#United States #Hamilton #Critical Response Group #Emergency Planning #Ops Planner

Critical Response Group Introduces Free Ops Planner for Public Safety

On September 8, 2026, Critical Response Group (CRG) announced a transformative development in emergency preparedness with the launch of Ops Planner. This tool is designed specifically for public safety agencies across the United States, allowing for no-cost operational planning based on an existing mapping infrastructure. This initiative aims to consolidate and enhance the planning processes for emergency responses in communities where CRGs (Collaborative Response Graphics) have already been deployed.

For over ten years, CRG has worked tirelessly to provide first responders with accurate, field-verified maps, integrating them into various emergency management systems. With over 100,000 CRGs produced, the organization has established a uniform geographic reference to support responders. The introduction of Ops Planner extends this common operating picture into the planning arena, enabling agencies to create detailed emergency action and event plans efficiently.

Crucially, the new Ops Planner allows police, fire, EMS, and other public safety teams to use their existing CRGs as a foundational element for various types of operational planning. Without needing to purchase additional platforms, agencies can strategically designate command posts, triage sites, evacuation routes, and more, all directly on the map. This approach is designed to streamline the planning process, ensuring that all operators work with the same accurate information.

Mike Rodgers, the founder and CEO of CRG, emphasized the importance of this tool, stating, “For years, our focus has been on ensuring that everyone responding to an incident is working from the same accurate map. Ops Planner carries that same principle upstream into preparedness.” This unified approach fosters an environment where responders can seamlessly transition from preparation to execution during high-stakes emergencies.

The Ops Planner serves a wide range of applications, including planning for active threats, large public events, and coordinated multi-agency operations. It allows for the integration of command locations, security zones, operational routes, and mutual-aid coordination, ensuring comprehensive and cohesive emergency preparedness plans.

Earlier this summer, the effectiveness of Ops Planner was demonstrated during the planning for FIFA-related events in New Jersey, showcasing its capability in complex, multi-agency environments.

Making this tool freely available to public safety agencies was a strategic decision by CRG. Rodgers elaborated, “Communities across the country have already invested in building and field-verifying CRGs, and public safety agencies have incorporated those maps into their response systems and operating procedures. Ops Planner gives them a way to derive even greater operational value from that investment.”

Typically, emergency preparedness plans have been developed independently from response systems; however, Ops Planner addresses this challenge by allowing agencies to create operational strategies grounded in the same mapping foundation that they rely on during incidents. This integration enhances collaboration across different disciplines, ensuring smooth communication during critical moments.

Currently, Ops Planner is available at no cost to eligible public safety agencies operating in areas where CRGs have been deployed. This initiative underscores CRG's commitment to enhancing public safety and emergency preparedness, illustrating the potential of modern technology to improve community responses to critical situations.

For more information about Ops Planner and how it can benefit your agency, visit CRGPlans.com. CRG continues to be a leader in providing field-validated geospatial intelligence and operational awareness technology for public safety, serving thousands of agencies nationwide.