).
Using its Safe & Well service, the Red Cross was able to locate dozens of people who pre-registered with their loved ones moments after the Boston Marathon bombings (Knowles, 2013). Googles Person Finder, a similar application to the one used by the Red Cross, said it was tracking 100 people, many of whom contacted the service after the explosions (Knowles, 2013).

Impact if implemented
Would provide ASU students, faculty, family, & friends an alternate means of status notification in the event of a disaster.
Would be beneficial to all students if a disaster occurred on or off campus.

Would be beneficial to students studying & traveling outside of the country if a disaster occurs because it would provide a known area for those concerned to check status.
Would indirectly familiarize students with The American Red Cross Safe & Well service.

How this project will be developed

Will be accomplished by utilizing the American Red Cross Safe & Well database. When visitors go to the proposed ASU Safe & Well Webpage, they will have the option of clicking on the List Myself as Safe and Well button option. When they do this they will be asked for their pre-disaster address and phone number. Then they can select from a list of standard messages that best describe their status. Choices include such messages as I am safe and well, Currently at shelter and Will make phone calls when able. Concerned family members and friends who want to check on the status of a loved one attending ASU will be able to choose the Search option on the Safe and Well site. They will then be able to enter the persons name and pre-disaster phone number or address. If their loved one has registered, they will be able to see their message.

Who benefits from this project

ASU students, faculty, family, friends & concerned loved ones.
Could be used by anyone with access to webpage.

Future Implications
Could be advertised for community wide use. Designated Safe & Well stations could be set up to allow those without phone capability in the community to register and update status as needed.

Summary
Creation of an example ASU Safe & Well Webpage as part of DPEM Informatics Project will demonstrate to ASU officials and DPEM students how a simple webpage could be created and added to the ASU portal for Safe & Well or other similar status notification.
Allows for concerned loved ones all across the world to search for ASU registrants posted messages, to see that they are safe in the event of a disaster. Will be accomplished by utilizing the American Red Cross Safe & Well database.

References
American Red Cross (2013, April 12). Reconnect with Loved Ones through Red Cross Safe and Well. Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Reconnect-with-Loved-Ones-through-Red-Cross-Safe-and-Well American Red Cross (2013). Safe & Well. Retrieved from https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php Google (2013). Google Person Finder. Retrieved from http://google.org/personfinder/global/home.html Knowles, D. (2013, April 15). The Red Cross and Google use Safe and Well and Person Finder websites to help locate the missing following the Boston Marathon terrorist attack - NY Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/safe-person-finder-helps-families-aid-workers-real-timearticle-1.1317480 Farrell, M. (2013, April 17). Cellphone networks overwhelmed in blast aftermath - Business - The Boston Globe. Retrieved from http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/04/16/cellphone-networks-overwhelmed-blastaftermath/wq7AX6AvnEemM35XTH152K/story.html