On March 31, 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released the latest update to the annual National Preparedness Report. Required by Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness, the National Preparedness Report examines preparedness activities taken in the previous year, summarizing progress in building, sustaining, and delivering on the 32 core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal across the mission areas of Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.
Along with a number of key findings in each of these mission areas, the 2016 report identifies three cross-cutting findings:
- Three core capabilities have demonstrated acceptable levels of performance, but face performance declines if not maintained to address emerging challenges:
- Planning;
- Public Health, Healthcare, and Emergency Medical Services; and
- Risk and Disaster Resilience Assessment.
- States and territories continue to be more prepared to achieve their targets for Response core capabilities, while they are least prepared to meet their targets in the Recovery mission area.
- Four core capabilities remain nation areas for improvement:
- Cybersecurity;
- Economic Recovery;
- Housing; and
- Infrastructure Systems.
Two additional cores emerged as new national areas for improvement:
- Natural and Cultural Resources and
- Supply Chain Integrity and Security.