Command Responder in use during Hawaiian Floods
In December 2008, the Hawaiian islands of Kauai and Oahu were inundated with flash floods. As part of the state's emergency response, the Hawaii State Civil Defense (HSCD) used the recently installed 21st Century System's Command Responder incident mitigation system to coordinate emergency response operations at local, regional and statewide levels.
Command Responder (CR) is a robust, sophisticated internet-based software system. As such, communications and checklists were accessible by responders in the center and in the field, improving efficiency. In the command center, information is presented and organized automatically which resulted in fewer distractions and quicker response times. CR's visualization and collaboration features allowed for faster determination of property damage and verification of relief claims. In addition, affected flood zones and streams were identified to further ensure citizen safety.
Because of its geographical position and isolation, Hawaii is especially vulnerable to different types of natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes throughout the year. CR was designed with these in mind and is undergoing capability expansion and upgrades to respond even better.
