Highlights
– NECP to address gaps and determine solutions during emergency response situations
-Human and cross-jurisdictional cooperation to be foundation of new plan implementation
-Long-term goals include improving nationwide response efforts and bolstering situational awareness, information sharing, and command and control operations
-Success of plan will be dependent on sustained cooperation and funding
On July 31, 2008 the US Department of Homeland of Security (DHS) released the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP), which includes a framework and goals to improve emergency response communications across the US. The plan, which is the first US strategic plan that addresses emergency response communications, is meant to compliment other previous homeland security and emergency communications legislation and initiatives. It is planned to be phased in over the next five years.
Of note, the NECP—which was also developed with significant input from both public and private sector emergency response professionals—is seen as a needed effort to ensure communication in times of disasters or crisis incidents, and includes lessons learned from after action reports from Hurricane Katrina relief and the September 11, 2001 attacks.
A comprehensive communications framework is a needed step in coordinating emergency response efforts across local, state and federal jurisdictions, especially in times of crisis. As the plan is to be implemented over several years, the potential for meeting the established timetable is high, although success will be dependent on the complimentary distribution of necessary equipment to achieve the plan’s mandates.
Phased in Approach
Central to the NECP are three established goals, which the plan defines as needed to “establish a minimum level of interoperable communications and deadline for federal, state, local and tribal authorities.” The goals include:
•By 2010, 90 percent of all high-risk urban areas designated within the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) can demonstrate response-level communications within one hour for routine events involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
•By 2011, 75 percent of non-UASI jurisdictions can demonstrate response-level emergency communications within one hour for routine events involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies.
•By 2013, 75 percent of all jurisdictions can demonstrate response-level emergency communications within three hours of a significant event, as outlined in the department’s national planning scenarios.
Procurement Concerns
To meet the established guidelines, necessary funding will be critical. As such, DHS indicated that its new Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program is available to facilitate the procurement of needed equipment in order to meet the plan’s goals.
However, critics believe necessary infrastructure may not be in place to meet the plans objectives and time tables as outlined, and that several current state and local emergency communications plans will now become obsolete or require significant changes to meet the new guidelines. DHS has dismissed this idea and indicated that Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP), or Tactical Interoperable Communications plans, will be updated to align with the goals of the NECP and funding will be allocated as necessary to achieve any equipment upgrades.
Outlook
Additional concern has been waged as to how future technical enhancements will be achieved and who will ultimately pay for them. If funding for the initial goals is completed, necessary follow up funding for long-term upgrades will also become critical to ensure the plan’s success, and to ensure communication in times of crisis is sustained for the future.
As such, a long-term national comprehensive plan requires a long-term commitment—including the necessary funding, training, and accountability to ensure interoperability is achieved and sustained.
