| Natural disasters come in many shapes. From the | | | | frequent disaster response exercises among |
| incomprehensible carnage of last weekend's | | | | member nations to ensure coordination lines and |
| tsunami in the Indian Ocean, to hurricanes and | | | | pre-planned responses are quickly executed. All |
| typhoons, to tornadoes and drought, our world | | | | MPAT member nations have access to central |
| deals with the horror of disaster as a normal part | | | | databases of planning information, available |
| of our lives. Throw in a bit of human influence | | | | resources, and a "command center" mobilized |
| through wars, terrorism, or the threat of | | | | when a regional disaster occurs. |
| weapons of mass destruction, and our need to | | | | Telecommunications and information technology |
| deal with and overcome calamity almost becomes | | | | are key components in our ability to respond to |
| routine. | | | | disaster. As real time information is collected, it is |
| Watching CNN and the news channels gives a | | | | available immediately to all participants in the relief |
| near real-time view of disasters. While some may | | | | effort. Other technology - in particular military |
| find this a bit macabre, it also shows our ability to | | | | technology, can easily serve a duel use purpose in |
| quickly respond to major events, on a global scale. | | | | a disaster. The same troop transports designed |
| The same technologies that allow us to view the | | | | to carry soldiers to war can carry refugees from |
| aftermath of a tsunami also allow us to quickly | | | | a disaster. The same photo reconnaissance |
| gather factual data on the extent of a disaster, | | | | aircraft used to spy on enemies can provide a |
| and use that for disaster planning and response. | | | | clear view of the extent of damage. The same |
| Organizations such as the Pacific Disaster Center, | | | | technology used to collect electronic intelligence |
| and the Asia Pacific Area Network try to assist | | | | can locate attempts to use mobile phones, radios, |
| regional nations to build better disaster planning | | | | and even audio signals of people stranded in |
| models and response model through training and | | | | remote areas. Infrared scanning used to identify |
| timely dissemination of critical information. Regional | | | | enemy soldiers in a bunker or building can just as |
| military organizations participate with each other | | | | easily locate a family stranded in a jungle. |
| on joint disaster planning (for other than | | | | If you compare the current response to the |
| wartime-related disaster) to organize their | | | | Indian Ocean tsunami to the effects of tsunami |
| resources in response to a regional disaster, and | | | | damage following eruption of the Krakatoa |
| can respond within hours to major problems. | | | | volcano in 1883, you can see the extent of |
| While carnage on the scale of the Indian Ocean | | | | damage from that disaster was not even known |
| tsunami cannot be controlled within a day or a | | | | for several decades. |
| few days, the communications and real time | | | | In most cases disaster cannot be predicted. We |
| information collection on the disaster will most | | | | are making progress predicting earthquakes, |
| certainly reduce the level of misery experienced | | | | hurricanes, and eruptions - however science is no |
| by victims at a level that would not have been | | | | closer to effective disaster prediction than we are |
| possible even 40 years ago. As aircraft and | | | | in fully understanding the human genome. Through |
| on-site persons (using satellite phones or other | | | | effective use of communications, information |
| powerful mobile communicators) collect | | | | technology, and duel use military/civilian technology |
| information on areas of Sumatra, Thailand, and | | | | transfer, we are getting much closer to reducing |
| other affected areas, the information is almost | | | | the level of pain following an event. |
| immediately being logged, evaluated, distributed, | | | | 2005 will be a big year in further exploiting the |
| and prioritized among a number of emergency | | | | potential of Internet and communications-related |
| response centers operated by regional | | | | technology. Given the positive moves toward |
| governments - as well as international relief | | | | regional cooperation in activities such as MPAT, |
| agencies. | | | | we should be encouraged our governments |
| From the regional and international response | | | | understand the need and role of technology in |
| centers coordination further occurs among | | | | planning - was well as responding - to regional |
| members of organizations such as the Multinational | | | | disaster. |
| Planning Augmentation Team. MPAT holds | | | | |