GIS in New York State county emergency management offices: user assessment

In 1993, the New York State Emergency Management Office offered county governments a software system designed for emergency planning and response management. The system provided computer-mapping support as well as plume modeling and the ready retrieval of toxic-release response data. A 1996 survey of county emergency management offices revealed deep dissatisfaction with the package, but sustained interest in geographic information systems. Overall, flooding and severe winter weather were deemed more serious threats than toxic releases and nuclear accidents, for which emergency management software are designed. Although use and expertise vary widely, counties in which emergency management officials view toxic release or nuclear plants as serious threats generally make fuller use of emergency management and GIS software than counties where technological disasters are deemed less threatening. Small county-level emergency management staffs with limited training in GIS, plume modeling, and other relevant techniques argue for fuller support and back-up by the state emergency management agency.