2012 NRP Exploration Lecture Series
Disaster Resiliency Panel Discussion
and Audience Q&A

Community Resilience: What Should One Do?

Martin L. Griss, PhD
Director, Silicon Valley Campus,
Associate Dean, College of Engineering,
Director, Disaster Management Initiative

Abstract:

Recent disasters locally and worldwide have demonstrated the difficulties in mounting fast, coordinated, and successful responses, and the importance of more effectively incorporating citizens in preparing and responding. Current wisdom suggests that in the case of the "big one" people need to prepare to take care of themselves, their families, their pets and their neighbors for up to 7 days before professional responders might reach them. Many cities are encouraging increased awareness and classes for personal emergency planning, and the training and formation of neighborhood Community Emergencies Response Teams (CERT). New mobile, networking and sensor technologies offer the promise of enabling citizen teams and professional responders to more rapidly assess, communicate and respond to emergency situations.

The Disaster Management Initiative (DMI) was established at Carnegie Mellon University, Silicon Valley in the NASA Research Park to provide open and interoperable next-generation technical solutions for all-hazard multi-jurisdictional disasters. Newer technologies and approaches have the potential to enable better prediction, management and recovery of disasters. Smart phones, mobile devices, fast ubiquitous communications, social media, wireless sensors, crowd-sourcing, and collaborative information environments can empower and integrate individual citizens, community groups, first responders and emergency managers. The DMI is a center of excellence for research, development, evaluation, advocacy and dissemination of such technologies, solutions and approaches.