Goggle Sites

Google Sites is used to build the emergency dark site because:

  • Google Sites is easy to access and use. It uses a familiar user interface to compose text.
  • You can control who can work on the site and who can view the site.
  • The Google Sites user interface is nimble; you can quickly post new information.
  • Google’s bandwidth and redundant data centers servers can be relied upon in emergencies.
  • In the past, Google has made its resources available in emergencies.

For more information, go to the Google Sites Overview

Google Sites Templates

With the Google Sites template gallery, you can select the Public Health Emergency Dark Site Template (or the All-Hazards Emergency Dark Site Template) and, in one step, use it to create your department’s own emergency dark site. You can add your organization’s logo and your own content.

Google Levels of Service

Google has two levels of cloud computing service: one is free and one is fee-based.

  1. Google Sites (free service):
  • There is no limit on the number of pages on the site.
  • The site quota is 100 Mb/site.
  • The maximum attachment size is 20 Mb.
  • There is no service agreement, on-site technical support or contracted guarantee of service.

  2.  Google Fee-Based Service:

If your county or public health department requires a service agreement, on-site technical support or contracted guarantee of service, Google Apps Premier Edition may be an option. A 99.9% uptime Service Level Agreement for Google Apps is offered to organizations using Google Apps Premier Edition. The services are described in the Google Apps Premier Edition Terms of Service.

Other Free Web-Building Sites1

Other free applications can be used to build an emergency dark site. Use these links to learn more about other options for building an emergency dark site:

  1. Intuit Web Builder
  2. Tripod
  3. Webs.com
  4. Weebly
  5. Webstarts.com

The emergency dark site improves public health readiness and response because:

  • Alerts, announcements, maps, and information can be posted quickly.
  • The public gets simple, focused, emergency information.
  • Pre-approved risk communication material can be stored for use in an emergency.
  • New content can be authored directly in Google Sites and approved for release by the Public Information Officer.
  • Links to other sources of information can be added.
  • A potential bottleneck can be avoided in situations where the public health department web site is managed by one individual. With the emergency dark site, additional staff can authorized to make revisions and post new information.

1These sites have not been evaluated. APC toolkit users should conduct their own evaluation to determine which program to use to build an emergency dark site.

|