Intelligibility Research and Communication Issues in Emergency Situations

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 exposed the severe consequences of breakdowns in emergency communications used by first responders. Failures in emergency communications resulted in numerous lost lives and exacerbated already challenging situations. These past events have increased focus on the need to enhance emergency communications to respond more effectively to future catastrophic disasters. Effective response to catastrophic disasters will require that first responders - law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and others first on the scene - have reliable communication systems, including supporting infrastructure, facilities and staff. This book focuses on the issues and vulnerabilities to emergency communications systems, the federal assistance available and other challenges with these efforts.