DALLAS--A project that is networking data from 16 counties and 245 cities deployed a software program that will enhance crisis management and information sharing between public and private sector agencies.

Dallas County's Office of Security and Emergency Management, in conjunction with the Dallas Urban Area Security Initiative, added the E-Team solution from NC4 to enable multiple counties and jurisdictions within the UASI to improve emergency response capabilities and speed the flow of data between offices. Robie Robinson, director of security and emergency management for Dallas County, said the goal of the program is to arm agencies -- through a common operational platform -- with the information necessary to move from "response to recovery" as quickly as possible.

Although the process of sharing information may seem to be a simple process, the inability to do so efficiently has hampered emergency response in some case, most notably with Hurricane Katrina. Robinson said data sharing is key to any emergency management program.

"The circumstances could always change," he said. "We might have what we thought were five separate incidents and by sharing information we can find out that there is something else going on and they're all connected."

Richard Andrews, senior director homeland security projects for NC4, said the system assists decision makers shift through information in a timely manner, display information on maps and get a visual sense of impact on what a certain situation might be.

The E-Team software was originally developed for the California Department of Emergency Services. It was used as part of New York City's temporary emergency management system on 9/11 after 7 World Trade Center collapsed.

As for Dallas County, officials anticipate its information sharing network to grow by adding users from various businesses and government offices.

"We will have private sector and nonprofit sector involved because if you had a mass sheltering incident, for example, of course the Red Cross would be involved. And if there were injuries hospitals would need to be involved."

This implementation also increases record keeping and enables the agency to research what happened in a situation step-by-step, said Andrews.

"Time is saved because we are not digging through a cardboard box for paper," Robinson said.

As with any technology or policy, Robinson said it is critical to conduct tests regularly.

"If you don't test your plans you don't have the slightest idea that it is going to work," he said. "From my perspective a good exercise will push it until you have some flaws. If you have an exercise and you find those flaws you can make your plans even better. If you don't find them, you're not doing your job."