If a terrorist were to attack the Baltimore area tomorrow, emergency responders would only be 75 percent ready, according to Department of Homeland Security’s recent communications assessment of cities nationwide.
“Baltimore is along the same lines as most of the cities in the U.S,” said Jarrod Agen, a Homeland Security spokesman. “Since 9/11, they¹ve been able to establish the basic communications to be able to function following an incident. They just need to take it to the next level.”
Only six U.S. cities have fully adopted advanced emergency communications systems since the 2001 terrorist attacks in which emergency responders experienced a deadly communications background, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Incoming Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon said she believed Baltimore is headed in the right direction.
“I am very impressed with the progress we¹ve made,” Dixon said. “People feel secure when they’re coming into Baltimore.”
The metropolitan area scored higher than many other cities in the report, said Richard Muth, director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Baltimore County.
“I don’t think it’s a bad report overall,” he said.”We got three-fourths on everything, and that’s better than a lot of jurisdictions. It certainly
shows we’ve progressed a long ways from where we were five years ago. It also shows we’ve got a ways to go.”
The region’s 75 percent scores were in the categories of leadership, plans and procedures and use of equipment.
Muth said the Baltimore area can improve its communications by integrating the latest technology and ensuring all key players can communicate with each other following an attack.
Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $2.9 billion to enhance local communications efforts. The agency said it expects eligible communities to use the scorecard to improve their advanced communications capabilities.
“We’re made pretty good strides,” Howard County Police Chief William McMahon said. “We’ve been working with the other counties in the state.”
Washington, San Diego and Minneapolis were among the cities that received the highest scores, while Chicago, Cleveland and Baton Rouge were among those receiving the lowest scores.
