A key issue in implementing a coordinated emergency response effort is determining the magnitude and severity of the damage, as well as the type and scope of aid required. Past experience during emergency response coordination at state and local emergency operations centers has proven that cellular and commercial phone systems are effective communication tools. However, following a major earthquake, there is great potential that these means of communications may be interrupted. It is therefore imperative that alternative means of communications are available.
Currently the State has four alternative avenues of communication within damaged areas. These are the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri Water Patrol, ham operators and the Farm Bureau Satellite Network. In addition the Department of Safety, Division of Fire Safety has state-wide mutual aid frequencies available for fire departments. These frequencies are strictly for mutual aid responses, however.
The Missouri Highway Patrol has about 1,000 vehicles with radio communication and 14 aircraft. Within two hours of a major earthquake in the Bootheel area, over 200 patrol persons can be in the affected area, assuming major transportation routes are open. The ability of the Patrol to utilize its radio communications may, however, be affected by damaged relay towers.
The State Emergency Management Agency has a database of volunteer ham operators who can communicate with the State Emergency Operations Center. These volunteers can be a valuable asset; however, these individuals may have other immediate personal concerns (injured family, friends and property), so that utilization of this source of communication may not be available immediately following an earthquake.
In 1995, the State of Missouri entered into a cooperative agreement with the Farm Bureau Association to utilize its existing satellite communication network in the event of a State emergency. Every county in the area of potential damage from an earthquake is linked by this network. The ability to utilize this system will, in part, be dependent on whether the building housing the equipment survives the earthquake, the location of this equipment relative to the local emergency operations center, as well as the training of local emergency personnel in using the equipment.
In addition, the State Emergency Management Agency has explored the possibility of installing its own satellite communications network. The cost of installing such a network is estimated to be about $200,000. Local government and emergency response agencies operate on their own radio frequencies. The ability of these various agencies to communicate is of great importance following a disaster.
Local emergency response agencies should identify all radio frequencies used by local government agencies, fire departments, EMS providers, volunteer agencies and other entities which could play a role in emergency response. This information should be incorporated in the State and local emergency response plans and the ability of the local emergency response agency to communicate with these other entities evaluated.
Emergency training exercises should be conducted to test the communications capabilities of local agencies.
A vulnerability study of the Farm Bureau Satellite Network should be conducted to determine if this means of communication would, in reality, be available in the aftermath of an earthquake.
Further consideration should be given to installing a Statewide Satellite Communications Network with the equipment housed in earthquake resistant structures where necessary.
Local emergency response managers should be trained in the use of the Farm Bureau Satellite equipment.