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According to the interview responses, requesting
intelligence and professional services from for-profit businesses
and non-governmental organizations is the second main reason
why horizontal-intersectoral collaboration occurs (ID10, ID11,
& ID14). Counties and municipalities have to collaborate with
utility companies, telecommunication companies, and
infrastructure providers to restore electricity, water, roadways,
cables, and phone systems as soon as possible. The non-
governmental organizations usually offer professional services
that local EM agencies cannot. For instance, during a disaster,
the American Red Cross is known for its capability in providing
emergency housing, shelters, and medical services. Local
community associations usually better know the neighborhood
and local needs. Therefore, local governments need help from
non-governmental organizations to respond effectively and
efficiently to a disaster or evacuate residents. A city EM deputy
commented the following:
They know the neighborhood. They know the people.
They get out there more than we do. And then we can’t
do it all, so we need them to be able to help to respond
[to the disaster] with us. (ID14)
Horizontal-intersectoral collaboration can be understood
as a consulting process. A local EM agency can be viewed as a
consultant who provides local businesses professional advice for
improving their EM skills and knowledge and industrial security.
This view has become increasingly obvious as attention to
security issues became more pronounced following the 9/11
incident. Several large county EM directors remarked that local
businesses have increased their interest in EM-related issues and
prefer to partner with county governments because such a
partnership can enhance their EM planning capability and
increase their knowledge about protecting infrastructure. An
interviewee mentioned: