Six years after 9/11, the federal government still lacks acomprehensive regime for planning and preparing for large-scaledisasters. Fixing the problem will require renewed vigor from theAdministration in setting clear policy guidelines, particularly inimplementing a National Exercise Program, emphasizing the priorityof interagency disaster preparedness for the National PlanningScenarios, and improving professional development.
The United States is known around the world for sending help from in-person medical assistance to financial donations when disasters strike in other countries. When disasters have recently struck the U.S. 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Gulf oil spill other countries have been equally quick to offer help. Yet, as astute as the U.S. is when it comes to delivering aid, the opposite is the case when it comes to responding to foreign offers of aid. It is crucial that the U.S. develop a reliable process by which to accept help from other countries when it is needed. Four national security experts lay out a plan for such a process.