| Large-scale disaster response operations are complex events that involve multiple jurisdictions and multiple agencies in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States sought to develop a national model for managing disaster response operations. The result of those efforts was the creation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in 2004. In 2005, the Gulf Coast of the United States experienced Hurricane Katrina. This disaster provided the first real-world opportunity to employ NIMS and assess its ability in providing an effective framework for response and recovery operations. Post-event analysis revealed that few saw the response and recovery efforts as effective; subsequently, NIMS was revised in 2008. This study focused on the experiences of past incident commanders to gather a better understanding of the phenomenon of command and control of large-scale multi-agency disaster response operations. This phenomenological study identified seven themes and their interdependencies, seen by past leaders of disaster response operations as being key factors in establishing effective command and control of large-scale disaster response operations. This knowledge serves to inform current disaster response operations under NIMS and provides insights of potential areas requiring future revisions. |
