When Disaster Strikes: Using New Technology to Save Lives

HOBOKEN, N.J. - The threat of natural disasters and catastrophic events has become an all too realistic part of life in America today. Our country - still reeling from terrorist attacks - is still preparing for the unexpected. The US has had emergency management systems in place since after World War Two, but what new technological advancements can help provide emergency management services and better save lives?

On the next edition of Technogenesis, David M. Sanko, Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, JJ Shepard from the American Red Cross, and Sgt. Daniel Mitten and Captain James Bastan, members of the New Jersey Task Force One - Urban Search and Rescue Team join Stevens President Dr. Harold Raveche in a closer look at emergency management systems and the technologies that help save lives.

Technogenesis is a weekly TV program produced by Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens), in cooperation with cn8, the Comcast Network. This week's program will examine new technologies that can be deployed nationwide and in a moments notice, such as the American Red Cross Communications Response Vehicle. The program will also examine emergency management systems already in place in our area.

The Technogenesis program, "When Disaster Strikes: Using Information Technology to Improve Disaster Assistance," airs at 7:00 p.m., on cn8, the Comcast Network, each of the following Sundays throughout New Jersey, Westchester County, New York, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston: December 14, December 28, January 11, and January 25. The program will also appear at various times throughout the week on the local Comcast outlets in Prince William and Fairfax counties, Va., as well as Prince George's County, Md. Please check for local listings.

Hosted by Stevens President Dr. Harold J. Raveche and veteran TV journalist Steve Taylor, each program includes special guests from the areas of science, technology, government, education, business or industry.

David M. Sanko graduated Summa Cum Laude from East Stroudsburg University before beginning his career in political consulting and public service. He was appointed director at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency by Gov. Edward G. Rendell on Jan. 21, 2003. In this role, he is responsible for leading the state's efforts and response to support county and local governments in the areas of civil defense, disaster mitigation, preparedness, planning, and response and recovery from man-made or natural disasters.

JJ Shepard is a member of the American Red Cross, and has participated in such relief and rescue efforts as Hurricane Isabel, and the Southern California Wild Fires. Sheppard has been a volunteer for the Grater Los Angeles Chapter since 2000, working on the Disaster Action Team, Canteen Team and Mass Care Team. Nationally, he has worked disaster communications and disaster computer operations since 2002. He has also been member of the Training Advisory Group for Communications Response Vehicles since 2003.

Sgt. Mitten has been a member of the New Jersey State Police for the past 15 years. He served five years as general road duty Trooper and six years on TEAMS (SWAT) Unit. He was assigned to Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) in January 2000 as Program Coordinator. Sgt. Mitten's USAR Team provides advanced technical search and rescue capabilities to victims trapped or entombed in structurally collapsed buildings.

Co-produced by Stevens and Comcast, the half-hour Technogenesis programs feature government, research and industry leaders discussing some of the most challenging real-world issues facing science and technology today.

The cn8 Comcast Network is one of the nation's largest regional cable networks reaching more than to 8 million households in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Boston.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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