Las Vegas NowNevada's Disaster Response Has 'Communication Challenges'

Nevada's Disaster Response Has 'Communication Challenges'

The Nevada Homeland Security Department is taking up the issue of disaster response. From their own experience and what they've seen with Hurricane Katrina relief, they've determined the channels of communication are broken. Eyewitness News has the exclusive details.

The disaster response issue was an item on the agenda well before Hurricane Katrina. The Nevada Homeland Security Commission says the lines of communication with FEMA have been breaking down over the past several years.

Nevada Homeland Security Commission members know communication remains critical in disaster response when asking for more resources or federal government can save lives. If the coordination of those resources or lines of communication break down any disaster could be compounded.

Clark County Emergency Management Director Jim O'Brien says Katrina response is the proof of communication problems with FEMA since it moved into the Department of Homeland Security. "Experience has left because of the reorganization newcomers have not learned you don't learn by reading a book or attending a class."

O'Brien says the inexperience showed when FEMA asked for immediate Katrina assistance, the Nevada Task Force One answered the call right away, and then spent three and half days in Dallas, Texas waiting to help.

Commission member and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young says communication lines locally, not just with federal authorities, have challenges. He says on New Years Eve Metro Police staffed two command centers because of a break down in communication.

Young said, "I can't get the Las Vegas City and Clark County to have a darn emergency... joint operation on New Years Eve. They are so dysfunctional. It becomes so politicized. If we don't get our act together down here and start learning our lessons -- shame on us."

The bottom line for Nevada Homeland Commission member Jim Spinello is to fix the communication problem now not deal with the problem in an emergency. "You need to have that established when things are not going wrong so that you know what to count on when they do."

A solution should be ironed out by December.

Nevada Task Force One will play a large role because of their experience in the uncertain Hurricane Katrina relief response by FEMA.