Advanced search    Help

Clear all search criteria

Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).

• 2013 National Preparedness Report [factsheet]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The 'National Preparedness Report' (NPR) summarizes progress the Nation has made in building, sustaining, and delivering the 31 core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal across all five mission areas identified in 'Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8): Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery'. This report marks the second annual NPR, updating and expanding upon findings from the 2012 NPR. While last year's report focused on all of the progress made in the decade following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the 2013 NPR highlights accomplishments achieved or reported on during 2012. The 2013 NPR presents an opportunity to reflect on the progress that whole community partners-including all levels of government, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, communities, and individuals-have made in strengthening the Nation's preparedness for all risks and to identify where areas of improvement remains. In addition to updating key findings from the 2012 NPR, FEMA reviewed information from Federal partners, and other nongovernmental and private sector partners. Furthermore, recent, independent evaluations, surveys, and data from 2012 reports and assessment submissions from states and territories informed the 2013 NPR."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2013-04-18
• National Preparedness Report: December 2021

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Executive Summary: "The '2021 National Preparedness Report' (2021 NPR) summarizes progress made, and challenges that remain, in building and sustaining the capabilities needed to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats, hazards, and incidents that pose the greatest risk to the Nation. For this report, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) used the events of 2020 to draw broader conclusions about national risk and capabilities and identified management opportunities to build those capabilities and reduce risk. This annual report offers all levels of government, Tribes, the private and non-profit sectors, and the public practical insights into preparedness that support decisions about program priorities, resource allocation, and actions that can create more resilient communities. The information in this report was gleaned from open-source research, data analysis of FEMA products such as the community Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR), and an interagency data call of more than 75 offices throughout the federal government."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  Criswell, Deanne B.

  2021-12
• National Preparedness Report 2012

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  Presidential Policy Directive 8 requires a National Preparedness Report (NPR), an annual report summarizing the progress made toward building, sustaining, and delivering the 31 core capabilities described in the National Preparedness Goal. As the NPR coordinator, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency worked with the full range of whole community partners, including all levels of government, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based organizations, communities, and individuals to develop the NPR. Specifically, FEMA collaborated with federal interagency partners to identify quantitative and qualitative performance and assessment data for each of the 31 core capabilities. In addition, FEMA integrated data from the 2011 State Preparedness Reports, statewide self-assessments of core capability levels submitted by all 56 U.S. states and territories through a standardized survey. Finally, FEMA conducted research to identify recent, independent evaluations, surveys, and other supporting data related to core capabilities.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2012-03-30?
• Hurricane Isabel Assessment: Appendix D - National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program Strategic Plan

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  The objectives for this post-storm assessment include establishing whether federal, state or local officials used the products developed from hurricane evacuation studies (HES); determining the accuracy and reliability of HES data regarding storm hazards, behavioral characteristics of the threatened population, shelter information, clearance times and other evacuation decision making variables; ascertaining which HES products were most and least useful; proposing improvements to current HES methodologies and work products; and assessing the ability of the entire National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program (NHMPP) to adequately address the needs of federal, state and local officials with respect to hurricane preparedness, response and mitigation issues. Appendix D includes the National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program Strategic Plan.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2005-03
• Target Capabilities List: A Companion to the National Preparedness Goal

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Target Capabilities List describes and sets targets for the capabilities required to achieve the four homeland security mission areas: Prevent, Protect, Respond, and Recover. It defines and provides the basis for assessing preparedness. It also establishes national targets for the capabilities to prepare the Nation for major all-hazards events, such as those defined by the National Planning Scenarios. The current version of the TCL contains 37 core capabilities. When the additional capabilities that are under development are completed by the end of 2006, the TCL will provide a comprehensive set of capabilities required to support the Goal. A 'Consensus of the Community' approach was used to develop the Target Capabilities List. Stakeholders from Federal, State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations came together in four national workshops and capability working groups to define the desired outcome, critical tasks, preparedness and performance measures, resources, national targets, and assigned responsibilities for building and maintaining the capability. The Goal will contribute to operational readiness, priority-setting, and program implementation at all levels of government. The Goal provides a call to action by all Americans as they consider their personal and shared responsibility to be part of 'A Nation Prepared'. The Target Capabilities List provides guidance on building and maintaining capabilities needed to achieve the Goal."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2006-09
• 2020 National Preparedness Report

