Simulation of Government Response to Natural, Industrial, and Terrorist Disasters

Technical Report # USP-MPCS-498-06-01. Student: Joseph Glessner, 4th year BS Bioinformatics Undergraduate student. Course: CS 498 - Research in Computer Sciences I. Spring 2006.

Hurricane Katrina and the events of September 11, 2001 have presented the United States with unparalleled disasters which require extensive funding and quick government response. Simulation of this decision making process in response to various disasters was developed using the AweSim simulation environment. The main goal of this simulation was to analyze the process required to transfer power between Mayor, Governor, and President. The simulation includes several types of disaster characteristics: natural, industrial, or terrorist, severity, and duration. Disasters occur in specific cities and states based on vulnerability and past occurrences. Multiple scenarios varied the relative expertise of government leaders and the effect was analyzed in the response time and cost of emergency supplies. A quick transfer of power to the appropriate level of government based on disaster severity provides maximum disaster relief with the least resources. Disaster response time and disaster relief cost decrease exponentially with an increase in government expertise. The efficiency of these protocols to transfer power in a time of crisis is of vital importance to the well being of everyone in the United States.
 

Pages 20, Figures 6, References 5.