ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to clarify the different responsibilities of the various interdisciplinary teams that respond in disasters. The integration of their efforts is only possible through co-ordination, communication and command. Communications are a set of procedures and associated equipment needed to link the various elements of the system attending the disaster. Communication is the basic instrument used by authority to inform partners and the public about decisions and to transmit orders. Person to person communication may be either written or spoken. The keys to the communication process are: identification, localisation, dimensions of the problem, constraints, disaster information, confidentiality and answer protocols. Command is established at levels of subordinate authority in such a way that it is objective-specific and limits direct communication to a very few specific people. Command is to have or exercise authority or control over others. There is a designated leader in every organisation.
