2006 Special Committee on Disaster Preparedness Planning

The special committee is directed to study and make recommendations in the area of public and private cooperation in preparedness planning for emergency responses to natural and man-made disasters, including pandemics. Issues to be examined include: (1) private sector assistance to governmental entities responding to disasters; (2) plans for state and local legislative bodies to continue to function during disasters, including lines of succession; (3) responsibility for evacuating hospitals and long-term care facilities; (4) the ability for products such as food and first aid supplies to reach markets during disasters; (5) alternative transportation plans for supplies; (6) responsibility for keeping civil order during disasters; (7) responsibility for caring for medically needy persons during disasters; (8) dissemination of information to the public during disasters if regular modes of communication are unavailable; (9) coordination of resources in rural areas through regional plans; and (10) effectiveness of mutual aid agreements, with an emphasis on interstate mutual aid agreements, and liability issues under these agreements.