Preparedness versus Reactiveness: An Approach to Pre-Crisis Disaster Planning

Abstract

The United States (U.S.) military’s ability to respond to humanitarian assistance/disaster response operations in support of other states remains a hallmark capability of the force. However, as other global requirements continue to place demands on the military force, it is in the interest of both the U.S. Government and participating Partner States to improve a Partner State’s own capacities for disaster response so as to decrease the future demand on U.S. military forces. A major step forward in this effort is a new, highly participatory effort labeled Provide International Disaster Emergency Support (ProvIDES). ProvIDES is an outgrowth of original work conducted through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness engagement with partner states. Combining the efforts of USG interagency partners, the Partner State, and other international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private voluntary organizations, ProvIDES makes available a robust, quantitative tool suite that supplies a measurable baseline assessment of a Partner State’s readiness level to respond to man-made and natural disasters. It also supplies assessments of the supporting organizations and develops training plans and scenarios for continued improvement. ProvIDES is an important step forward in the effort to improve disaster readiness around the world.