Online Videos
Video tutorials discussing USNG in emergency response operations
- Effective Search and Rescue - U.S. National Grid, Iowa Task Force One (8:27 minutes). Part 5, of a 5 part SAR series.
- The U.S. National Grid - How to Find 911 Callers Who Can't Give an Address, BJ Kohlstedt (14:00 minutes). Retired Lake County Minnesota Emergency Manager, BJ Kohlstedt, presents on how 911 centers and responders can effectively employ USNG.
- U.S. National Grid For You, Your Employer, Your County, Your City, Your Town, Al Studt (12:09 minutes). Florida Firefighter Al Studt speaks about the importance of using the U.S. National Grid.
Presentations
Ready-to-use slides for training emergency responders
- First Responder Basic SAR Training – U.S. National Grid Basics (Adapted from FEMA Module 2) (25 slides, 2.6 MB, PPT). Overview of USNG for land search and rescue, including grid structure, coordinate precision, communication standards, and practical SAR tasking examples aligned with national response guidance.
- Georeferencing for SAR Responders, Rick Button (35 slides, 11.2 MB, PPT). SAR Responder focused presentation which explains the reasoning and need to use USNG as the cornerstone coordinate system for SAR and disaster response operations.
- Minnesota Civil Air Patrol (CAP) USNG Considerations, Capt. Nash Pherson (15 slides, 3.8 MB, PPT). To comply with recent national SAR directives, CAP has begun moving toward use of USNG in their operations. This presentation reviews the issues for the Minnesota Wing.
- Standardized Mapping Using the USNG, Randy Knippel (42 slides, 22.2 MB, PPT). Quick overview and then a series of 13 examples designed to help responders understand how to use Minnesota’s series of interlocking 10KM maps and 1KM mapbook system.
- USNG For “Experts” – Part 1, Steve Swazee (11 slides, 6.9 MB, PPT). Hands-on examples of using a USNG formatted map at a grid zone junction adapted from “How to Read and Use USNG Coordinates”. Includes online examples using Minnesota scenarios.
- USNG For “Experts” – Part 2, Steve Swazee (15 slides, 4.8 MB, PPT). The National Incident Management System and National Response Framework require use of a Common Operating Picture approach to disasters – failing to plan for a standardized way to communicate location during a response (USNG), is planning to fail. Plus, a final thought on the value of USNG by using a real world example.
- USNG Now In the Florida Field Operations Guide (FOG), Lt. Al Studt, (12 slides, 10.4 MB, PPT). Provides brief overview of USNG as part of the Florida FOG, followed by slides which show Landing Zone (LZ) planning examples.
- U.S. National Grid – The Basics, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (28 slides, 20.8 MB, PPT without audio)
- Why the USNG – Part 1, Steve Swazee (19 slides, 15.1 MB, PPT). The problem with using street addresses for first response.
- Why the USNG – Part 2, Steve Swazee (14 slides, 35.9 MB, PPT). Among alternatives to street addresses, USNG is the best solution.
- Why the USNG – Part 3, Steve Swazee (9 slides, 3.3 MB, PPT). USNG is a force multiplier and adoption is being encouraged from the top.
Reference Materials
Reference materials supporting use of the USNG by emergency responders
- DF109B – DRAFT GPS for Disaster Response Operations, author assumed to be FEMA (82 p., 6.0MB, PDF). Unofficial draft of a 2005 FEMA Emergency Management Institute Instructor Guide which teaches the basics of using a GPS for disaster operations. PPT
- DF109 - DRAFT GPS for Disaster Response Operations, authored assumed to be FEMA (1.4 MB, PPT). PPT presentation which covers materials addressed in the Instructor Guide listed directly above.
- Map Reading and Navigation, Emergency Management Australia, (96 p., 5.5 MB, PDF)
- Map Reading and Land Navigation (2013 - TC 3-25.26 (FM 3-25.26)). (126 p., 10.5 MB, PDF)
- USNG Which Coordinate Specifies a Structure?, Lt. Al Studt (2.p, 367K, PDF)
Tools
Tools which responders may find of value when using the USNG. Please see also the "Apps" page of the USNG Store for additional free USNG enabled mobile software.
- FindMe SAR - A search and rescue focused PWA with USNG coordinate display and emergency notification features which offers more extensive, but complicated, location display options than usngapp.org.
- NAPSG USNG to Address Converter - Created by the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS, this map interface can be used to determine location on the USNG using either a grid overlay or zoom to feature. This app includes the ability to add additional pre-programmed layers to the viewer.
- SharedGeo USNG to Address Converter - A Google Maps tool that allows the user to zoom to an entered street address or USNG coordinate, and then see the other corresponding location read out. A simple, straightforward approach to determining this information.
- USNGAPP.ORG - The granddaddy of all USNG apps. An absolutely free progressive web application (PWA) for mobile devices (not PC) that displays your current USNG coordinates and allows for easy location sharing during emergency situations. By simply typing usngapp.org into the URL window of any GPS enabled mobile device, display of your current USNG coordinate will appear.