Cost and benefits of a typical county’s emergency response program

Abstract

Threats from natural disasters and terrorist attacks are real and are occurring ever closer to home. The State Homeland Security Program authorizes annual grants to supplement state and local response capabilities. Although county-level emergency management agencies have received grants to enhance response capabilities, analysis tools to strategically manage these new capabilities are still not in place. Through a combination of research, qualitative, and quantitative analysis, this study provides a broad view of the resource-based relationships between a typical Midwest county emergency management agency and its neighboring district counties, as well as other counties and districts within the state. A capabilities assessment and a life cycle cost analysis are also presented to demonstrate ways of valuing response equipment and the future costs associated with replacement, maintenance, and training.