This Initiative seeks to utilize existing local government resources and GIS regional databases to provide enhanced GIS support for Emergency Management (EM) and Homeland Security within the local Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) region and the 'City Readiness Initiative', a multi-county response area under the jurisdiction of the Mecklenburg County Health Department.
The Mecklenburg County Health Department and the UASI Regional Coordinator at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office, a division of the Charlotte Fire Department (CFD), are the local knowledge-base for their respective programs and as such are the primary stakeholders of the Initiative. Both agencies take the lead in spearheading the Initiative in fulfillment of requirements and directives from the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Unique to both the UASI and 'City Readiness Initiative' are the following:
• Regional Context
• Federal Guidelines for Providing Access to Geospatial Data in Response to Security Concerns
• Well-Defined GIS Data and Database Requirements Specific to EM and Bioterrorism Response and Recovery
Mecklenburg County GIS, in conjunction with Charlotte-Mecklenburg EM, currently provide well-integrated GIS support services to local EM and the Health Department. In addition to providing daily business support, each agency is a member of the EOC Technology Team, which provides GIS support and analysis during nuclear exercises and when the EOC is activated. Mecklenburg County GIS and CFD GIS provide GIS and administrative support to the Initiative.
The Initiative is three-fold, focusing on 1) GIS Database Management, 2) GIS Technical Support and 3) GIS Application Development. Critical decisions depend on quick access to GIS data and in particular, certain infrastructure and population information. This initiative will provide a powerful support application focused towards the non-GIS user.
Stanly County EM champions the project. A website is under construction that will provide reports on the status of each of the Initiative's components. We will direct you to this site when it is complete.
