The way communication can be improved, is by interconnecting the various ways each agency / level of government will gather intelligence. Then, this information must be shared with the relevant departments / agencies. One way that this can be accomplished is by forming a task force that composes of all of the different entities. Their job is to look at the different pieces of information and then distribute it to the relevant agencies / departments. Over the course of time, this could increase cooperation as the intelligence task force will have the power to over ride the rivalries and the divisiveness. A second avenue to increase communication would be: to have an intelligence liaison from a particular department / agency work with rival departments. This would help improve cooperation by establishing policies and procedures of intelligence sharing. Over the course of time, this will reduce the rivalries by creating a new way that the various agencies / departments will share intelligence. (Canton) The way that cooperation can be improved is: by having a series of different events and drills that require all of the different agencies / departments to work together in mock drill. While this has been conducted many times, the problem is a lack of consistency with this type of training, as various first responders and administrators will succumb to pressure to postpone such exercises over issues of cost or convenience. Once this takes place, it means that the issues of cooperation will be far less. This will cause the first responders and different personnel in the various agencies / departments to engage in the same silos as before. In order to avoid such situations requires that a series of drills / mock exercises are conducted consistently. Where, all of the key players are required to participate. You can augment the various situations to encompass a number of different possibilities. Over the course of time, this will force the various first responders / administrators to continue to work together. This will break down the various silos that may exist, as personnel at one department do not realize that they have all the answers. Instead, they begin to see themselves as part of a larger piece of team effort to address...

Then, as the various exercises are being conducted the different personnel involved have a chance to interact with one another. This increases cooperation and support as the first responders / administrators will see the new changes as a way to make a positive difference. Once this takes place, the various rivalries and silos can slowly be eliminated on an individual level.
Clearly, emergency management requires that everyone is constantly changing and evolving. This is because the overall nature of the threat is adapting to the different countermeasures put in place. To effectively adapt to these changes requires that all first responders / administrators begin to use mitigation analysis and flexibility, to be more proactive to various events that are occurring. Then, communication and cooperation must improve among the various agencies / departments. Over the course of time, these different elements will make emergency management planning anticipate threats before they actually occur. This is how you can be able to effectively counter various challenges that are constantly evolving. However, for any kind of emergency management planning to be effective requires that you consistently move the various entities in this direction. Otherwise, you could be facing a situation where an emergency plan is in place, yet it is reactive because no one addressed how to effectively adapt the plan to the new threats that occurring. It is through examining emergency planning in this light, which will provide the greatest insights as to what challenges are faced by first responders / administrators.

Bibliography

Canton, Lucien. Emergency Management. Hoboken: Wiley, 2007. Print.

Coppola, Damon. Introduction to International Disaster Management. Oxford: Elsiever, 2007. Print.

Nirumpa, A. "Proactive Vs. Reactive." E. How.2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5880200_proactive-vs_-reactive-management.html

Schmidt, Eric. "Terror Attempt Seen as Man Tries to Ignite Device on Jet." New York Times. 25 Dec. 2009. Web 25

Mar. 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/us/26plane.html?_r=1