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Foreword: "I am pleased to announce the release of the National Preparedness Report (NPR). Every year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) releases this report to provide a picture of how prepared the Nation is to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of any disaster, as well as ensure the continuity of lifelines, essential functions, and services. Through the NPR, FEMA hopes to inspire action by the whole community--including individuals; communities; state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments; the private and non-profit sectors; and the Federal Government--to increase capabilities and make us more resilient, prepared, and ready to address any challenges that we as a Nation may face. National preparedness is the responsibility of all levels of our society, including individuals, local governments, the private sector, and the Federal Government. The world this report has been released into is forever changed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, the largest pandemic in human history since the 1918 influenza pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the first ever Stafford Act major disaster declaration of all 50 states, five territories, and the District of Columbia for a naturally occurring infectious disease, and has altered the way of life for people across the world."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2020-12-22
• Hurricane Isabel Assessment: Appendix E - State Goals, Objectives and Priorities for the National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This appendix to the "Hurricane Isabel Assessment: Review of Hurricane Evacuation Study Products and Other Aspects of the National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program (NHMPP) in the Context of the Hurricane Isabel Response" contains a list of the five main goals and related objectives for the National Hurricane Mitigation and Preparedness Program.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Army. Corps of Engineers; United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2005-03
• Target Capabilities List 2.0: A Companion to the National Preparedness Goal

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Target Capabilities List (TCL) is a companion to the National Preparedness Goal. The Target Capabilities List (TCL) defines the capabilities, outcomes, measure, and risk-based target levels of capability for the Nation to achieve the Goal. [...] It provides a basis to assess preparedness and for policymakers at all levels to set priorities for the most effective use of limited resources."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2005-12
• Civil Defense and Homeland Security: A Short History of National Preparedness Efforts

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This report is the result of a requirement by the Director of the Department of Homeland Security's National Preparedness Task Force to examine the history of national preparedness efforts in the United States. The report provides a concise and accessible historical overview of U.S. national preparedness efforts since World identifying and analyzing key policy efforts, drivers of change, and lessons learned. While the report provides much critical information, it is not meant to be a substitute for more comprehensive historical and analytical treatments. It is hoped that the report will be an informative and useful resource for policymakers, those individuals interested in the history of what is today known as homeland security, and homeland security stakeholders responsible for the development and implementation of effective national preparedness policies and programs."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. National Preparedness Taskforce

  2006-09
• National Preparedness Report: Assessing the State of Preparedness, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, June 6, 2012

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the June 6, 2012 hearing on "The National Preparedness Report: Assessing the State of Preparedness," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications. From the opening statement of Gus M. Bilirakis: "At the start of another hurricane season and with no evidence that the terrorist threat to the United States will decline, it is important that this subcommittee has an accurate picture of the level of preparedness across the country. Anecdotally, we are all aware of advancements made in preparedness. One need only look at the responses to the tornadoes in Joplin and Hurricane Irene to see evidence of enhanced preparedness and response capabilities at the State and local levels. However, there is more to the story, and it is my hope that the recently released National Preparedness Report will help us gain a better understanding of the work that remains to be done to ensure a prepared and resilient Nation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Gus M. Bilirakis, Hansen Clarke, Bennie G. Thompson, Timothy W. Manning, Stanley J. Czerwinski, John W. Madden, Mike Sena, and Georges C. Benjamin.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Aligning the National Preparedness Goal and FEMA's National Preparedness Grants

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The majority of Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) preparedness grants were created in the wake of 9/11 through the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Act). These grants, as required by the Act, are predicated on addressing terrorism preparedness. The National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) was introduced in 2011 to provide an all-hazards capability-based system to measure the nation's level of preparedness. The purpose of this thesis is to determine if FEMA's preparedness grants are allowing the Goal to be achieved and examine if the grant programs can be adjusted to better align with the strategic intent of the Goal. This research examined homeland security capabilities and federal grant programs to determine if a nexus to terrorism has created any limitations. The results of the national preparedness reports from 2014 to 2018 are also examined to determine if the nation is moving in the right direction regarding preparedness. Several preliminary ideas are offered to improve alignment of grant programs with the Goal. A recommendation is also made for FEMA to develop a process to understand better how grant funds are impacting capabilities."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Harbour, Lance D.

