Priority emergency communications

Article By:

Krock, Richard E. Alcatel-Lucent, Naperville, Illinois.

Last reviewed:2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB120392

Effective disaster response requires effective communications. Be it between first responders; between local, state, or federal government agencies; between equipment and service providers and their customers; between victims and emergency services; or between governments seeking to assist each other, communications is one of the key components, if not the key, in responding to an emergency. During a disaster, the systems that work so reliably during normal situations may be damaged and are subjected to heavier loads than normal, affecting their ability to support these vital communications. A priority communications system is needed to ensure that the most essential traffic is completed, while at the same time not denying service to nonpriority traffic, thus removing the barrier to implementing such a system in a time of crisis. Almost as important as implementing such a system on a national basis is ensuring that it works with the systems implemented by other countries of the world. The global economy and the nature of disasters demand it.

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