Report: Few Cities Ready For Emergency Alerts
Jan 2, 2007 1:40 pm US/Pacific
WASHINGTON Only six of 75 U.S. cities and other areas rate top grades for their emergency agencies' ability to communicate during a disaster, according to a draft portion of a federal report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.
The report, to be released Wednesday, gives the highest ratings to San Diego, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Washington, Columbus, Ohio; Sioux Falls, S.D., and Laramie County, Wyoming.
The lowest scores went to Chicago; Baton Rouge, La.; Cleveland; Mandan, N.D., and American Samoa.
The study, conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, comes five years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, revealed major problems in how well emergency agencies were able to talk to each other during a catastrophe. Many firefighters climbing the World Trade Center towers died when they were unable to hear police radio warnings to leave the crumbling buildings.
Just over a year ago, Hurricane Katrina underscored similar problems when radio transmissions were hindered because the storm's winds toppled communications towers.
Democrats have said they will make improving emergency communications a top priority when they take control of Congress this week, though they have not said specifically what they will do, how much it will cost or how they will pay for it.
In the study, communities were judged in three categories: operating procedures in place, use of communications systems and how effectively local governments have coordinated in preparation for a disaster
http://wcbstv.com/kcbs/topstories/topstories_story_002165755.html
Oh, and go Buckeyes!