In May 2009, Randel Zeller, Director of Interagency and First Responder Programs at DHS Science & Technology and his colleagues published the “First Responder Capstone IPT.”  In it, they site a critical capability gap that still lingers for first responders: communicating when regular infrastructure is unavailable.

On page 74, you’ll find the following real-world example of an operational requirement describing a solution to fill this critical gap:

“The second primary requirement that must be in place to meet the mission of this ORD is human portable resilient communication systems that can provide connectivity to the interoperability framework. These systems will be in a kit form that has everything a FERP needs, to be hand-carried to the incident site, transported by car, helicopter or small watercraft. The kit must be able to provide voice, video and data communication peer-to-peer among FERPs at the incident site as well as capability across any available network. If normal network infrastructure is unavailable, the kit will contain a broadband satellite system to insure connectivity beyond the incident site. The Resilient Portable Communications Kit (RPCK) will be easy to setup and in operation in 10 to 20 minutes by any FERP. The kit will require zero technical support to setup. The RPCK must seamlessly participate in an expanding system of systems. The kit will be available in multiple form factors providing EROs the flexibility to have kits carried by hand in cases, mounted in vehicles, installed in mobile EOCs or any other type of response apparatus. If an ERO needs to support large-scale recovery operations, the RPCK will be modifiable to meet the requirement of the ERO.”

Yep – that’s an OODAkit. Except it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to get it up and running.

OODAkits have been successfully deployed by the U.S. Forest Service for wildfire response and were field proven as instrumental in disaster response earlier this year in Port-au-Prince.

Abbreviations Used in the Quote
ERO: Emergency Response Organization
FERP: First Emergency Response Provider
IPT: Integrated Product Team
ORD: Operational Requirements Document

What is the DHS First Responder IPT?

The First Responder IPT was established in early 2009. This Capstone IPT coordinates the identification and prioritization of the capability gaps, and the creation of detailed operational requirements of the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial first responders.

First, the Amerindians and the French coexisted – then the British, the Scottish, the Irish, the East Europeans, Italians, Greeks and now people from every continent … and today the Montreal School Board welcomes children born in 188 different countries. Talk about interoperability!

History, music, food, architecture, universities, churches, museums, islands, water, shopping … Montreal has it all. Despite the cold and the snow and the ice and the slush in early January, the city has a palpable vibe of fun and friendliness. It is extremely accessible – and if you don’t mind bundling up in winter – it’s a great place for walking.

By the way, the 31st Festival International de Jazz de Montréal will take place June 25 to July 6, 2010. The festival will be a carbon-neutral event through the help of Rio Tinto Alcan.

Check it out! Here’s a great clip from the 2007 festival:

• Communications = a process of transferring information from one entity to another
• Operable = able to operate/perform your duties
• Interoperable = able to exchange and use information
• Interoperability = ability to work with each other

With all the talk of communications interoperability and all the money we’ve spent since 9/11, you’d think this problem has been solved. Perhaps it has in some specific cases, but for the majority of U.S. communities – despite the best of intentions – interoperability as well as basic communications operability is still lacking as a fundamental cornerstone of our local, regional, and national preparedness.

When disaster strikes, is your community able to transfer critical information to those who can help? Do you have the communications tools to share information if your local telecommunications infrastructure is down? What if you have to change your operational location? Can you take these tools with you? Who provides power?

As a precursor to interoperability, be sure to address your communications operability needs to make sure you can connect and coordinate with the people, processes, and systems that will make a real difference in your ability to care for your community. With this preparedness fundamental in place, you are then in a position to begin the process of establishing interoperability amongst the people, processes and agencies that can make your response profile even more effective.

Remember – you can’t be interoperable if you aren’t operable. After all, our capacity to work together begins with a willingness AND an ability to share information.

Check out these resources:

• DHS’s National Emergency Communications Plan
• Interoperability via Satellite: Breaking Communications Barriers by Intelsat General Corporation
• CommsFirst, Inc., a managed services provider of operable and interoperable communications