Emergency Communications

Organizations and Special Projects

International

An Intergovernmental Conference on Emergency Telecommunications (ICET 98) took place from 16 to 18 June 1998 in Tampere (Finland) to adopt a Convention on the provision of telecommunication resources for disaster mitigation and relief operations.
Working Group On Emergency Telecommunications (WGET), convened by the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA), includes all UN agencies as well as many other international and national, governmental and nongovernmental institutions involved in humanitarian assistance.
The WGET meets periodically and deals with regulatory and legal as well as operational and technical issues of emergency telecommunications. It works towards the implementation of the ITU Resolutions concerning Telecommunications for Disaster Mitigation and Disaster Relief Operation and towards an efficient co-ordination of field telecommunications.
Global Disaster Information Network initiative - Conclusions of Meeting of International Disaster Experts in Washington DC, July 16/17, 1998.
Preparations for Spring 1999 Meeting May 11, 12, 13, 14 1999 --- Mexico City, Mexico

Canada

Association of Public Safety Communications Officials - Canada was established to foster the development and progress the art of public safety communications through research, planning, training and education.
Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Program provides marine safety communications and manages vessel traffic.
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Canada's communications regulatory body, recently has conducted a proceeding concerning telecommunications quality of service indicators.
Communications Security Establishment (Canada) provides advice and guidance to Canadian government institutions on the means of ensuring the security of communications and computer systems.
Industry Canada - Emergency Telecommunications Website developed by Industry Canada to provide information concerning departmental policies, programs and projects supporting emergency telecommunications.
Emergency Communications for Southwest British Columbia is a company formed under the BC Company Act to provide essential services to the B.C. lower mainland. The services include Disaster Management, a Wide Area Radio Network, Consolidated Dispatch and a Records Management System.

United Kingdom

The Disaster Relief Communications Foundation (DRCF) is a small registered charity, established in 1986. It's members are private individuals, unpaid Volunteers, who put their professional communications skills to use for the benifit of the Humanitarian Aid community. The DRCF was formed in the UK, but some of its members operate from other places. All DRCF members are professionally qualified and experienced emergency communicators, who hold both Amateur and professional radio licences.

United States

The Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership Forum EIIP is a voluntary association of organizations and individuals, seeking to enhance their effectiveness in coping with disasters and emergency situations, by exploring the opportunity for sharing information and ideas made possible by electronic technology.
National Communications System (USA) is the lead agency for the planning, coordination and integration of US government telecommunications capabilities to ensure access to, and use of critical information services required for effective response in an all hazards environment.
The Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on operational, technical, and spectrum requirements of Federal, state, and local public safety entities through the year 2010.
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), a new federation of associations representing public safety telecommunications was formed May 1, 1997 to follow up on the recommendations of the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Council (PSWAC). In addition, NPSTC acts as a resource and advocate for public safety telecommunications issues.
Wireless E911 Legislation BellSouth Position

Emergency Information Networks

United States

California Emergency Digital Information Service (EDIS)
Emergency Managers Weather Information Network NOAA, National Weather Service's Radio/Wireless Dissemination System
FEMA News Desk

Emergency Notification Systems

Wireless Systems

Intelligent Wireless Solutions Corporation Commercial Site

On-line Discussion Groups

Networks in Emergency Management Forum and Archive. How to subscribe.

Reference Materials

Information Centres

Disaster Communications Law and Policy This web site includes important research and policy documents concerning disaster-related communication, and provides links to government, academic, and private organizations working to facilitate disaster communication. It is provided as a public service by the Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, and maintained by Professor Fred H. Cate.

On-line Publications

Computing and Communications in the Extreme: Research for Crisis Management and Other Applications Steering Committee, Workshop Series on High Performance Computing and Communications, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Applications, National Academy Press, National Academy of Sciences, 1996
Disaster Communications Manual The needs of disaster communications and aid communications are in some respects similar, but the operational needs of the two distinct types of organisation are quite different. This document is about disaster communications, but the information is applicable to aid users also, provided the differences are understood.
Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Mobile Command Posts and Similar Emergency Response Vehicles (90K) The Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Mobile Command Posts and Similar Emergency Response Vehicles were developed to provide assistance to agencies in designing, procuring, or renovating such vehicles.
Incident Command System Forms (U.S. Coast Guard)
The Intelligent City And Emergency Management In The 21st Century by Christian E. Stalberg. Paper on how the emergence of the intelligent city in the 21st century will radically transform emergency management as we know it today. Computing and telecommunications technologies, once separate and well-defined, will merge and their distinctiveness will blur.
Where There Is No Telephone A handbook on short wave radio and LEO satellite communication for missions and aid agencies in developing countries. The book describes how to plan, select, install, operate and maintain a radio telephone network in these countries. It deals with the peculiar and special considerations necessary for reliable operations and will assist both technical and non-technical personnel.

Bibliographies

Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications

Emergency Telecommunications compiled by UN-DHA

NCEER Information Service - QUAKELINE Database

Amateur Radio

Organizations

AMSAT Home Page
The American Radio Relay League
Radio Amateurs of Canada
The Radio Society of Great Britain
Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network (RAYNET)
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
San Diego County RACES (Emergency and Disaster Mutual-Aid Communications)
Russian Amateur Radio Emergency Service (RARES)

Other Sources

Interoperability and General Telecommunications Information Sources

International Telecommunications Union
Information and Communication Technologies for Sustainable Development
The International Multimedia Teleconferencing Consortium (IMTC) is a non-profit corporation formed to promote the creation and adoption of international standards for multipoint document and video teleconferencing.
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is the protocol engineering and development arm of the Internet. The IETF is a large open international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers concerned with the evolution of the Internet architecture and the smooth operation of the Internet. It is open to any interested individual.
Telecom information resources. A very comprehensive, searchable set of links to telecom sites on the Internat, compiled and maintained by Professor Jeff MacKie-Mason of the University of Michigan.

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