Scots 'unprepared' for disasters

Professor Kettl said more crises such as the 9/11 attacks were inevitable

Scotland is unprepared for disasters such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, a US academic will warn.

Political scientist Donald Kettl will tell emergency planners that current crisis management plans need reformed.

The Pennsylvania University leadership professor will say that unless change is made the country will be "doomed to be constantly outmanoeuvred by events".

He is due to speak in Glasgow on Thursday at the Emergency Planning Society's Scottish branch conference.

Speaking ahead of his keynote address, Professor Kettl said more crises such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina were inevitable.

He said: "Through these events we have been taught the lessons we needed to learn - the question now is whether we will learn them or not?

"Following September 11 public officials everywhere promised that America would learn the painful lessons the terrorist attack taught.

In Scotland we are taking heed of international experience and are keen and ready to learn from it Jacqui Semple Emergency Planning Society

"However, Hurricane Katrina revealed not only have we failed to learn, it showed that we have yet to build the capacity to deal with costly, wicked problems that leave little time to react."

Professor Kettl believes other countries need to "rewire" their systems too for success.

He added: "If we don't construct a new toolbox for new problems, we're doomed to be constantly outmanoeuvred by events and by combatants who seek to exploit our weaknesses."

About 150 emergency planning delegates from across Scotland are due to attend the conference over the next two days.

Scottish branch and conference chair, Jacqui Semple, said civil protection planning faced ever bigger and more complex challenges.

She said: "Experience shows that the scale of crises may vary but the way we respond and the systems we need to react swiftly and effectively are hugely similar.

"That's the message our delegates will hear over and over again from the experts speaking at this year's conference - whether their experience is of terrorist attack, rail disaster or floods.

"Although I share the view that we've still got a lot to learn I'm encouraged by the rise in delegate attendance as it shows that in Scotland we are taking heed of international experience and are keen and ready to learn from it."