Using GIS to Brief New York City Public Officials after September 11

Transcription

1 Using GIS to Brief New York City Public Officials after September 11 Presented by Zvia Segal Naphtali, Ph.D. and Leonard M. Naphtali, Ph.D. Presented at the ESRI International Health GIS Conference, May 6, 2003

2 Zvia Segal Naphtali is an Adjunct Assistant Professor Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University and the President of Resource Mobilization Inc. Leonard M. Naphtali, is the Vice President of Resource Mobilization Inc. 575 West End Avenue New York, NY Tel: ; FAX: s

3 Abstract In a February 2002 briefing, GIS was used to acquaint New York City public officials with demographic and health conditions and the location of health and other facilities in their districts. Purpose: To show how GIS plays a critical role in making informed decisions in routine as well as high risk situations and in collaboration between agencies (elected officials, health, police, fire) in post September 11. Method: The paper includes maps of key demographic and health indicators (AIDS, tuberculosis, asthma, infant mortality, etc.), the location of hospitals and ambulatory care sites, TRI sites, fire houses, police stations and schools in New York City. On each of these maps, the boundaries of the City Council districts are superimposed over the ZIP Code data. Results: A Map Book containing over 100 maps designed for post September 11 New York City. Conclusion: GIS technology can help with evidence-based decision making especially in disaster and bio-terrorism preparedness planning.

4 GIS saves lives September 11 highlighted the power of GIS September 11 demonstrated to people, both inside and outside the GIS community, that GIS can play a critical role in making informed decisions in routine as well as in high risk situations. The New York City GIS community recognized that the timely availability of data, and data compatibility among different sources, are critical especially in high risk situations. The New York City GIS community learned about the critical importance of collaboration between agencies.

5 The New York City GIS community also learned about the vulnerability to data loss Suddenly starting from scratch The Emergency Mapping and Data Center at Pier 92 Read about it at the following web site winter0102articles/nyc-creating.html creating.html

6 Moving from response and recovery efforts to community preparedness planning and risk assessment

7 Using GIS in a Health Briefing for New York City Public Officials February 8, 2002 New York University

8 Our paper describes an effort to promote community preparedness planning. A Map Book was prepared for newly elected officials including demographic and health characteristics of neighborhoods in New York City, and the location of facilities -- hospitals and ambulatory care facilities, fire, police, schools, etc., --in their districts.

9 Two months after September 11, (on November 8, 2001), an election was held for a new Mayor and the New York City Council. Because of term limits a large number of the City Council members were serving in this office for the first time, starting January 2002.

10 The first speaker at the briefing was Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Health How Healthy is New York City? Dr. Frieden also discussed briefly the status Bioterrorism Preparedness in New York City -- Early detection of anthrax; Response to alarms; Mass public health interventions and the coordination of activities with partners.

11 Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness was addressed in other presentations. Dr. Joel Ackelsberg discussed the Department s health surveillance plans, focusing on anthrax and smallpox, and the availability of vaccines. Dr. Joel Ackelsberg is the Medical Director of the Emergency Readiness and Response Unit of NYC s Department of Health.

12 Selected maps from a Map Book prepared for the Health Briefing for Public Officials

13 Health Briefing for Newly Elected Public Officials

14 Health Briefing for Newly Elected Public Officials

15 Health Briefing for Newly Elected Public Officials

16 Health Briefing for Newly Elected Public Officials

17 POPULATION DENSITY AND CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS Brooklyn, New York City

18 PERCENT HISPANIC OR LATINO & CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS Brooklyn, NYC

19 PERCENT NON-HISPANIC WHITE & CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS Brooklyn, NYC

20 PERCENT NON-HISPANIC BLACK & CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS Brooklyn, NYC

21 PERCENT NON-HISPANIC ASIAN & CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS Brooklyn, NYC

22 PERCENT OF HOUSEHOLDS with Low Income Brooklyn, NYC

23 ASTHMA HOSPITALIZATION RATE PER 100,000

24 PERSONS LIVING WITH AIDS PER 100,000 POPULATION

25 TUBERCULOSIS CASES Brooklyn, New York City

26 INFANT MORTALITY Per 1,000 Live Births Brooklyn, New York City

27 BREAST CANCER A PUZZLE?

28 Breast Cancer Incidence versus Expected Incidence means the number of newly diagnosed cases of Breast Cancer The cancer rate for the entire state and the number of women in each age group are used to calculate the number of women who would be expected to get this type of cancer. csii/nyscsii.htm

29 MAPPING FACILITIES Schools Firehouses Hospitals Police stations Ambulatory Care Facilities and also the location of TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) sites.

30 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

31 Firehouses in Brooklyn

32 Hospitals In Brooklyn

33 Using GIS to simulate emergency response

34 Imagine that a truck carrying a large bomb exploded in central Brooklyn, New York City.

35 The bomb exploded in a densely populated area and in close proximity to several schools. This is an emergency that can test the ability of GIS to provide information rapidly to the medical facilities in the surrounding area, to the police and fire departments.

36 Facilities and the Site of the Bomb

37 With the Map Book at hand a Councilperson will be better prepared to collaborate with other agencies in the affected area as they gather information on the schools, hospitals, police stations, and firehouses in the immediate vicinity.

38 The Site of the Bomb: A Closer look

39 A Closer Look

40 15 Schools are within.25,.5 and.75 miles of the bomb Several of the hospitals are one or more miles away north and south of the affected area Parts of City Council Districts 39, 40 and 45 are within the affected area

41 To conclude, GIS technology can help with evidence-based decision making especially in disaster preparedness planning.