Preparedness Revisited: W(h)ither PPD-8?

The most important purpose of Presidential Policy Directive (PPD-8) on national preparedness is to establish a foundation that can be adapted to and utilized by stakeholders of all kinds and at all public and private levels. PPD-8 appeared somewhat abruptly on the scene, essentially replacing Homeland Security Policy Directive (HSPD-8), which had accomplished much but suffered setbacks and stalled in its effectiveness. Perhaps the single most important step the Obama Administration can take at this point is to make as clear as possible to the nation not only about the need for, but also the challenges encountered in implementing a national preparedness plan. Efforts need to be redoubled if serious and sustained progress is to be made by the end of the President's second term. On balance, given that the fundamental elements of PPD-8 are similar to HSPD-8 but even more complex, the author's view is that the newer initiative faces the reality of ultimately being overwhelmed by powerful analytic difficulties and/or governance-related impediments -- falling short of its goals, which may simply be too ambitious to realize. Errata: minor corrections have been made to end notes 19 and 49, in the online version of this article.