I mentioned in an earlier post that I attended the 13th Annual FEMA Higher Ed conference primarily with the objective of identifying research needs in HS/EM!
I found one priority previously discussed--the civil military relationship. The elimination of Joint Forces Command probably was preordained once NORTHCOM stood up. But still not sure how SECDEF views the way JOINT DOCTRINE will be developed or is it just lessons learned from the combat commands like CENTCOM and NATO.
That stated here are some others that I think should be given priority and the current status of research on the topic:
1. Social Media--There are several excellent websites but ultimately how this is integrated or not into HS/EM must be based on in-depth research not guestimates.
2. Environmental atomspheric dispersal models and their strength and deficiencies-merits and demerits! Why I count as many as 18 different models that float around the Executive Branch. State and Locals don't seem to be in the development cycle for these models or even training. Yet they underlay all PARs and PADs. The Russian fires are a good example of need and hope that is allowed to be studied in detail. I also suggest a visit to the CAMEO website by all. This is also listed on the DISASTER ZONE blog of Eric Holderman. Not much in the way of comparative research on merits and applications of these various models.
3. Analysis of pre-disaster economics and post-disaster for the impacted geographic area and its population. Outside WHARTON almost no economic research on these issues.
4. Analysis of how LAW ENFORCEMENT is trained and/or interacts with the EM community and knowledge transfer between cultures.
5. Analysis of how the FIRE SERVICE including HAZMAT and EMT interacts with the EM community and this also includes information sharing and knowledge transfer between cultures.
6. Analysis of the Training components of DHS/FEMA and other Federal agencies and departments that impact HS/EM. Is there duplication and overlap or does each have a particular role that can defined to compliment the roles of the other training units.
7. The cultural analysis, perhaps this includes psychology, sociology, and anthropology, of the FIRE SERVICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, and EM/HS and how this impacts and effects those disciplines.
8. Analysis of the metrics of the EM profession, including career progress, actual job descriptions, salaries, and continuing training beyond degree and certificate programs.
9. Analysis of standard provisions that should be in all DHS/FEMA contracts that forces HS/EM contractors to at a minimum produce a literature search of previous reports and contract deliverables, and an analysis of past reports and commission recommendations, and where they deviate from past recommendations why and how and explain their analysis.
10. Analysis of Executive Branch arrangements or lack thereof for civil crisis management and domestic response and recovery and chain of command.
11. Analysis of protective strategies for responders including past recommendations, current efforts and procedures and processes and recommendations--The RAND did an excellent opening study on responder safety and now CD and OHSA are also showing some promise.
12. The role of the FCC in HS/EM.
13. The role of each federal department and agency in HS/EM and their funding and staffing and authority for their roles.
14. Analysis of critical legal authority for HS/EM and its adequacy. An example is IMO no federal officer or employee can ever exert command and control over a state or local employee. The operations must be grounded in collaboration and cooperation and comity.
15. CASES studies should be made of actual events with appropriate multi-disciplinary teams and analysis.
16. Studies should be made of all the science and engineering disciplines and their contributions to HS/EM or how those contributions could be enhanced.
17. An analysis of the topics of all Master's level and PhD level thesis in HS/EM and tracking of changes in emphasis and perhaps even other kinds of impacts on this research effort.
18. An analysis of GAO reports on HS/EM and the adequacy of their covered topics, how their recommendations are or not implemented, how the HS/EM considers those recommendations and does or does not adopt them--this means more than stating agreement but also actual implementation and adoption and operational incorportation.
19. Analysis of both Houses of Congress and how they deal with HS/EM issues and exactly what their efforts since 9/11/01 reveal?
20. The adequacy of the research efforts and grants of and from the NRC [National Research Council] and NAS [National Academy of Science] in HS/EM since 9/11!
21. What has happened to all the recommendations of the Hart-Rudman Commission since its final report in spring 2001? Or for that matter the Gilmore Commission and its 5 detailed reports and recommendations? And of course the 9/11 Commission itself? All of these were significant and expensive efforts and with the passage of almost a decade the US needs to calibrate on those reports to progress in the future.
Okay enough for now!
