Disaster Communications System (DCS)
Overview for State and Local
Governments
National Conference on Emergency
Communications (NCEC)
Panel 5: State and Local Emergency
Communications Needs
Presented by Joe Sifer, Booz Allen Hamilton
Washington, DC
December 13, 2005
Overview
 Communications Systems Threats and Threat Agents
 Defining Disaster Communications Systems
 Operationalizing Disaster Communications Systems
 Implementation of an “Integrated” Approach to Disaster Communications
1
Significant events and disasters can cause primary
communications systems to be lost, diminishing emergency
response effectiveness…
Events Impacting Communications Systems
NATURAL
HUMAN
TECHNOLOGICAL
Earthquake
Terrorist attack
Hardware failure
Severe storm (e.g.,
hurricane, winter storm)
Tampering
Interruption of commercial
power
Electrical storm
Theft of assets
Failure of backup
electrical systems
Extreme temperatures
Unauthorized use of
system resources
Loss of infrastructure
connectivity
Flooding
Radio frequency
interference
Loss of infrastructure site
facility
Wildfire
Interception of signals/
wiretapping
Loss of back room or
electronics bank
Lightning
Spoofing
Software failure
Planning and implementing comprehensive primary and back-up
communications solutions is essential to maintaining critical operations
2
A Disaster Communications System is a set of technical
solutions that provides responders and the public the ability to
communicate in extreme situations
 A Disaster Communications System (DCS) should provide
primary and back-up communications alternatives
 A DCS strategy assumes a communications system must
be operable before it can be interoperable
 A DCS can include multiple technical solutions for both
responders and the public including:
- Traditional public safety systems (e.g., tactical radio,
E911);
- Terrestrial and commercial wireless systems (e.g.,
cellular, satcom);
- Quickly deployable commercial or private
equipment/systems for use when traditional systems
are inoperable (e.g., satellite, cellular on wheels,
transportable radio systems)
- Emergency notification systems and text messaging;
- Amateur radio/HF radio;
- Satellite television services;
- Government-sponsored emergency communications
services (e.g., GETS, WPS);
- Survivability solutions (e.g., alternate power and
charging sources)
3
As with any communications system, operationalizing a DCS
is critical to mission success during an emergency
 Procedures and protocols should be developed to assure
effective deployment of primary and back-up solutions during
an event
 Training is crucial for users to understand when, where, and
how to use solutions
 Exercises should include injects that require participants to
respond to communications problems and failures
 Routine testing of DCS components/equipment
 Technical support staff (government and vendor) should be
ready for deployment to the field to ensure equipment/system
is operational, conduct programming and maintenance, and
help users troubleshoot problems
 Logistics planning should cover processes to requisition
and deploy equipment and ensure access to affected areas
for technical support staff
4
Disaster Communications Planning Drivers
 Operational requirements
 Interoperability requirements
 Citizen-based requirements
 State and regional emergency management plans and policies
 COOP plans
 National Response Plan (NRP) and National Incident Management System (NIMS)
 Lessons learned from previous events
 Vendor solutions understanding
 FUNDING!
Effective leadership is critical to planning, approving, and funding
disaster communications solutions
5
Solving disaster communications challenges requires an
integrated approach across intergovernmental and private
sector boundaries…
Vertical Coordination
 Disaster communications must be addressed holistically and not through the lens of one
agency or department
- Horizontal: The need to coordinate within the same government level (e.g., federal-tofederal)
- Vertical: The need to coordinate across government levels (e.g., federal-to-state)
- External: The need to coordinate outside traditional government agencies (e.g.,
private sector to government, civil government with military)
 Existing federal government programs should be leveraged to help agencies plan and fund
disaster communications systems
Local A
Local A
Local
Local C
Local B
Local B
State
State A
State B
Federal
Horizontal
Coordination
Federal B
Federal A
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Local C
Federal C
The implementation of an effective, nationwide DCS strategy
requires a comprehensive set of near and long-term activities
“Near-Term” Activities
Problem Definition and
High-Risk Area Solution Development
 Engage government agencies and the
private sector to glean lessons learned
 Robustly define the problem and raise
the awareness level of disaster
communications needs to policy
makers
 Develop a disaster communications
system planning methodology
 Identify and respond to high-risk areas
requiring immediate solutions
 Identify synergies for federal
communications programs to more
effectively address the problem
 Coordinate with existing
communications working groups
“Long-Term” Activities
Establishment of a Nationwide Disaster
Communications Strategy
 Develop and implement funding
strategies for state and local agencies
and regional response structures
 Implement disaster communications
policy and program changes
 Examine and respond to needs for
standards and spectrum requirements
 Institutionalize disaster communications
planning into local, state, and federal
disaster response plans
 Provide educational and technical
assistance to help agencies perform
disaster communications planning and
implementation
We must be prepared to restore communications capabilities during a
disaster TODAY, while institutionalizing a culture of integrated disaster
planning and policy development over the long-term
7
For additional information contact:
Joe Sifer
8
703-902-4573