DHS Says No Clearly Defined Command Structure of States and Urban Areas

The Nationwide Plan Review, the most comprehensive assessment of catastrophic planning yet undertaken in this country, was designed and conducted by the Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with all 56 U.S. States and Territories and 75 of the nation's largest urban areas. The assessment consisted of two phases and was conducted in just over six months.

DHS's initial conclusions for states and urban areas clearly show that more help is needed in regards to catastrophic events and emergency preparedness :

• The majority of the Nation's current emergency operations plans and planning processes cannot be characterized as fully sufficient to manage catastrophic events as defined in the National Response Plan (NRP).
• States and urban areas are not conducting adequate collaborative planning as a part of "steady state" preparedness.
• Assumptions in Basic Plans do not adequately address catastrophic events.
• Basic Plans do not adequately address continuity of operations and continuity of government.
• The most common deficiency among State and urban area Direction and Control Annexes is the absence of a clearly defined command structure.
• Many States and urban areas need to improve systems and procedures for communications among all operational components.
• All Functional Annexes did not adequately address special needs populations.
• States should designate a specific State agency that is responsible for providing oversight and ensuring accountability for including people with disabilities in the shelter operations process.
• Timely warnings requiring emergency actions are not adequately disseminated to custodial institutions, appropriate government officials, and the public.
• The ability to give the public accurate, timely, and useful information and instructions through the emergency period should be strengthened.
• Significant weaknesses in evacuation planning are an area of profound concern.
• Capabilities to manage reception and care for large numbers of evacuees are inadequate.
• Capabilities to track patients under emergency or disaster conditions and license of out-of-State medical personnel are limited.
• Resource management is the "Achilles heel" of emergency planning. Resource Management Annexes do not adequately describe in detail the means, organization, and process by which States and urban areas will find, obtain, allocate, track, and distribute resources to meet operational needs.
• To strengthen catastrophic planning capabilities, States and urban areas should clearly define resource requirements, conduct resource inventories, match available resources to requirements, and identify and resolve shortfalls.