Which agency would provide communication assistance to the healthcare sector during a national disaster?

• A. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• B. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• C. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through CISA
• D. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Answer: (C)

Keeping healthcare operations resilient in a national disaster relies on coordinated, reliable communications across many partners. The Department of Homeland Security, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, leads this cross-sector coordination for critical infrastructure, including the communications that healthcare facilities depend on. CISA focuses on safeguarding and stabilizing communication networks, sharing situational awareness, issuing alerts, and providing technical assistance to keep essential health functions connected during emergencies. While the health sector is led by HHS for health-specific programs, the nationwide, cross-sector communication support comes from DHS via CISA, making it the best answer. The FCC handles regulation and emergency communications infrastructure, but it is not the agency that coordinates sector-wide disaster communications; EPA is unrelated to this role.