Attachments
The Director’s Letter
Joseph Martin, SES
nited States Pacific Command has not conducted a major disaster response in the Asia-Pacific region since Spring 2015. Whereas elements of the command have provided support to major earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand, a significant international deployment of military and civilian assets has been largely absent in the region for nearly two years. While we are grateful for this period of calm, those who respond to catastrophic disasters are keenly aware of the history of the region. For disasters – this is Phase 0.
Given that the likelihood of a back-to-back crisis is low, there is a natural tendency after a major incident to simply take a break. However, it is in this period of relative “calm after the storm” that the most progress can be made in preparedness. Militarily, we refer to the planning period prior to an event loosely as Phase 0. It is when you prepare, plan and practice. For example, after the Nepal earthquake, the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance was tasked to produce the After Action Report for U.S. Pacific Command. That product took six months to deliver, and the command took actions on many suggestions very quickly. Since then, the command and its components have executed a long series of multinational training and exercise activities with partners based in part on those lessons.
This issue of the Liaison looks across the spectrum of Phase 0 activities ranging from international ex ercises in Europe to better preparing Myanmar’s armed forces for disaster response. Included in these pages are a broad range of preparatory activities that are each intended to better prepare organizations, local communities, and entire countries for the next catastrophe. Improved resilience through these types of actions has been proven to reduce the need for outside assistance across the span of disaster scenarios. An added benefit is also the corresponding improvement to the daily lives and sense of safety in the communities involved when infrastructure improvements are completed, such as with the Bangladesh road story (see page 18).
This broad stroke of military, business, and international relief agency activities barely scratches the surface of what occurs in Phase 0. The intent of these examples, and relevant interviews with regional leaders, is to provide a basis to continue these activities and appreciate their tangible benefits before the next disaster occurs.
Aloha,
(Signature)