Above all, when it comes to emergency preparedness there are agencies that work together to ensure a plan is place when the time comes. There are several stages in the process of developing a sound emergency preparedness plan. First, there is prevention. This is an imperative step in making sure that everyone involved is ready and willing to respond should an event occur. Next, planning and preparation which is where all of the key elements are identified for a quick response and recovery. At this stage it is imperative that rehearsals be performed, so that when an event happens everyone is ready to go. Third, implementation and response is understanding when to initiate the emergency preparedness plan and assign duties to responsible parties. Lastly, there is the recovery stage. This is when emergency preparedness agencies work together to get everything back up and functional. Following this four stage process is key for any emergency …show more content…
According to (“Emergency Management”, n.d.), “Emergency Management is responsible for planning and coordinating actions to prepare, respond, and recover from natural or man-made disasters in Polk County”. Comparatively, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency have similar types of responsibilities, but on a much broader scale. The county emergency operations center is where everything is coordinated for Polk County and is also where training occurs. They also participate in many other activities such as producing hurricane shelter maps and hurricane shopping lists for the county, as well as holding educational events to help ensure the citizens of the county are prepared should a natural or man-made disaster occur. Moreover, this agency works as the mediator amongst the other state and federal agencies and provides them with the necessary information to escalate the emergency preparedness plan should it be
They are also involved in emergency relief efforts providing security, medical supplies, and humanitarian
Emergencies are best managed on the lowest possible level. Homeland Security Presidential Directive - 5 set the precedent for collaboration in responding to emergencies whether they are man-made or natural disasters. Resiliency creates a community that is able to come back from a crisis stronger and wiser than they were before. Although all aspects of the U.S. emergency management system are essential, the most important aspect is the whole community approach comprised of the public – private partnership and personal preparedness.
Reduce the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and key resources, essential leadership, and major events to terrorist attacks and other hazards. Provide grants, plans and training to our homeland security and law enforcement partners. We have taken significant steps to create a unified and integrated Department that will enhance our performance by focusing on accountability, efficiency, transparency and leadership development. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was the final weak link in the then-existing confusing chain of command. FEMA 's head, Wallace E. Stickney, had no apparent experience in emergency management or disaster response (Franklin, D. 1995).
Stage two entails being prepared and planning. All communities should have a handbook that indicates who has the authority, communication, control, coordination of personnel, supplies, evacuation, rescue and care of the dead (Nies & McEwen, 2015. The nurse can work collaboratively with the emergency authorities to ensure tornado warnings broadcasted and safety measures implemented. The community nurse’s role is to prioritize the most vulnerable groups such as the older crowd, the homeless, individuals with disabilities, the sick and the poor so that they are evacuated to a safe area, followed by public. Stage three is the response stage and the most critical phase of the disaster.
Of course, when looking a terroristic event versus a large-scale natural disaster response, some of the same agencies may respond, although the primary responsibilities may vary. Although, interoperable communications and unified command operations can be utilized regardless the type of hazard that is being responded to. For example, Law Enforcement may be in more of a lead role on a terrorist event with Fire/EMS providing support while in a search and rescue operation during the Hurricane the roles may be reversed. Regardless, the response efforts should
In preparation for the oncoming hurricane, the government created online websites with plans of what preparations should be made by people who were being evacuated or wanted to stay put. These plans include basic things such as a large supply of both food and water and having all important documents and
More and more authorities continue to be taken away and have been spread across many agencies within DHS. “FEMA no longer manages a comprehensive emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery and the agency function that President Carter and the Governors envisioned in 1979 no longer exists” (FEMA, 2013). The sole focus has turned to terrorism disaster preparedness and FEMA has become somewhat dismantled and lost its ability to provide the command and control that it had prior to the move to DHS. This will prove to be a major flaw and will again, show the failure of FEMA in the next occurrence of natural disaster the United States faces. There are other agencies within the DHS that need to be scrutinized as
The Division includes the Office of Emergency Management, the Office of Preparedness, and the Office of Prevention and Security (State of Colorado, 2015). Its mission, vision, and values are to "prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover from all-hazards" through the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan in synchronization with the DHS (State of Colorado, 2015, p.1). The State of Colorado has its own unique concerns it must address. Colorado Concerns and Threats Critical
Hurricane Sandy Nearly 300 lives were taken when Hurricane Sandy hit the Caribbean and the East Coast of the United States. It lasted around 2 weeks wiping out houses, businesses, and much more. The hurricane happened in 2012. It started on October 22nd and ended November 1st.
Furthermore, Fema focused more of their financial resources toward massive incarceration during hurricane Katrina. Fema priorities on how the handle funding resource during the after math of Karina, they focused more on crimes rather than helping victims. Fema overseen and run by homeland security directed there attention towards crimes and terrorist, instead of quickly making funds accessible to resident with no place live. Fema paid for this prison system to operate and covered inmates cost of living during the time spent in prison. Fema sent law officials to arrest New Orleans residents.
The National Preparedness System “outlines an organized process for everyone” and consists of six parts (National preparedness system, n.d.). These parts identify and assess risk, estimate and determine the capabilities and activities necessary to confront the situations, consider the best way to use resources to build capabilities, prepare, plan and deliver for each part of a community, validate capabilities, and finally review and update when necessary (id.). There are systems in place to do this including the Strategic National Risk Assessment, the State Emergency Operations Plans, the National Incident Management System, the Remedial Action Management Program, and the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
FEMA’s mission and priorities were changed so that, “terrorism prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery became central to the emergency management mission” (Haddow 325). As a result of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 the country’s focus shifted completely from natural disasters to an outright major assault on all things terrorism with no second glance at the potential emergency’s natural disasters presented. There might be a possibility that because of the nation’s extreme obsession with terrorists and terrorism that Hurricane Katrina was not given full priority nor given as much thought as it should have been because the whole focus of the government was on terrorism. When an agency and governmental structure, such as the defense agencies, undergoes an extreme shift within the course of a few years brought on so suddenly, there are bound to be weaknesses. Hurricane Katrina was the most challenging threat that tested the DHS as well as FEMA’s preparation and mitigation of natural disasters since the shift of focus.
A catastrophic incident could result in sustained national impacts over a prolonged period of time; almost immediately exceeds resources normally available to state, local, tribal, and private-sector in the impacted area; and significantly interrupts government operations and emergency services to such an extent that national security will be threatened. (Reilly & Markenson, 2011, p.274) Analyze and explain real-life examples of disasters that overwhelmed a community, and its local resources. Evaluate and describe why an emergency management plan can fail.
How can you help in the wake of a natural disaster. You can help by donating money,food and household supplies(doc B). Have you wondered how you can help or get helped in a natural disaster. You can help by donating, gathering resources, spreading the word.all these things are how you can help in a wake of a natural disaster.
Ciottone et.al (2016) differentiating the role of nursing during preparedness and response phase of disaster management , the study emphasized that preparedness is focus on personal and professional preparedness. Where, personal preparedness constitutes familial matters other than himself. And, professional preparedness constitutes all knowledge, skills and attitude in performing duties and responsibilities under crises.