  2020-03
• National Preparedness: Integration of Federal, State, Local, and Private Sector Efforts is Critical to an Effective National Strategy for Homeland Security, Statement of Randall A. Yim, Managing Director, National Preparedness, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  Federal, state, and local governments share responsibility for terrorist attacks. However, local government, including police and fire departments, emergency medical personnel, and public health agencies, is typically the first responder to an incident. The federal government historically has provided leadership, training, and funding assistance. In the aftermath of September 11, for instance, one-quarter of the $40 billion Emergency Response Fund was earmarked for homeland security, including enhancing state and local government preparedness. Because the national security threat is diffuse and the challenge is highly intergovernmental, national policymakers must formulate strategies with a firm understanding of the interests, capacity, and challenges facing those governments. The development of a national strategy will improve national preparedness and enhance partnerships between federal, state, and local governments. The creation of the Office of Homeland Security is an important and potentially significant first step. The Office of Homeland Security's strategic plan should (1) define and clarify the appropriate roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local entities; (2) establish goals and performance measures to guide the nation's preparedness efforts; and (3) carefully choose the most appropriate tools of government to implement the national strategy and achieve national goals.

  United States. General Accounting Office

  2002-04-11
• Combating Terrorism: Critical Components of a National Strategy to Enhance State and Local Preparedness Statement of Randall A. Yim, Managing Director, National Preparedness, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management, and Intergovernmental Relations, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  Federal, state, and local governments share responsibility in preparing for catastrophic terrorist attacks. Because the national security threat is diffuse and the challenge is highly intergovernmental, national policymakers must formulate strategies with a firm understanding of the interests, capacity, and challenges in addressing these issues. Key aspects of this strategy should include a definition and clarification of the appropriate roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local entities. GAO has found fragmentation and overlap among federal assistance programs. More than 40 federal entities have roles in combating terrorism, and past federal efforts have resulted in a lack of accountability, a lack of cohesive effort, and program duplication. As state and local officials have noted, this situation has led to confusion, making it difficult to identify available federal preparedness resources and effectively partner with the federal government. Goals and performance measures should be established to guide the nation's preparedness efforts. For the nation's preparedness programs, however, outcomes have yet to be defined in terms of domestic preparedness. Given the recent and proposed increases in preparedness funding, real and meaningful improvements in preparedness and establishing clear goals and performance measures are critical to ensuring a successful and a fiscally responsible effort. The strategy should include a careful choice of the most appropriate tools of government to best achieve national goals. The choice and design of policy tools, such as grants, regulations, and partnerships, can enhance the government's capacity to (1) target areas of highest risk to better ensure that scarce federal resources address the most pressing needs, (2) promote shared responsibility by all parties, and (3) track and assess progress toward achieving national goals.

  United States. General Accounting Office

  2002-03-22
• Assessing the Nation's State of Preparedness: A Federal, State, and Local Perspective, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, September 19, 2013

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the September 19, 2013 hearing on "Assessing the Nation's State of Preparedness: A Federal, State, and Local Perspective" held before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Susan Brooks: "In order to help measure the nation's preparedness, the Administration, in April 2011 publicly released Presidential Policy Directive [PPD] 8 -- National Preparedness. PPD-8 required that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit to the President a national preparedness goal and a new national preparedness system that will help achieve the goal. […] In this hearing I am interested to learn the level of involvement State and local organizations had in the development of these frameworks, and how they are planning, if at all, to incorporate these frameworks into their daily operations. Additionally, I am interested to learn when the final framework -- the Protection framework -- and the Federal Interagency Operations Plans will be released. […] According to a 2012 survey by FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency], 46 percent of respondents reported being familiar with their local hazards, but only 39 percent said that they have an emergency plan in place that they discussed with the household. […] Through this hearing, I hope to learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of our nation's state of preparedness, and also gain a greater understanding of how the nation is working together to build resilience." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Susan W. Brooks, Donald M. Payne, Bennie G. Thompson, Timothy Manning, Mark Ghilarducci, Jeffrey W. Walker, James Schwartz, and Kathy Spangler.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• Fact Sheet: A Common Approach to Preparedness: The National Preparedness Goal

