When it needed a state-of-the-art video-based information management system for emergency communication and training, San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross chose NEC’s 55” P551 displays, PX750U projectors and MultiSync EA241WM desktop monitors.
Quick FactsThe population of Southern California is a frequent victim to what are referred to as “no-notice incident threats.” These include natural disasters such as earthquakes and wildfires that can have a devastating impact on a wide geographic area.
The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter (SDICC) of the American Red Cross is tasked with assisting the 3.5 million people in the San Diego/Imperial counties region and the approximately 20 million people in southern California when natural disasters strike. In addition to preparing and opening emergency shelter locations, the SDICC may also be called on to quickly distribute food and clothing to affected individuals. At the same time, it has to serve as an information center, communicating status updates to the media and local residents, while keeping its staff and volunteers up-to-date so that they can do their jobs effectively.
There is no downtime for SDICC officials. If there isn’t a local disaster to deal with, they may be called upon to help victims of events in other regions of the country, as they did following Hurricane Irene. They also respond to smaller events, such as single-family fires, and search and rescue missions. When there isn’t a catastrophe to deal with, the SDICC is still active, serving as a training center for volunteers in the region.
