In particular, the report notes that U.S. government officials 'must direct the integration of all available federal, state, local and government and private communications assets.'

While many communications experts agree that true emergency radio intereoperability is years, if not decades, away, the desire to move in that direction will take a cultural and an attitudinal change by many players, Flyzik and others said.

And they noted that radio interoperability is only one of many technology challenges that must be resolved to make the U.S. better prepared for future emergencies. The challenges go beyond technology and include cultural and political gaps that must be bridged.

Part of what worked well in the immediate emergency response to Katrina's victims was the way U.S. Coast Guard helicopters picked up survivors from rooftops, Flyzik noted.

'The Coast Guard followed the rule of the sea: If you see somebody in danger, you help them,' he noted. 'If this room exploded or came under attack today, my first responders would right here: the guy on my left and the guy on my right.'