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the A Common Approach to Preparedness: The National Preparedness Goal section: "Terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies respect neither political nor geographic boundaries. To deal with major events effectively requires a national preparedness system that makes clear the roles and missions of entities at all levels, strengthens preparedness partnerships, establishes performance objectives and measures, and directs the allocation of resources and prioritization of investments. A major milestone in building this national preparedness system is the Interim National Preparedness Goal (the Goal). The Goal will transform the way we think about preparedness by defining capabilities that must be in place, at appropriate levels, to prevent and respond to current and future threats and hazards. The Goal establishes measurable targets and priorities to guide the Nation's planning, and provides a systematic approach for determining how prepared we are, how prepared we need to be, and how we should prioritize efforts to close the gap."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office for Domestic Preparedness

  2005-08-01?
• Managing Preparedness Grants and Assessing National Capabilities: Continuing Challenges Impede FEMA's Progress, Statement of William O. Jenkins, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "From fiscal years 2002 through 2011, the federal government appropriated over $37 billion to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) preparedness grant programs to enhance the capabilities of state and local governments to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. DHS allocated $20.3 billion of this funding to grant recipients through four of the largest preparedness grant programs--the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Areas Security Initiative, the Port Security Grant Program, and the Transit Security Grant Program. The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a national preparedness system and assess preparedness capabilities--capabilities needed to respond effectively to disasters. FEMA could then use such a system to help it prioritize grant funding. This testimony addresses the extent to which DHS and FEMA have made progress in managing preparedness grants and measuring preparedness by assessing capabilities and addressing related challenges. GAO's [Government Accountability Office] comments are based on products issued from April 2002 through February 2012 and selected updates conducted in March 2012. GAO has made recommendations to DHS and FEMA in prior reports to strengthen their management of preparedness grants and enhance their assessment of national preparedness capabilities. DHS and FEMA concurred and have actions underway to address them."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2012-03-20
• National Preparedness Guidance, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8: National Preparedness

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The National Preparedness Guidance is a companion document to the Interim National Preparedness Goal that provides instructions and guidance on how to implement the Goal. National Preparedness Guidance will be reissued periodically as needed to reflect changes in the National Priorities and/or further development of the Capabilities-Based Planning process and tools."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2005-04-27
• Emergency Management: Preliminary Observations on FEMA's Community Preparedness Programs Related to the National Preparedness System, Statement of William O. Jenkins, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "By law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is to develop a national preparedness system (NPS)-FEMA includes community preparedness programs as part of the NPS. FEMA's budget to operate these programs made up less than one half of 1 percent of its $7.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2009. These programs include the Citizen Corps program and its partner programs, such as Fire Corps, and rely on volunteers to coordinate efforts and assist first responders in local communities. DHS's Ready Campaign promotes preparedness through mass media. This testimony provides preliminary observations on (1) challenges FEMA faces in measuring the performance of Citizen Corps, its partner programs, and the Ready Campaign and (2) actions FEMA has taken to develop a strategy to encompass how Citizen Corps, its partner programs, and the Ready Campaign operate within the context of the NPS. This testimony is based on work conducted from February 2008 to October 2009. GAO analyzed documents, such as FEMA's strategic plan, and compared reported performance data with observations from 12 site visits, selected primarily based on the frequency of natural disasters." The results are not projectable, but provide local insights." This document was revised on December 16, 2009.

