The American National Standards Institute’s Homeland Security Standards Panel met recently to discuss ways in which standards could help boost emergency preparedness in the public and private sectors.

The meeting was the final in a series that examined standards suggestions based on recommendations issued by the federal government after Hurricane Katrina. In particular, the committee examined the role of NFPA 1600, which was issued by the National Fire Protection Association and relates to disaster management, business continuity programs and emergency management. This standard establishes minimum criteria for disaster management and guides the development of disaster preparedness and recovery programs. It was adopted by the Department of Homeland Security in 2005.

“We were very pleased with the continued progress of this workshop,” says Joseph Broz, Midwest Research Institute vice president of strategic initiatives and co-leader of the workshop. “Our findings remain that a majority of the improvements and recommendations contained in post-Katrina analyses and reports would automatically be implemented by the usage of NFPA 1600.”

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