Even worse, the technology supplying signals from NYFD commanders to firefighters in the field were never properly tested in high-rise emergency scenarios. Had they been appropriately tested in advance, the NYFD could probably have avoided the greatest loss of life among its service members in the organization's long history in September of 2001 because evacuation orders would have been received by hundreds of personnel inside the Twin Towers before they collapsed (DeGuttry, 2009). Naturally, the appropriate advice would be to develop, test, and deploy a better communications system in New York City emergency management agencies.
In fact, that forensic analysis led directly to the design and implementation of an entirely new Network Centric Command: Communication and Information system. According to DeGuttry (2009):
"Network Centric Command is an information-sharing component for first responders. It allows first responders to connect with each other and links the Fire
Department Operation Center (FDOC) to other emergency operations centers.
The use of this system allows for the immediate exchange of relevant information between all parties involved. It is imperative that this system be updated at regular intervals in order to be used effectively and efficiently under...
The Network Command uses voice, data, and video for situational awareness and all of these elements are indispensable for the Incident
Commander. Specifically, the Incident Commander will use portable systems
(e.g., post radios, cellular phones, satellites, sound-powered phones), mobile systems (e.g., borough dispatchers VHF radio, 800 MHz radio, vehicle cross-band repeaters), and auxiliary radio communication systems (e.g., subway repeaters, coaxial cables) as voice systems; helicopter videos and Command Tactical Units
(CTU) as video systems; and, the Fire Department Operations Center (FDOC),
Electronic Command Boards, Critical Response Information Management
Systems (CRIMS), Electronic Riding Lists, and 3-D Firefigher Tracking as data systems in order to relay important and relevant information."
Reference
DeGuttry, E. (2009). Working Paper 09-03 Adaptation of the FDNY Command Structure
and Training Following 9/11. Christian Regenhard Center for Emergency
Response Studies (RaCERS) John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City
University of New York. Accessed 23 July 2011 from:
http://christianregenhardcenter.org/pdfs/racers%20wp0903.pdf
