Improvements needed in emergency communications

THE ISSUE A federal report has given Honolulu a modest rating in emergency agencies' disaster communications effectiveness.

HONOLULU received a fair grade among 75 U.S. metropolitan areas in a federal assessment of their emergency agencies' ability to communicate during a crisis, but its score should be much better. Hawaii's inadequate emergency communications system was demonstrated during the earthquakes that shook the state in October.

While most urban areas must coordinate agency activities among numerous jurisdictions, Oahu's unusual single city-county government should simplify the task. Instead, Honolulu still is working toward expanding communications between county and state agencies.

In its assessment, the Department of Homeland Security calls nationally for regular testing and exercises "to effectively link disparate systems and facilitate communications between multijurisdictional responders."

San Diego was one of six urban areas that received top scores in all three categories -- operating procedures in place, full use of communications systems and effectiveness in coordinating disaster preparation -- even though the area embraces the city government and two county governments.

Honolulu received intermediate grades for its state of operating procedures and coordination of preparations and a satisfactory grade for use of equipment. No regional strategic plan has been put in place, and the report points out that the state Department of Health and the city have yet to establish an agreement for emergency medical services.

"In some communities, not all, there are some longstanding cultural differences between different kinds of responders," including police, firefighters and medical personnel, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said at a news briefing. "I think that is a challenge and that culture has been a challenge."

Such turf rivalries that have impeded emergency coordination in other urban areas should not exist on this island. The report points out that the Honolulu police and fire departments "now operate on a shared system and have implemented shared talk groups that are frequently used." Sharings at any level less than that would be inexcusable.

Peter Hirai, the Oahu Civil Defense acting administrator, says his agency is working with its state counterpart to expand communications to eventually include all agencies. Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the state civil defense director, points out that federal funding for homeland security was reduced to $14 million last year from previous annual funding of $22 million.

Lee says intergovernmental communications showed improvement during the Thanksgiving weekend earthquakes on the Big Island from the response to the Oct. 15 earthquakes. The public on Oahu was left wondering during the first quakes whether a tsunami had been generated -- it had not -- but little information was transmitted by radio or television.