This document discusses building national resilience to disasters in the United States. It notes that disaster losses could be reduced through increased attention to building resilience at all levels of government and communities. Key points discussed include: - Strong governance at the federal, state, and local levels is important for resilience. - Policies need to take a long-term view of community resilience and avoid unintended consequences. - There are gaps in coordination and policies across federal agencies that impact resilience. - Building local capacity and empowering communities to prepare and adapt is important from the "bottom-up". - Post-Hurricane Sandy, there have been new resilience programs and increased attention across government levels.

1. Gerald E Galloway
Glenn L. Martin Professor of Engineering
University of Maryland
Overcoming National-Regional-
State Local Tensions in Building
Community Resilience

2. BBC
2004
Indian Ocean
Tsunami

3. 2005Katrina

4. Mississippi and
Missouri Rivers
2011

5. SANDY!
29-30 October 2012

7. Dispersion of New Orleans Residents
after Katrina

8. Disaster Resilience:
A National Imperative
Sponsors
Department of Agriculture Forest Service
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Department of Energy
U.S. Geological Survey
Department of Homeland Security and
Federal Emergency Management Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Oak Ridge National Laboratory
and the Community and Regional Resilience
Institute
National Research Council
The National Academies
2012

9. • Disaster losses could be reduced
through increased attention to
national resilience
• A proactive approach that builds
resilience will be more effective at
reducing losses of life, property,
and economic productivity than
current approach
• We can build upon the rich,
existing body of technical,
scientific, and practical
knowledge
Conclusions
Photo: Gulfport, MS after Hurricane Katrina in 2005
Source: NOAA

10. Federal Government
Executive – Legislative - Judicial
Federal Agencies
50 State Governments
Executive – Legislative - Judicial
Local Governments
State Agencies

14. The Landscape of Resilience Policy
• Strong governance at all levels is a key element
of resilience
• Policies designed to improve national resilience
need to take the long-term view of community
resilience
• Government policies and practices can have
unintended consequences that negatively impact
resilience.
• Gaps in policies and programs among federal agencies exist
for all parts of the resilience process
• Gaps result from legislative authority within which agencies
are directed to operate, lack of effective coordination of the
roles and responsibilities, and lack of a unified resilience vision.

15. Building Local Capacity—Resilience from the Bottom-Up
•
Building Community Capacity
o Engage the community in disaster policy
planning
o Link public & private infrastructure
performance to resilience goals
o Communicate risks, promote a culture of
resilience
o Organize communities and families to
prepare for disasters
o Adopt sound land-use practices and adopt
and enforce building codes
Photo: Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Administration
doing emergency training, June 2012
Source: Casey Deshong/FEMA
Local conditions vary across the country; the nation’s communities are unique. The risks
faced by every community vary according to local hazards. However, there are steps all
communities can take.
Community resilience begins
with strong local capacity.

16. Post/Pre-Sandy Resilience
• New Programs Across
Government
• 2007 WRDA
• BW12
• Increase in Attention in
National Media
• Post-Sandy Resilience
Activities at Federal State and
Local Level
Wodomedia.com

17.  The Home Depot revolutionized the home
improvement industry by bringing the
know-how and the tools to the consumer
and by saving them money.
 Not only did store associates undergo
rigorous product knowledge training, but
they also began offering clinics so
customers could learn how to do it
themselves.
 “At the end of the day, we’re in the people
business.”

18. Policy
It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical
infrastructure against both physical and cyber threats.
The Federal Government shall also engage with international partners to strengthen the security
and resilience of domestic critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure located outside of the
United States on which the Nation depends.
U.S. efforts shall address the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in an
integrated, holistic manner to reflect this infrastructure's interconnectedness and interdependency.
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Resilience includes the ability to withstand and recover from deliberate attacks, accidents, or
naturally occurring threats or incidents.
December 7
2012
Executive Order -- Establishing the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
ESTABLISHING THE HURRICANE SANDY REBUILDING TASK FORCE
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States
of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. This order establishes the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force (Task
Force) to provide the coordination that is necessary to support these rebuilding objectives.
…A disaster of Hurricane Sandy's magnitude merits a comprehensive and collaborative
approach to the long-term rebuilding plans for this critical region and its infrastructure.
Sec. 2. Establishment of the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force
The Chair's duties shall also include:
(i) communicating and engaging with States, tribes, local governments, Members of Congress,
other stakeholders and interested parties, and the public on matters pertaining to rebuilding in the
affected region;

20. The Western Governors' Association (WGA) has joined the Western
StatesWater Council in asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work
with states on rulemaking for the treatment of surplus water in Corps-
managed reservoirs.
WGAexpressed its concernto Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the
Army (Civil Works). The letter said, in part, that the Corps had not
"adequately engaged the states ... in the development of this draft and
that its release may be premature."

21. Characteristics of a Resilient Nation in 2030
A resilient nation in 2030 has a vibrant and diverse
economy and a safer, healthier, and better educated
citizenry than in previous generations.
• Individuals and communities are their own first line of
defense
• National leadership in resilience exists throughout
federal government
• Community-led resilience efforts receive investment and
support.