1. 1 GEORGIOU GEORGIOS DBA (cand), MBA, MCIM, MSBP, DFN First Aid Trainer & Examiner Cyprus Red Cross - British Red Cross American Health & Safety Institute NAEMT – PHTLS Holder 1 Advanced Course in the Management Of Disaster Victims – Communications in Disaster Areas

2. 2 INTRODUCTION The need of communication among people exists since the human existence on earth. Different ways of communication were invented and used through the ages, (noises, voices, smoke, beacons, messengers, telegraph, telex, analogue telephony, fax machines, satellite communications, digital telephony, Internet, Emails, broadband telephony, voice over IP, videoconference, etc). The advance technology available today, diminished distances and helps a lot the transmission of any event, worldwide and many time on a real time (conflicts around the world, the rise of Arab nations and many others).

3. 3 INTRODUCTION The availability of communications, to a relief team on a mission in a devastated area due to either physical disaster or technological accidents, is of a great importance. The relief team should be able to transmit all the details (voice, emails, photos of the area) regarding its mission for evaluation. If the members of Relief Teams become aware and be trained to use the modern technology available today, they will be able to secure all Incoming and Outgoing telecommunications (Voice and Data) of the team, either during field drills or during any real mission in devastated areas.

4. 4 Onsite Operations and Control Center In case of a disaster, an Onsite Operations and Coordination Center (OSOCC) should always be deployed near the affected area. The OSOCC is the ONLY POINT OF REFERENCE. The Head and the staff of OSOCC are responsible for controlling and managing the whole relief operation in cooperation with LEMA (Local Emergency Management Agency). If the devastation is manageable by the Government of the affected country, the OSOCC is deployed by Local Authorities.

5. 5 Onsite Operations and Control Center If the devastation is not manageable and the Government of the affected country asks for International assistance, then the UN or the EU are responsible to deploy an OSOCC and many times a Sub-OSOCC. In this case The Head of OSOCC is appointed either by the UN or EU. All relief team arriving to the Disaster Area, should refer to the Head of OSOCC to be assigned a mission. A representative of each relief team remains at the OSOCC.

6. 6 Onsite Operations and Control Center The OSOCC is responsible for the communications with the Local Emergency Management Authorities (LEMA) for coordination and exchange of information and report to the UN or EU Committee accordingly. All information to and from the relief teams are handled accordingly by the head and the staff of OSOCC in cooperation with the Teams’ representative at the OSOCC. The members of Relief Teams should always communicate with OSOCC and be well trained to handle, manage, set up, operate and maintain the relevant communications equipment available such as Radios, GSM Mobile Phones, Satellite Phone, Portable Computer, Wi-Fi Routers, GSM connect card via USB, Printer, Scanner, Photo Camera, GPS, Network Cables, Power Supplies etc).

7. 7 INTRODUCTION The Team members should be able to set up, operate, use, and manage the most suitable and cheapest available telephone/communications system, including local wired (PSTN, ISDN, ADSL etc), wireless GSM network (i.e gsm router for data transmission), mobile GSM phones (use local SIM cards, if available, to minimise cost), internet telephone systems (Skype) and satellite communications systems.

8. 8 Main Guidelines -Recommendations It should always be ensured that the necessary communications equipment is functional, properly and accordingly updated (portable computers), fully charged and available for deployment at any time. The availability of telecommunications services and equipment in the effected country, where the deployment will take place, should always be checked before the deployment..In case of deployment, the Team’s Members should find out if the effected country allows the operation of satellite equipment, radio equipment etc. In case that the operation of certain equipment is not allowed by the Government/Authorities of the effected country, then the equipment should not be transferred there.

9. 9 Main Guidelines -Recommendations Upon arrival to the Mission’s location, the Team’s Members should ENSURE, for international communications (usually OSOCC facilities are used), a primary telephone connection for the mission, either by plugging a normal PSTN/ISDN/ADSL phone to a telephone fuse indicated by locals (Telecom Company/Hotel Management etc) or by using simple GSM mobile phone (SIM card - normal subscription or local prepaid card if available) if the effected country’s national GSM system is operating or by setting up the available Satellite Communication System (INMARSAT - Explorer 100 or 700 - it is assumed that its use will be allowed). The most inexpensive way of communications available, should always be chosen. The communication on a local basis between the members of relief team, should be among

10. 10 Main Guidelines -Recommendations Attention The Satellite equipment requires free line of sight i.e open sky. Select the correct antenna orientation in order to set up successfully a satellite communication/connection. A specific software to facilitate the antenna orientation is installed on the portable computers that will be handed over. Disable the automatic updating of the computers, to avoid unnecessary high cost and overloading the bandwidth (data transmission speed will become lower). Reduce images/photos resolution before sending them by email in order to eliminate the data transmission size.

