Funding complexities include planning, training, exercises, and a plethora of agencies. Swanson believes the real pressure is on the locals. There is an expectation that plans are in place. A new round of stakeholders includes people in law enforcement and consequence management. Special events planning, such as for the Vail World Ski Championship and Utah Olympics, can result in readiness for all hazards and improve relationships and coordination among agencies.
Strategic planning starts with the form of government.
He believes the greatest challenge is individual preparedness responsibility. Other challenges include technological breakdowns or impediments, preparedness level of employees, gang issues, and language barriers. Myra Lee stated the major challenge is not recognizing the future. Two areas of concentration include emphasis on performance measures and the use of automation technology. The inherent problem with performance measures is determining what is being measured.