Emergency planning is key to saving lives and minimizing property damage in the event of a major disaster. Southern California is particularly at-risk as a result of earthquakes, fires or a catastrophe at one of the area’s many refineries, airports or harbors.

Effective planning for response involves understanding how to prevent or minimize consequences of emergencies and acquire the information and data necessary to respond. Achieving these goals requires the identification of critical infrastructure and resources as well as a sound understanding of how emergencies unfold. Effective response is realized when planning and preparedness investments are sufficient to ensure continuity of effort.

GIS is an extremely important method of effectively preparing for disasters.

To help Cities prepare, the Disaster Planning Coordinator for Area G, Mike Martinet, has partnered with Palos Verdes on the Net (PVNET) to provide an internship for PVNET GIS interns in GIS Disaster Planning preparation for Cities in Area G which is comprised of 14 Cities in the Southbay. Mr. Martinet will provide direction and act as a mentor

PVNET, a 501c3, has brought together in our new PVNET/ANNEX GIS Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, the opportunity for College level students to gain GIS based Disaster Planning Preparation experience in once in a lifetime opportunity while being mentored by a highly respected professional in the industry.

Interns will learn about GIS tools and to utilize geographic information system (GIS) for preparing the data and maps necessary for emergency planning.

GIS maps graphically display such hazards as, gas, electrical and water lines within the city. Identify the location of schools and hospitals near these and other haszards. For low lying coastal communities it can identify tsunami risk areas. Available resources such as food (markets), water, construction equipment and supplies can be graphically displayed as well as emergency staging areas. The systems can also store and display information on at-risk residents that would be at-risk in the event of an emergency.

Knowing where critical assets are located and having first access to key data and information necessary for optimal response can be addressed through the purposeful implementation of GIS. Geospatial information is required from the moment an emergency call is received; it would answer the following questions:

• Where is the emergency?
• What is the best route?
• Where are the closest hydrants and/or water sources?
• Where are the nearest critical facilities?

A limited fund is available for stipends to be paid to interns who complete the training, and then work on projects.

Intern Orientations are held on weekends. Questions an inquiries may be emailed to internship@palosverdes.com

Blair Harkins,
PVNET GIS Department