Are we better off? Emergency management policy implementation since September 11

Area of Science:

• Public Policy
• Emergency Management
• Homeland Security

Background:

• US emergency management policy evolved significantly post-9/11, with federal efforts to centralize disaster preparedness and response.
• Research is divided on the effectiveness of federal centralization during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.
• Concerns exist that federal policy may detract from core emergency management missions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine disparities between federal policy expectations and local emergency management actions.
• To assess the impact of federal policy changes on local implementation.

Main Methods:

• Survey of local emergency management professionals.
• Analysis of reported implementation of federal policy expectations.
• Investigation into the influence of policy clarity and specific requirements like the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Main Results:

• Local emergency management professionals largely reported implementing federal policy expectations.
• Greater clarity in federal policy language correlated with increased implementation.
• Differences emerged in how local managers perceived National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements versus other federal demands.

Conclusions:

• Local officials generally comply with federal emergency management policy, particularly when it is clearly articulated.
• Experienced local managers may prioritize jurisdictional needs, potentially leading to nominal compliance by downplaying perceived less useful federal requirements.
• Federal policy clarity is crucial for effective implementation, but alignment with local operational needs is also essential for genuine integration.