Each year brings a variety of new accomplishments and activities from the Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (SWIC) community. In 2014, the Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) collaborated with SWICs on emergency communications projects and initiatives detailed in the National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) Strategic Plan. SWICs continually aim to leverage new technologies, implement best practices, and build their state’s emergency communications portfolios through planning, training, and governance.  Read SWIC Newsletter here.

In 2014, Delaware’s SWIC became heavily involved in certifying new Communications Unit Leaders (COMLs) and Communications Technicians (COMTs), and led the implementation of a standard reprogramming template for all agencies, enabling maximum interoperability. Additionally, Delaware’s SWIC worked closely with the Maryland SWIC on cross-border programming for Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services units, which is now utilized on a daily basis. Delaware routinely reviews all radio and communications equipment in the State to ensure interoperability is achieved in a financially-responsible manner. The Office of the SWIC has saved the State thousands of dollars by identifying and correcting errors within contracts, which has resulted in Delaware’s school districts purchasing high-quality radios at a lower cost.

The Nevada Office of the SWIC oversaw the implementation of The Nevada Core Systems network of 16 interoperable talk groups. This venture established an inter-local agreement between participating systems throughout the State. As a result, common channel designations, procedures, and programming instructions have been set for the five largest public-safety radio systems in the State, covering over 95% of the population. Users anywhere within range of their home system may communicate directly with users on partner systems. This project complements a growing network of VHF-to-800 MHz cross band repeaters, strategically located throughout the State, providing interoperability between many rural users (typically on VHF) and State and urban mutual aid (on 800 MHz). This communications coordination and the expertise of COML and COMT trained responders is credited with minimizing the loss of life and damage to property caused by the Carpenter Fire, one of the worst wildfires to impact Nevada in decades.

The Louisiana Office of the SWIC has had great success leveraging the advantages provided by its statewide Louisiana Wireless Interoperability Network (LWIN) Project 25 (P25) radio network. LWIN’s 95 percent State coverage and more than 74,000 users make it an invaluable tool for emergency communications and interoperability. One recent example is the direct interoperability it provides National Weather Service (NWS) offices serving Louisiana’s State and local emergency management officials.

The Office of the SWIC, in conjunction with State and local emergency management agencies, has helped to plan and execute communications procedures to allow direct communications between the NWS offices and local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). This collaboration provides instant real-time, two-way information sharing as opposed to the standard Emergency Alert System broadcast or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association broadcasts that only provide pre-recorded information from NWS to the EOCs. In addition, Louisiana has coordinated and installed an audio bridge connection between LWIN and the Mississippi Statewide Wireless Interoperability Network to allow the parishes in northeast Louisiana the same communications with NWS Jackson as parishes served by the NWS offices physically within the coverage footprint of the LWIN system.