earthquake.

» Identify and document the critical requirements for
emergency communications--particularly non-telephonic
communications--among Federal, State, and local
agencies. Shortfalls between critical requirements and
current capabilities, as well as remedial actions or
recommended solutions for each will be identified in
accordance with the "National Plan for Communications
Support in Emergencies and Major Disasters." This
review will include consideration of using existing
satellite communications or a dedicated system, should
it be found necessary.

» Cooperatively conduct practice response exercises with
State and local officials that will prepare officials
and the public for conditions that might be encountered
in a catastrophic earthquake and that would reveal
deficiencies in planning.

=Issue=: Improving the current inadequate preparedness of
the public for a catastrophic earthquake requires a
substantial increase in public information and public
awareness. Although public information is primarily a
State, local, and private-sector responsibility, the
Federal Government has a role as well. Because citizens
will have no choice but to rely largely upon their own
resources in the first several hours immediately following
a catastrophic earthquake, it is important that certain
basic knowledge about lifesaving measures be very widely