Emergency Communications

No matter what the emergency, communications remain a vital component to keeping America safe, secure, and resilient.

Emergency Communications Overview

Ensuring effective emergency communications is a key part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mission to strengthen national preparedness and resilience.
Emergency Communications Division

Through the Emergency Communications Division, CISA enhances public safety interoperable communications at all levels of government, providing training, coordination, tools and guidance to help partners across the country develop their emergency communications capabilities.
National Emergency Communications Plan

The 2014 National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) provides information and guidance to those that plan for, coordinate, invest in, and use operable and interoperable communications for response and recovery operations.
Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS)

GETS supports national leadership; federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments; and other authorized national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) users.
Wireless Priority Service (WPS)

WPS supports national leadership; federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments; and other authorized NS/EP users. It is intended to be used in an emergency or crisis situation when the wireless network is congested and the probability of completing a normal call is reduced.
Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP)

Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP) is a program that authorizes national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) organizations to receive priority treatment for vital voice and data circuits or other telecommunications services.
SAFECOM Program

Works to improve multi-jurisdictional and intergovernmental communications interoperability.
National Coordinating Center for Communications

Continuously monitors national and international incidents and events that may impact emergency communications.
SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio Program

The SHAred RESources (SHARES) High Frequency (HF) Radio program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Coordinating Center for Communications (NCC), provides an additional means for users with a national security and emergency preparedness mission to communicate when landline and cellular communications are unavailable. SHARES members use existing HF radio resources to coordinate and transmit messages needed to perform critical functions, including those areas related to leadership, safety, maintenance of law and order, finance, and public health.
National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee

Meeting our Nation’s critical national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) challenges demands attention to many issues. Among these, none could be more important than the availability and reliability of telecommunication services. The President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) mission is to provide the U.S. Government the best possible industry advice in these areas.
Technical Assistance Program

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) Emergency Communications Division (ECD) Technical Assistance program serves all 56 states and territories and provides direct support to state, local, and tribal emergency responders and government officials.
MAPS

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Emergency Communications Division (ECD) is committed to informing the development and distribution of mobile applications for first responders. ECD established the Mobile Applications for Public Safety (MAPS) project to promote consistent security, functionality and performance best practices in the development and adoption of mobile apps.