What have we learned from 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina?

Congress has issued a failing grade when it comes to communications among public safety agencies. Why? What we have learned from 9/11 is that the NYPD (New York Police Department) and FDNY (Fire Department New York) didn't establish a command post together because of their personal differences with each other. The firefighters and police officers couldn't communicate with each other on their mobile or portable radios. Crucial information could have been relayed between the two agencies and more lives may have been saved. The departments now share a command post during emergencies but still are unable to communicate between each other. In New Orleans, the same thing occurred, firefighters were unable to talk directly to law enforcement or the National Guard during rescue operations. Some reasons for the incompatibility of radio systems are due to budget issues, turf battles and buying radio equipment to fit the specific needs of a department. No matter what the reason, unfortunately, there is no quick fix answer. Hopefully all of us can learn from these examples. If your department responds to a disaster, can you make radio contact with other agencies outside of your jurisdiction? Depending on the nature of the emergency you may have to communicate with the National Guard, FBI, State Patrol, NTSB, FEMA and other various Local, State, and Federal agencies. Messages or important information can be lost in translation or delayed if it has to go through a communication center. The ability to communicate directly with various agencies is crucial as we learn from 9/11 and Katrina. I urge your department to sit down and talk about these issues if you haven't done so already or hold MCI drills. The knowledge of knowing how to communicate with outside agencies may be just as lifesaving as knowing CPR!

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me!

Geoff Galaski
GalaskiG@co.st-louis.mn.us