Communications are an integral part of disaster planning and recovery, as well as one of the most complex vital components of any emergency system. Planning prior to disasters must include updating the communications system to communitywide compatibility, with at least a "mutual aid frequency" to permit direct communications among State, county, and municipal agencies. Possible approaches include a Simplex system, a Duplex System, a Multiple Channel System, and trunked communications. Trunked communications offer the privacy of digital voice and data communications and are simple to use. They connect different agencies while setting priorities among calls to prevent overcrowding. In Florida, all State agencies will operate on some type of 800 MHz trunked system in the future, although funding does not yet permit the transition. Although trunking has some problems, none appear to outweigh the benefits of trunked radio service. Photographs