Jamison M. Day, Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University, Shannon Strother, Applied Research and Outreach Manager, Ramesh Kolluru, Executive Director, NIMSAT Institute, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Joseph Booth, Executive Director, Jason Rawls and Andres Calderon, Associate Director, Special Projects, LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute
Abstract
Public sector emergency management is more effective when it coordinates its efforts with private sector companies that can provide useful capabilities faster, cheaper and better than government agencies. A business emergency operations centre (EOC) provides a space for private sector and non-governmental organisations to gather together in support of government efforts. This paper reviews business-related EOC practices in multiple US states and details the development of a new business EOC by the State of Louisiana, including lessons learned in response to the May 2010 oil spill.
Keywords
emergency operations centre, private sector, coordination, public-private partnership
Jamison M. Day is currently an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at the Louisiana State University E.J. Ourso College of Business as well as a research fellow at the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute. Jamison’s current research focus integrates theory from complexity science and supply chain management to improve inter-organisational coordination in disaster relief efforts. His other research interests include supply chain bullwhip effect (order variance magnification) mitigation strategies and coordination of distributed solution methodologies. He is a member of the Decision Sciences Journal editorial review board and his work has appeared in Decision Sciences Journal, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, European Journal of Operational Research, Computers and Industrial Engineering, OMEGA and Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education.
Shannon Strother is the Applied Research and Outreach Manager of the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While deployed with the NIMSAT Institute team during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008 to Louisiana’s emergency operations centre, she supported the state by liaising between the private and public sectors, including non-profit organisations, for the coordination and delivery of services and goods to affected communities. Shannon also assisted in analysing the post-storm economic impact on Louisiana’s oil and gas critical infrastructure and key resources. She is currently enhancing the state’s preparedness and response to emergency incidents through the strengthening of relationships between all stakeholders at the city, parish, region and state levels. Strother is a registered nurse and holds a master of public health degree in international health and development with a specialty in the management of complex emergencies. She spent 12 years working overseas for a variety of humanitarian organisations, including UNICEF, as a senior emergency officer.
Ramesh Kolluru is the Executive Director of the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies (NIMSAT) Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Dr Kolluru’s research has resulted in numerous technology licences and has generated more than US$40m in research funding from federal and state agencies and the private sector. Dr Kolluru has been instrumental in the development of various technology-based economic development initiatives, including the Louisiana Immersive Technology Enterprise, the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative and establishment of the NIMSAT Institute to improve coordination between the public and private sectors to enhance homeland security and emergency management capabilities. In addition to making presentations at various regional and national forums, he has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed scholarly publications in journals, workshop and conference proceedings. His expertise spans the areas of information technology, supply chain management, economic development, homeland security and disaster management. His responsibilities at the University also include serving as Director of the Center for Business and Information Technologies and Assistant Vice President for Research.
Joseph Booth is Executive Director of the LSU Stephenson Disaster Management Institute. He holds a master’s degree in criminal justice and a juris doctorate in law, and has been a member of the Louisiana Bar since 1988. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He is also a member of the International Chiefs of Police Association and serves on its Communications and Technology Committee. He also serves as a subject matter expert for the Department of Defense Inter-Agency Board, and sits on the Advisory Council of the Association of Professional Communications Officers’ Civil Contingency Network. Before joining LSU, he served as Deputy Superintendent of Louisiana State Police and chairman of the Louisiana Emergency Response Commission. He was the state programme manager of two Department of Defense initiatives to demonstrate a common civil/military information sharing capability. He is a frequent speaker at national forums, classified briefings in the intelligence community and leading universities.
Jason Rawls brings experience in working with businesses from his previous work with the LSU Small Business Center where he counselled small business owners and entrepreneurs on how to start, improve and develop their businesses. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA from LSU. He leads the efforts in creating partnerships between the public and private sectors. These partnerships will improve the state’s ability to recover from a potential disaster more quickly than in previous years and will enhance the economy of Louisiana by keeping post-disaster contracts within the state.
Andres Calderon is the Associate Director in charge of special projects at the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute. Calderon is a graduate of LSU, where he received both his bachelor and master of science degrees in computer engineering, as well as his master of science degree in information systems and decision sciences. As a recipient of the LSU and University of Heidelberg Scholarship, Calderon conducted postgraduate research and graduate studies in applied mathematics at the Ruprecht Karl Universität, Heidelberg, Germany. Calderon has vast experience in the development of decision support systems for emergency management and a strong background in the design of health information technologies. He led the development of scientific methodologies and computer-based models used by the US Army and FEMA for risk quantification and response to the threat of chemical weapons. Calderon has expertise in multi-jurisdictional planning and the coordination of emergency management operations.
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