Federal emergency workers will get laptop computers and satellite communications for use in the field, according to the Federal Computer Week article Emergency teams get new tech by Sara Michael (July 24, 2003).

"The teams, which would be deployed in case of an emergency or terrorist attack, would be able to use the devices in their vans to communicate with department headquarters without interfering with other communications systems. ...

"The teams are centrally-based groups of experts from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. Each team has about eight to 10 members, Decker said, and can be deployed across the country within 24 to 48 hours of an incident. The concept is part of the Federal Response Plan."

(link sent in by Lonn Henrichsen)

11:44:22 AM