About that "bio-surveillance" in the 'Couv (Jack Bog's Blog)

We blogged last night about an odd City of Portland no-bid announcement regarding some sort of "bio-surveillance" computer system being used up in the 'Couv. A reader who knows about such things responds:

Here is the deal on the FirstWatch business. CRESA is the 911 agency for Clark County. The idea is to have a computer program keep track of things like 911 medical call complaints to spot a trend that may indicate something bigger happening. For example, a number of calls from the public complaining of breathing problems in a small geographic area may mean a chemical spill or accident nearby. That discovery supposedly lets the emergency crews and hospitals gear up for something bigger than usual. Or so they say. The FirstWatch folks really want you to think of a "dirty bomb" or bio-hazard attack to sell the product.
I think it's a bunch of bunk. It was first mentioned as part of the ambulance franchise RFP about 6 years ago. And American Medical Response may have had a hand in bringing the idea forward in their bid. There are some places that were talking about this idea after the 9/11 anthrax scares. Not much has happened after that. Then came the H1N1 "deadly pandemic" flu and away we go again. See here.

The buzzy word is "situational awareness." But the problem is that in a place like Vancouver, or even Portland, the resources (i.e., number of available ambulances, fire rigs, etc.) at any given time are so small that most get committed to a major event right after the first couple of calls, so the "awareness" comes after the units have arrived and departed with patients. It may be a possible help for someone like Los Angeles, but Vancouver? Bahahhahahahahaha.

This is actually a program update. As I recall this was first being installed about five years ago in the 'Couv. And if you really want to see how far this jive goes, drive by the fire station on ~~39th~~ Chuck E. Cheese Ave just past Hawthorne (Engine 9's house). One rig inside is a fire pumper, the other is a million-dollar-plus rolling command center. It's so big that it can't fit into most PFB stations, and E-9's house is one of the only ones with big enough doors.... It's got all the bells and whistles, TV cameras, weather station, electric toilet, radios that connect to everything, sat TV stuff. And it never goes anywhere. It's perfect light duty for the driver. It's nuts. Actually, the whole thing is nuts!

Sounds like a possible new slogan for our region.

Comments (9)

The City That Went Nuts

Posted by Mojo | April 26, 2010 11:12 AM

"Electric toilet"?

Posted by Mike D | April 26, 2010 11:39 AM

Apparently Jack, your sources are only 'kinda good'.

Mobile Command 9 (MC-9) was purchased with grant funds and is used as a back-up to BOEC (Bureau of Emergency Communications)
in the event of a failure of the dispatch system.

PF&R averages 7 fire or EMS calls per hour and the citizens expect us to respond. MC-9 gives PF&R the ability to provide our services 24/7.

There is no cushy driver assigned to the vehicle. When it is called for, the firefighters assigned to Engine 9 deliver and are trained to operate the vehicle.

MC-9 responds to large/lengthy incidents and operates as the command post. It also has capabilities to serve other jurisdictions and agencies such as police.

Not 'NUTS' Jack, its just practicality in emergency services.

Posted by Allen Oswalt | April 26, 2010 11:48 AM

How much did it cost, and how often is it actually used?

Posted by Jack Bog | April 26, 2010 11:51 AM

The electric potty is probably one of these. They have 'em on RV's etc.
http://www.incinolet.com/

Oh, and check the "prices" page

Posted by Stu | April 26, 2010 1:36 PM

Here is some info on what I think is Portland Fire MC 9-

http://www.piercehomelandsecurity.com/vehicles/portland_mc.cfm

Posted by Westside Guy | April 26, 2010 2:29 PM

We got one of those fancy mobile command centers here too after 9/ll. It sure looks great all spiffed up and outfitted for the County Fair.

And I'll bet a dime to a dollar if the Pentagon got hit again it would be the same process, close down a couple of east/west roads to regular traffic and have half the fire equipment and ambulances for a 30 mile radius streaming in a station or two at a time in an organized minuet, to cover for the units that reported to the scene. What works is basic and simple.

Posted by Grady Foster | April 26, 2010 8:10 PM

Actually, I’d forgotten we got two of these for the Griswold emergency crowd. One for police,

http://www.co.arlington.va.us/Departments/Police/news/printarticle.asp?ID=203

And the other for fire,

http://www.arlingtonva.us/NewsReleases/scripts/ViewDetail.asp?Index=1935

The souped-up fire department edition ran about $1.2 million in 2004.

http://forums.radioreference.com/maryland-radio-discussion-forum/43145-maryland-launches-nations-largest-mobile-command-center.html

No doubt it sells for north of $1.5 million now.

You can get a trailer for $100-$150K.

https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/advgsa/advantage/search/search.do?contract=GS-30F-0012T&sin=618+01

Of course, the Feds pony up the funds, so who cares, its not real money.

Posted by Grady Foster | April 27, 2010 5:47 AM

•Leveling System: Quadra Bigfoot

•Telephone System: Electronic Module Switching System - Landline, Satellite, Telular

•Lavatory: Incinerator System

Quad bigfoot leveling system, TELular phone, and incinerating toilets! Whatever the price, it was worth every penny. Now, how to convince the mayor that there's a hot young piece of man meat who needs to be mentored down at the bottom of the lav???

Posted by wser | April 28, 2010 5:12 AM

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Monday, April 26, 2010

About that "bio-surveillance" in the 'Couv

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