The TechOps team prepares by researching, acquiring, and deploying advanced connectivity technologies that can support the community during disasters. These technologies include Satellite Internet Service, Mesh Wifi Networks, cloud-based software, and sustainable power solutions.

During an activation, the team implements the necessary technology solutions to ensure seamless communication and collaboration between all parties involved, including local, state, and federal officials, community members, and emergency responders.

The team is activated during emergencies, disasters, crises, and special events where their expertise and resources are needed.

This team is automatically activated during a large scale disaster.

Satellite Internet Service  – We deploy the SpaceX Starlink advanced satellite communications system to provide resilient, high-speed internet when terrestrial internet and cellular service may be overwhelmed or disrupted by a disaster.

Mesh Wifi Networks – We deploy state-of-the-art wifi networks to securely support Hub locations, special events, continuity-of-government, and public safety.  We actively manage the quality-of-service to ensure as many people as possible can have access to the Internet during a disaster.

Cloud-based software – We acquire software and services to provide data analytics and other back-office software needs for Bainbridge Prepares

Privacy and Security – We ensure strong privacy and security capabilities are integrated into all of our solutions. This includes anti-malware protection, strong authentication, firewalls, encryption, and cloud-based intrusion prevention. We value the privacy of our users, and intentionally minimize data collection, keeping it only for as long as necessary.

Sustainable Power – We assume the power grid of Bainbridge Island may be disabled by a significant emergency, and that diesel or gasoline may be hard to source immediately afterward. So we purchase equipment that is extremely power efficient, and design solar power kits that can easily sustain our operations for the duration of an extended emergency. Designing our compute and power systems together provides both a logistical and an environmental benefit.

Drones (UAV/UAS) – TechOps operates the Bainbridge Prepares drone response program in partnership with the Bainbridge Island Fire Department and City of Bainbridge Island, and operates under FAA Part 107. Our Air Operations (AirOps) volunteers give first responders on Bainbridge Island real-time aerial observation during fires, Search and Rescue (SAR) on land or water, and for other missions such as pollution response. The team is one of the few in the Puget Sound region that is equipped to perform water rescues using drones. Learn more.

Members of our team have collectively responded to more than 50 major disasters in the United States and around the world.  With these real-world experiences in mind, these are the values that inform how we design and deploy technology solutions for the Bainbridge Island community:

We Put Users First:  We want volunteers and BI community members to have as easy an experience as possible deploying and using our technologies. This means we design systems for user friendliness, and to provide familiar experiences that people can feel comfortable with using even when they are under stress due to an emergency situation.

Trust, Security and Privacy:  We know that in the midst of a crisis, the Internet will be a critical lifeline between Bainbridge Island and the rest of the world.  We design our solutions to maintain system availability and protect end users from cyberthreats such as viruses, ransomware and other digital hazards that could put people at risk of harm.  We intentionally focus on user privacy and only collect the absolute minimum of data necessary to provision, operate and protect our systems.

Equity and Justice:  It’s easy to assume that everyone in our community is equally digitally literate and comfortable using technology. But that’s never quite the case. In a crisis, the “digital divide” can complicate who gets access to information and the ability to communicate. It can lead to unequal responses and delayed recovery from a disaster. We owe it to our community to ensure that everyone realizes the benefit of technology during a crisis.  We design our technology systems keeping in mind especially vulnerable people in our community. We consider how gender, race, ethnicity, disabilities, age, socioeconomic status and other human factors can shape how people experience and use technology in an emergency.  We welcome feedback from the public to inform our strategies and designs.

Sustainability:  As technology continues to change and evolve, our solutions will need to do so as well.  That means we must be thoughtful and forward-thinking with how we spend the donated dollar. We design solutions that are cost-effective and supportible for the long haul.Sustainability is also considered in our environmental impact. Our solutions are designed to be power-efficient, minimizing the need for fossil fuels that may be difficult to acquire after a major disaster. Instead, we develop sustainable power capacities that minimize our logistics needs, and are good for the environment, too!

Even though our team is brand new, we’ve already been busy supporting our community!

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics:  Our team provided Google Chromebooks, wifi networks, and advanced cybersecurity protection for the Bainbridge Island community COVID-19 vaccination clinics. We acquired a number of software solutions that enabled Bainbridge Prepares to manage clinic supplies, ensure adequate staffing, and schedule members of the public for their shots.

As of October 2022, more than 36,000 adults and children from Bainbridge Island and surrounding communities in Kitsap County have gotten vaccinated at these clinics! You can see more about these clinics in this video from the Bainbridge Community Foundation.

Cascadia Rising 2022:  In June 2022, the City of Bainbridge Island and Bainbridge Prepares participated in Cascadia Rising, a four-day exercise that simulated a major earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific Northwest. During the exercise, our team provided advanced satellite internet using SpaceX Starlink to the city Emergency Operations Center and to a Hub location. This provided high quality voice, high-definition video and data communications to city leaders, emergency responders, and dozens of simulated disaster victims simultaneously. This was all done while being powered by off-grid solar power even as the sky remained decidedly overcast. You can see our Starlink demo in minute six of this video about the exercise.

Day of Preparedness:  We demonstrated many of our technology solutions during the City of Bainbridge Island Day Of Preparedness fair.  Members of the public and local elected leaders were able to and ask questions of our team about technology resilience both for our community and their own families. Our displays included solar power, satellite communications, voice-over-IP telephones, cybersecurity and drones.

To learn more about the team, please email the Team Leads listed above.

To sign up, you can fill out the volunteer application available in the volunteer section.