First Responders

Emergency events do not respect jurisdictional boundaries. Even when an event occurs within a particular set of borders response and recovery are often well beyond the resources available to a particular jurisdiction. A number of government and private sector organizations are now undertaking to develop response plans and procedures. Many more do not have the resources to undertake such projects but have no less need for the information.

Vital to the continuity of government services through emergency situations and recovery is an understanding that ALL disciplines of governmental, non-governmental and private sectors are critically impacted. Performance of the functions necessary for successful response and remediation will be greatly enhanced by collaboration among these often-disparate entities.

IT, Records, Purchasing, Finance, Governance, Identity Management, Health, Infrastructure, etc., can all be affected during an emergency. ALL are intertwined, yet, in most cases, stove piped when it comes to continuity planning, preparation, exercise, decision-making and implementation.

will collect, develop or highlight gaps/examples in X-Boundary collaboration and information sharing and supply resources on this topic for federal, state and local government and non-government continuity planning and response. This effort brings together all interested sectors ("…no sector left behind…") to ensure the continuity of government services and quality response through emergency events. Cases studies will be incorporated as lessons learned as well as a wide variety of other useful resources.