The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued the findings from a national assessment of the US ’s catastrophic planning capabilities.  Responding to directives from President Bush and the Congress, following Hurricane Katrina, the Nationwide Plan Review looked at whether existing emergency operations plans for states and urban areas are sufficient for managing a catastrophic event. The Review also presents conclusions on actions needed by the federal government to improve and coordinate planning.

Conducted in all 56 States and territories and 75 urban areas over 6 months, the Nationwide Plan Review was the most comprehensive assessment of emergency operations plans to date relative to planning for a catastrophic event.

Reviewers examined nearly 2,800 emergency operations plans and related documents with participation from more than 1,000 emergency managers and homeland security officials.

The two-phase review began with a self-assessment of key planning components. Then Peer Review Teams, composed of former state and local homeland security and emergency management officials, visited each site and assessed the plans against national standards developed just prior to Katrina.  

To provide an overall picture, plan components were assessed on a scale of “Sufficient,” “Partially Sufficient,” or “Not Sufficient” to manage a catastrophic event.  The majority of components assessed fell into the “partially sufficient” category.  

While most areas of the country are well prepared to handle standard disaster situations, the National Plan Review findings demonstrate the need for all levels of government across the country to improve emergency operations plans for catastrophic events such as a major terrorist attack or category-five hurricane strike.  Several areas, including evacuation, attention to populations with special needs, command structure, and resource management, were areas needing significant attention.  

After completing the assessments and findings, the reviewers also provided more detailed follow-up briefings to individual States and urban areas.

To address the National Plan Review findings and conclusions, the department has established a National Preparedness Task Force that will oversee DHS efforts to strengthen and systematize catastrophic planning among all levels of government by ensuring lessons from recent disasters are translated into nationwide enhancements for catastrophic planning.  

The Nationwide Plan Review was conducted in coordination with the Department of Transportation, which focused specifically on evacuation planning.  The Phase 2 report reflects findings from both the peer assessments and self assessments. It identifies 15 initial conclusions for States and urban areas and 24 for the Federal government.  High level summaries for each state and urban area accompany the final report.

•Date: 20th June 2006• Region: US• Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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