As his fire boat patrols a section of the Potomac River that touches the shores of D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, Captain Phil Perry of the Alexandria Fire Department talks about the central role communications plays in an area where multiple jurisdictions often respond to the same incident. From the tragic crash of an Air Florida flight in 1982 to the terrorist attack on the Pentagon in 2001 to more routine events, Captain Perry says the ability to share information affects the success, safety, and speed of public safety’s response.