H5.

As Chapter 7 notes, first reports during a crisis are often wrong, and on-the-scene personnel may not be experts who correctly understand how to best respond to their situation (e.g., spill of unknown chemical leading to an incorrect response, or suddenly rising floodwaters overnight in an area with an electric power outage). Thus, decisions have been made on the basis of inaccurate -- or at least inadequate -- information. Chapter 7 describes several computer models, e.g., the ALOHA model for airborne hazards.

The discussion topic this week is: How can consulting a Decision Support System help to cancel out the effect of bad information and bad advice when trying to manage an emergency, especially early in the disaster when the only information you have available comes from ordinary citizens on the scene?