RUSI Whitehall Report #4-56 'Communications Inter-Operability In A Crisis' (2006) By Sandra Bell and Rebecca Cox
 
Inquiries into most large scale emergencies and disasters highlight communication difficulties between emergency services. However, there has been little written on the positive forces (or drivers) for communication between the services
Large scale emergencies and disasters require the emergency services to work together in nonstandard ways. Thus we should be accustomed to the idea that emergency responders need to communicate with one another, wherever the emergency or disaster has happened – including underground. Yet inquiries into large scale emergencies and disasters always seem to highlight communication difficulties. It is hard to believe that modern communications and information technology are insufficient to solve this problem. There must, therefore, be other obstacles. Much has been written on the subject of the barriers to communication within, and between, individual responder organizations, including technological, cultural, political and economic barriers. Likewise, many have postulated ways and means to overcome those barriers. However, there has been little written on the positive forces (or drivers) for communication between the services.
This Whitehall Report seeks to redress this balance. It suggests that perhaps it is not the barriers that are too great but that the drivers are insufficiently strong or focused.
 
Soft Cover
40 pages
In Good Condition