Coordination during multi‐agency emergency response: issues and solutions
Abstract
Purpose
Coordination between military and civilian agencies has previously been found to be a significant issue that affects the efficiency of multi‐agency system responses to large‐scale emergencies. The purpose of this article is to present the findings derived from a case study focussing on the problems that abound when the military attempts to work with civilian organisations.
Design/methodology/approach
An integrated framework of human factors methods was used to analyse a Military Aid to the Civilian Authorities training exercise, involving the army and seven other responding agencies.
Findings
A range of factors that hinder coordination between agencies during multi‐agency emergency responses were identified. Potential solutions for removing these barriers and augmenting coordination levels are proposed.
Practical implications
This research suggests that much further work is required in training and designing multi‐agency response systems and procedures in order to optimise coordination between responding agencies.
Originality/value
This article presents the first attempt to apply structured, theoretically underpinned human factors methods, to understand the problems that abound when the military works with civilian agencies during large‐scale emergency responses.
Keywords
Citation
Salmon, P., Stanton, N., Jenkins, D. and Walker, G. (2011), "Coordination during multi‐agency emergency response: issues and solutions", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 140-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653561111126085
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited