FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
More than 60 emergency management communicators gathered in-person and virtually here to discuss disaster communications and best practices Nov. 3 and 4.
The FEMA Region 3-facilitated Fall Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working Group improves interoperability between agencies at the federal, state and local level as well as private industries, according to Charlie Guddemi, co-chair of the working group and the D.C. Statewide Interoperability Coordinator an emergency manager at the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
“Because,” he said, “communication is important on a daily basis, but becomes even more important during an emergency.”
Maj. Victor Yartz, the Pennsylvania National Guard representative to the group, concurred.
“You can’t send the right people and assets to the right place in an emergency without communications,” said Yartz, who facilitated the group’s meeting at the installation.
The group choose Fort Indiantown Gap due to its central location and excellent facilities.
The attendees appreciated the face-to-face interaction, the first in several years due to pandemic restrictions, according to Jorge Vidal, chair of the group and regional emergency communication coordinator for FEMA Region 3.
“I am new to this position,” he said. “Seeing people and putting a face to them as opposed to virtually is helpful. It is all a learning experience. There’s been a lot of questions, and that’s good.”
Over the course of two days the attendees had an opportunity to improve partnerships and learn from one another, said Yartz.
Topics covered included: updates from the entities in FEMA Region 3 (Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and District of Columbia), an update on FirstNet, a nationwide wireless broadband network for first as well as a static display of the Pennsylvania State Police’s mobile command center.
The participants studied the Surfside condo collapse, a Florida condo building that collapsed in June 2021 and killed 98 people and the Christmas Day 2020 Nashville, Tennessee bombing adjacent to an AT&T network hub. The bombing caused communications disruptions throughout the Southeast. After the case studies, participants did a tabletop exercise based on the bombing scenario.
Moving forward, the group will continue to hold training events.
“Interoperability stems from personal relationships and the face-to-face plenary provides an opportunity to strengthen that,” said Guddemi.