Operational Planning Guidance (OPG)
Catastrophic incidents create devastation beyond normal expectations and are very difficult to predict. It is the mission of the Department to safeguard the American people, our Homeland, and our values. Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland Security coordinates preparedness activities within the United States to respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. However, DHS planning and preparedness efforts have not historically been developed to accommodate catastrophic disasters, and this complicated real-world response operations for these low-probability, high-consequence events. Thus, identified as a priority by DHS senior leaders and tasked by the Secretary in the FY2017 Operational Planning Guidance (FY2017 OPG) catastrophic disaster planning is a DHS priority. For these reasons, a Departmental plan to prepare for and respond to a catastrophic incident is a Departmental responsibility and the OPG-tasked CDS CONOPS will address the S1 guidance, while a tabletop exercise (TTX) will put the plan into action safeguarding Americans and protecting our Homeland.
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Although catastrophic incidents are very difficult to predict they will have a major effect on our Homeland and planning for such an event is critical for preparedness. Through lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, we learned that deployment practices and response authorities needed reevaluation and a shorter delivery time for large-scale deployment of resources is required, respectively. In addition, the unaccompanied alien child crisis required DHS Components and interagency partners to respond to atypical missions in new ways. Moreover, we must continue to increase preparedness through efficient and effective
Although catastrophic incidents are very difficult to predict they will have a major effect on our Homeland and planning for such an event is critical for preparedness. Through lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, we learned that deployment practices and response authorities needed reevaluation and a shorter delivery time for large-scale deployment of resources is required, respectively. In addition, the unaccompanied alien child crisis required DHS Components and interagency partners to respond to atypical missions in new ways. Moreover, we must continue to increase preparedness through efficient and effective