Local Emergency Response to be Aided by Earth Alert System
"This impressive technology has proven its effectiveness in Maryland and I am eager to connect emergency response officials in our region with resources like Earth Alert that could help them do their job, and could help better protect our citizens," said Congressman Hoyer.
Chris Sluss, the Director of Business Development for Location Telematics for 3e Technologies International briefed Congressman Hoyer and the emergency management personnel from throughout the 5th Congressional District. "We've been working with MEMA and we're trying to take what we've learned from this relationship and deploy it in the 5th District," said Mr. Sluss.
This briefing for local first responders throughout the district Congressman Hoyer represents including Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties, and parts of Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties, will begin the process of allowing them to take advantage of this helpful technology.
The Earth Alert Emergency Management System is based on NASA technology and deploys an area wide personal warning system designed to alert Emergency Management personnel to nearby and immediate hazards. It rapidly deploys critical information so they can take appropriate actions.
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has recently deployed the Earth Alert system to aid the emergency management professionals when natural or man-made disasters occur. The system was used during the early hours of Hurricane Isabel, which enabled MEMA to quickly respond to the incident and better coordinate their response teams in the field to provide relief to those who needed help. They also successfully used the System during the January 2003 inauguration parade for Governor Robert Ehrlich, which sparked MEMA's decision to implement the system for one year.
During the one-year pilot program, MEMA officials are testing the Earth Alert Emergency Management System, which was developed by 3e Technologies International (3eTI), and funded by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Technology Commercialization Office. MEMA will test the system with 10 hand-held units and will provide valuable feedback to improve and customize the software to meet the unique requirements of emergency management personnel in Maryland.
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