OCEAN CITY- For the first time ever, all nine counties on Maryland's Eastern Shore will be connected through a new emergency planning system. 

On Monday, Governor Robert Ehrlich unveiled the plan during a live statewide Web cast, along with the mayors from Ocean City and Cambridge. The plan will allow the counties to better communicate and respond to large scale emergencies, like terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

"We have one of the most efficient means of communications in the world," Ehrlich said. "Our first responders can now talk the way they need to talk to one another during particular events."

Ocean City Mayor Jim Mathias said, "This really gives us a better opportunity for all our counties on the Eastern Shore to talk together, work together, make notifications together and be connected back to the command center."

This is the first plan of its kind here on the Eastern Shore and could turn into a national system within the next few years.