Guest column by Mike Wasserman: First responders can now talk with each other
New system allows personnel from one city to communicate with another
Published in the August 24 – September 6, 2016 issue of Gilroy Life
By Mike Wasserman
Mike Wasserman
Imagine witnessing a disaster but not being able to tell anyone. Fifteen years ago, our nation’s security readiness was put to the test when the Sept. 11 attacks took a heavy emotional toll and a systematic toll on many emergency services. Police officers, firefighters and medical responders all fought through the chaotic frenzy as they tried to provide care to those injured and assist other emergency responders. Fire, police and medical responders learned an important lesson that day. That intercommunication between emergency responders is critical.
Locally, we have worked hard to ensure that emergency response agencies can communicate with each other. I serve on the board of the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA), a regional communications organization between Santa Clara County and 15 cities within the county, which is dedicated to ensuring that emergency agencies can communicate with each other in the event of a regional disaster.
I am proud to announce that after extensive planning, our local agencies now have access to communicate through an emerging regional digital radio system, and when complete, will provide a lasting solution to the previous countywide communications deficiency.
Communications systems play an integral role in preserving safety. To better understand the importance of these systems, we must consider plausible events that require emergency services of different counties or cities working together.
A mother and her two children check out a fire truck at National Night Out. Firefighters and other first responders now have the ability to communicate with other agencies through an emerging regional digital radio system. When complete, it will provide a lasting solution to the previous countywide communications deficiency, according to Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman. Photo by Marty Cheek
In the event of natural disasters like wildfires and earthquakes, large-scale security threats, or any other threat to public safety, regional interoperability is vital. Police departments feed off of each other’s real-time intelligence to combat security threats like the recent San Bernardino shooting. These police officers carry a heavy burden of keeping order in times of danger — and they must be able to communicate regionally.
While this milestone may not appear significant, think about what happens during a disaster or emergency: we rely on police, fire and medical emergency services to show up and save the day. Now, they are better able to do just that should a large-scale disaster strike here in Santa Clara County. Some people have asked “why don’t they just use their cell phones?” The answer is simple: cell phone service is easily interrupted and overwhelmed, as was the case during the Sept. 11 attacks when few people could use their phones.
In addition to the seamless communication between emergency services from different jurisdictions, the new radios and towers will also enable communication with other agencies including VTA, colleges, city utilities and public works. With this new technology we can expect a swift response to confront any problem regarding damage to our infrastructure. Understandably, fire and police departments must also have the ability to communicate with other local agencies and organizations to tackle any damage sustained in a natural or man-made disaster to our roads, airports and waterways.
Failing to equip our police, fire and medical responders with the appropriate communications equipment results in slower response times, and can ultimately lead to lost lives.
Preserving public safety and preventing damages to infrastructure clearly outweigh the costs of tools that allow responders to perform their jobs with greater ease and ultimately, save lives.
These new communications tools are another example of the “Real. Life. Help.” that I promised as your county supervisor.
I also serve as chair of the county’s Public Safety Committee, and because public safety is the most important function of government, keeping our residents safe continues to be my top priority.
To learn more about the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority, visit www.svria.org.
Mike Wasserman is the Santa Clara County Supervisor for District 1, which includes Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin. He wrote this column for Gilroy Life. His website is www.supervisorwasserman.org.
