Critical Releases in Homeland Security: January 28, 2009

"This report summarizes the status of States' operating plans with respect to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from an influenza pandemic. This assessment fulfills a requirement (Action #6.1.1.2) established by the Homeland Security Council, Executive Office of the President of the United States, in its National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan. [...] We are pleased to submit this summary report on States' operating plans for combating pandemic influenza. Three pandemics occurred during the Twentieth Century-one, in 1918/19, with catastrophic health and socio-economic consequences. The pandemic threat is real and continuing, irrespective of how much the perception of the threat may wax or wane over time. Therefore, if we are to counter the next pandemic effectively, we must prepare now. This assessment process has done much to increase understanding by State and Federal Government officials alike as to the demands that an influenza pandemic would place upon them. We are grateful to the Working Group from the participating U.S. Government Departments as well as to their State counterparts for undertaking the arduous efforts that this assessment required. Whatever forms future plans and assessments may take, the health and socio-economic well being of the Nation will be well served by a collective commitment to continuous quality improvement in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an influenza pandemic."

"The Federal Preparedness Report (FPR) provides a snapshot of the state of preparedness in the United States at the end of Fiscal Year 2007. This Report is the first comprehensive review of the combined preparedness efforts of Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial homeland security partners over the past five years. As directed by Section 652(a) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), Public Law 109-295-the goal of this Report is to provide a review of national preparedness. This FPR is the first in a series of annual preparedness reports that sets a baseline for future assessments by using lessons learned to institutionalize analytical and data collection processes necessary for routine reporting on all aspects of the national preparedness system. For example, because of limited availability of data, many of the analyses in this edition of the FPR focus on the outputs of homeland security partner programs. Future versions will highlight the practical outcomes-the tangible effects that occur on the ground. In subsequent editions, FEMA will also integrate the products of initiatives such as the State Preparedness Reports (SPRs) and the Catastrophic Resource Report into a unified presentation of preparedness called the National Preparedness Report. Finally, FEMA is also working with Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial partners to develop the next version of the Target Capabilities List (TCL)."

"The report examines the Nation's state of preparedness and response capabilities in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. It identifies sixteen weaknesses in the outgoing Bush Administration's approach to get prepared for pandemic influenza. In addition, the report provides fifteen critical recommendations for what Congress, the incoming Administration, and the public and private sectors can do to achieve National readiness to combat this threat. [...] The change in Presidential leadership presents a new opportunity to ensure that the Nation is ready to address pandemic influenza from a position of strength. The House Committee on Homeland Security looks forward to working with the Obama Administration to address this threat and achieve National readiness."

"The National Disaster Housing Strategy (the Strategy) serves two purposes. First, it describes how we as a Nation currently provide housing to those affected by disasters. It summarizes, for the first time in a single document, the many sheltering and housing efforts we have in the United States and the broad array of organizations that are involved in managing these programs. The Strategy also outlines the key principles and policies that guide the disaster housing process. Second, and more importantly, the Strategy charts the new direction that our disaster housing efforts must take if we are to better meet the emergent needs of disaster victims and communities. Today we face a wider range of hazards and potentially catastrophic events than we have ever faced before. These include terrorist attacks and major natural disasters that could destroy large sections of the Nation's infrastructure. This new direction must address the disaster housing implications of all these risks and hazards and, at the same time, guide development of essential, baseline capabilities to overcome existing limitations. The new direction for disaster housing must leverage emerging technologies and new approaches in building design to provide an array of housing options. It must also be cost effective and draw on lessons learned and best practices. Above all, this new direction must institutionalize genuine collaboration and cooperation among the various local, State, tribal, and Federal partners, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to meet the needs of all disaster victims."