County awarded “best” for technology

King County Office of Emergency Management honored for Best Collaboration and Information Sharing

A web-based information sharing system aimed at helping our region’s emergency officials plan for and coordinate response to natural and human-caused threats has won national recognition.

King County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has received the Emergency Management Digital Distinction Award for Best Collaboration and Information Sharing for its SharePoint web application; one of several recognitions honoring outstanding digital applications that enable first responders to deliver emergency services more effectively.

King County’s regional collaboration site provides a secure information-sharing system offered to more than 1,000 users, including the county’s 39 cities, over 130 special purpose districts, government and private sector entities throughout the greater Puget Sound region.

“The ability to share vital data with our regional partners on a continual basis enhances our ability to plan for and respond to local emergencies and disasters,” stated Robin Friedman, Director of King County Office of Emergency Management. Friedman notes that increasing numbers of emergency officials are using the SharePoint site daily to communicate meetings and trainings, contact information, project reports, graphics and video, grant management updates, protocols and planning documents. “Better information flow ultimately helps save lives and protect property.”

Recipients of the inaugural Emergency Management Digital Distinction Awards were announced by e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government and Emergency Management magazine, producers of the awards. Emergency management agencies, including fire, public safety, law enforcement, and homeland security, were invited to submit information technology projects which resulted in measurable improvements in the lives of the people and businesses they serve.

“We congratulate the winners of the Emergency Management Digital Distinction awards,” said Cathilea Robinett, Executive Vice President for the Center for Digital Government. “With budgets tighter than ever, they are outstanding examples of projects and applications which facilitate first responders and ultimately enhance their mission of keeping citizens safe.”

View winner summaries at http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/.

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About the Center for Digital Government

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. www.centerdigitalgov.com.

About Emergency Management magazine

Emergency Management magazine is the award-winning, all-hazards publication of record for emergency management, public safety and homeland security stakeholders. www.emergencymgmt.com

The Center and Emergency Management are divisions of e.Republic, the nation’s leading publishing, research, event and new media company focused on the state and local government and education markets. www.erepublic.com.