The National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) – Are we ready

Have you heard of the National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) developed by the Department of Homeland Security? The first strategic goal is coming up this year – by 2010, 90% of all high-risk urban areas designated within the Urban Areas Security Initiative have to be able to demonstrate response-level emergency communications within one hour for routine events involving multiple jurisdictions and agencies. Interoperable emergency communications for federal, state and local governments is a lofty, yet necessary goal. The funds set up to support this plan (like the DHS Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) and the Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program among others) will go a long way to helping this become a reality.

Is this the first time that you are hearing about this government initiative? Do you feel confident that 90% of high-risk urban areas will be ready?