Office of Emergency Communications SAFECOM Nationwide Survey

In 2006, Congress passed Public Law 109-295, which created the Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) headed by a Director of Emergency Communications. Responsibilities of the Director include assisting the Secretary in developing and implementing a program to support and promote the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and ensure, accelerate, and attain interoperable emergency communications nationwide. 6 U.S.C. §571(c)(4) requires the DHS Secretary through the OEC Director to conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to support and promote the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. In order to perform this statutory regulation it is important to understand the variety of technology being used today. Additionally, 6 U.S.C. § 573 of the United States Code requires the DHS Secretary to conduct a baseline assessment of the first responder emergency communications capabilities at least every five years. These authorities in addition to DHS’s responsibilities through Executive Order 13618 in the area of national security/emergency providers’ communications require a renewed examination of baseline emergency communications capabilities.

The latest form for Office of Emergency Communications SAFECOM Nationwide Survey expires 2020-10-31 and can be found here.