Introduction
The JPB Northern Train Derailment Scenario portrays a complex emergency in which multiple stakeholders experience damage and disturbances due to the train derailing. The cars were transporting different materials such as petroleum, pine wood chips, and pressurized chlorine. The emergency creates multiple risks, which is why various stakeholders are to participate in the minimization of the effects. The situation created an environment in which the transportation industry that is crucial in Hiatusport has suffered damages, as well as increased risks of environmental damage and harmful effects for the businesses in the area. The proposed solution is applying the principle of interoperable communications technology to deal with emergencies and apply effective incident management strategies.
Interoperable Communications Technology
Interoperable communications technology implies the use of a network to ensure the communication of different agencies that participate in the emergency response. Currently, the response plan implies the use of the radio communication plan. As a result, the contacted agencies include the city fire department, police department, and the department of natural resources. The entities are to neutralize the risk for fire expansion in areas where people live, minimize the negative impact on the environment due to the petroleum spilling into the water, and respond to the stakeholders in need of assistance. However, the plan can be effectively improved through the use of interoperable communications technology for a faster response.
Interoperable communications create the opportunity for the stakeholders to cooperate and share information. Researchers point out that the primary focus is on wireless technology in emergency response (Kapucu et al., 2017). While the use of radio has been widely applied, technological advancements allow for a more comprehensive model to be implemented. As a result, the responders will be able to send videos of the emergency, which can significantly improve the logistical and management approach to the issue in regards to the resources needed to confront it. Moreover, researchers also mention the importance of creating data-sharing platforms for the responders (Dawkins et al., 2018). There are multiple benefits to the solution that facilitate collaboration between stakeholders. First, instead of receiving a message from the station, the responders can interact with each stakeholder involved. For example, the fire department can interact with the department of natural resources to receive information on which area requires faster implication due to the importance of the ecosystem. Another aspect of collaboration is the ability to effectively assess dangers and respond accordingly. As a result, each stakeholder attends to the issue that is primordial while the other responders are aware of the involvement and work on the different challenge. This is an excellent way of delegating activities and attending to every challenge based on its severity.
Conclusion
The use of Interoperable Communications Technology can significantly increase the success when it comes to incident management and emergency response in the JPB Northern Train Derailment. Since the incident implies the need for the involvement of multiple agencies, hence, various stakeholders, cooperation is vital. Collaboration is only beneficial when the participants are able to communicate and share information with each other. The implementation of a network based on interoperable communication can be an efficient measure to improve logistical problems, the delegation of actions, and the assessment of the severity of the challenges. As a result, the responders can make a collective effort to deal with the situation that affects the town, its inhabitants, and the environment.
References
Dawkins, S., Greene, K., Steves, M., Theofanos, M., Choong, Y. Y., Furman, S., & Prettyman, S. S. (2018). Public safety communication user needs: Voices of first responders. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 62(1), 92–96. Web.
Kapucu, N., Haupt, B., & Yuksel, M. (2017). Spectrum sharing policy: Interoperable communication and information sharing for public safety. Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy, 9(1), 39–59. Web.