Question10

Ever since the Oklahoma City Bombing of 1995 and the attacks of 9/11/01, congressional hearings, official government reports and think-tank studies have all agreed that a lack of interoperable public safety communications remains a chronic problem that hampers the effective coordination of emergency first responder agencies in major incidents. Considering all the advances in IT/communications technology, and the unifying motive of protecting our nation from terrorist attacks, why do you think this problem has thus far defied resolution?

2.)  What is your overall assessment of Presidential Policy Directive #8, the National Preparedness Goal—Second Edition, and National Preparedness System? What are their best elements, and what, if anything, appears to be missing or weak? Do they complement, reinforce and supplement other key guidance documents you were introduced to in this course, such as the National Incident Management System(NIMS)-Third Edition, and National Planning Frameworks, or are they in conflict or redundant? Considering that these documents were all developed and published by the White House or DHS/FEMA, how do they affect state/local emergency responders, and what are the proper roles and responsibilities of state/local emergency responders in this national system?