By Bill Carey
Editorial Staff
WASHINGTON — The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has announced the launch of the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS) to gather critical data on federal, state, local, tribal and territorial emergency communications capabilities and gaps. The assessment, which takes place every five years, is required by the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
According to the CISA, results from the survey will help government officials and emergency responders better understand emergency communications needs so they can make data-driven funding, policy and programmatic decisions to strengthen their capabilities in this area.
CISA encourages any agency that is charged with a public safety-related mission and that uses emergency communications technology to take the survey, as widespread participation across the public safety community is needed for the data to be reliable. In particular, the survey targets participation from fire and rescue, EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, and emergency communications centers.
The survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and is open through Sept. 29, 2023.
Learn more about the survey and how to participate at CISA’s SNS site.