State's emergency communications still a problem

Nearly six years after the 9/11 attacks demonstrated the difficulties of emergency personnel trying to talk to one another, Maryland is still struggling to improve communications among first responders.

“Interoperable communications has to be number 1” in priorities for homeland security, Gov. Martin O’Malley told hundreds of county officials Friday. The day before he held a closed-door meeting with local homeland securityofficers from around the state where he emphasized a list of 12 priorities.