When preparing for Operation Sentry, organizers had to consider how officials would commuicate with one another and the command center across three counties — not an easy task considering the varying technology used by authorities.

The answer was to utilize another local resource, the Nash County Emergency Services, who used the Operation as a way to test cross-jurisdictional communications. Emergency Services staff comandeered a conference room at the Red Oak Volunteer Fire Department (where the command center was established) and set up a system of 800 mhz radios.

Nash County Assistant Fire Marshal Scott Rogers distributed portable 800 mhz radios for personnel without one of their own and explained some of the quirks (like a slight delay in transmission after pressing the button) of the longer range radios. 

Rogers also asked the officers to test the limits of the system's range while they were crossing Warren, Franklin and Nash counties tracking sex offenders. By testing the system in a non-emergency scenario, authorities said officials would be more prepared for disasters in the future.

Needless to say I learn a lot on this job, but hadn't considered prior to the early morning discussion how emergency communications could be compromised in case of a disaster.

One sheriff also suggested officers use plain text as opposed to 10-codes because the codes could have varying meanings depending on the county. The problems created by differing 10-codes was highlighted during the response on 9/11 and widely recommended after that day to switch to plain text, but, in my experience, the vast majority of agencies still hold true to their 10-codes. What do you think about that?