Maine prepares for new emergencies

Second of two parts

The attempt by Maine to create a new emergency communications system must involve much more than work on radio towers or decisions about what new radio transmitters Maine should purchase. Organizational changes must take place at the same time.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided all states with an organizational roadmap that stresses a standard approach for large-scale emergencies or disasters. This helps Maine in turn because of ourcritical dependence upon volunteer first responders as well as lots of other volunteers at the local level. Procedures known as incident command systems are emphasized as part of a new National Incident Management System (NIMS). DHS is also emphasizing interoperability, a term which applies to a structure and set of rules surrounding how emergency communications are conducted so that multiple agencies can respond quickly in a unified, well coordinated effort to disasters.

I use the term MaineComm 21 to describe a number of different projects that will make up the nucleus of the state’s 21st century emergency communications solution. Today, the state has no official name for this cluster of projects. But by Sept. 30, Maine must submit its updated homeland security strategy to DHS, demonstrating that Maine is taking steps to comply with NIMS. Compliance is not exactly voluntary. Any state that fails to comply with NIMS might end up with its future DHS funding requests in jeopardy.

Olan Johnston, Maine Preparedness Director at the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), works closely with the DHS Office of Domestic Preparedness, and the NIMS compliance officer at MEMA. A strong supporter of NIMS, Johnston would like to see even more volunteers involved at all levels. He points to the Red Cross, which has numerous training and volunteer opportunities, and the Maine Citizen Corps, which can also provide training and program guidance.

Our ability to alert and warn the public should the need arise is another important organizational concern. In early August, Portland Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne identified the process of notifying the public as one of the toppriorities in Portland. He indicated that the city is working on things like reverse 911, AM radio stations, and even sirens on the islands, among other things.

In the first part of this series, I touched on the significance of the new Emergency Notification System and its positive impact on the deaf and hard of hearing community. In addition, as part of its public health preparedness planning efforts, the Maine Bureau of Health has engaged in extensive communications planning for special populations, including the visually impaired, mentally and physically disabled, persons with limited English proficiency including refugees, immigrants and migrant workers, the elderly, isolated independents and those institutionalized.

The bureau has the capability to provide emergency information directly to the public via coordinated communications with MEMA, and phone banks activated in the event of a public health emergency, for example.

A year ago, Tristan Richards, director of operations at the Maine Public Broadcasting Network and broadcast chair of the State Emergency Communications Committee wrote on this page that Maine should deploy a sophisticated, reliable, and redundant way of issuing alerts and warnings using state-of-the-art telecommunications and computer technology. Known as MaineNet, this system draws on what is known as datacasting technology, or the broadcasting of data directly to personal computers equipped with inexpensive antennas and receiver cards. It would use the same network that has been created for MPBN’s digital TV (DTV) transmissions. Beyond its role as a statewide alert and warning system, it could broadcast online training materials to first responders and volunteers in rural communities in particular.

In June, the National Technology Alliance awarded New Jersey-based Rosetex, $3 million to transition the Geospatially-Aware Urban Approaches for Responding to Disasters (GUARD) system under development in New York City for the last three years to a nationally relevant regional model of first responder communications and decision support capability. Apparently, DHS is pushing this datacast model aggressively in urban areas like NYC for good reason.

Maine should pay close attention to GUARD. Why? MaineNet and GUARD share lots of elements. Both solutions use wireless broadband networking, using either DTV technology or the Educational Broadband Service Band. Both tap into satellite links.

MaineNet – now nothing more than a concept on paper – was probably ahead of its time. And yet, it is further evidence of the fact that Maine should trust its collective instincts, and, keep moving in the right direction despite setbacks and the slow pace.

MaineComm 21 is not going to materialize out of thin air. We must implement NIMS, expand our ranks of volunteers, and, strengthen our alert and warning system with MaineNet while urging neighbors to reach out toneighbors especially in times of emergency. We must also adopt a proposed interoperability framework and accompanying set of guidelines. Cumberland County and the interoperability working group created this two years ago. Only then will we move a step closer to making MaineComm 21 a reality.

Emergency communications in Maine needs work, and technology alone will not get the job done.

Peter J. Brown, a freelance writer from Mount Desert, took part in the 2002 communications and interoperability working group activities. He writes frequently about the role of satellite technology in emergency communications.