Uncertainty is the lack of knowledge regarding any hazardous event. Risk assessments have become very important in decision making for emergency managers. Many issues surround lack of data and randomness of natural hazards. All environmental parameters in risk assessment should be analyzed and taken into account.
Two ways to counteract uncertainties would be to utilize probability theory and unclear logic. Community’s attentiveness to risk communication varies across hazard mitigation, emergency preparedness, response and recovery (Fischer 2003). Communities interest in disasters are usually only during imminent threats and in the efforts following a disaster. Public attention often declines as time passes. However, considerable time is
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What is the localities sustainable development? Is it as simply as using the risk equation (RISK=THREAT x VULNERABILITY x COST)? The answer to all three questions above seems to defy a satisfactory solution, which takes the researcher back to the core dilemma. We all want to provide help to people in need, whether their situation should or has been, addressed in another phase is irrelevant when the point is reached for assistance. The assistance puts the pressure, of the individual’s needs onto local, state, and federal emergency services. This in turn, is the issue for not using the proper mitigation, and preparedness options, including risk …show more content…
Communities that focus on planning for any and all hazards are more equipped to adapt to many disaster that risk life, property and the environment.
Emergency management programs typically address all manner of natural and human caused risks that are likely to occur in an organization, community, state, or nation (Fischer 2003). Risk is defined and measured. Risk management decisions must be determined by analysis of the probability of an event and those consequences of that
Homeland Security. (2008, 12). National Incident Management System. Retrieved 10 22, 2011, from FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nims/NIMS_core.pdf
Once this concept is understood, preparation and mitigation within the plan can be molded to fit the disaster event presented to a community. Identification of threats and hazards to mold preparation and mitigation is key when responding to the event. Every event will reveal new types of hazards and threats, thus it is up to the emergency manager and the planning team to assess and revise the EOP each and every time this occurs. Lessons learned per event will only make the community stronger in response to natural and/or man-made disasters moving
Catastrophes impact large areas, crossing regional and often, state jurisdictional boundaries, and will require m...
Bissell, R. (2010). Catastrophic Readiness and Response Course, Session 6 – Social and Economic Issues. Accessed at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/crr.asp
Due to the horrendous events of terrorist attacks that have taken place over the last ten or so years, emergency management now, not only prepares and trains for natural events, but includes planning for terrorist/weapons of mass destruction events in greater detail. New responsibilities are being placed on emergency management managers and responders. More communities, states, local governments and businesses are seeking assistance in planning for terrorist attacks.
Hazards pose risk to everyone. Our acceptance of the risks associated with hazards dictates where and how we live. As humans, we accept a certain amount of risk when choosing to live our daily lives. From time to time, a hazard becomes an emergent situation. Tornadoes in the Midwest, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast or earthquakes in California are all hazards that residents in those regions accept and live with. This paper will examine one hazard that caused a disaster requiring a response from emergency management personnel. Specifically, the hazard more closely examined here is an earthquake. With the recent twenty year anniversary covered by many media outlets, the January 17, 1994, Northridge, California earthquake to date is the most expensive earthquake in American history.
Perry, R. W., & Lindell, M. K. (2007). Disaster Response. In W. L. Waugh, & K. Tiernery, Emergency Management: Principles and Practice for Local Government (pp. 162-163). Washington D.C.: International City/County Management Association.
The Department of Homeland Security has a prominent role in maintaining the safety, security and resilience of our nation. In a world where terrorism is an ever-increasing threat and where man-made and natural disasters have left people and areas in devastation, the Department of Homeland Security works diligently to prevent and protect the United States from the effects of such tragedy. In order to effectively protect our nation Department of Homeland Security must assess the risk associated with any terrorist, natural or man-made threat. The risk assessment method that the department uses takes into account certain variables that help the department determine the level of risk. Based on the assessed risk level Homeland Security uses risk management for strategic planning, operations, determining the allocation of resources and grant awards in an attempt to prepare for and mitigate any harm to our nation, critical infrastructure and its people in the event of a tragedy.
