Catastrophe Preparedness: What are the Local and State-Level Barriers? IAEM 2014 CONFERENCE

Catastrophe Preparedness:What are the Local and State-Level Barriers?IAEM 2014 CONFERENCE Rick Bissell, PhD Scott Wells, MS, CEM Jim Judge, CEM

Objectives • Define and describe catastrophe • Describe research findings • Describe and assess federal catastrophe readiness • Discuss importance of local self-sufficiency • Discuss barriers to state and local prep for catastrophes • Describe several “successful” programs

Catastrophe Definition • A catastrophe is an extreme event that overwhelms the nation’s ability to respond effectively using its own resources. • Could be rapid or slow onset • Outside assistance needed • Internal and external sequelae • Hypercomplex

Complications/Challenges • Too large for any one entity to control • Many jurisdictions and levels • Complex dynamics/interactions • Hard-to-predict decision impacts • Demands exceed supply • Massive local isolation • Local knowledge but distant resources

Complications/Challenges - 2 • Vastly insufficient # of responders • Responders and law enforcement among victims • Long wait for outside resources • Competition for scarce resources • Lack of household self-sufficiency • Conventional response mechanisms are not sufficient

Complications/Challenges - 3 • Outmigration & those left behind • Mass resettlement • Lack of international agreements • Media coverage can impact response operations • NIMS compliance

Federal Efforts & Changes • Scenario-based explorations to examine needs • Mega earthquake, i.e. New Madrid • Mega hurricane, S. Florida • Improvised nuclear device • Pandemic • Move to capability-based planning and prep • “Whole Community” concept • Focus on volunteers and private sector

Federal Efforts and Changes - 2 • Integrated Planning program • 15 planning scenarios • To-down approach • Catastrophic Planning Program • Bottom-up in New Madrid Seismic Zone • South Florida • PPD-8

Hypercomplexity Approach • Modern society is hypercomplex with myriad linkages and interdependencies • Private business and science may better understand linkages and interdependencies better than emergency managers • Thorough use of non-government actors in planning and implementation • Rapid reflection force

Conundra • Local level has most knowledge of needs, the affected environment, and responsibility for direct services • Has least access to: • Resources • Big picture • Trained logisticians and communications experts • Ability to re-direct resource flows

Conundra - 2 • Federal government has access to resources and expertise, but • Unity of effort is difficult to achieve on a national scale (Authorities are shared among all levels of government) • Often has little understanding of local needs or capabilities • Has performance responsibilities but insufficient personnel

Conundra - 3 Federal, continued • Habit of legalistic rather than outcomes-based decisions • Not a primary mission for virtually all federal departments

Barriers – State Level Planning • Small states have limited resources • Erroneous belief in self-sufficiency • Erroneous belief in “manna from Heaven” • Conflicting/changing federal plans/programs/requirements • Lack of experience/high turnover • Filling potholes is more important than writing emergency plans

Barriers – State Implementation • Thin resources • Little control over crucial assets • Federal highways • Airports • International border crossings • Communications allocations • Interstate waterways

Barriers – City/County Planning • Lack of resources/expertise • Belief in “manna from state” • Conflicting state/federal regulations, priorities, and funding requirements

Barriers- City/County Implementation • Resources quickly overwhelmed • Failure to see citizens as resources • Thinly spread human resources • Rapid expansion very difficult • Limited domain over crucial resources

Avenues to Explore • Greater incorporation of • PVOs, churches, universities, private business • Health care sector at all levels • Multi-jurisdictional planning committees • Response and recovery planning • Family and business preparedness programs • Neighborhood block programs • Technology advances (i.e. GIS)

Avenues to Explore - 2 • Formation of local/state science/tech rapid advice panel • Development of citizen response groups • Citizen Corps • Maryland Responds • Development of methods and plans for incorporating spontaneous volunteers

Avenues to Explore - 3 • Review/revise liability laws re volunteers • New doctrine

Vignette of a Successful County • County to be selected by Jim Judge

Open Discussion • How can we improve our ability to help our populations survive and recover from catastrophic disasters? • How can we integrate “catastrophe thinking” into routine planning, training, equipping and testing activities?

Open Discussion - 2 • Are we being too critical? Should expectations be lowered? • How can we reduce the feeling that we’re all alone in this process?

Thank you! • Rick Bissell, PhD Bissell@umbc.edu • Scott Wells, MS, CEM ascottwells@gmail.com • Jim Judge, CEM jjudge@volusia.org

Catastrophe Preparedness: What are the Local and State-Level Barriers? IAEM 2014 CONFERENCE