Homeland Security Committee Told of Importance of Communications

A meeting of the legislative Committee on Terrorism, Bioterrorism, and Homeland Security hears from the public about communication concerns in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Ginny Zehme with Nextel Communications in St. Louis told the panel that the St. Louis area’s communications network was up and running as the region prepared to accept hurricane refugees. This, she says, is something that is essential. Ernie Lee, Chair of the Missouri Association of Veterans Organizations, says a primary and back-up communication system are essential to any emergency plan. Lee calls on the panel to put into place a plan with an itemized list of all the players to be contacted in the event of an emergency.