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[XML-DEV Mailing List Archive Home] [By Thread] [By Date] [Recent Entries] [Reply To This Message] Responding to Katrina (offtopic even if XML is part of the solution)
 While glad to see the individuals pulling the online resources together in response to Katrina, I reiterate Rex Brook's post that getting more professional and informed resources into the specification processes for the public safety and justice systems is a very positive response. Had CAP and EDXL been online, the response effort could have been better. Work on open interoperable asset cataloging and management was not advanced enough but can be accelerated. While large scale sensor systems are vital to homeland security, we are seeing in Katrina the results of overfocusing on one source of hazards to the neglect of more probable ones. "Fear is the mindkiller." Frank Herbert. We have to face this squarely. From 9/11 forward we have been operating in a climate of fear and distraction, somewhat normal given the enormity of that event, but ever since being played as a card in the game of political distraction. This stops. Officials using the destruction of the Gulf Coast by Katrina as the means to push agendas for left or right political causes are not doing their jobs to serve the people. Turn them off for now and remember them later at the ballot box. The media is not excused either. We all failed. Too many people are dead, dieing, homeless or grieving to believe otherwise. Beware the blame game. It doesn't helo people off of roofs. From my desk, it is clear that the call list systems were inadequate. Call lists are part of the major incident response protocols that enable resources to be brought on line quickly and efficiently. It is likely that inadequate provisions were made for rapid mandatory evacuations, and just as obvious that some people don't heed warnings even when the evidence is in and time is short. It is obvious that some people even with adequate warning do not have the resources to evacuate. That is a very tough problem to solve logistically. When the danger is fast coming, there are no magic helicopters or fleets of ships. It comes down to school buses, flat beds, tractor-trailers, Wal-Marts and Lowes. Remember that. Think hard about what is on their shelves and which parts you want on the street the morning after. Pass laws. A top-down response is always combined with a bottom-up response. Political hay notwithstanding, there will be plenty of lessons learned for everyone involved. It is obvious that we must step up the pressure to implement a well-thought through and fearless National Response Plan. It is obvious that State and Local protocols must be adjusted quickly to cope with the need to interoperate at a national level. Note that while local and State control of resources remain standard procedure, requests from these officials are not required to mobilize national assets under the NRP. Old habits can be bad habits. What do you know about your location and what is near you? If you see a Cat 2 or 3 enter the Gulf in August, you don't need much analysis to know time is wasting. Are there large chemical plants or nuclear reactors near your home? Do you know about plumes and prevailing winds? Do you have a plan to find family members fast? As a member of the public safety industry watching my company stock climb even as I know public safety systems were inadequate in the face of a Cat 4/5 hurricane, I have that same sick feeling I had on 9/11: making money on misery is something we attribute to the weapons systems vendors but it is just as true of the first responder industry. All I can ask for is help doing a better job. Pay attention to your local procurements for public safety systems as only those of you with backgrounds in computer science, XML, network systems and logistics can. You know what works and what doesn't. Don't make it a fight over SOA vs REST for pity's sake: do make it a fight over formats. The amount of senseless local deviation in your dispatch and records management systems to keep your local response officials nice-to-your-mayor or unions will get you killed. Kick their heads until they implement GJXML, NIMS, CAP, EDXL and other document protocols that work Just-In-Time when regions outweigh townships. Train your cops and firemen on computers. There is NO excuse for a computer illiterate in a cruiser or any other first responder vehicle. There is no excuse for software that is so hard to operate that a college degree is required. There is no excuse for turning this into a cause celebre in the paper unless the vendor refuses to work with local officials but obvious reasons to do so if either side can't work to fix the problems, BUT bloody well know what the real problems are and don't let your public safety systems become political footballs to help an elected official or to cover up a bad procurement or to fix union problems. Networks don't fight floods, fires, or CBRNE but they can place a lot of the right calls to the right people at the right time. Buy wisely. Pay attention. Act. len (speaking only for myself and not my employer) 
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