SAN DIEGO -- Better countywide communication systems are needed to more effectively handle disasters like last October's wildfires, according to a San Diego Regional Emergency Preparedness Task Force report released Thursday.

Mayor Dick Murphy and county Supervisor Greg Cox created the panel after the disaster, to review the handling of the emergency and to make recommendations on improving the region's response to future disasters.

"Fires and other major emergencies cannot be contained within jurisdictional lines," Murphy said. "The city of San Diego and the county, along with other municipalities, must coordinate efforts to protect our region's citizens."

The task force, co-chaired by San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Chief Jeff Bowman, was made up of 107 experts in firefighting, law enforcement, disaster preparedness, media, local government, health care and volunteer organizations.

The report recommended:

implementing a countywide community notification system for emergencies;
establishing a media alert system;
better dissemination of information to the public through the media;
updating regional evacuation plans;
creating a compatible countywide radio system;
regional training for fighting wildland fires;
law enforcement and fire evacuation response training countywide;
development of a computerized inventory of public safety assets;
expanding volunteer resources;
a unified command center in the event of an emergency;
further development of military aid agreements;
updating the county's Emergency Operations Plan;
reviewing the enforcement procedures for building and fire codes.

"The city and county must set the standard for preparedness for fire or any other disaster we may face in the future," Cox said.

The Cedar, Paradise and Otay fires blackened more than 383,000 acres in San Diego County last year, destroyed more than 3,200 structures and caused the deaths of 16 people.

The San Diego City Council is scheduled on Tuesday to discuss the report. It will be presented on Oct. 19 to the county Board of Supervisors.