Emergency Response Network for Disaster Management Using VERSITRON PoE Switches

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires, demand robust communication networks for effective response and coordination. An effective response requires real-time communication between teams working in the affected area, coordination among different agencies, and the ability to share vital information that minimizes delays and saves lives. VERSITRON’s rugged industrial power over Ethernet (PoE) switches are designed to meet these challenges. These switches enable the power and networking of multiple devices, such as VoIP phones, surveillance cameras, and wireless access points, over a single Ethernet cable. This case study explores how VERSITRON’s PoE+ switches, available in 4-port, 10-port, 20-port, 28-port, 18-port, and 52-port configurations, were deployed to create an emergency response network for disaster management, addressing key challenges and delivering measurable benefits.

Challenges and Requirements

• Rapid Deployment Needs: Command centers and emergency shelters were set up in temporary structure, community centers, and schools within few hours to coordinate rescue operations. These shelters were used to provide medical care, and manage relief efforts. These locations demanded immediate network connectivity for:
  • VoIP communication systems for coordination with local agencies
  • Wireless access points for emergency personnel and evacuees
  • IP surveillance cameras for crowd and security management constraints.
  The installation of a traditional wired network would take weeks, which was not feasible when lives were at stake.
• Harsh Environmental Conditions: Disaster zones presented challenges such as temperature fluctuations in damaged buildings, high humidity, salt, debris, and dust in the air. Many unreliable power sources required backup systems. Network equipment demanded reliable performance in these harsh environmental conditions.
• Power Constraints: Many emergency locations in the disaster zone relied on generators with limited capacity and lacked accessible power outlets, further complicating the deployment of devices like cameras, phones, and wireless access points. When every watt of power consumption matters, the demand for a network solution that powers connected devices without a separate electrical installation arises.
• Scalability and Flexibility: The emergency response was swift. The new shelter locations were opened and command centers were relocated to address the changing conditions. This has placed immense pressure on networks to support varying numbers of devices and challenged their adaptability to different site configurations, from small shelters to large command centers. So, the network solution required quick setup and teardown capabilities, flexibility to support various connected devices, compatibility with different facility types and sizes, and easy transportation between deployment sites.
• Reliability and Security: Uninterrupted communication was critical for coordinating teams. So, the network solution needed to be robust enough to protect sensitive data, such as medical records or operational plans.

Solution

The VERSITRON PoE+ switch portfolio is available in various configurations, addressing the needs of different disaster response operations. Our team worked closely with the emergency response team to deploy a comprehensive network solution using various industrial-grade network switches.

Implementation Details

• 52-Port Industrial PoE+ Switches: These switches were deployed at a large emergency shelter housing more than 500 evacuees. The center required robust network connectivity to connect multiple IP cameras, wireless access points, VoIP phones, medical equipment and administrative systems.
• 28-Port Industrial PoE+ Switches: These switches were deployed at medium-sized shelters and primary command centers to power surveillance systems with 12-16 cameras, 8-10 wireless access points, emergency communication stations, and supply tracking and distribution systems.
• 20-Port Industrial PoE+ Switches: These switches were deployed in temporary field offices and mobile command vehicles to power portable surveillance systems, tactical communication equipment, wireless bridges for extended connectivity, and field medical equipment.
• 18-Port Industrial PoE+ Switches: These switches were deployed in specialized response locations like supply distribution points, search and rescue staging areas, emergency medication stations, and family reunion centers.
• 10-Port Industrial PoE+ Switches: These switches were used to power basic security cameras, wireless access points, emergency communication equipment, and environmental monitoring equipment in small shelter locations and remote monitoring stations.
• 4-Port Industrial PoE+ Switches: These switches were widely used in specialized applications, such as portable communication kits for field teams, point-to-point wireless links, backup connectivity in critical areas, and emergency broadcast systems.

Advanced Network Resilience Features

• Environmental Protection:All our PoE+ switches are equipped with IP-65 enclosures, which protects them against dust, moisture, and salt air. These switches can withstand wide operating temperature ranges from -40°C to +75°C. They ensured consistent performance in emergency facilities despite damaged HVAC systems.
• Rapid Deployment Configuration:Our pre-configured network settings enabled deployment teams to establish connectivity within 15 minutes.
• Power Efficiency Optimization:The intelligent power management capabilities of these PoE+ switches helped achieve power efficiency. They helped reduce power consumption by 30% while maintaining the full PoE+ output capability.

Results and Benefits

• Improved Response Times: Rapid deployment has reduced emergency coordination time by 60%. This has helped search and rescue teams to ensure comprehensive coverage of affected areas.
• Seamless Multi-Agency Coordination: A robust network infrastructure enabled different agencies, including National Guard Units, FEMA personnel, local emergency responders, and Coast Guard rescue teams, to communicate effectively using the same network.
• Improved Evacuee Services: Reliable Wi-Fi access enabled evacuees to access emergency services, contact their family members, and receive critical updates. This improved communication capability helped reduce anxiety and stress among evacuees, enabling emergency services to work more effectively. The network provided various essential services, including job placement services for economic recovery, mental health support through video counselling sessions, educational resources for displaced children, and electronic health records for evacuees.
• Cost-Efficiency: The advanced features of our PoE+ switches helped avoid the need for power installations for hundreds of devices across these shelters. It helped reduce the fuel consumption of generators by almost 25% and improved the equipment deployment and recovery time by 70%.

Testimonial

“When we were tasked with setting up communication networks in the aftermath of a natural disaster, we faced numerous challenges, including quick deployment, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in extreme conditions. One of our coordinators recommended VERSITRON’s PoE+ switches based on his earlier experience using these switches in a similar situation. We never doubted his capabilities, but we are happier today for our decision. We have employed all switches in VERSITRON’s arsenal and used them to power VoIP phones, surveillance cameras, wireless access points, and numerous other devices. The rugged design of these switches has been beneficial when deploying them in emergency shelters. The weather was still bad, as it continued to pour. Thanks to the VERSITRON team, we were able to communicate with them in real-time, and they responded swiftly. I would highly recommend these switches for any emergency response operation.”

— Jason H., Emergency Response Coordinator

Summary

Six months post-deployment, the VERSITRON’s PoE+ infrastructure is supporting long-term recovery operations. Many of these switches were redeployed to mobile medical clinics serving displaced individuals, temporary disaster recovery centers, emergency supply redistribution centers, and other locations. The reliability of these switches, combined with decreased operational costs, has inspired various emergency services in the region to adopt VERSITRON’s industrial switches as the standard for their emergency preparation operations. Since then, the efficiency of switches has been validated in three additional disaster responses, including severe flooding and wildfire evacuations. For more information on VERSITRON’s PoE+ switches and fiber optic solutions, visit www.versitron.com or contact our team at 1-800-537-2296.

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