Financing naval support for humanitarian assistance and disaster response an analysis of cost drivers and cash flows

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Authors
Ures, Stephen A.
Subjects
Advisors
Apte, Aruna
Yoho, Keenan D.
Date of Issue
2011-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The United States Defense (DoD) does not budget for contingencies. The DoD does not set aside funds in the expectation of war, disaster, or other unexpected catastrophe, where obligation of those funds is contingent on the event actually occurring. This includes budgeting ahead for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HA/DR) operations. Stability operations are now a core U.S. military mission, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response is one of six expanded core capabilities for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard enumerated in A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower. This represents a monumental strategic shift for an establishment traditionally defined by hard power assets. This thesis uses a disaster categorization method based on size of the area affected and speed of disaster onset, and employs a multiple, flexible design case study method that analyzes incremental cost data from the responses to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2010 Pakistan floods. Costs are analyzed for both their timing and the associated functional service provided, and are presented in graphical format. Despite the variety of HA/DR operations and the common belief that every disaster is different, this research identifies similarities in cost timing and function that exist across three of the four types of disaster. These findings provide insight into expected future demand, and highlight the functions that represent the greatest leverage points for future optimization.
Type
Thesis
Description
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 49 p. : col. ill. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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