Preparedness and Response to a Rural Mass Casualty Incident Workshop Summary (2011) / Chapter Skim
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3 9-1-1 Access and Communications
3 9-1-1 Access and Communications
Pages 21-30
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From page 21... ...
-- Workshop participant A common, primary challenge to rural emergency response exemplified by both the Mexican Hat and Albert Pike incidents is that of communication in general, and limited 9-1-1 access specifically. This section of the workshop summary explores these issues in more depth and examines potential strategies that integrate emergency communication and improve rural response (summarized in Box 3-1 and Box 3-2)
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From page 22... ...
· States' roles: o Leverage centralized resources and existing communication assets. o Plan with the end in mind.
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From page 23... ...
The importance of cell phone service to emergency response is undisputed: one-third to one-half of all 9-1-1 calls are made from a wireless phone. Yet, noted Booz Allen Hamilton lead associate John Chiaramonte, there are about 125 counties across the United States, primarily in the frontier areas, that do not currently provide enhanced 9-1-1 (E911)
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From page 24... ...
Without this critical information a dispatcher cannot start activating emergency resources. Patrick recalled Larson's comment that after the bus incident the contested cell phone tower was installed, and likened it to what happened with the railroad industry; how many times did an automobile-train accident have to occur before there was a crossing placed or a bridge built over the railroad tracks?
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From page 25... ...
If the system had been capable, in theory a text to a 9-1-1 center in San Juan County, with its short-burst message, might have gotten through when a completed cell phone connection could not. Yet, a participant cautioned that reliance on commercial cell phone technology, via calls or text messages, might be misguided: service infrastructure cannot be guaranteed by local governments, it does not assure EMS priority in an MCI, and the existing capacity is likely to be overwhelmed during an MCI, causing a cessation of all service.
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From page 26... ...
For example, a vehicle would search for cell phone signals, then available radio frequencies, satellite, Wi-Fi, and so on, until it made a successful connection. Associate chief medical officer at the Office of Health Affairs at DHS Mike Zanker asserted that the technology for communication in remote areas exists, but it is underutilized because of a lack of incentives
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From page 27... ...
IMPROVING RESPONSE Jenny Hansen, CEO of Strategic Partnerships Incorporated, provides contract services to governments for large-scale public safety telecommunications projects. "We live where we live, and we enjoy it," she said.
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From page 28... ...
It will be expensive to move to Next Generation 9-1-1, and successful planning involves both proactive outreach to those that could share expertise and resources, and strategic alliances with those that could provide funding. Similarly, a participant noted that local communities should balance the priorities of investing in Next Generation 9-1-1 and augmenting traditional land mobile radio systems.
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From page 29... ...
Yet participants observed the need for rural communities to strike a balance between investing in such Next Generation 9-1-1 technology, and improving the use of traditional land mobile radio systems. One participant suggested that this can be accomplished by focusing on interoperability, national standards coordination, and by effectively integrating broadband to be able to bring technological advances to the field.
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