The Need for a Policy Framework to Develop Disaster Resilient Regions

The United States will increasingly face threats and remain vulnerable to acts of terrorism and other disasters despite the many physical protection measures currently in place. While physical protection can limit or discourage attacks, the unfortunate reality is that nothing is ever 100% effective. In an interdependent age, spending money solely on physical protection will not solve the vulnerability problem (Scaling & Morrison, 2003, Scalingi 2004, Brown, 2004).A new approach must be taken not only to physically protect critical infrastructure but to prevent and deter attacks. This more comprehensive approach must include vulnerability assessments, risk-based mitigation, response and recovery after a disaster, training at all levels, more exercises and research and development (Mussington, 2002, Scalingi, 2003, 2004, Mencer, 2003, Brown, 2004). This broadened approach should help limit the overall impact of a disaster as well as deter potential attackers.A comprehensive approach to emergency management, specifically critical infrastructure security, cannot be accomplished if the private sector is excluded from these efforts. Because 85% of the nation's infrastructure is controlled by the private sector, the government's new programs and policies must be fashioned to encourage their participation.The federal government must recognize that critical infrastructure security planning must be conducted on a regional level. Incentives and guidelines to help move this planning process forward may be needed to ensure that the right players are involved. Moreover, the successes of other regional collaborations must be reviewed to determine whether these examples could be appropriated to address homeland security issues. Until this happens, the nation will continue down the path where individual agencies and jurisdictions prepare and respond to disasters on their own terms.