Bridging the Gap

Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the imperative for Department of Defense (DOD) to integrate with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state, and local authorities in order to provide an effective disaster response for the citizens of this nation in their time of need. The monumental changes in federal, state, and local planning for disasters in New Orleans after Katrina signify a new level of dedication to interagency coordination. DOD has a significant role to play in the federal response and as such is affected by these changes and it has made changes of its own in response. This research therefore, attempts to identify if the changes within DOD are sufficient to form the basis for an improved response to future domestic disasters. It considered the legal framework that authorizes DOD response to domestic disasters, academic research on the subject, as well as DOD's own planning processes. Consideration is given to the organizational structure within DOD, a detailed state engagement plan strategy, and further improving interagency cooperation at the federal, state, and local level.

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