Existing communication systems in the NO area have been ineffective in support of emergency personnel. These systems have failed as a result of electrical power outages, flooding, and wind damage. Representative Cravin's interview on KPEL (9-2-05) illustrates a typical problem in the field - there was a table full of radios from different agencies each on a different frequency, and the personnel did not know which one to use to call someone. Electrical power grid outages occurred over a large area, but most significantly in critical locations such as hospitals, public works departments, and cellular towers. Emergency power generators at such locations were less than effective as a result of flooding, failure to start, and limited fuel supply. The telecommunication and power systems are needed most when a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina occurs, but it is this very environment that caused the systems to fail. Broader Impact: We propose to study the infrastructure and procedural failure modes that caused the New Orleans area emergency telecommunication network and power system to become ineffective and fail. We plan to work with state agencies (State Police, Office of Emergency Preparedness -OEP), and appropriate public and private local agencies to assess the status and shortcomings of the existing systems.
