As natural disasters and emergencies become more frequent and severe, state governments face a critical challenge: how to safeguard society’s most vulnerable—seniors, people with disabilities, and those dependent on caregivers—when crisis strikes. The stakes are high: disruptions in care, delayed evacuations, and breakdowns in communication can have life-altering consequences for both care recipients and the caregivers who support them. In this context, digital transformation is not just a technological upgrade—it is a life-saving imperative.
Historically, emergency response for at-risk populations has relied on manual, paper-based systems and the institutional knowledge of a few dedicated individuals. In Oregon, for example, a single employee once coordinated disaster relief for tens of thousands of residents across thousands of facilities, using binders of spreadsheets and paper maps. This approach created single points of failure, delayed response times, and left too much to chance during chaotic, high-pressure events. Any lapse in coordination could mean critical delays in evacuating nursing home residents or ensuring continuity of care for those dependent on in-home support.
Recognizing these risks, forward-thinking state agencies are embracing digital platforms to modernize emergency response. The Oregon Department of Human Services, in partnership with Publicis Sapient, offers a compelling example of what’s possible. By consolidating disparate workflows into a single, cloud-based platform, Oregon transformed its emergency response management, delivering safety, care, and continuity at unprecedented speed and scale.
Key features of this digital transformation include:
The impact of Oregon’s digital transformation has been profound. The new platform now supports emergency response for 67,000 patients across 2,100 facilities, as well as 20,000 in-home care recipients. During recent emergencies, the system enabled the safe evacuation of residents and staff, with every incident tracked and triaged digitally. Responders have real-time visibility into who needs help, where they are, and what resources are available—allowing them to act faster and more effectively than ever before.
Crucially, the system has removed the burden from individual staff members, ensuring that institutional knowledge is captured and accessible to all. This not only improves operational resilience but also gives peace of mind to families and caregivers, knowing that their loved ones are protected by a robust, data-driven safety net.
Digitizing emergency response management delivers benefits far beyond operational efficiency:
For state agencies, the shift to digital platforms means they can do more with less—processing more cases, coordinating more partners, and responding to more complex crises without being overwhelmed. The Oregon case demonstrates that with the right technology, it’s possible to modernize emergency management in a way that is both people-first and future-ready.
As climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of disasters, the need for agile, data-driven emergency response will only grow. The Oregon Department of Human Services’ journey from paper-based chaos to digital clarity offers a blueprint for other states and agencies. By embracing integrated, cloud-based solutions, public sector leaders can ensure that their most vulnerable citizens are never left behind—no matter what challenges the future holds.
At Publicis Sapient, we are committed to helping government agencies harness the power of digital transformation to protect, empower, and serve their communities. The future of emergency response is here—and it’s digital, connected, and centered on the people who need it most.