When Hurricane Beryl slammed into southeast Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, it knocked out power for millions. The extreme heat, with a heat index soaring over 100 degrees, created hazardous conditions for the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions, and anyone working outside or trying to manage without air conditioning. Amidst these challenges, one of VLI’s most valued partners, Harris County ESD11, stepped up heroically.
Beryl posed a significant and immediate challenge for ESD11. Besides the treacherous conditions mentioned above, ESD11 saw their call volume spike by 67%, which lasted for days due to the power outages and extreme heat that followed the storm. Chief Operations Officer Kevin Nutt and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Chebra acted quickly, contacting the Texas Division of Emergency Management for additional EMS resources to handle the anticipated increase in emergency call volume. When the EMS Strike Team arrived, it only took a few minutes to integrate the additional ambulances and crew members into ESD11’s dispatch software, readying them to respond to calls immediately.
ESD11 utilizes Logis IDS as its CAD system. Logis IDS automates many manual processes and decisions that decrease efficiency in traditional CAD systems. These benefits allowed the communications staff to handle the significant increase in volume smoothly. In particular, ESD11 leveraged Dynamic Deployment, a predictive AI technology in Logis IDS that forecasts incident locations and recommends the most appropriate ambulance (or ambulances) to respond based on the nature and location of the emergency, among other variables. This saved the dispatchers time, allowing them to focus on managing their resources and communicating effectively with crews. It also helped efficiency in the field, preventing the crossing of trucks when navigating difficult conditions. ESD11’s use of Logis IDS helped them operate as efficiently as possible in such a hectic and dangerous situation.
During the five days of Hurricane Beryl’s impact, ESD11’s crews showed incredible dedication. Many stayed late and spent extra time away from their families to help the community. Several dedicated employees even stayed at the office to ensure continuous coverage. Even the Strike Teams had to sleep on-site due to a lack of hotel availability. Leaders were present around the clock, facing the first official hurricane for Harris County ESD11.Communication Manager Juan Rodriguez mentioned this was the worst possible track it could have taken. It even knocked the sign off the building, but they got through it!
Congratulations to the dedicated providers who came to work each day, understanding their mission and executing it flawlessly. VLI is incredibly proud to partner with and support ESD11 in successfully handling this emergency. We stand ready alongside them to tackle any future events that may unfortunately occur.
If you want to see how Logis IDS can streamline and automate your Comm Center operation, leveraging AI-based technology and helping your team focus on what matters all the time, not just during natural disasters, reach out to Fred at fred@vlitech.com or 832.409.9995.