IG10027 — Strengthening National Preparedness

/ Strengthening National Preparedness In the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA, P.L. 109–295), Congress required the President to develop a national preparedness system – that includes planning and implementation guidance and processes – with a national preparedness goal. It also directed the FEMA Administrator to develop “guidelines to define risk-based target capabilities for Federal, State, local, and tribal government preparedness.” National Preparedness Goal In 2011, the Secretary of Homeland Security redeveloped the national preparedness goal to comply with Presidential Policy Directive 8: “A secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk.” Missions Prevention Avoid, prevent, or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism Protection Secure the homeland against acts of terrorism and man-made or natural disasters Mitigation Reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters Response Save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs after an incident has occurred Recovery Assist communities affected by an incident to recover effectively The whole community: all levels of government— state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal partners— nonprofits, faith-based and community organizations, individuals and families, and businesses. Core capabilities: Since 2015, FEMA has identified 32 capabilities that the “whole community” should perform before, during, and after disasters to meet the National Preparedness Goal. Planning Public Information and Warning Operational Coordination Intelligence and Information Sharing Interdiction and Disruption Screening, Search, and Detection Forensics and Attribution Access Control and Identity Verification Cybersecurity Physical Protective Measures Risk Management for Protection Supply Chain Integrity and Security Community Resilience Long-Term Vulnerability Reduction Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment Threats and Hazards Identification Infrastructure Systems Critical Transportation Environmental Response/Health and Safety Fatality Management Services Fire Management and Suppression Logistics and Supply Chain Management Mass Care Services Mass Search and Rescue Operations On-scene Security, Protection, and Law Enforcement Operational Communications Public Health Healthcare, and Emergency Medical Serv. Situational Assessment Economic Recovery Health and Social Services Housing Natural and Cultural Resources FEMA recommends that partners in the “whole community” perform each step. Understand which risks to prepare for and how to prepare for them. National Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) (www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/ risk-management/risk-capability-assessment) Develop and maintain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to address critical threats and hazards. National THIRA Stakeholder Preparedness Review (www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/ risk-management/risk-capability-assessment) Organize, equip, and train the people, systems, processes, and policies needed to execute capabilities. National Incident Management System (www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/nims) Map out the roles and responsibilities of core capabilities. National Planning Frameworks (www.fema.gov/ emergency-managers/national-preparedness) Practice delivering core capabilities through exercises. Test plans, policies, and procedures and identify gaps, areas for improvement, and best practices. National Exercise Program(www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/exercises) Review capabilities, plans, and resources regularly to encourage continuous improvement the constant evolution of preparedness. FEMA’s annual assessment of national preparedness is available at www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness. Information prepared by Lauren R. Stienstra, Section Research Manager, Federalism and Emergency Management, and Amber H. Wilhelm, Visual Information Specialist. For more information see CRS report R46696, National Preparedness: A Summary and Select Issues, by Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy, and Lauren R. Stienstra.

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