This briefing is Unclassified.

Brian Walsh21 June 2012

Hurricane Katrina Haitian EarthquakeJapaneseTsunami

U.S. Navy U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy

Joint Planning for Humanitarian Assistance—Disaster Response (HA-DR ) Operations

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Outline

• Brief introduction

• Question and approach

• Common HA-DR planning factors

• Joint planning and implementation challenges

• Conclusion

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Introduction

The information presented in this brief is based upon personal experience and observations during 3 recent HA-DR operations:

• Hurricane Katrina (2005)

• Haitian earthquake (2010)

• Japanese earthquake and tsunami (2011)

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QuestionQuestion:

How can joint planners accommodate a variety of HA-DR scenarios?

Operational findings:

While every disaster response has unique characteristics, these events often share underlying operational features.

Anticipating and accommodating these features in the planning will strengthen the response.

A Joint response is preferable because these operations are often complex and sudden.

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Approach

1. Identifying common HA-DR planning factors

2. Describe related joint planning challenges

3. Highlight implementation challenges

4. Provide a brief example

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Outline

• Brief introduction

• Question and approach

• Common HA-DR planning factors

• Joint planning and implementation challenges

• Conclusion

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Observed common HA-DR planning factors

1. Command and control (C2) relationships will be unclear and change often.

2. Accurate, useful information will be scarce.

3. Events will move quickly—The operational window will be short.

4. Delivering relief supplies, such as water and food, will be the dominant, difficult, and enduring operational imperative.

5. Determining the end of the operation is often difficult.

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Outline

• Brief introduction

• Question and approach

• Common HA-DR planning factors

• Joint planning and implementation challenges

• Conclusion

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Command and control (C2)Planning factor: The ad hoc nature of these events ensures that C2

relationships will be unclear and evolve during the operation.

Joint planning challenge: Organize a large, diverse force

Exercise control over the force

Create opportunities for components to excel

Integrate with those outside your chain-of-command

Implementation challenge: Employ a simple organizational structure

Joint Operational Commander

Maritime component Air component Land component

Maneuver units Maneuver units Maneuver units

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Command and control (C2) continued

Implementation challenge:

Align tasking with the components’ skill sets—Navy:

• Access from the sea

• Navy ships are fully operational upon arrival.

• Dive teams and port operations

Choose coordination and collaboration over command and control

• Access to information

• Communications

• Subject matter expertise

Example: From Katrina, I have more than 10 different organization charts.

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Establishes authority

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Information for decision-makers

Planning factor: Reliable information will be scarce and conflicting.

Joint planning challenge: Tasking will be problematic.

The joint force will have to integrate information across the components.

Interagency and nongovernmental organizations will have additional information.

Implementation challenge: Distribute liaisons across the joint force

Process the return flow of information from operators—regardless of the component

Establish a civil-military operations cell

Invite liaisons from the interagency community

Example: Reliable information about conditions inside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor was not readily available.

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Time is not your ally.

Planning factor: The suddenness of the event and urgency of the response often puts the crisis ahead of operations.

Joint planning challenge: Employ command by negation

Deconflicting air operations

Implementation challenge: Operators should not wait for tasking and instruction.

Bring air operations staffs from the components and interagency community together to control air space.

Example: During Katrina response, it took several days to implement an air deconfliction plan—the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines,

Customs, Coast Guard, State Police, Department of Homeland Security, media, and several others flew aircraft in the New Orleans’ airspace.

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Operational imperative

Planning factor: The delivery of water and food, mostly water, will be the priority for an extended period.

Joint planning challenge: Integrate the various logistics streams

Expand the logistics capability

Implementation challenge: Augment the logistics staff

Locate sufficient aircraft and supplies

- Commercial suppliers can help.

Deliver the supplies to those in need

Example: Moving supplies past that last tactical hurdle (e.g., warehouse to those in need) can be the most difficult.

During the Haiti response, there was a build-up of relief supplies at the Port-a-Prince Airport.

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When is the operation over?

Planning factor: Forces assigned to HA-DR operations often have responsibilities elsewhere.

Joint planning challenge: Develop a common, joint operational construct

Establish broad, simple lines of operation

- Deliver relief supplies

- Provide medical care

- Repair infrastructure

- Ensure a secure operational environment

Develop an operational assessment capability

Implementation challenge: Accessing operational data

Socializing end states

Tracking progress

Example: In Haiti, it was difficult, at times, to discern earthquake response efforts from aid to an impoverished country.

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Questions?

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