NCJ Number
213823
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 33 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2006 Pages: 62,64,67
Date Published
March 2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article briefly discusses the challenges and potential solutions in the integration of alert notification and interoperable communications during emergency response situations.
Abstract
Enabling public safety personnel, specifically first responders with interoperable communications and urgent alert notification capabilities allows for a much higher level of interagency collaboration, as well as crucial situational awareness and accountability. However, to accomplish such a task is a challenge in today’s public safety world. True interoperability involves the ability to establish a comprehensive and seamless communications system that is not limited by the hardware being used, such as radios, pagers, cell phones, or the Internet. In addition to interoperability, public safety institutions must be able to broadcast urgent alerts to individual first responders, target groups, and mass citizenry. It is the first key step to effective incident response management. Technology that allows for interoperable communication, alert notification, and communications management through the convergence of the various hardware devices and individual agency systems is SmartMSG from Codespear LLC. Located in Michigan, Codespear tackles this issue with a dynamic software-based approach. This article addresses how emergency relief teams using different devices and systems coordinate themselves in an emergency situation to the greatest effect utilizing this new technology.