The 2022 hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 through November 30, is expected to have above-normal activity this year according to the NOAA. The 2022 season is expected to see a likely range of 14 to 21 storms this season, 6 to 10 of which could become hurricanes, according to the NOAA. 3 to 6 of those hurricanes could be considered major hurricanes (category 3, 4, or 5 with winds 111mph or higher).
FEMA is urging citizens to prepare before the peak of 2022’s hurricane season hits. The best way to ensure a smooth recovery after a hurricane is to make preparations and plans before they’re needed.
This advice is not only useful to citizens, but for organizations as well. From employees– including those working off-site and remote – to facilities and assets, businesses have a wide range of interests that could be seriously affected by a natural disaster such as a hurricane. How can organizations ensure resilience ahead of a critical event?
Creating organizational resilience ahead of hurricane season with a GSOC
Part of resilience is knowing what to expect. What would the impact of a hurricane be to your employees, sites, vendors, partners, and suppliers? What secondary impacts might your region face? Once you know how your organization might be affected, you can begin to create a plan for how to respond to weather crises.
Critical event management technology that provides real time information can help keep your team on alert, assess risks, and identify and carry out the appropriate response. The best way to use this technology is within a global security operations center (GSOC), where operators can collaborate on information that is shared on a central video wall. Creating a GSOC, where teams across the organization can combine their efforts using video walls that enhance situational awareness, ensures proper alerting and response when critical events such as hurricanes occur.
Emergency operations centers (EOCs) lead community response during hurricane season
Throughout hurricane season, emergency operations centers (EOC) are activated and ready to help communities manage the impacts of storms.
Locally based EOCs communicate with larger operations on the state and national level to coordinate efforts as well as share resources and information. EOCs also coordinate immediate response efforts to emergency situations, including not only events at the height of the storm but also resulting secondary incidents such as flooding and mudslides.
Designing for effective operations
Before, during, and after hurricanes and other tropical storms, emergency operations centers and GSOCs play a vital role, and their design is important.
An operations center is the central hub for incident preparation and response where operators gather and share critical information, coordinate response initiatives, and manage personnel. There are certain design choices, such as a large video wall and ergonomic furniture and space design, that can help your operations centers’ productivity.
With the use of a video wall system, operators can track and predict weather patterns and measure the potential impact of a storm. A centrally located video wall installation allows operators to view and collaborate on real-time information as it unfolds and quickly share data with all relevant parties.
Operations center furniture solutions can also contribute to efficiency. Space design and furniture arrangements should facilitate coordination between operators and allow a clear view to the display wall for every person in the room. Additionally, the shifts during an emergency can be long and grueling. Furniture and video wall positions should be planned with ergonomics in mind so operators can work through emergencies without the added distraction of avoidable discomfort.
Constant’s operations centers
From space design and ergonomic considerations to video wall systems and control room furniture, Constant Technologies provides you with what you need for a turnkey operations center that is ready to be activated at a moment’s notice. Whether you are looking for an emergency operations center to lead public safety response for your community or a GSOC that can monitor weather events’ affects to your organization, Constant has the expertise to ensure you’re ready to respond to critical incidents.
With hurricane season beginning, it is time to ensure your ops centers are ready. To take the important first step in creating resilience, contact us today for a no-fee design and budget consultation.
About Constant:
Constant Technologies, Inc. provides AV integration for 24/7 video walls and custom operation center furniture. With 30+ years of experience, we can work with sensitive environments in the public and private sectors. Constant designs and installs projects of all scopes and sizes around the world. We also offer long-term service and support. We create solutions with the highest levels of security, aesthetics and functionality in mind.
