The Increasing Need for Military Collaboration in Whole-of-Society

Disaster Preparedness

Rebecca ChestnuttDisaster Management Advisor

Center for Disaster & Humanitarian Assistance Medicine

Asia Pacific Military Health Exchange

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Overview

• Describe a model for sustainable military and civilian capacity-building in disaster preparedness

• Explain the challenges/considerations in implementing this program model

• Describe how such programs benefit both partner nation militaries and the USG regarding stakeholder relationships

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Increasing impact – natural disasters

Flooding

Salinization of ground water

Drought

Climate migration

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Resilience

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Disaster Response

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2 Examples: Liberia and Nepal

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Overview

Buy in from senior officials

Steady state activities

Assessments Planning National exercises Policies & regulations

Policy and plan adoption Regional collaboration

Military-led support for:

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Challenges

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Benefits

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Benefits

NATIONAL REGIONAL MILITARY Identification of current

disaster management capacities

Development/enhancement of national civilian and military contingency plans

Development/enhancement of strategic work plans

Exercises to test disaster management capacities

Enhancement of legal frameworks

Increased support from international organizations

Increased engagement with regional organizations and networks on disaster and resilience initiatives

Senior leadership exchange between Asian/Pacific nations

Subject matter exchange between Asian/Pacific nations

Execution of regional exercises and training activities

Sustained relationships, domestically and internationally

Increased disaster management capacity

Enhanced integration between the military, and the civilian disaster management agencies

Increased civil-military cooperation

Increased visibility of the military’s unique capacities in health and disaster management

Strategic benefit: Increased resilience

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The Increasing Need for Military Collaboration in Whole-of-Society Disaster Preparedness

Questions?