Smartphones and other handheld devices support government continuity of operations (COOP) by enabling its central tenets: decentralization and redundancy. Read this white paper to learn all benefits of using smart phones when an emergency strikes.
ŪPalm Mobility Series: Continuity of Operations (COOP)
The value of smartphones and handheld devices for
government Continuity of Operations (COOP) and
emergency response
Executive summaryCommunication and ready information access are the keystones of effec-tive government services. Never are they more urgent than when normal operations are disrupted-for example, by hazardous materials spills, accidents, weather, contamination, attack, or pandemic. During these and other emergencies, local, state, federal civilian, and federal defense agen-cies must coordinate their activities and follow operational procedures to save lives, minimize property loss, protect the environment, and achieve a timely and orderly recovery to normal operations.
Smartphones and other handheld devices support government continu-ity of operations (COOP) by enabling its central tenets: decentralization and redundancy. Decentralized command and control becomes possible when government employees and public safety personnel can communi-cate and access vital information from the field as readily as if they were at their desks. Redundant communications options for smartphones-voice, short message service (SMS) text messaging, and email over cel-lular, WiFi, and satellite networks-enable uninterrupted communications and information access even if one network becomes unavailable.
The value of smartphones also extends to day-to-day government opera-tions. For example, first responders can use smartphones to query law enforcement databases. Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel can access drug formularies to prevent adverse drug reactions. Field personnel can receive real-time alerts from sensors such as access control systems or air-quality monitors, helping to ensure a timely response. City Contentsinspectors can upload and access building and site information, such as potential hazardous materials, for faster approvals or interventions during Executive summary .............................................................................1annual inspections COOP challenges in federal, state, and local government ...........2This white paper discusses the value of smartphones and handheld COOP planning requirements ......................................................2 devices as part of government COOP and emergency response strategies. Limitations of today's communications devicesThe first section reviews COOP challenges, including the limitations of and networks for COOP .................................................................2ordinary cell phones, laptops, and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) during emergencies. The next section describes smartphone The role of smartphones in COOP planning ...................................2solutions that enable government to continue delivering services during emergencies or disruptions. The white paper concludes by describing Integrated incident management, threat-level management, and emergency alerts ....................................................................3characteristics of smartphones that maximize their value for COOP and emergency response. Inter- and intra-agency communication......................................4 Secure access to critical databases for decision-making .........4 Enhanced situational awareness through alerts and streaming video ...........................................................4 Smartphone document storage ...................................................5 Common Operational Picture (COP) ...........................................5 Communications resilience...........................................................5 Workforce resilience.......................................................................6
Mobile device solution criteria for COOP ........................................6
Conclusion .............................................................................................7
ŪPalm Mobility Series: Continuity of Operations (COOP) Palm, Inc.
COOP challenges in federal, state, and when an incident begins, for example, can communicate with the local government dispatcher. During emergencies, however, cell phones provide limited value. They are impractical for data-enabled applications and do not Types of events requiring COOP capabilities include acts of nature, provide adequate on-board storage for documents such as orde... [download for more]
