Natural and Human-Induced Disasters and Other Factors Affecting Future Emergency Response and Hazard Management: Trends and Outlook

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Executive Summary (excerpts)

While it is impossible to plan and prepare for every worst case disaster scenario, there is a common set of factors that drive catastrophic outcomes. By the year 2030, it is anticipated that the following factors will represent challenges to the emergency management system (EMS) and if not adequately addressed will significantly add to increased losses.

Emergency management agencies need to incorporate these anticipated changes and plan ahead to avoid escalating losses. The big question is: How does the nation move away from a reactive entitlement-driven disasters policy to a proactive policy based on the design and implementation of a resilient disaster risk management system that (1) fosters stakeholder and intergovernmental responsibility and accountability and (2) reduces the transfer of risks and  risk burdens geographically or to the next generation? What should the USACE’s role be in the design and implementation of such as system?