Lessons Learned from KatrinaRita

1
Lessons Learned from Katrina/Rita

• Houston Department of Health and Human Services
• Information Systems Bureau

2
Lessons Learned

• Murphys Law Can Quickly Become Reality
• How to Manage in a Crisis
• Thinking out of the box

3
Lessons Learned

• Peer-to-Peer Communications Protocol Critical
• Local Telephone Numbers
• Pin-to-Pin Text Messages
• Satellite Telephones/Two-Way Radios
• Mass Communications Protocol (i.e., Phone Master
  for Web or Send Word Now, etc.)
• 1-800- Number
• Redundancy for Internet Access

4
Lessons Learned

• Secondary Job Description
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Organizational Structure
• NIMS Training
• Disaster Recovery Plan(s)
• Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
• Information Technology Disaster Recovery Plan

5
Lessons Learned

• Flexible Work Tools
• VLAN Access
• Non-Scripted Work Plans
• Mobile Field Database Deployment
• Simple Data Capture Mechanism
• Network Attached Storage (NAS)
• Ad Hoc Database Scripts
• Wireless Printing Capabilities

6
Lessons Learned

• Wired vs. Wireless Communications
• Get Agreements in Place Early
• Redundancy, Redundancy, Redundancy (Never too
  many back-up plans)
• Wireless Printing (Bluetooth) Capabilities
• Backup Emergency Equipment (laptops, air cards,
  portable printers, server, etc.)

7
Lessons Learned

• Practice, Practice, Practice