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Exploring the dynamics
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natural and man-made disasters. Collaboration is also
critical for local governments to connect with higher
levels of governments and governments in different local
jurisdictions because it reduces possible vertical and horizontal
fragmentation when managing disasters. This study categorizes
collaboration into three different types (i.e., vertical, horizontal-
interlocal, and horizontal-intersectoral collabo- rations) and
contributes in developing a framework with three dimensions
(i.e., organizational internal factors, organizational external
factors, and EM capacity) to study the drivers of the three
different collaborations. Different rationales and common
drivers behind each type of local EM collaboration are identified.
In turn, this study provides a chance to connect local practical
views with theoretical intergovernmental collaboration
literature and explores how local EM system works vertically
and horizontally in Florida.
This study also offers insights and strategies to improve
local EM collaboration in Taiwan. First, EM is about shared
governance. Therefore, collaboration across levels of
governments is critical and necessary. Interlocal and
intersectoral collaborations are also indispensable for local
governments to provide public security services efficiently and
enhance community resiliency successfully. Based on the Florida
experience, strengthening collaboration through various types
of institution such as NIMS, mutual aid agreements, and
MOU/MOA in both vertical and horizontal contexts is a viable
strategy. However, the usefulness, interoperability, flexibility,
and accountability of these systems must be confirmed to avoid
the potential problem of red tape.
Second, building good formal and informal relationships
with all actual and potential partners in the vertical and
horizontal contexts in normal times leads to successful
collaboration in emergency times. These formal and
information relationships are usually built in friendships from