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As emergency management leaders for the 21st century, we need to develop new risk assessment and management models to factor in the “unthinkable” globally impacting ‘black swam’ type events, using satellite imagery, and all the other technology and resources available to better enable us to forecast and plan for these type of events, with the view to minimize their impacts. These technologies should be globally linked, like a global warning system similar to a Tsunami early warning system.
According to Mileti there several things that can be done to facilitate this paradigm shift in thinking in leadership in emergency management. He is of the view that there needs to be an adaptation of a global systems perspective in addressing emergency management issues. He stated that human beings need to realize that while we cannot change the course of natural hazards like hurricane, tornadoes, or earthquakes, we need to accept their responsibility for the extent of impact as result of some of our actions such as building houses in a river bed, or lack of mitigation strategies.
Mileti stressed that as emergency management managers we need to anticipate constant change in this dynamic environment. Changes such as change is atmospheric conditions, air and water quality. With over 30 years of research in Emergency Management, future leaders should look to build on the works of the previous emergency management stalwarts, skewing the plans and strategies towards the occurrence of future catastrophic events.
Similar to G7 summit that is held by countries to discuss global issues, there could be a similar forum involving all the countries of the world, to discuss and formulate joint strategies to plan and respond to ‘black swan’ event...
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...ers we know this war with these catastrophic black swan events is inevitable, and as soldiers we need to do what we know will work in order to survive. We need to think outside the box, while working in a collaborative manner with all the players within our ‘sandbox’, sharing resources, information, technologies, talents, for one common goal, and that is the survival of the human race against these ‘black swan enemies.
In conclusion these complex events called disasters are a permanent part of our reality once we continue to live on this planet, so it is our responsibility to study past events and learn from them, and perfect the preparation and mitigation of these events, through education and training, innovative thinking do our best to try at least to ensure the survival of our species and emergency management leaders we will play a key role in this process.
Mancock, I., Tristan, C. & Lunn, J., 2004, Introduction to Emergency Management, CD ROM, Charles Sturt University, Australia.
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.
Pre impact conditions mixed with event specific conditions combined with one another during a disaster produce physical and social impacts to a community. The impact from each disaster can be reduced by interventions through emergency management. By assessing these pre impact conditions, an emergency manager can produce social risks and vulnerabilities within their community. Integrating these social risks and vulnerabilities emergency mangers can use the four most important phases in emergency management: preparedness, planning, response, and recovery to benefit their community as a whole.
Since the beginning of the human civilization, there have been many problems that pose threat to people’s lives. Mother Nature had been mercifully providing to humans the crucial necessities such as foods, shelters, resources and etc. However, while humans benefit from the Nature, they also have to fight against the Nature at the same time. Natural disasters have been the major killer of our race since it is unstoppable. Although the rapidly improving technology in nowadays can predict the size and estimated arrival time of the natural disasters, it cannot protect people from getting hit by them. Humans have been protecting themselves by living in a safe shelter, which starts out from ancient caves to earthquake-proof buildings, but the data released every year tells people that the natural disasters cannot be stopped.
The National Response Framework is a guide designed to assist local, State, and Federal governments in developing functional capabilities and identifying resources based on hazard identification and risk assessment. It outlines the operating structure and identifies key roles and responsibilities. It established a framework to identify capabilities based on resources and the current situation no matter the size or scale. It integrates organizational structures and standardizes how the Nation at all levels plans to react to incidents. The suspected terrorist attack will have health, economic, social, environment and political long-term effects for my community. This is why it is essential that local government’s response is coordinate with all responders. Response doctrine is comprised of five key principles: (1) engaged partnership, (2) tiered response, (3) scalable, flexible, and adaptable operational capabilities, (4) unity of effort through unified command, and (5) readiness to act. An introductory word about each follows. (Homeland Security, 2008)
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.
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.
There has been a great deal of changes regarding emergency management since the time it was originally started over 30 years ago. Its evolvement has been as a direct result of learning from mistakes and a desire to have a strong process in line to help our nation handle disasters quickly and efficiently. Many people may believe that being prepared is all that it takes to get through a disaster; however, this could not be further form the truth. Preparedness does indeed play a huge role in managing disasters, but what other key factors should we pay attention to?
