Emergency Preparedness in the Washington Metropolitan Area

Testimony was given on the results of GAO work on emergency preparedness plans in the Washington metropolitan area. GAO found that all jurisdictions had a plan and that each plan has recently been or is currently being revised. Although there has been little interjurisdictional coordination in plan development, the Council of Governments has been significantly involved in emergency preparedness and has sponsored several efforts to coordinate interjurisdictional efforts. GAO found that, in all jurisdictions, the current level of staffing and equipment is not likely to increase in the foreseeable future. Therefore, there is a need to coordinate emergency preparedness activities to make the best use of personnel and equipment on hand. Other than the development of these mutual aid pacts, there has been no significant coordination between jurisdictions in the development or revision of emergency preparedness plans. GAO found differences between jurisdictions and little clarity about the relationships between the emergency preparedness activity and the response agencies. GAO stated that a uniform set of emergency preparedness standards is needed. Some jurisdictions expressed the opinion that it would be more expedient to have one Federal contact who could act as a liason between the jurisdictions and all Federal agencies.