Emergency communications Web portal launched
The Washington-based County Executives of America’s (CEA) County Executives Television Network (CETN), an emergency communications and training resource that allows county executives to share emergency response information, collaborate on best practices, and access workforce education, is now online. CETN connects more than 3,000 counties and provides educational programming focused on dealing with natural and manmade disasters, such as wild fires, hurricanes and terrorist events.
CETN was created to increase connectivity and collaboration among county officials and all levels of government when dealing with potential threats, says CEA Executive Director Mike Griffin. “We’re on a path to do something that government hasn’t done, and that’s building a national communications infrastructure that facilitates emergency response collaboration where it starts, at the local level,” Griffin says. “We saw a major gap in connectivity and information exchange amongst key government stakeholders at all levels, and CETN is designed to solve this problem,” he says.
In addition to communications tools, officials can access CETN training content designed to improve their staffs’ knowledge base. Phase one of the CETN launch includes inter-agency collaboration tools and video training content, which can all be accessed through the CETN Web site, www.cetn.criticalinfonet.com. Future updates to CETN will include additional communications tools leveraging advances in voice over IP technology, satellite and broadband connectivity for government stakeholders.