Special Needs Evacuation Tracking System
The Texas Special Needs Evacuation Tracking System was a tracking system for emergency evacuees developed by AT&T for the state of Texas.[1] The system was based on tracking RFID tags attached to the wrists of evacuees via the AT&T/Cingular wireless network and a data center at the University of Texas Center for Space Research. Evacuees were indirectly tracked using GPS locators mounted on the vehicles in which they were traveling.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) awarded the contract to AT&T in December 2007. Parts of the system were deployed as early as 2006, prior to AT&T's involvement,[2] but AT&T had taken over overall responsibility for its operation. The system has been tested three times. Texas officials planned to use the system during Hurricane Dean,[2] but the storm changed course and missed Texas.
In 2008, SNETS was nominated in the Laureates Class of Computerworld Honors Program honoring those who uses Information Technology to benefit society.[3]
The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) replaced this system with the Emergency Tracking Network (ETN), which features iOS and Android apps as well as a web enabled system.[4]
As of September 2017[update], there is a committee in Texas to improve the functions.[5]
See also
[edit]Texas Emergency Tracking Network training pdf
References
[edit]- ^ "AT&T to Deliver Country's First Statewide Citizen-Evacuation Management System; Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management to Implement RFID and Mobile Technologies, Providing Real-Time Information During Crises" (Press release). 2007-12-03. Archived from the original on 2008-03-02. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
- ^ a b Texas Turns to RFID for Emergency Evacuation System, 2008-01-03, archived from the original on 2008-02-20, retrieved 2023-09-08
- ^ Computerworld Honors Program, 2008-06-02
- ^ "Texas Guard members support Emergency Tracking Network training". Texas Guard. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ "Emergency Tracking Network (ETN) Advisory Group". The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 8 September 2023.