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Harrison a Communications Model: County's System Never Lost Contact

Posted on: Thursday, 22 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

By Robin Fitzgerald, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Jun. 22--GULFPORT -- Recommendations to avoid a communications catastrophe like the one in Hurricane Katrina list Harrison County's public safety communication system as a model system.

That comes as no surprise to Steve Delahousey, who chaired the emergency communications subcommittee of an independent panel formed by the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. He is chairman of the Harrison County E-911 Commission and vice president of operations for American Medical Response's south central region.

The panel's review of Hurricane Katrina's impact on communications networks will be presented to Congress for recommendations that could become law.

"Not a lot was done or worked correctly for a catastrophe of that scope when you look at communications breakdowns during and after the hurricane," said Delahousey.

The Aug. 29 storm knocked out more than 3 million telephone lines and crippled dozens of wireline telecommunications offices and local wireless networks.

One exception was Harrison County's $15 million communications system, paid for by taxpayers. The system enabled all police, fire, emergency medical and emergency management agencies in the five cities and the county to continue communicating.

"We knew Pass Christian's dispatch center was going to be wiped out, so we were able to reroute all their 911 telephone and radio calls to Biloxi's dispatch center," Delahousey said. "The calls were handled through Biloxi for four months. Most people didn't know it. All that mattered was they were getting the proper response to their calls."

Another exception was the dependability of ham radios, whose operators were able to make contact outside the area when state, federal and military personnel had no direct line of communication, Delahousey said.

The usefulness of Harrison County's emergency radio system and of ham radios are in the panel report presented to the FCC on June 15.

"Four days later, the FCC presented it as a rulemaking, almost an unheard of period of time," Delahousey said.

One recommendation asks the FCC for "credentialing guidelines" to help telecommunication companies and media representatives gain access to storm-damaged areas.

"Katrina showed us the important role of the media following a disaster," Delahousey said.

Delahousey went to Washington, D.C., for most of the meetings. The FCC came to Jackson for one meeting.

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FCC recommendations

Recommendations from a review of Hurricane Katrina's impact on communications networks include:

-- Pre-position a cache of communications equipment.

-- FCC to grant waivers to improve access to essential services.

-- National credentialing for communications infrastructure providers.

-- Maximize use of priority communications services.

-- More efficient use of radio Emergency Alert System.

-- Facilitate first-responder interoperability (to follow Harrison County's model, with no federal dollars spent on non-compatible radios).

-- Enhance communications for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking.

-- Establish common channels for military and civilian public safety agencies.

-- Allow for pre-configured 911 backup alternate sites away from disaster area.

-- Recognize EMS as an equal partner in public safety communications.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

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