Each organization has different crisis communication and information processing needs. Some of the most comprehensive, portable IT systems available commercially appear to be those provided by 308 Systems. This group calls their portable IT systems – the TAC*PAC. Civilian-use TAC*PAC options include such items as a rugged computer, copy machine, fax machine, cellular telephones, digital still camera, digital video camera, high speed or low speed satellite telephone, video conferencing, wireless LAN, etc., all fitted into a durable and portable carrying case. However, because of the desire to demonstrate how a business or other organization can develop and maintain the capability for mobile crisis management in as cost effective manner as possible, the Project Nocoma team decided not to purchase the TAC*PAC. Rather, the team selected single pieces of equipment that best met the needs of Project Nocoma. To date these are:

• Panasonic Toughbook-29 (This computer is used by the U.S. Armed Services in combat and field situations)
• Canon Pixma iP90 portable printer
• Qualcomm Globalstar GSP-1600 Tri-mode satellite telephones with remote data service
• Garmin GPSmap 60CS and mapping software
• Pioneer Airware XM satellite radio (Much more cost effective than satellite television and one can still monitor all television cable news networks)
• Cannon PowerShot digital camera

Ruggedness, portability, and reliance upon satellites for communications and news information rather than local service providers have been the guiding principles in the above selections.