Gap Analysis Program Support
Project Overview
Hagerty was selected to provide technical support and program assistance to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its Gap Analysis Program (GAP). This program is a vital initiative to ensure preparedness for disaster response and resource allocation.
Understanding the Mission
The GAP is designed to identify and address gaps in state-level resources and disaster response capabilities for specific hazards. Specifically, the program targets capabilities during incidents such as major hurricanes, earthquakes, or other large-scale natural disasters. Once these gaps are identified, solutions and recommendations are provided to improve the region’s disaster preparedness.
The Hagerty Approach
Hagerty conducted a comprehensive GAP program review and developed a suite of critical documents, tools, and training resources, including:
- GAP Guidance Document: A comprehensive framework approved by the Acting Administrator to guide the program’s implementation.
- GAP Data Collection and Analysis Tool (DCAT): Designed using Excel and Access databases, this tool standardized the collection, analysis, and reporting of resource data, helping to improve disaster preparedness.
- GAP Toolkit: A set of resources, including an implementation checklist, an introduction to the program, an overview of the GAP reporting process, and an After-Action Report (AAR) template to assess performance after a disaster.
Achieving Results
Ultimately, Hagerty’s contributions to FEMA’s GAP led to significant improvements in response and resource management. By adopting our recommendations, the federal government enhanced transparency regarding the disaster preparedness capabilities of local governments. Additionally, we helped the agency increase visibility into potential resource needs, enabling a more proactive approach to specific hazards. As a result, FEMA became better positioned to implement effective pre-disaster planning, including creating pre-written assignments for faster emergency mobilization.
The client exercised all option periods of the contract and issued multiple modifications to increase funding, further expanding the initiative’s scope and impact.