DPS Partnership Enables Purchase
of $660,000 Emergency Communications Vehicle
JEFFERSON CITY, July 13, 2006-Department of Public Safety
Director Mark James applauded the recent partnership established between
Cole County and the State of Missouri to make possible the purchase
of a specialized emergency communications vehicle.
Cole County Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) presented
this idea to Missouri Homeland Security officials leveraging their
C-CERT Homeland Security Grant funding from last year as a down payment.
“Having a common, interoperable, and reliable
command and control system to handle emergencies and disasters rolled
into a specialized vehicle will enhance our ability to protect and
save lives,” James said.
Echoing the sentiments communicated from a recently
released federal report on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina
that the magnitude of recent disasters does not excuse our inadequate
preparedness and response, but must serve as a catalyst for far-reaching
change, Director James felt this was an innovative and necessary step
for Missouri to take.
Director James pointed out that by purchasing an asset
that can be deployed anywhere in Missouri to more effectively respond
to a disaster, we are making a wise investment with our shrinking
homeland security grant money.
The message brought home to Missouri from first responders
who answered to the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort was that communications
are one of the most critical assets in the initial hours of any disaster,
and continue to be critical throughout the recovery phase of these
events. The communications vehicle that is being purchased and outfitted,
at a cost of almost $660,000, will add additional communications capability
to support Missouri’s disaster response efforts.
Based on input from subject matter experts, the Cole
County Emergency Response Team researched how to best address future
portable emergency communication needs. The idea was to obtain a communications
vehicle that could be used not only in the Capitol region, but be
deployed anywhere needed in an emergency in Missouri, and even to
other states.
Cole County officials agreed to partner with Missouri
to host this vehicle, to include staffing the vehicle initially in
an emergency, and maintaining the vehicle when it was not being used.
With the specialized gear purchased and placed on this vehicle, various
agencies using different communication systems can communicate with
each other at the scene of an emergency.
For more information please contact Susan Green, Cole
County Emergency Management Coordinator at 573-634-9146.
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