According to PWC data, 75% of survey respondents said that their crisis response team utilized technology in their crisis management plan.
This technology works even better when you have a mobile command center as your crisis management hub.
But what does a mobile command center do in aiding your plan? Keep reading to learn more about how a mobile command center can help with your emergency communications.
What Is a Mobile Command Center?
A mobile command center acts as the headquarters for all emergency communication during a crisis situation. It also helps coordinate and control all of the actions to mitigate the crisis.
Many response agencies, including law enforcement, can set up these mobile command centers to deal with almost any crisis. Sometimes they’re also referred to as mobile incident command vehicles or command vehicles.
These platforms are designed to be built in a short amount of time and provide “first-on-the-scenes” help.
What Can a Command Center Do?
A mobile command center is typically a vehicle or center that is about thirty to forty-five feet in length, but some of them can be even longer. For example, Washington D.C.’s Unified Communications Office has a two-story command center that is eighty feet long.
Regardless of which one it is, they have similar features and functions. They have an area for people to sit and dispatch and manage all of the communications. They also have a small kitchenette for people who are working in the area.
They also have multiple screens for people to watch live footage of the crisis, monitor communications, and follow news reports.
Some command centers also come with utility and power. Since the power might be out during a crisis, they can generate their own power.
This power can be used to provide electricity for heating, cooling, lighting, or charging equipment. Some of them also have backup power just in case.
There might be all kinds of people and agencies in the mobile command center, ranging from the fire, police, or EMS department. This is where they will collaborate and come up with plans together to mitigate the crisis.
What Is Their Role?
Mobile command centers are more effective when they’re needed to respond to an important crisis. They’re typically saved for disaster responses because it can be challenging to move them out there for a small disaster.
Some people will use them only in disaster recovery situations, but they can be useful when using them in disaster response situations, especially if the response is going to take hours.
What Are They Used For?
Mobile command centers are typically used as communication centers or home bases when they’re in the field. They’ll normally be stationed near the disastersite, wherever it is safe to actually go.
They can also operate without needing any food, water, or electricity, making them very versatile to work in almost any kind of disaster.
Many organizations will use these mobile command centers, including:
- Health care organizations
- FEMA
- Government agencies
- Law enforcement
- Fire departments
- Paramedics
As long as you choose the right command center that has all of the gear you’ll need, you can accomplish everything you would in a fixed command center, even if you are in a smaller space.
How Is It Better Than 911?
The 911 center is excellent for small crises, but if it’s a larger crisis, the 911 center will be overwhelmed with calls. For example, when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, there were many towns that were destroyed, and the call center infrastructure wasn’t working.
The centers had to be evacuated for the safety of the workers, and many of the calls had to be rerouted farther away; it added even more issues to the already-ongoing crisis.
However, the Department of Homeland Security then sent in these mobile command centers. These vehicles could be taken to the largest-affected areas and start delivering aid and response to those who need it.
Now, many departments utilize these mobile command centers instead of the 911 centers to avoid what happened during Hurricane Katrina.
What Are the Benefits?
A mobile command center will allow you to respond faster. Since the command center is a vehicle, you can drive it to the right spot at the right time. This is even more important for firefighters, investigators, or healthcare professionals.
These mobile command centers can also help serve impoverished areas of town. A wealthier neighborhood might have businesses with offices, and these can be easily used in times of crisis.
However, for disadvantaged communities, it can be harder to set up a base camp. This is where mobile command centers come in handy, as they can hand out supplies, manage communications, and distribute help where they need it.
For example, the Salvation Army has a rapid mobile command center, and they designed it specifically to navigate down narrow streets to reach these disadvantaged communities.
Lastly, these mobile command centers make it safe and easy to store equipment that you’ll be using during the crisis response. Instead of taking everything back and forth each day, you can leave it in the temporary command center.
Learn More About How Mobile Command Centers Help Crisis Management
Mobile command centers can help with crisis management by setting up a temporary basecamp and helping departments plan on how to mitigate the issue.
If you think a mobile command center would help your agency better serve people, then we’re here to help!
Contact us today so we can help you find a mobile command center that will fit all of your needs.