Bridging the Gap: Developing a Tool to Support Local Civilian and Military Disaster Preparedness

摘要

This is an interim report for the first phase of a larger study that aims to develop a disaster preparedness support tool for local military and civilian planners. It reflects the formative research carried out from October 2006 through May 2009. It describes the current policy context for domestic emergency preparedness, risk analysis, and capabilities-based planning--the starting points for local planning--as well as results from interviews with local military and civilian planners at five selected sites. All of this information forms the basis for the proposed tool that is described in the final chapter of the report. The next phase of the study will include development and field testing of a proof-of-concept prototype of the tool, which will be supported by funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This report should be of interest to federal, state, and local policymakers and disaster preparedness planners across the range of departments and agencies that have responsibility for domestic disaster management. It should be of particular interest to the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services and the local recipients of their funding and policy guidance. The report should also be of interest to the U.S. Congress and others interested in domestic preparedness that enhances effective and efficient disaster response across the wide range of threats that constitute the new realities of the 21st century.