“A frequent major weakness [in emergency preparedness] concerns emergency planning. In many communities emergency plans are based upon an assumed capability, rather than on a real or existing capability. While many documented plans ‘look good on paper,’ it is the actual existing resources and capabilities which must be relied upon to save lives and property. Therefore, it is essential that the emergency plan accurately reflect existing resources and operational capabilities. It is also important to ensure that provisions have been made for making the best possible use of existing resources and capabilities, and where needed, to expand and improve them. “Also, many written plans reflect more coordinated planning than has actually occurred within the community. Frequently the preparation of emergency plans did not include participation by representatives of appropriate emergency services. During a study of local community emergency planning,95 it was discovered that often the local civil preparedness director was, for all practical purposes, the sole author of the plan. For a plan to be workable, it is essential that the users understand what is required of them. This is accomplished best by their actual participation in the planning effort. “In many cases local emergency operations plans have been produced to satisfy Federal and State requirements for participation in DCPA programs. A great many of these ‘compliance plans’ represent little or no real planning activity. Many are the result of adopting (mostly filling in blanks) model local plans produced by the States”. (DCPA, On-Site Assistance (MP 63), 1974, pp. 2-3)