A regional system of incident communication and coordination is a system whose main purpose is to give warnings about incidents such as storms, hurricanes, floods, earth quakes or even terrorist attacks to the public. The system also coordinates the disaster management activities and helps put in place rescue operations when need arises. These systems are based regionally. The RICCS would perform several functions in case of emergencies.
Communication infrastructure
This ensures that regional response attempt during and after a probable or actual emergency is fully supported. The groups in charge of communications infrastructure facilitates useful information about regional actions that can be taken to ensure the necessary regional emergency responses are on alert in case of an emergency. This function is responsible for establishment of permanent and temporary communications.
Transportation
This function enables coordination and communication between regional agencies and jurisdictions associated with transportation and regional emergency. The system’s function is to focus on transport systems in the region. It needs inter-jurisdictional information sharing and coordination to ensure that any transport disruptions are noted.
Firefighting
This function of the RICCS facilitates coordination and communication between different regional agencies concerned with firefighting activities in case of an emergency. This function is designed to provide a framework that would help deal with incidents beyond regional response.
Other functions of the RICCS include rescue and urban search, hazard materials, food, law enforcement, energy, information planning, public works engineering, resource support and mass care. In all these functions, the system ensures that regions share important information that would help in ensuring that impending or real disasters are effectively dealt with. Sharing information improves preparedness and helps give warnings in case of a real emergency.
Katrina
In the case of hurricane Katrina, the RICCS would have helped provide transport assistance, health and medical services, communication, mass care for the displaced, rescue operations, food and energy and long term community recovery. This would be by providing the necessary information on how to accomplish these activities, seeking help from other agencies and in planning ways of accomplishing the tasks.
Conclusion
Therefore, the RICCS is a useful department that ensures information on disaster management and preparedness is available to all regions. This helps these regions control impending and already occurred disasters and rescue property and ensure citizens are secure.
References
Homeland Security. (2010). Regional Emergency Coordination Plan. Retrieved September 20, 2012, from National Capital Region, Homeland Security Program: http://www.ncrhomelandsecurity.org/security/security/plan.asp
