FEMA’s Self-Assessment Tool to Determine State Logistics Readiness 

The Logistics Capability Assessment Tool (LCAT) was created to help states conduct self-assessments to determine their readiness to respond to disasters. The survey-style tool provides a detailed evaluation of core logistics functions; helps local, county, tribal, and state jurisdictions identify specific strengths and weaknesses; and constructs a systematic roadmap for states to improve upon current logistics processes and procedures. 
Using a standardized approach and validated measurement criteria, the LCAT objectively evaluates a state’s capability to perform basic logistics response and recovery functions and targets specific areas that need improvement. In addition to providing an objective assessment of preparedness, state LCAT results will provide a direct link to support administration of FEMA grant funding to help improve logistics capabilities in the future.
 
The LCAT focuses on the five state and local emergency management agencies’ core logistics functional areas: logistics planning, logistics operations, distribution management, property management, and organizational functions. Each question provides an in-depth, graduated set of possible responses. In a collaborative, workshop setting, meeting participants are encouraged to consider and discuss each question and agree on a current level of process maturity. Once complete, the LCAT team provides a detailed analysis report, which includes evaluation responses, overall results, and key observations and recommendations. These results and analyses will be made available only to the applicable state providing the data, the associated FEMA Region, and FEMA Headquarters Logistics Management Division.
 
An added benefit of the LCAT and the LCAT Workshop concept is the inherent collaboration and common operating picture achieved among state, local, regional, other agency, and private sector partners who participate in the two-day implementation sessions. Stakeholders end-to-end gain a more complete understanding of roles, responsibilities, and dependencies; strengthen and build upon existing relationships; and foster new logistics response partnerships. Implementing the tool requires state personnel to work closely with counterparts from other state agencies, FEMA Region and other stakeholder organizations. Sharing information about logistics plans, operational SOPs, and federal, public, and private partner roles & responsibilities not only enhances transparency, but also builds trust among the partners. 

Development of the LCAT was congressionally mandated and provides feedback resulting in FEMA’s actions to improve the agency’s disaster readiness, to increase its response capability, and to maximize the management and impact of homeland security resources at the state and local levels. 

The LCAT program began in March of 2008, and Region-led implementations continue, with national rollout taking up to three years. Initial focus is on hurricane prone states. All 10 FEMA Regions have the LCAT software and Workbooks available for interested parties. The implementation facilitation team has already successfully conducted three LCAT workshops to date and has visited 16 states and eight FEMA regions to educate and train personnel on this important initiative. The LCAT question set incorporates FEMA and DHS federal guidance documents, existing state disaster logistics best practices, and extensive supply chain and logistics industry experience. The tool was created with assistance from state & Regional logistics chiefs for their benefit. 
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.