ABSTRACT
Citizens expect much from their government and the public service organizations that function within their communities. The attacks of 2001 against the United States and the subsequent impact of Hurricane Katrina and, later, Super Storm Sandy clearly proved that our communities are not immune from disaster. True disaster response success is built on a foundation of preparation. Effective preparation is built on a foundation of the identification of vulnerabilities and the further identification of resources that can be reliability called upon and employed in the event of a disaster. Few threats facing our communities are new; rather, realistic threats such as natural disasters, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes are reoccurring, though in some cases, it may be decades or even centuries between major events. Effective local operations are essential to any successful and efficient emergency response and recovery effort.