11. 11 Available Ways of Communications

12. 12 USB Printer Wi-Fi Printer via Wi-Fi Router Wi-Fi Router Satellite Antenna Satellite Phone ISDN Phone On Site Land Satellite Communication Equipment 1 st Laptop for Communication Diary and communication with LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC accordingly 2 nd Laptop for EUTAC mission General Detailed Diary 3rd Laptop for EUTAC office Support Team/ Maps and Photos editing 4th Laptop for EUTAC Team Leader OPTION1 Only Satellite Communication Fax Cable Fax USB Cable LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC ECPM – MIC UN etc.

13. 13 USB Printer Wi-Fi Printer via Wi-Fi Router 3G GSM Wi-Fi Router PSTN Phone On Site Land Communication Equipment 1 st Laptop for Communication Diary and communication with LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC accordingly 2 nd Laptop for EUTAC mission General Detailed Diary 3rd Laptop for EUTAC office Support Team/ Maps and Photos editing 4th Laptop for EUTAC Team Leader OPTION2 3G GSM communication USB Cable Fax LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC ECPM – MIC UN etc.

14. 14 USB Printer Wi-Fi Printer via Wi-Fi Router PSTN Phone On Site Land Communication Equipment 1 st Laptop for Communication Diary and communication with LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC accordingly 2 nd Laptop for EUTAC mission General Detailed Diary 3rd Laptop for EUTAC office Support Team/ Maps and Photos editing 4th Laptop for EUTAC Team Leader OPTION3 – Communication via existing ADSL Fax Cable Fax USB Cable Wi-Fi Router ADSL & Phone Source Communication via Local Telecom LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC ECPM – MIC UN etc.

15. 15 USB Printer Wi-Fi Printer via Wi-Fi Router NO Phone On Site Land Communication Equipment LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC ECPM – MIC UN etc. 1 st Laptop for Communication Diary and communication with LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC accordingly 2 nd Laptop for EUTAC mission General Detailed Diary 3rd Laptop for EUTAC office Support Team/ Maps and Photos editing 4th Laptop for EUTAC Team Leader OPTION4 - Version 1 – Communication via existing Wi Fi Network NO Fax USB Cable Existing Wi-Fi Router for outgoing communications Wi-Fi Network Communication via Local Telecom Wi-Fi Router for Printer Disadvantage: In order to print we have to set up the printer either according to the existing Wi-Fi Router SSID, WEP, WPA PSK or We can connect the printer cable to one HOST PC.

16. 16 USB Printer Wi-Fi Printer via Wi-Fi Router NO Phone On Site Land Communication Equipment 1 st Laptop for Communication Diary and communication with LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC accordingly 2 nd Laptop for EUTAC mission General Detailed Diary 3rd Laptop for EUTAC office Support Team/ Maps and Photos editing 4th Laptop for EUTAC Team Leader OPTION4 – Version 2 – Communication via existing Wi Fi Network NO Fax USB Cable Existing Wi-Fi Router for outgoing communications Wi-Fi Network Communication via Local Telecom Wi-Fi Router only for Printer Disadvantage: In order to print we have to disconnect from the outgoing Wi-Fi network and connect to the printer Wi-Fi network!! We can connect the printer cable to one HOST PC. LEMA OSOCC or Sub-OSOCC ECPM – MIC UN etc.

17. 17 List of Necessary Equipment Portable Computer Satellite Transceiver - Explore 700, 100 and 110Explore 700, 100 and 110 Satellite Phone - THURAYATHURAYA GPS Photo Camera – Ricoh CAplio 500SERicoh CAplio 500SE Portable Printer – Canon PIXMA iP100Canon PIXMA iP100 GSM mobile phone - Sonim XP3Sonim XP3 GPS – Personal Navigator - GARMIN – eTrexGARMIN – eTrex Voice Recorder SONY ICD-U60 -SONY ICD-U60 Magnetic EU flag, Cables, stationery, etc

18. 18 Description of Equipment Satellite Transceiver - Explore 100 and 110Explore 100 and 110 Simultaneous voice and broadband data Data connection with speeds up to 492kbps Easy to set up and to use Compact and Secure

19. 19 INMARSAT Global Coverage Map

20. 20 Satellite Phone - THURAYATHURAYA Voice, data, fax and SMS Satellites are positioned in geosynchronous Orbit Compact and light phone (170 g) Dual - mode (Sat + GSM Tri-band) GPS navigation capability Prepaid SIM card GPS signal necessary Description of Equipment

21. 21 THURAYA Global Coverage Map

22. 22 Photo Camera – Ricoh CAplio 500SERicoh CAplio 500SE Magnetic EU flag, Cables, stationery, etc Digital camera with GPS receiver SiRF-III Resolution 8 mpixels 28mm wide - angle zoom lens Photos can be uploaded to special software that can be connected to Google Earth maps and shows the exact position taken. Description of Equipment

23. 23 Photo Special Software Image

24. 24 Demonstration of Equipment

25. 25 Thank You!!