Submitting Campus
Worldwide
Department
Security and Emergency Services
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
2020
Abstract/Description
This essay offers an intermediate discussion of select policy, strategic, operational, and tactical issues that demonstrate where and how the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s novel coronavirus response on the one hand, and homeland security frameworks and research on the other, converge or—more often so—diverge, and how to narrow this gap. Although typically framed as a pandemic owned by the public health sector, the COVID-19 response falls directly within the homeland security mission space, whose core missions include “Ensuring Resilience to Disasters.” In some respects, Pennsylvania’s response exemplifies best practices suggested by research. In other dimensions, it is neither in line with what research would recommend nor with what the National Preparedness System would mandate. The Keystone State has yet to fully make the step from disaster to catastrophe as the characteristic challenge to U.S. emergency management in our century. Response to catastrophic crisis cannot be siloed; it requires adaptivity and an inclusive approach to the community.
Publication Title
Homeland Security Affairs Journal
Publisher
Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Scholarly Commons Citation
Siedschlag, Alexander. “Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Response vs. Homeland Security Frameworks and Research: Masking the Whole Community.” Homeland Security Affairs 16, Article 10 (December, 2020) www.hsaj.org/articles16350
Additional Information
Dr. Siedschlag was not affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the time this paper was published.