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2009-12-16
• NLE 2011: Preparedness Matters

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "An earthquake with a 7.7 magnitude in the central U.S. region of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) could result in direct economic losses totaling nearly $300 billion in the eight U.S. States that make up the NMSZ--Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, according to 'Impact of Earthquakes in Central USA', a two-year study conducted for the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The study predicts indirect losses could be twice this amount, likely deeming it the largest economic loss due to a natural disaster in the United States. The impact on critical infrastructure is expected to be substantial. Estimates indicate nearly 715,000 buildings would be damaged in the eight-state region. The human toll would be catastrophic as well, with an estimated 86,000 injuries and fatalities resulting from damage to infrastructure. To help businesses, owners/operators of critical infrastructure, Federal, State, and local government agencies, and others to prepare for such an event, the U.S. government's National Level Exercise (NLE) this year will simulate the disastrous nature of an earthquake in the Central United States. 'The National Level Exercises provides a platform for industry to test threat information- sharing processes and exercise their crisis management plans in a no-fault environment,' said Clyde D. Miller, director for Corporate Security for BASF--The Chemical Company, and chairman of PCIS [Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security], the Cross Sector Coordinating Council. 'The exercises also allow industry to gain insight into how the government operates during an incident, offers industry an opportunity to work with local responders and Federal partners, and provides an opportunity for industry to test, review, and refine company policies.'"

  United States. Office of Homeland Security

  2011-01
• National Preparedness Additional Actions Needed to Address Gaps in the Nation's Emergency Management Capabilities, Report to Congressional Requesters

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "FEMA uses the National Preparedness System to help assess the nation's emergency management capabilities in preparing for disasters and, in part, to help prioritize federal preparedness grants it provides to state and local jurisdictions. Since 2002, FEMA has provided over $52 billion in such grants intended to enhance preparedness capabilities. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to examine national preparedness. This report examines the extent to which: (1) FEMA's National Preparedness System and associated preparedness grants have assisted jurisdictions in preparing for disasters; (2) FEMA has strengthened the National Preparedness System and what steps remain; and (3) FEMA is using after-action reports to identify lessons learned and strengthen future preparedness. GAO evaluated agency guidance, analyzed 2013 to 2017 capability data--the most current available; conducted site visits to five states; and interviewed FEMA, state, and local emergency management officials."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2020-05
• National Preparedness: FEMA Has Made Progress in Improving Grant Management and Assessing Capabilities, but Challenges Remain, by David C. Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "From fiscal years 2002 through 2012, the Congress appropriated about $39 billion to a variety of DHS preparedness grant programs to enhance the capabilities of state and local governments to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other disasters. DHS allocated more than $21.3 billion through four of the largest preparedness programs-- the Port Security Grant Program, the State Homeland Security Program, the Transit Security Grant Program, and the Urban Areas Security Initiative. In February 2012, GAO [Government Accountability Office] identified factors that contribute to the risk of FEMA potentially funding unnecessarily duplicative projects across the four grant programs. In March 2011, GAO reported that FEMA has faced challenges in developing and implementing a national preparedness assessment, which inhibits its abilities to effectively prioritize preparedness grant funding. This testimony update s GAO's prior work and describes DHS's and FEMA's progress over the past year in (1) managing preparedness grants and (2) measuring national preparedness by assessing cap abilities. This statement is based on prior products GAO issued from March 2011 to February 2012 and selected updates in March 2013. To conduct the updates, GAO analyzed agency documents and interviewed FEMA officials. […] GAO has made recommendations to DHS and FEMA in prior reports. DHS and FEMA concurred with these recommendations and have actions underway to address them."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2013-03-19
• Common Approach to Preparedness: The National Preparedness Goal

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and other emergencies respect neither political nor geographic boundaries. To deal with major events effectively requires a national preparedness system that makes clear the roles and missions of entities at all levels, strengthens preparedness partnerships, establishes performance objectives and measures, and directs the allocation of resources and prioritization of investments. A major milestone in building this national preparedness system is the Interim National Preparedness Goal (the Goal). The Goal will transform the way we think about preparedness by defining capabilities that must be in place, at appropriate levels, to prevent and respond to current and future threats and hazards. The Goal establishes measurable targets and priorities to guide the Nation's planning, and provides a systematic approach for determining how prepared we are, how prepared we need to be, and how we should prioritize efforts to close the gap."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security
• Facing 21st Century Public Health Threats: Our Nation's Preparedness and Response Capabilities, Part II, Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, Second Session on Examining Facing 21st Century Public Health Threats, Focusing on Our Nation's Preparedness and Response Capabilities, January 23, 2018

