NCJ Number
227530
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: February/March 2009 Pages: 14-16,19
Date Published
March 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the need for and status of the development of resilient interoperable communications that will enable multiple agencies involved in responding to major disasters to establish and maintain communications with one another.
Abstract
Hurricane Katrina's hard lessons have driven numerous interoperable communications projects across the country, especially in Louisiana. After the storm, New Orleans spent $21 million in four parishes in building a new interoperable, 700-Mhz radio system. The system has multiple towers and channels, increasing redundancy and resiliency. The Louisiana State Police also upgraded to a 700-Mhz radio system, while more than tripling its number of radio towers from 30 to 100. This has increased mobile communications coverage from 60 percent to 95 percent. The Federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also been working to improve interagency relationships through State fusion centers for information sharing. In March 2007, eight States had interoperable communications plans. Currently, all 50 States and 6 Territories have them. Significant challenges remain, however; for example, the Federal Government must improve its coordination of mutual aid assets and how these plug into State command structures. In April 2007, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that in the haste to produce information-sharing capabilities after the 9/11 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security did not develop effective collaboration policies with key State and local partners. The DHS failed to take a full inventory of State and local information-sharing initiatives or develop joint strategies for meeting mutual needs. In September 2007, however, the GAO concluded that DHS had taken steps to fix the earlier problems. In July 2008, the DHS released its first National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP). It includes strategic objectives and tactical milestones in five areas: governance, planning, technology, training and exercises, and disaster communications capabilities.