Some Observations on Critical
Infrastructure Protection and the Disaster
Management System in the United States
William A. Anderson
National Research Council
U.S. National Academy of Sciences
International Conference on Critical Infrastructure
Protection
Helsinki, October 4-5, 2007
Presentation Outline
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Relevant Societal Features
Risk Environment
Dynamic Character of the U.S. System
Key Issues and Tensions
Some Catalysts for Change
Multi-Sectoral Nature
Concluding Remarks
Societal Features Influencing Critical
Infrastructure Protection and Disaster
Management in the U.S.
Physical and Socioeconomic:
 U.S. is third largest country in the world in area
 Has one of the longest coastlines in the world
 3rd most populated country
Societal Features (continued)
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Highly diverse population: racially, ethnically
81% of population is urban
World’s largest economy
The Risk Environment
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Natural disasters
- Droughts
- Floods
- Storms
- Forest fires (urban/wildland)
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
The Risk Environment (continued)
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Technological disasters
Pandemics
Terrorist attacks
A Dynamic Disaster Management System
Change is a key feature based on a combination of:
 U.S. experiences with hazards and disasters
 Research efforts
 Political process
Some Key Issues and Tensions Related to the
U.S. Disaster Management System
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Roles of different levels of government in
disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness,
response, and recovery
Role of the military
Citizen versus government responsibility
Role of the private sector
Issues and Tensions (continued)
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All-hazards versus single hazard approaches
Risk-based approaches versus other
considerations
Role of science and technology
Structural versus nonstructural approaches to
disaster reduction
Equity
Some Major Change Producing Events
and Circumstances
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1900 – American Red Cross chartered by federal
government
1906 – San Francisco earthquake
1927 – Mississippi flood
1940s –Start of Cold War
1964 - Alaska earthquake
1971 - San Fernando earthquake
Major Change Producing Events and
Circumstances (continued)
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1992 – Hurricane Andrew
1990s – End of Cold War
2001 – Terrorist attacks on New York and
Washington, DC
2005 – Hurricane Katrina
Multi-Sectoral Nature of the
U.S. Disaster Management System
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Loosely integrated system
Comprised of policy makers, practitioners, and
researchers working in:
- Government agencies
- Private sector organizations
- Nonprofit organizations
- Research and educational organizations
U.S. Disaster Management System
(continued)
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Government:
- State and local: chief responsibility for
mitigation, preparedness, response, and
recovery
- Federal: to provide leadership and needed
resources through numerous agencies
Some Key Federal Agencies
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Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency
Management Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Geological Survey
National Science Foundation
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Health and Human Services
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Transportation
U.S. Disaster Management System
(continued)
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Private sector:
- Critical infrastructure enterprises
- Insurance
- Retailers
U.S. Disaster Management System
(continued)
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Professional associations
- Association of State Floodplain Managers
- Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
- National Emergency Management Association
Nonprofit organizations
- Red Cross
- National Academies
U.S. Disaster Management System
(continued)
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Research and educational organizations
- University research and applications centers
- Educational programs for future researchers,
policy makers, and practitioners
- Think tanks
Concluding Remarks
U.S. disaster management system has been
challenged in recent years in ways that were
once inconceivable
 In the past, the U.S. generally faced disasters, not
catastrophic events, and Katrina showed the
shortcomings of a system that was geared
principally to counter disasters
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Concluding Remarks (continued)
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Future disasters will probably look different
from those faced in the U.S. today, and perhaps
greater challenges are on the horizon, such as
climate change and pandemics
Changes in the socioeconomic character of the
U.S., experience with future hazards and
disasters, lessons learned from research, and the
unfolding of the political process will cause the
U.S. disaster management system to further
evolve
Concluding Remarks (continued)
“Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction”
from U.S. Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction:
#1- Provide Hazard and Disaster Information
Where and When It Is needed
#2- Understand the Natural Processes that
Produce Hazards
#3- Develop Hazard Mitigation Strategies and
Technologies
Concluding Remarks (continued)
“Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction”:
#4- Recognize and Reduce Vulnerability of
Interdependent Critical Infrastructure
#5- Assess Disaster Resilience Using Standard
Methods
#6- Promote Risk-Wise Behavior
Thank You