The emergency response environment is anything but peaceful. Providing geospatial products in this austere setting is always a challenge. When your temporary office space is outfitted with folding furniture, cell phones, and a web of network cable and extension cords strewn about the floor, the simplest tasks can be nearly impossible to tackle. Add to this a diverse workforce pulled from their jobs across the country and we have a strange potential to accomplish some rather unreasonable tasks.

This talk will provide a vision into the emergency management/geospatial support setting, looking at the work area, staffing issues, unique customer base, urgent product requirements, and FEMA's plans for future geospatial support.