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Emergency Communications: Increased Regional Collaboration Could Enhance Capabilities

GAO-18-379 Published: Apr 26, 2018. Publicly Released: May 29, 2018.
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Fast Facts

During emergencies, first responders need to be able to communicate with each other—even across jurisdictions. After Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed a law to help first responders do just that. The law created working groups to improve regional collaboration. Each group has members from different levels of government, as well as from the private sector.

We found that these groups have generally worked well at the regional level—members shared information and assisted each other during emergencies. However, we recommended that FEMA encourage nationwide collaboration among the groups.

The 10 Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Groups

The states and territories that make up each of the 10 regional working groups.

The states and territories that make up each of the 10 regional working groups.

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Highlights

What GAO Found

Selected first responders and public safety officials identified various challenges related to emergency communications. These challenges include attaining the interoperability of communication systems, obtaining funding, ensuring ongoing training, and increasing the emphasis on communications during emergency response exercises. For example, some stakeholders told GAO about challenges related to equipment that is not interoperable, and others said first responders need training after investments are made in new interoperable communications equipment.

To help address these challenges and as required by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Post-Katrina Act), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided technical assistance, such as training, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants. It has also established regional emergency communications coordination working groups, which bring together stakeholders from different levels of government and the private sector within FEMA's 10 regions.

While emergency communications challenges persist, stakeholders told GAO that DHS's technical assistance generally meets their needs and that FEMA grants have helped them enhance emergency communications capabilities. In particular, stakeholders found training for specific communications positions was useful. Houston-area officials said this training was critical in preparing first responders for Hurricane Harvey. Some stakeholders told GAO that FEMA grants helped them address needs that would otherwise go unfunded, including interoperable communications networks and equipment.

GAO found that the regional working groups have enhanced emergency communications capabilities through building relationships and sharing information. Within the respective regions, group members have:

assisted each other during disasters and emergencies,

developed technical solutions to enhance interoperability, and

addressed policy concerns, such as the use of interoperable radio channels during emergencies.

However, most regional group leaders told GAO that more collaboration across the groups was needed. GAO's prior work has also found that including all relevant participants can enhance collaborative efforts. Further, DHS's strategic plan for emergency communications established a vision of collaboration among stakeholders across the nation. While FEMA has encouraged collaboration among regional working-group leaders, cross-regional efforts have been limited and do not involve all group members. Developing and implementing an appropriate ongoing mechanism for collaboration could enhance emergency communications capabilities, such as by helping group members address common challenges. Without ways for all members of these groups to collaborate across regions, members may be missing opportunities to share information and leverage the knowledge and experiences of their counterparts throughout the nation.

Why GAO Did This Study

During emergencies, reliable communications are critical. Disasters, such as 2017's hurricanes, continue to test the nation's emergency communications capabilities. As disasters can cross jurisdictional boundaries, collaboration within and across regions is very important.

GAO was asked to review implementation of the Post-Katrina Act's provisions related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. This report examines: (1) challenges related to emergency communications that selected stakeholders have experienced; (2) their views on DHS's emergency communications assistance; and (3) the regional working groups established by the Post-Katrina Act and their effect on emergency communications capabilities. GAO reviewed DHS's reports and grant data for fiscal years 2011–2016 and conducted case studies of three cities—Houston, Los Angeles, and Boston—selected based on the number of declared disasters, DHS grant funding, and geographic diversity. GAO interviewed DHS officials; leaders of all 10 regional working groups and other stakeholders, including public safety officials in the case study cities; and others chosen for their expertise.

Recommendations

FEMA should work with regional working-group members to reach consensus and implement an ongoing mechanism, such as a national-level working group, to encourage nationwide collaboration across regions. DHS concurred with this recommendation.

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Federal Emergency Management Agency The Administrator of FEMA should work with regional emergency communications coordination working group members to reach consensus on and implement an ongoing mechanism to encourage nationwide collaboration across these groups, considering the costs of one or more suitable methods, such as a national-level working group that uses virtual or other means of coordination, as appropriate. (Recommendation 1)
Closed – Implemented
During emergencies, reliable communications are critical and since disasters can cross jurisdictional boundaries, collaboration within and across regions is very important. To help address challenges to emergency communications, such as interoperability of communication systems, and as required by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Post-Katrina Act), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established regional emergency communications coordination working groups. These regional working groups bring together stakeholders from different levels of government and the private sector within Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 10 regions. In 2018, GAO found that the regional working groups enhanced emergency communications capabilities through building relationships and sharing information. However, most regional group leaders told GAO that more collaboration across the groups was needed. While FEMA has encouraged collaboration among regional working-group leaders, cross-regional efforts have been limited and do not involve all group members. Developing and implementing an appropriate ongoing mechanism for collaboration could enhance emergency communications capabilities, such as by helping group members address common challenges. Reaching a consensus with regional working group members may help FEMA determine options that are both useful for the membership and feasible, given FEMA's resource constraints. Without ways for all regional working group members to collaborate across regions, members may be missing opportunities to share best practices and leverage the knowledge and experience of their counterparts throughout the nation. Therefore, GAO recommended FEMA should work with regional working-group members to reach consensus and implement an ongoing mechanism, such as a national-level working group, to encourage nationwide collaboration across regions. In 2021, GAO confirmed that FEMA coordinated with regional working group coordinators and their respective members to reach consensus, develop, and implement a national Community of Interest (COI) website on the Homeland Security Information Network to share information, de-conflict calendars, and share point of contact and resource information in order to encourage cross-regional collaboration. FEMA officials reported that the national COI website is operational and there are active users from all 10 regional working groups. As a result of the website, these groups will be better able to collaborate across regions, share information and leverage the knowledge and experiences of their counterparts throughout the nation.

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Topics

Broadband networksCommunications interoperabilityDisastersEmergency managementEmergency responseFederal agenciesFirst respondersGrant programsHomeland securityHurricane KatrinaHurricanesInformation sharingPublic safetyRegional planningSystems interoperabilityTelecommunications