Montana DPHHS Disaster Preparedness Exercise Leverages GIS Technology
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) recently conducted a four-day statewide disaster preparedness exercise called Operation Last Chance One, aimed at testing and improving emergency response systems. With participation from 59 county and tribal health departments, 26 hospitals, and over 500 emergency personnel and volunteers from more than 100 agencies, this exercise was designed to challenge emergency managers and improve disaster response.
GIS technology played a crucial role in the exercise, particularly in tracking the spread of diseases and analyzing disaster scenarios. Esri and its business partner GCS were invited to participate, utilizing ArcGIS Desktop (ArcView) software and ArcWeb Services to import, visualize, and analyze real-time data. This geospatial data allowed emergency response teams to create on-the-fly maps for decision-making and communication during the simulation.
During the first scenario, which involved a plane crash with a chemical release, GCS used ArcGIS Spatial Analyst for plume modeling and ArcGIS Network Analyst for optimized routing of emergency resources. The second scenario simulated a bubonic plague outbreak, with GIS tools tracing the spread of disease from high school campers to their home counties, enabling quick data aggregation and analysis of the potential infection spread.
GIS technology not only improved situational awareness but also enhanced collaboration between state, local, and federal agencies. The exercise demonstrated how a geospatial common operational picture can streamline public health emergency responses and optimize resource distribution in real time.
Key Outcomes:
- GIS facilitated the integration of data from various sources, such as hospital capacity, live weather updates, and traffic information, to create a comprehensive operational view.
- GCS and Esri showcased the value of spatio-temporal modeling for tracking disease spread and responding to environmental hazards.
- Operation Last Chance One provided a real-world opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of GIS in public health crisis management.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) works to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Montanans.
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