Pallone’s Superstorm Sandy Forum Takes a Critical Look at Lessons Learned and Progress Made

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2015


Congressman Pledges to Use Powerful Committee Position to Ensure Improved Disaster Preparedness

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, held a Superstorm Sandy Field Forum with local officials, industry leaders and senior FirstNet representatives to take a critical look at lessons learned and progress made with public safety telecommunications since the hurricane. During and after Sandy there was a major breakdown of telecommunications networks, including cellular and home telephones, television, and internet services. This created a dangerous barrier to emergence response and recovery for residents and towns.

“When Sandy struck, I promised that I would keep fighting with you until we completely rebuilt. I vowed to roll up my sleeves to restore our area to greatness,” said Congressman Pallone in his remarks to open the event. “Three years later that fight unfortunately is not over—we still have a lot more work to do. We still have homes to replace. We still have businesses to restore. At the same time, we must also look ahead. We need to understand the lessons that Sandy taught us to make sure we are better prepared. That is why I called for this forum to focus on the services that keep us connected when we need it most.”

In his new role as the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Pallone reiterated his commitment to use his position and the broad jurisdiction of the Committee, which includes telecommunications and broadband issues, to ensure increased safety and disaster preparedness.

“Unlike three years ago, today I am here as the Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee,” continued Pallone. “My committee is responsible for overseeing the industries that are most crucial during a storm—the industries that must keep our power flowing; the industries that make sure we have adequate health care; and the industries that keep us connected when the worst occurs. As the Ranking Member of a Committee with such broad jurisdiction, I pledge to use every resource at my disposal to make sure we are better prepared than we were three years ago.”

Following Pallone’s opening remarks, local officials, including two mayors, discussed their experience during Sandy, with a focus on telecommunications, broadcast, social media, and first responder communications. Next, panelists from the telecommunications and energy industries were questioned by Pallone on what happened during Sandy, lessons learned, and steps that have been taken to improve their systems. To round out the forum, Pallone sat with FirstNet and JerseyNet officials to discuss the failure of interoperability and other public safety communications during Sandy, what FirstNet can do to solve the problem, and FirstNet’s progress in New Jersey.

Participants in the Local Roundtable were Susan Howard, Mayor of Monmouth Beach; Fred Tagliarini, Mayor of Aberdeen; John Ferguson, Middlesex County OEM Director; and Adam Hubeny, Business Administrator, Atlantic Highlands. Participants in the Industry Panel were Paul A. Sullivan, President, Mid-Atlantic North region, Verizon; Dave Davis, President & General Manager, WABC; Dan Finn, SVP/Regional General Manager, Greater Media; Justin Auciello, Founder, Jersey Shore Hurricane News; Ananda Kanapathy, Senior Director of Asset Strategy, PSEG; and Tony Hurley, VP of Operations, Jersey Central Power and Light. Participants in the FirstNet panel were T.J. Kennedy, Acting Executive Director, FirstNet; and Fred Scalera, Public Safety Broadband Manager, Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness, State of New Jersey.