Have you ever noticed that over the years,everytime you participate in an exercise,during the post mortem the first thing that comes up is RADIO INTEROPERABILITY.They have been talking about this problem for over a quarter of a century and yet it still rears it's ugly head.I know there is a problem,you know there is a problem and they know there is a problem but nobody wants to try and fix the problem.In Ohio they like to use the MARCS system but you have that monthly fee per radio that you have to work into ever shrinking budgets.I was on a web site radiointeroperability.com http://www.c-at.com/icripages/icri.html and for what I could see,this would solve a lot of the problems we are facing.A one time puchase and use portables from mutual aid depts. and you're there.I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel,but something needs to be done.It's just like during an incident of national signifigance,it got to start at the local level.Be safe and don't leave your wing man.