The model will address the following type of questions. How do first responders identify people to be warned or evacuated in an emergency? Who do local authorities work with to obtain maps and aerial or satellite imagery of the area surrounding a critical structure? What facilities contain hazardous material in the area of influence of a human caused or natural disaster? Where are the evacuation locations for students at a local school in the event of a shooting or earthquake? Which infrastructure is threatened by the failure of a dam or power substation? In all these situations, advance planning and design is the key to success both in response to emergencies and daily operations of critical structures. Mapping and geographic information systems play a crucial role in the process. Montana is the only state in the Western US that has developed integrated statewide geographic data models for the constantly changing map layers of transportation, addressing, and private land ownership. This gives citizens of the state an edge over neighboring states in community and rural planning and economic development, and will serve as a major advantage in incorporating critical structures and planning for homeland security.
Almost two hundred critical structure map layers will be examined including: buildings, such as schools, hospitals, federal, state and local properties; cell and power transmission facilities; chemical handlers, solid waste facilities, and other environmental hazard structures; airport, rail and highway associated transportation structures; and utilities such as power plants, substations, storage facilities, water supply. In addition to the feature locations, Geodata's model will incorporate statewide standards so that data collected at the local, state and federal level will fit and work together in emergency situations. Private data, such as telecommunications and electrical facility structures will also be accounted for. Although their data and maps may be proprietary and not shared publicly, it is valuable to have agreements in place and interoperability standards to allow protected data sharing with authorities during critical situations.
Internet based web mapping developed by Geodata, online surveys, Web enabled conference calls and other collaborative tools will be used to link department of emergency services coordinators in the smallest towns with those in the largest cities to assist in evaluating and designing the system. Officials will also contribute and examine case studies of previous emergencies such as the train derailment chlorine spill on Interstate 90, near Alberton in 1996, the wildfires of 2000 and 2003, and the 1999 prairie fire which burned much of Outlook, Mont.,to determine how mapping and geographic information systems fit into these emergencies.
