Emergency managers around the world are responsibility for preparing for and responding to disasters. Geospatial tools, including GIS, satellite remote sensing, telecommunications, and navigation systems cam provide important capabilities, but they are often difficult to incorporate into the regular emergency management workflow. How can we do a better job of training Ems to use these powerful tools? This is an area of my research. My book “Space Systems for Disaster Warning, Response, and Recovery” is available through Springer Press.

I have worked as a disaster responder many times with the American Red Cross, including several hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and fires. I primarily now work as a governmental liaison in emergency operation centers at various local. state, and federal levels, and also work as a disaster trainer. I have also worked as a shelter manager, public affairs officer, emergency response vehicle driver, and disaster services trainer. Please consider donating or volunteering with the Red Cross.

I also work as a volunteer geospatial analyst with the GISCorps, a group that provides back-office geospatial analysis capabilities for disasters around the world, including major disasters in Myanmar, Australia, and the US. In 2012 I was awarded, along with the other GISCorps volunteers, the President’s Volunteer Service Award by President Barak Obama.

I am active in the use and training of InaSAFE disaster planning and response system, and have given training courses on five continents in the use of this powerful, Open Source capability.

I have written one book and have published multiple papers and presentations on these topics, and have given many training courses around the world. In 2017 and 2018 I am conducting a Fulbright scholarship at the University of Cape Town in South Africa Space Lab, where I will be working with students to better incorporate geospatial capabilities into South African emergency management and universities.