Homeland Security & Public Safety

Emergency Communication

The ability to communicate and share information during emergencies is critical, especially in a region as large and complex as metropolitan Washington. Past incidents, most notably 9/11, highlight the need for officials to quickly connect with each other to coordinate decisions across various local, state, and federal agencies. Governments also need tools to communicate messages to the public, and the public must be assured it can contact public safety providers without fail.

COG has helped enhance emergency communication among officials across the region in a variety of ways.

After 9/11, COG created and maintains the Regional Incident Communication and Coordination System (RICCS), a 24/7 system that helps officials communicate during emergencies.
COG coordinates regional conference calls for snow or other weather-related emergencies where leaders discuss conditions and make decisions on operating statuses, such as closing government offices.
COG works to ensure reliable and uninterrupted 9-1-1 service as well as citizen warning systems and emergency text and email alert systems are also major priorities for COG and its members.

News & Multimedia

Results: 38 found.

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VIDEO

Q&A: Charles County 9-1-1 Chief Tony Rose

July 12, 2017
News

Q&A: Charles County's 9-1-1 and Public Safety Communications Chief Tony Rose

July 12, 2017

A native of metropolitan Washington, Chief Tony Rose has served Charles County in a public safety capacity for several decades. As the Chairman of the 9-1-1...
News

Q&A: Prince George's County Chief Administrative Officer Nicholas Majett

April 18, 2017

Nicholas (Nick) Majett, Prince George’s County Chief Administrative Officer, has been a COG member since May 2014, when he first joined Prince George’s County...
News

Inauguration weekend security a regional effort

March 1, 2017

As thousands of visitors descended on metropolitan Washington for Inauguration weekend, area homeland security and public safety personnel stood ready to...
News

COG, Board of Trade help regional leaders prepare for 2017 Inauguration

January 18, 2017

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Greater Washington Board of Trade partnered to host a free briefing on January 12, featuring top...
News

Scott Boggs named Council of Governments' Managing Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety

January 5, 2017

Scott Boggs, a highly respected public safety expert and regional leader, has been named Managing Director of Homeland Security and Public Safety for COG.
News

New alerts warn commuters of impending winter weather

January 5, 2017

The National Weather Service announced it will issue Winter Commuter Alerts when weather conditions indicate there is a threat to drivers traveling during the...
News

COG recognizes local public safety leader for 62 years of service

November 17, 2016

Fairfax County Public Safety Communications Director Stephen Souder, who recently retired after more than 60 years of public safety service in the metropolitan...
News

Sprint representatives brief area officials on cause of August 9-1-1 outage

September 27, 2016

Representatives from Sprint briefed the COG Board on the cause of an August 16, 2016 outage that impacted calls to 9-1-1 in several of the region’s...
News

Kerry A. Payne honored by District officials, remembered by regional colleagues at COG

September 12, 2016

On September 11, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and public safety officials dedicated the District’s Emergency Operations Center in honor of Kerry A....