Federal 100: Shawn P. Anderson

Shawn P. Anderson
Director, Geographic Information System Department
Tipton County, Tenn.

The work: Providing maps and timetables to aid disaster relief during the Mississippi River flooding in 2011.

The impact: His information, updated hourly, helped ensure an orderly evacuation and no loss of life during the worst flooding in Tipton County since 1937.

The nuts and bolts: When the Mississippi River crested 14 feet above flood level in May 2011, Anderson provided timely information on predicted and actual flooding and evacuation routes to disaster relief and emergency services personnel. After the floodwaters receded, he developed an interactive website with similar information to be used in future disasters. He is also involved in an engineering study to enhance the countywide emergency communications system by upgrading equipment to meet federal mandates and eliminate dead spots in law enforcement and fire service radio communications.

Read more about the 2012 Federal 100 award winners.