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Case Studies / Lessons Learned
Case Studies / Lessons Learned are validated examples of functional, strategic, or tactical disciplines applied to the actual use of best practices.
- 10/29/2008
- California Public Utilities Commission report on the impact of the 2007 firestorm
- California Public Utilities Commission report on the impact of the 2007 firestorm on the communications networks in the affected areas of Southern California. The report examines the performance of the communications networks during the fires, and makes recommendations on how carriers can better manage their networks when natural disasters occur.
- 2/22/2010
- Digital Nation: 21st Century America's Progress Toward Universal Broaband Internet Access
- This report, Digital Nation: 21st Century America's Progress Toward Universal Broadband Internet Access, confirms that at the end of the first decade of the 21st Century, too many Americans still rely on slow, narrowband Internet access or do not use the Internet at all.
- 4/7/2010
- Emergency Communications During Hurricane Ike: A PSHSB Case Study on Harris County Regional Radio System
- The Communications Systems Analysis Division of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau studied the impact of Hurricane Ike on local emergency communications systems. The study analyzed empirical data from the Harris County Regional Radio System which was used by emergency responders, before and after Hurricane Ike's landfall.
- 10/30/2008
- Emergency Communications During the Minneapolis Bridge Disaster: A PSHSB Case Study
- To better understand the communication needs of emergency responders, the Communications Systems Analysis Division of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau studied the impact of the Minneapolis bridge collapse on local emergency communications systems.
- 7/29/2008
- Emergency Communication and Information Issues in Terrorist Events Involving Radioactive Materials
- This article reports findings from an ongoing study of risk communication issues in nuclear/radiological terrorism situations. It is a larger part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded effort that aims to better understand communication challenges associated with weapons of mass destruction terrorism incidents.
- 4/29/2008
- The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned
- The Report identifies deficiencies in the Federal government's response and lays the groundwork for transforming how the Nation - from every level of government, to the private sector, to individual citizens and communities - pursues a real and lasting vision of emergency preparedness and response.
- 4/3/2008
- High Speed Pursuit of Interoperability
- Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC), Department of Homeland Security, Spring 2007. This article in OIC's "Interoperability Technology Today" highlights two local municipality radio systems: one in Harrisonburg, Virginia and another in Dallas, Texas.
- 10/19/2009
- Impact of Southern California wildfires on Persons with Disabilities
- This report discusses preparation, notification, evacuation, sheltering, interim services, and recovery.
- 9/8/2008
- International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA): Strengthening Communications Between Campus Public Safety and Federal, State, & Local Emergency Responders
- This report is a result of collaboration by IACLEA staff members to research and present information to its members and to campus emergency management teams to enhance effective communications before, during, and after any critical campus emergency response effort.
- 4/3/2008
- Katrina Panel Report and Recommendations
- On June 12, 2006, the Independent Panel made recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission regarding ways to improve disaster preparedness, network reliability, and communications among first responders.
- 4/3/2008
- National Association of Attorneys General: Task Force on School and Campus Safety, September 2007 Emergency Plan
- The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Task Force on School and Campus Safety report includes specific recommendations that address threat assessment, protocols for dealing with the mentally ill, information sharing among law enforcement agencies, and crisis response planning and communications.
- 9/8/2008
- North Carolina Department of Justice Report of the Campus Safety Task Force, January 2008
- The North Carolina Department of Justice Task Force reported a variety of strategies for making North Carolina college and university campuses safer. The panel also recommended that North Carolina start a Center for Campus Safety to help colleges and universities keep up with new threats and the latest technology and training.
- 10/19/2009
- Observations on the evacuation of vulnerable populations due to hurricanes and other disasters
- This report provides observations on the challenges faced by hospital and nursing home administrators related to hurricane evacuations.
- 6/13/2008
- Portable Radio Best Practices - International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- Portable Radio Best Practices - International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)
- 4/3/2008
- Report to Congress: Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Facilities
- The Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities (JAC) is recommending a systematic, coordinated, and comprehensive strategy to improve emergency communications throughout the ranks of first responders and public health facilities. The strategy encompasses all components in the chain of emergency response -- spanning receipt of a 9-1-1 call, EMS dispatch, onsite communications, transport communications, hospital communications, interagency communications and coordination, treatment of victims, and identification of outbreaks.
- 4/25/2008
- Report to Congress: Vulnerability Assessment and Feasibility of Creating a Back-Up Emergency Communications System
- The FCC conducted a vulnerability assessment of the Nation's critical communications and information systems infrastructure and evaluated the technical feasibility of creating a back-up emergency communications system that complements existing communications resources and takes into account next generation and advanced communications technologies. This Report reflects analysis undertaken by the Commission staff as well as input from representatives of Federal, State and local government agencies, communications service providers and equipment manufacturers.
- 7/31/2008
- Report to the United States President On Issues Raised by The Virginia Tech Tragedy
- Report to the United States President On Issues Raised By The Virginia Tech Tragedy, June 2007 In response to the shootings at Virginia Tech, President George W. Bush directed the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and Department of Justice to meet with educators, mental health experts, law enforcement and state and local officials to discuss issues raised by this tragedy. The report includes recommended actions that local, state and federal authorities can take to prevent another such tragedy.
- 9/8/2008
- State of Florida Gubernatorial Task Force for University Campus Safety
- The State of Florida Gubernatorial Task Force Report highlights several key areas of improvement, including increased communication among local and university law enforcement, university and college faculty, staff and students, and state and federal partners who could assist in the event of an emergency. The Report also recommends that each college and university ensure that its emergency and critical incident plans are up-to-date, comprehensive, and regularly exercised.
- 7/31/2008
- State of Illinois Campus Security Task Report to the Governor, April 2008
- The Illinois Campus Security Task Force Report includes proposals to require emergency response and violence prevention plans on college campuses. The Task Force also recommended creation of a $25 million Campus Security Enhancement Grant Program, which would make funding available for campus security response and violence prevention training programs, projects to enhance emergency communications and planning and execution of campus-wide training exercises. The report also provides guidance for college administrators and security officials regarding response, mental health, and legal issues.
- 9/8/2008
- Virginia Community Colleges Report of the Chancellor's Emergency Preparedness Review Task Force
- In 2008, the Chancellor of Virginia's Community College System requested an internal review of emergency preparedness procedures and recommendations for improvement. Two of the chapters focus on emergency planning and notification systems in a commuter environment.
- 7/31/2008
- Virginia Tech Review Panel
- The Virginia Tech Review Panel was charged with investigating a broad range of issues relating to the incident. The Report contains a review of education laws, public safety and health procedures, and mental health systems as well as recommendations for colleges, universities, mental health providers, law enforcement officials, emergency service providers, and other public officials.