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the January 23, 2018 hearing titled "Facing 21st Century Public Health Threats: Our Nation's Preparedness and Response Capabilities, Part II," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. From the opening statement of Lamar Alexander: "In the middle of the flu season, it is critical that we reauthorize the [Pandemic and All-Hazards Act] before many of its provisions expire in September. […] The Act provides a public health preparedness framework that enables us to be prepared and able to respond to public health threats by ensuring that we have enough medicines to protect Americans, and to ensure our hospitals and state and local health departments are prepared to respond to public health emergencies." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Tom Inglesby, John J. Dreyzehner, Brent MacGregor, and Steven Krug.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2019
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, 'National Preparedness', Implementation Status Overview, NEMA Midyear Conference

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "HSPD-8 outlines requirements for NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS. Not Disaster Preparedness, Emergency Preparedness, or Terrorism Preparedness--rather All-Hazards Preparedness. We need to reorient our preparedness programs within DHS and at the local, State, Federal, and NATIONAL level. To do that, we need a national all-hazards preparedness strategy. Its time to take the All-Hazards approach to the next level."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2004-09-14
• Proclamation 8549: National Preparedness Month, 2010

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "During National Preparedness Month, we stress the importance of strengthening the security and resiliency of our Nation through systematic preparation for the full range of hazards threatening the United States in the 21st century, including natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemic disease, and acts of terrorism. This year marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most tragic and destructive disasters in American history. In remembrance of this national tragedy, we must reaffirm our commitment to readiness and the necessity of preparedness. By empowering Americans with information about the risks we face, we can all take concrete actions to protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and our country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign provides simple and practical steps every American can take to be better prepared. At the community level, Citizen Corps enables volunteers to contribute to homeland security efforts by educating, training, and coordinating local activities that help make us safer, better prepared, and more responsive during emergencies. I encourage all Americans to visit Ready.gov and CitizenCorps.gov for more information and resources on emergency preparedness, including how to prepare a family emergency plan, create an emergency supply kit, and get involved in community preparedness efforts. My Administration has made emergency and disaster preparedness a top priority, and is dedicated to a comprehensive approach that relies upon the responsiveness and cooperation of government at all levels, the private and nonprofit sectors, and individual citizens. I also encourage Americans to get involved with the thousands of organizations in the National Preparedness Month Coalition, which will share preparedness information and hold preparedness events and activities across the United States. By strengthening citizen preparedness now, we can be ready when disaster strikes. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2010 as National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of preparedness and observe this month by working together to enhance our national security, resilience, and readiness."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  Obama, Barack

  2010-08-27
• Public Health Preparedness: Strengthening the Nation's Emergency Response State by State: A Report on CDC-Funded Preparedness and Response Activities in 50 States, 4 Cities, and 8 U.S. Insular Areas

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This report "presents data on preparedness activities taking place at state and local health departments in 50 states, 4 localities (Chicago, the District of Columbia, Los Angeles County, and New York City), and 8 U.S. insular areas located in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. All are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement. [...] Section 1 of this report focuses on core public health functions and provides national-level data on preparedness activities in laboratories and response readiness. Section 2 includes 54 data fact sheets for each of the 50 states and 4 localities, followed by a description of preparedness progress and challenges in the 8 U.S. insular areas. Also included in this report are snapshots of preparedness and response activities and accomplishments occurring during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Activities conducted in 2008 and 2009, the primary timeframes for data in this report, helped build and strengthen capabilities in the states and at CDC that were essential for responding to the pandemic."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

  2010-09
• National Preparedness: FEMA Has Taken Steps to Strengthen Grant Management, but Challenges Remain in Assessing Capabilities, Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through FEMA, provides preparedness grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to improve the nation's readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. According to DHS, the department has awarded over $49 billion to a variety of DHS preparedness grant programs from fiscal years 2002 through 2017, to enhance the capabilities of grant recipients. For example, the State Homeland Security Program which awards grants to the nation's 56 states and territories, and the Urban Areas Security Initiative which awards grants to urban areas based on DHS's risk methodology, are the largest of the preparedness grant programs (see figure). This statement addresses progress and challenges in FEMA's efforts to manage preparedness grants and GAO's (Government Accountability Office) prior recommendations to strengthen these programs. This statement is based on prior GAO reports issued from March 2011 through February 2016 and selected updates conducted in December 2017 through April 2018. To conduct the prior work and updates, GAO analyzed relevant FEMA data and documentation and interviewed relevant officials."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Currie, Chris

