Argonne software helps emergency responders plan and prepare

ARGONNE, Ill. (April 4, 2003) — In today's challenging world of new and complex threats, emergency responders at all levels need ways to effectively create and coordinate response plans. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed a powerful new tool to help those on the frontlines plan for and carry out their duties in the event of a large-scale emergency.

The Emergency Response Synchronization Matrix (ERSM), designed by researchers in Argonne's Decision and Information Sciences Division, is a software tool that helps emergency managers develop crisis plans that coordinate actions across jurisdictions over an extended period of time. The ERSM process also includes custom-designed analytical tools to aid in data collection, analysis, reports and displays.

"Today, more and more emergency response is regional instead of just local," said Argonne's Paul Hewett, one of the ERSM developers. Responders from one area are not necessarily familiar with the emergency plans of other agencies, yet they must work together to effectively handle a crisis.

For example, if County A evacuates to County B, what needs to be done to accomodate evacuees? How many shelters need to be created? How long will it take to set them up? What types of traffic controls are needed on the evacuation route? The ERSM helps planners and responders think through these types of problems.

Running on a PC, the ERSM provides a graphic display of the relationships among all of the response activities of each jurisdiction. This is accomplished through software that organizes and displays the activities by jurisdiction, function and time for easy review and analysis. The software helps outside responders assimilate into a community's response efforts, because it enables them to quickly assess where they fit into the ongoing operation and to understand the progression of the response.

Another important facet of the ERSM process is that it allows emergency managers to consider "what if" scenarios before and during a response — an important capability for decision making. "What responders do in the first hour of an emergency is going to affect what happens in eight hours," said Hewett.

Besides emergency planning and response, the ERSM can be used to develop and run emergency exercises. This portion of the program includes a design tool to structure a robust, simulated event allowing for realistic participant response; a control tool to ensure that implementing messages are injected at the appropriate time based on player actions and not an artificially determined time; and a tool to assist exercise evaluators in analyzing activities in relationship to participants' emergency plans and procedures.

The ERSM grew out of work Argonne researchers conducted for the U.S. Army's and Federal Emergency Management Agency's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. It has been implemented at five army installations and more than 25 counties throughout the United States. "We're able to give back to the community a very valuable tool," said Argonne's Jacques Mitrani, one of the software's developers.

The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory conducts basic and applied scientific research across a wide spectrum of disciplines, ranging from high-energy physics to climatology and biotechnology. Since 1990, Argonne has worked with more than 600 companies and numerous federal agencies and other organizations to help advance America's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for the future. Argonne is operated by the University of Chicago as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's national laboratory system.

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.