Communities must come together in order to be aware of the steps that must be taken to reduce or prevent risk. “The guidance, programs, processes, and systems that support each component of the National Preparedness System enable a collaborative, whole community approach to national preparedness that engages individuals, families, communities, private and nonprofit sectors, faith based organizations and all levels of government.” (FEMA, 2011). Resources within a community are prioritized and customized based on community-based issues and local security programs. The resources used as the front line of defense are first responders, such as police officers, firefighters and medical personnel. The resources are provided and prioritized based on the priority of threat and risks to a specific community. Therefore, the threats and risks targeted towards a community must be analyzed and acknowledged in order to apply the correct resources to the opposing prioritized threats. Disasters and emergencies typically begin at the local level and eventually require resources from state and federal
s, Louisiana. Works Cited Haddow, G. D., Bullock, J. A., & Coppola, D. P. (2010).Introduction to emergency management. (4th ed. , pp. 1-26).
The Response Framework take an all hazards approach to preparedness, highlights key areas across five mission areas (Mitigation, Response, Recovery, Protection and Prevention) and addresses the whole community to optimize resources, therefore assisting and protecting the responders who have in the past been forgotten (National Response Framework, 2013). Responders that now work disaster sites can now rest a little easier, as there are teams and processes in place to help the identify threats and hazards to make response safer and easier. With the help of Homeland Security and other agencies, responders can now spot the signs of terrorism: surveillance, elicitation, test of security, funding acquiring of supplies, impersonation, rehearsal and deployment (Recognizing 8 Signs of Terrorism, 2012). Educating the responders is the only way improvements can be made to enhance their response ability and save lives. Terrorism will always be a threat to the United States, but with the re-education of our responders, terrorism will not be as deadly to the courageous men and women that will
No communities or states are immune from disasters. A natural or man-made disaster can happen at any time and the impact can be devastating and overwhelming. It can affect citizen’s livelihoods and environment in a matter of second. The government has implemented various types of hazard reduction programs over the past several years to reduce or minimize the loss of life, injuries and property losses caused by the destruction of these disasters.
is in a state of readiness to contain the effects of a forecasted disastrous event to minimize loss of life, injury, and damage to property, the purpose is to provide rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and other services following an act of disaster, an effective preparedness strategy has the capability and resources to continue to sustain its essential functions with minimal alterations or stressors (businessdisctionary,2017). The last recognized phase is the response. By having the other phases of recovery, the response phase can be simply a matter of logistical supports. Response actions may include activating the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), evacuating threatened populations, opening shelters and providing mass care, emergency rescue and medical care, firefighting, and urban search and rescue (Sant LouiseCounty,2017). The response phases offer a live timeline of how measures are taken to ensure the most immediate Reponses are being utilized.
Communities throughout the country and the world are susceptible to disasters. The environment and location of a community often predisposes a greater susceptibility to the type of disaster. For example Central Pennsylvania would not be susceptible to an avalanche however communities in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado would have increase vulnerability. Understanding the types of disaster for which the community is susceptible is essential for emergency preparedness (Nies & McEwen, 2011). All communities are susceptible to man-made disasters; terrorism, fires, and mass transit accidents and emergency preparedness are essential. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is responsible for disaster planning.
A hazard is a potential damage, adverse health or harm that may effects something or someone at any conditions. Other than that, the risk may be high or low, that somebody could be harmed depending on the hazards. Risk assessment is a practice that helps to improve higher quality of the develop process and manufacturing process. It is also a step to examine the failure modes of the product in order to achieve higher standard of safety and product reliability. Unfortunately, it is common that a product safety risk assessments are not undertaken, or not carried out effectively by manufacturer. Mostly an unsafe and unreliable product was produced and launched on to the market. Thus, the safety problems are mostly identified after an accident happened or after manufacturing problems arisen. In order to prevent risk, a person should take enough precautions or should do more to prevent them because as a user should be protected from harm that usually caused by a failure for whom did not take reasonable control measures.