MANAGING THE RISK of crisis disruptions is complicated exponentially by the interdependency of infrastructure networks, and the many public and private organizations that manage and protect them. Components from multiple infrastructure networks may be affected because the components occupy the same geographic space, or because the root problem is widespread, such as an earthquake or flood.

Crisis response is also complicated by the fact that many separate organizations- police, fire, hospitals, public works, private utilities, etc.- will be involved. The people, systems and protocols that enable these organizations to function on a daily basis may fail to integrate effectively in any given crisis event, resulting in conflict and/or lapse in decision making and action. In addition, responder's efforts may be hampered if they rely upon infrastructure networks that have been compromised by the event itself.

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