Within the Emergency Management sector there is a constant evolution of the strategies, operations, and tactics used to address the hazards a community could be exposed to. This constant evolution can be achieved through training and exercise plans. The purpose and role of exercises in Emergency Management is to test and review emergency disaster plans prior its use in a emergency situation. The benefits managing an exercise program with in the community is it: (1) tests and validates policies, plans, procedures, training, and resources of stakeholders involved in emergency management operations; (2) identifies the capabilities of the community to address response and recovery phases of Emergency Management; (3) improves inter-agency coordination and communications.
The future of emergency management will be shaped by 1.) New technologies, 2.) The cost of disaster will be enormous and will exceed current budgets, 3.) Many in the emergency management field will be retiring and the new generation will bring different styles and new and different backgrounds
The prevention phase is the most critical phase of emergency management. Although not every disaster can be prevented in whole, measures can be taken including reviewed and practiced evacuation plans and environmental planning aiding in reducing the loss of life and injury (The Five Phases of Emergency Management, 2018). The second most critical phase of emergency management is being prepared. To be prepared, organizations must routinely practice planning and organizing and looking for ways to be more readily prepared in case of disasters and should practice for all hazards, not just limits of one or two (The Five Phases of Emergency Management, 2018). The response phase is just as critical and, in some cases, more critical than being prepared. This reactional phase coordinates and manages all resources available at the time of the disaster where measures are taken for life, property and environmental safety (The Five Phases of Emergency Management, 2018). The fourth phase of emergency management is the recovery phase where stabilization efforts are managed, and critical community functions are beginning to be restored. Once the threat to life and limb has subsided, this phase is immediately started (The Five Phases of Emergency Management, 2018). Finally, the mitigation phase steps up. This is the phase where engineers and developers see changes that need to be made in structural and non-structural measures. Changes may include adding flood gates or changing the type of materials used on buildings or even changing building codes altogether in an effort to limit the impact of the next disaster (The Five Phases of Emergency Management,
Throughout this course, we have discussed the various key elements of the history of emergency management. The final chapter of the text, however, discusses the important aspects of the future of emergency management. The first important element that was discussed in this chapter was the diversity in those who work in the field of emergency management. Historically, the individuals that who have had careers in emergency management were primarily males. Now, there is starting to be an increase in diversity including various ethnicities, races, and genders. Diversity is an important aspect because it allows for more assorted insights, expertise, and experiences. In addition to learning about the increased diversity in the field of emergency management, this chapter also discusses the importance of furthering your knowledge about the field. Though education by reading and attending lectures is crucial, it is also important to expand knowledge through internships, training, exercises, and even conferences. Another way that individuals can further their knowledge is by finding a mentor. Having a mentor can help with connecting individuals to various opportunities, while also providing guidance and advice about various areas in the field of emergency management. The last component that is
Emergency management is often described in terms of “phases,” using terms such as mitigate, prepare, respond and recover. The main purpose of this assignment is to examine the origins, underlying concepts, variations, limitations, and implications of the “phases of emergency management.” In this paper we will look at definitions and descriptions of each phase or component of emergency management, the importance of understanding interrelationships and responsibilities for each phase, some newer language and associated concepts (e.g., disaster resistance, sustainability, resilience, business continuity, risk management), and the diversity of research perspectives.
Finally, safety is the number one priority in order to survive and recover from any major catastrophic event. Education is the key to prevention. Know your local area and common disasters that occurs in that particular area. Knowing what they are and how to protect yourself will in terms help the recovery and healing process faster and easier for you and your family.
Of the four phases of emergency management, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, perhaps the place that individuals can make the biggest difference in their own state of resiliency and survival of a disaster is in the preparedness phase. Being prepared before a disaster strikes makes sense yet many people fail to take even simple, precautionary steps to reduce the consequences of destruction and mayhem produced by natural events such as earthquakes, volcanos and tornados (see Paton et al, 2001, Mileti and Peek, 2002; Tierney, 1993, Tierney et al, 2001).