Kansas unveiling emergency plan tool at safety summit event

KANSAS (KSNT) - Representatives for the Kansas Division of Emergency Management's (KDEM) Geographic Information System (GIS) section will be presenting a tool developed to map emergency operations plans in San Diego later this month.

The KDEM will present their Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) mapper at the Environmental Systems Research Institute Public Safety and Security Summit from July 12-15, according to a press release from the Kansas Adjutant General's Department. The EOP mapper is a custom application that allows emergency managers to meet GIS-related their emergency operation plans and lets them do custom mapping.

“It’s a prestigious opportunity to showcase on a national stage the advancements Kansas has made in public safety GIS,” said Kyle Oneth, GIS section chief. “The EOP Mapper enables county emergency managers to map the required components of their emergency operations plan. It’s especially valuable for counties without dedicated GIS departments, as it significantly expands their ability to produce spatial data and maps, critical during a disaster. For counties that already have GIS capabilities, it integrates seamlessly with their existing workflows. It also provides KDEM with accurate and timely data that supports disaster response and planning efforts.”

Oneth, GIS application developer Dom D’Attilio and GIS specialist William Wallace will present on the tool, which took 18 months to build, according to the press release. The tool will provide counties with up to six accounts they can use with stakeholders and partners.

“One example is during wildfire response,” Oneth said. “Emergency managers can use EOP Mapper to identify potential water source locations—referred to as ‘pull sites’—for Black Hawk helicopters used in aerial fire suppression. These sites must meet specific criteria, such as they must be at least seven feet deep, a 100-foot radius, and located at least one mile from aerial obstructions. By identifying these in advance, KDEM can rapidly access this information during an active wildfire, potentially saving lives and critical time during emergency response.”

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