D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 1120
1120.1 HSEMA leads efforts to ensure the District is prepared to prevent, protect against, respond to, mitigate, and recover from all threats and hazards. HSEMA develops and implements homeland security and emergency preparedness plans in coordination with a wide array of local, regional, and federal government agencies, as well as private sector entities. HSEMA serves as the central communications point for District agencies and regional partners before, during, and after an emergency; provides training exercises to District agencies and communities; and leads cross-agency coordination in preparation for special events, such as demonstrations, marches, and parades.
1120.2 HSEMA was created by the District in 2007 in response to City Council passage of the Homeland Security, Risk Reduction, and Preparedness Act of 2005, which consolidated the functions of the former District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) with those of the State Administrative Agency. In 2012 the District designated HSEMA as home for the primary Fusion Center, which houses the day-to-day operation of the Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center (WRTAC). As a result of this change, HSEMA expanded to an additional facility on the Unified Communications Center campus.
1120.3 In recent years, HSEMA developed and institutionalized the District Preparedness System (DPS), which is governed by the DC Emergency Preparedness Council (EPC), the DC Emergency Response System (ERS) Committee, subcommittees, advisory panels, and working groups. As administrator and steward of the DPS, HSEMA coordinates collaboration among these groups to leverage best practices, lessons learned, existing knowledge, and expertise and to elevate innovative resources to meet known and emerging threats and hazards, building on Washington, DC's standing as a national leader in emergency management.
1120.4 In addition, HSEMA plays a key role in District efforts to increase resiliency to climate change and disasters and to improve the lives of District residents. It served as a key participant in the 100 Resilient Cities initiative launched in 2016, working closely with dozens of stakeholders to promote resilience for the whole community and to integrate resilience and mitigation measures into relevant initiatives.
1120.5 Figure 11.9 District Preparedness System
(Source: HSEMA)
1120.5a Text box: Washington, DC's District Preparedness System (DPS)
DPS encompasses all elements of the preparedness cycle that allow the District to identify capability gaps, prioritize and develop capabilities, and execute those capabilities when required by real-world events. DPS success relies heavily on the support and participation of stakeholder agencies across Washington, DC and the national capital region. By working together to identify the most critical threats and hazards and build capabilities to address them, DPS stakeholders continue to build a more prepared and resilient Washington, DC.
1120.5a1 Text box: Community Risk Assessment
A vital component of Washington, DC's DPS is the Community Risk Assessment (CRA), a multipronged approach to identifying hazards and assessing risk. The CRA uses sophisticated methods and data (including geospatial, demographic, socio-economic, and critical infrastructure information) to model the risk and consequences for a variety of threats and hazards. These are then used to inform a wide range of preparedness products and processes, including hazard mitigation strategies; strategic, operational, and tactical plans; the annual DPS Report; and the District's annual Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
Continue to create a District-wide culture of preparedness, informed by a sustainable and effective system, that prepares Washington, DC to prevent and protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all hazards that threaten it. This includes integrating preparedness goals into relevant efforts across individual District agencies. Include Neighbor-to-Neighbor Disaster Assistance Training, building on the success of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and related programs.
Continue to enhance the capability to provide overall direction and support of significant incidents and events within or affecting the District through the O&M of the Emergency Operations Center, as well as the District’s 24/7 watch center, an intelligence fusion center, a public information coordination center, and a center for private sector coordination.
Capitalize on opportunities during the recovery phase to further reduce vulnerability by integrating mitigation activities into Washington, DC’s post-disaster recovery operations, including Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) and after-action processes.
Preparedness capabilities should accommodate accessibility requirements of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. Taking a whole community approach, develop plans with the Disabilities and Access or Functional Needs (DAFN) community to provide an equal opportunity to access and benefit from the District’s preparedness programs, services, and facilities.
Establish and maintain capabilities to deliver coordinated, prompt, and actionable information to the whole community through the use of clear, compatible, accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate methods to effectively relay information regarding any threat or hazard and, to the extent possible, District actions and assistance being made available for those in need.
Ensure ongoing coordination of District technology initiatives with DPS efforts, providing effective, efficient, and secure services to government agencies, as well as residents, businesses, and visitors who depend on them.
Continue to assess and secure essential resources, including personnel, facilities, equipment supplies, technology, and technological systems, in response to a changing community and threat/hazard environments.
1120.13
Continue engaging with key stakeholders and partners in relevant aspects of DPS to strengthen District-wide preparedness. Continue to build collaborative partnerships with key private sector stakeholders to facilitate timely coordination, information dissemination, and emergency response and recovery efforts, particularly during catastrophic incidents.
1120.14
Maximize the use of federal funding, as well as funding from the private sector and nongovernmental sources, to implement the District’s preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery strategies. When applicable, for events that qualify for federal disaster declaration, develop requests for individual assistance, public assistance, and hazard mitigation assistance. Create policies and procedures to incorporate hazard mitigation into the repair, relocation, or replacement of damaged public facilities and infrastructure. To the extent possible, include a process for identifying and prioritizing eligible projects and programs that can leverage additional funding.
1120.15
Continue to coordinate cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threat assessments across relevant agencies and other stakeholders and to strengthen Washington, DC’s cybersecurity protection and response capabilities.
1120.16
Continue to administer, define, refine, implement, and maintain DPS to provide continuity of government, maintain continuity of operations, and provide emergency services to the community.
1120.17
Continue to develop and maintain a program that allows DPS stakeholders and partners to regularly integrate the accessibility requirements of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs across all phases of DPS, as mandated by the DC Human Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Rehabilitation Act. This includes developing and delivering training to agencies on inclusive methods and practices for preparedness. Continue to develop and maintain strategic, operational, and tactical-level plans for providing individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs accessible programs and services, including mass care and shelter services, transportation and evacuation, and notification and communication.
1120.18 Action CSF-6.1.C: Development Projects and Risk Reduction
Explore methods for further reducing risks and vulnerabilities of major development projects to human-made and natural hazards.
1120.19 Action CSF-6.1.D: Evaluate Use and Impacts of Emerging Technologies on Emergency Preparedness
Explore and evaluate the potential use and impacts of new and emerging technologies on the District's emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response operations. Arenas with rapidly evolving or emerging technologies include robotics (including drones and autonomous vehicles), data and connectivity, energy and resources, and digital visualizations and interfaces.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996, effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).