National Conference on Emergency Communications

The National Conference on Emergency Communications is designed to support nationwide efforts to enhance emergency communications through:  

• Sharing of information, strategy, tools, and relationships to achieve the goals of the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP);
• Opportunities for emergency response practitioners to discuss funding challenges, identify solutions, break-down barriers, and redefine leadership roles and responsibilities;
• Networking and partnership building among members of the emergency communications community at all levels of government and industry;
• Sharing lessons from recent Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan Implementation Workshops;
• Increased understanding of the next phase of NECP implementation.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) invites you to participate in the National Conference on Emergency Communications in Chicago, Ill. on April 22-24, 2009. More on Hotel Accomodations

This 3-day event focuses on expanding stakeholder engagement and promoting emergency response initiatives with emergency responders and public officials from federal, state, local, regional and tribal levels of government. Review Schedule of Events

Background

The National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP), released July 2008, sets strategic goals and identifies national objectives to enhance governance, planning, technology, training and exercises, and disaster communications capabilities. The NECP provides recommendations and milestones to guide emergency responders and relevant government officials to make measurable improvements in emergency communications.

This year's conference presents an excellent opportunity for OEC to facilitate a community-wide forum for diverse levels of emergency responders, fostering a collaborative climate that provides OEC input on current and future initiatives and discusses best practices/lessons learned. Statewide Interoperability Coordinators, Emergency Response Practitioners and Policy Makers across all disciplines and leaders from federal, state, local, tribal, regional, and industry emergency response communities are strongly encouraged to attend.

Document Library

National Emergency Communications Plan
The National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) is a strategic plan that sets goals and identifies key national priorities to enhance governance, planning, technology, training and exercises, and disaster communications capabilities.  The NECP provides recommendations, including milestones, to help emergency response providers and relevant government officials make measurable improvements in emergency communications over the next three years.

SAFECOM Continuum
The Interoperability Continuum is a tool designed to aid the emergency response community and local, tribal, state, and Federal policy makers and ensure they address critical elements for success as they plan and implement interoperability solutions. These elements include governance, standard operating procedures, technology, training and exercises, and usage of interoperable communications. This tool was established to depict the core facets of interoperability according to the stated needs and challenges of the emergency response community. The Continuum will aid emergency response practitioners and policy makers in their short- and long-term interoperability efforts.

Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP)
The FY 2009 IECGP provides governance, planning, training and exercise, and equipment funding to States, Territories, and local and tribal governments to carry out initiatives to improve interoperable emergency communications, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. According to the legislation that created IECGP, all proposed activities must be integral to interoperable emergency communications and must be aligned with the goals, objectives, and initiatives identified in the grantee’s approved Statewide Communication Interoperability Plans (SCIP).