Emergency Management Tool Helps Prepare Local School for Potential H1N1 Outbreak
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ECS Media Contact: Mary Trier 407-620-3357
Emergency Management Tool Helps Prepare Local School for Potential H1N1 Outbreak
November 10, 2009. Orlando, Fla. As a public service, Engineering and Computer Simulations (ECS) recently delivered a training tool to assist local public school decision makers in responding, should the H1N1 virus become a pandemic in the school system.
The program, called AVERT (for Adaptive Virtual Environment Response Trainer) allows decision makers at all levels to be role players in realistic crisis scenarios that exercise decision-making skills. AVERT provides all levels of training from novice to expert and includes a full after-action capability to assess player readiness and provide feedback. The program provides trainees direct interaction with real emergency management personnel – or simulated – and provides comprehensive crisis management rehearsal/training. The program is compliant with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation program.
ECS worked with Roger Huder who had previously developed the pandemic plans for Orange County schools and taught an Incident Command course at every school in the county.  In conjunction with Huder, the team, led by the program manager, Mary Ann Pigora, developed scenarios within a virtual world and provided it for use by elementary, middle, and high schools in late October.
AVERT provides a scenario that trains three school role players in handling an Influenza Pandemic incident. The incident begins with significant school absences and presents the public school officials with questions to be answered. Should the officials recommend school closure? If so, what problems will they encounter? Some decisions that need to be addressed include:
- How to continue student education through what could be a lengthy facility closure
- Sustaining teacher and staff jobs and salaries
- Handling parent concerns
- Organizing support for the state’s request that the school be used as a vaccination center
School officials can register to use AVERT at http://school.jsrts.org.
ECS President, Waymon Armstrong said, “ECS is always pleased to work within our community to develop and produce innovative solutions that meet current needs.” He continued, “It is our hope that these tools provide a mechanism to assist the education sector in continuing its very important role as educators for our next generation.”
AVERT will be on display at the upcoming world renowned simulation conference, the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference that will be at the Orange County Convention Center Nov. 30-Dec. 3rd.
About ECS
Engineering & Computer Simulations, Inc. is a software development and solutions company located in Orlando, Florida. The core mission of the organization is to provide advanced learning technology solutions to clients within the Commercial and Government sector. The company’s exponential growth is a direct reflection of the superior training and simulation products and services that are being delivered to ECS customers.
