Digital County: Marshall County Alabama: Harnessing Technology for Effective Emergency Management
Marshall County, Alabama, is located in the northeastern part of the state, bordered by the scenic Lake Guntersville to the west and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the east. With its blend of small towns and rural landscapes, Marshall County is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, and boating. Marshall County’s economy is supported by agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, reflecting its diverse community and commitment to growth.
Austin Windsor, Communications and IT Specialist for the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency has spent most of his life in the county and has been dedicated to digitizing the County operations across various departments for years as he pioneered the implementation of a virtual collaboration and response platform.
In this this webinar, Windsor gives attendees an overview of his advancements in Marshall County’s Emergency Management as the county furthers their mission of strengthening community preparedness and safety through digitization.
Harnessing Technology for Effective Emergency Management
Just to name a few of the now digital processes on the EMA side, Windsor and his team facilitate:
- Efficient HAZMAT and spill response management by centralizing spill reports, cleanup status tracking, and contractor information through a robust database
- Inventory dashboards to ensure that equipment is allocated appropriately, complete with an automated system for issuing and returning equipment via QR codes
- Classes and meetings dashboard to support ongoing training and coordination, providing a QR code check-in system and a calendar to keep personnel informed about scheduled events, even when the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is not activated
- Investigations dashboards that integrate data from incident briefings, witness reports, and equipment inventories tied to law enforcement needs
- Major events on the event dashboard managing logistics for over 100,000 attendees, coordinating resources like EMS, fire, and 911 dispatchers while mapping out site layouts and managing potential weather-related evacuations
- Additional functionalities including a radio cache dashboard for tracking equipment status, a logistics dashboard for managing resource requests, and comprehensive mapping tools to ensure the safety and efficiency of operations across the county.
