Decision Support for First Responders

The Challenge

Releases of toxic materials present first responders with an immediate challenge - determining what actions need to be taken to protect nearby populations. They must answer a number of questions:

• Where is the toxic plume headed and in what concentration?
• What areas need to be evacuated?
• Who should shelter in place?
• What roads should be closed?
• How do we prioritize actions with limited resources available?

The Solution

Industry leaders Rae Systems, Safer Systems and Coastal Environmental Systems have teamed to create PlumeRae - a unique, turn key solution that allows rapid monitoring and assessment of situations involving the release of hazardous substances.

Plume Measurement

PlumeRae gives first responder information to make crucial decisions.

• GPS equipped AreaRae wireless monitors placed in strategic locations measure the levels of critical toxic chemicals and communicate their measurements to a ProRae Remote Base Station.
• ProRae Remote, running on a standard laptop computer, feeds this information to the Plume Measurement Software that is running on the same PC.
• Weather data transmitted by a Coastal Environmental Systems Weatherpak completes the information package needed for analysis.
• The Plume Measurement Software, developed by Safer Systems, integrates the information and shows users a picture of the toxic plume, the speed at which it is spreading and the concentration of the toxic compound.

Decision Support

PlumeRae gives first responders the information they need along with decision support so that they can answer critical questions and take immediate, effective action.

First Responders can:

• Track and validate plume impact
• Employ intelligent placement tactics for safely locating responders
• Evaluate the toxicological effect on responders and the community
• Create emergency response strategy
• Understand how long the event will persist
• Save the event for post event analysis

PlumeRae System Components

• Rae Systems Rapid Deployment Kit
  • Four AreaRae Wireless Detectors with GIS
  • ProRae Remote Software preloaded in a PC
  • Complete package for charging
  • Carrying case for easy transportation
• Safer Systems powered Plume Measurement Software complete with GPS mapping data covering a 25 mile radius
• Coastal Environmental Systems Weatherpak sold state weather station monitoring wind speed direction, temperature, solar radiation and humidity.

Applications

• HazMat first responders
• Large event emergency planning
• Crisis management

Ordering Information

For pricing, please call AFC International at 1-800-952-3293, 219-987-6825 or fax 219-987-6826 or email sales@afcintl.com.

Downloads

Table of Ionization Potentials

What is a Photo Ionization Detector?

Correction Factors, Ionization Energies and Calibration Characteristics

PIDs as a HazMat Response Tool

PIDs as an Arson Response Tool

Using PIDs in Terrorist Chemical Attacks

PIDs in Clandestine Laboratories Applications

PIDs for Continuous Monitoring of VOCs

Environmental Applications for PIDS

Using PIDs for Assessment of Exposure Risk in Unknown Environments

Facility and Venue Protection

AreaRaes for Incident Response and Law Enforcement

Nerve Agent Measurement by PID

Decontamination Procedures for Monitors Exposed to Chemical Warfare Agents

Basics of Wireless Security

PlumeRae literature