  2018-04-23
• Global Influenza Programme: Essential Steps for Developing or Updating a National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Taking the lessons learned from the 2009 influenza pandemic into consideration, WHO [World Health Organization] updated its pandemic preparedness guidance, and in 2013 published the Pandemic influenza risk management: WHO interim guidance. WHO subsequently updated this guidance, and finalized it in 2017 as Pandemic influenza risk management: a WHO guide to inform & harmonize national & international pandemic preparedness and response (1). This latest guidance provides risk-based strategies and approaches to pandemic influenza preparedness and response, and encourages countries to develop sustainable and resilient pandemic preparedness plans. To make it easier to apply the strategies and approaches in the pandemic preparedness practice, in January 2018, WHO published an updated pandemic influenza preparedness checklist - A checklist for pandemic influenza risk and impact management: building capacity for pandemic response (2). The checklist is a practical tool to ensure that countries take into account all the essential pandemic response capacities when planning for national pandemic influenza preparedness. This document, which should be used in conjunction with the checklist and its applications, focuses on the processes of national pandemic influenza preparedness planning. The aim is to ensure that, when countries develop or update a plan, the objectives are clear and the essential steps and actions are taken; this is imperative if the plan will be guiding pandemic preparedness and response practices. This document is intended to be used by national authorities, partners and all relevant stakeholders involved in developing or updating a national pandemic preparedness plan. In countries that are in or preparing to start the planning process for addressing broader health security threats, e.g., the development of National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), it is crucial to consider linking the two planning processes."

  World Health Organization

  2018
• Strategy for Upgrading Preparedness in Small and Rural Communities to Meet National Preparedness Standards

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the thesis abstract: "In order for the smallest units of government--towns, villages, small cities, and rural areas--in the least populated areas of the country to successfully meet the national preparedness, response, recovery, and interoperability goals of the National Preparedness Guidelines, they must adhere to the compliance metrics of the National Incident Management System [NIMS]. This ensures personnel and resource accountability as well as successful multiagency coordination during times of disaster. Efforts by small towns and rural areas to meet NIMS compliance standards have been problematic. Failure of some units of government to meet these requirements has affected their ability to effectively respond to and recover from major disasters, as evidenced when coordinating with resources outside their immediate area or NIMS-compliant agencies. NIMS is built around the concept that all units of government and all disciplines from the federal to the local level must not only understand their role during incident response but also have the ability to seamlessly interoperate with each other and account for personnel and resources to successfully manage an incident. This research examines the reasons for the inability of some small towns and rural areas to meet these preparedness standards. The research findings drive the proposed solutions."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)

  Stigler, Mark G.

  2010-12
• Measuring Disaster Preparedness: FEMA Has Made Limited Progress in Assessing National Capabilities, Statement of William O. Jenkins, Jr., Director Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Testimony Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This testimony discusses the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)--a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)--to measure and assess national capabilities to respond to a major disaster. According to the Congressional Research Service, from fiscal years 2002 through 2010, Congress appropriated over $34 billion for homeland security preparedness grant programs to enhance the capabilities of state, territory, local, and tribal governments to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other disasters. Congress enacted the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Post-Katrina Act) to address shortcomings in the preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina that, among other things, gave FEMA responsibility for leading the nation in developing a national preparedness system. The Post-Katrina Act requires that FEMA develop a national preparedness system and assess preparedness capabilities--capabilities needed to respond effectively to disasters--to determine the nation's preparedness capability levels and the resources needed to achieve desired levels of capability. Federal, state, and local resources provide capabilities for different levels of 'incident effect' (i.e., the extent of damage caused by a natural or manmade disaster). FEMA's National Preparedness Directorate within its Protection and National Preparedness organization is responsible for developing and implementing a system for measuring and assessing national preparedness capabilities. The need to define measurable national preparedness capabilities is a well-established and recognized issue."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2011-03-17