Florida Emergency Response Plan - Report Example

Florida Emergency Response Plan The of Florida has realized the importance of effective and efficient Emergency Response Plans as early as 1992 when hurricane Andrew devastated the southern Dade County. Considered as one of the most devastating disasters in US history, it has brought to light the specific requirements in services, logistics and finance that may be needed in such calamities. Andrew was a Cape Verde hurricane whose economic devastation along a path through the northwestern Bahamas, the southern Florida peninsula, and south-central Louisiana and total damages have been estimated to be close to 25 billion and taking more than 20 lives (Rappaport, 1993). However, the question is now to judge whether what is on paper is as good when it is tested by nature. Based on the experience of Hurricane Andrew, the federal government and its local counterparts have implemented the need to formulize specific plans and operating procedures to cope with these calamities but the Andrew experience has now been overshadowed by another Hurricane. Katrina hit the Bahamas, South Florida, Cuba, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida Panhandle, and most of eastern North America on August of 2005 costing the US almost 82 billion in damages and the lives of 1836 people ("Hurricane Katrina", 2006). This happened after the requirement of each state to have its own emergency response systems and the institution by the federal governing bodies solely focused on did after preparation and mitigation. The devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina most recently has further emphasized the need to have these disaster plans carefully examined, updated and monitored. Florida Fire Chiefs' Association and the FFCA Statewide Emergency Plan The Florida Fire Chiefs' Association has created the FFCA Statewide Emergency Plan (SERP) is an effort to coordinate and mitigate response during emergencies. It is not limited to situations brought on by hurricanes that frequent the state but also provides standard operating procedures for various types of emergencies either brought by natural or contrived circumstances. It is based on a collective of experience from emergency services and the methods that have been established during the ordinary course of their service. The FFCA SERP covers local, county, state and federal level of intervention that delegates primary accountability with the lowest level of government and assistance can be requested following the same hierarchy the apex being Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM)Assessment of damages or calamity costs is evaluated by the Rapid Impact Assessment Teams(RIAT) which will also be the basis of declarations of state of emergency by the Governor which will in turn initiate the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) that will serve as the coordinating body of county-based emergency operations centers. In the event that local and state resources prove to be inadequate, the Governor may seek the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). At the same time, existing government agencies may be asked to extend their functions as may be required by the situation. The other key elements that have been established through FFCA-SERP are deployment time frames, pre-identified strike teams, and pre-staged resources. Another key element to the plan is the considerable focus on the pre and post event concerns. As preparation for any event it is a requirement that a proper assessment of anticipated needs, both supplies and services, is done and that each level shall consider these as current requirements. However, even if emergency response primary follows a hierarchy, counties are encouraged to support and coordinate with each other closely at all times. Consequently, the manner of dealing with reimbursements, service rates of personnel, equipment rates and other expenses, has already been established. Disasters and Realities It has been claimed that Hurricane Andrew laid bare the reality of the need for coordinated emergency plans for the state of Florida. The response has been the conceptualization of the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association's Statewide Fire-Rescue Disaster Response Plan which eventual became the FFCA-SERP. Hurricane Katrina has in turn laid bare the reality that current standards of emergency response are not adequate. One has to accept that the degree of devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina was unprecedented and that worst case scenarios can be easily exceeded. The current standards set by FEMA have been met well the FFCA-SERP. FEMA has promulgated instructions and has issued a template for developing a Continuity of Operations (COOP) Program Multi-Year Strategy and Program Management Plan (MYSPMP). The Federal Preparedness Circular 65 requires that all states create personalized emergency response plans which is then coordinated with the programs of the federal government (Florida Fire Chiefs' Association, 2006). The focus of FEMA's checklists (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2006b & 2006e) is primarily on resource planning, emergency service logistics, and public management. However, the experience of Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina should highlight the fact that there is a need to go beyond what is required to be able to properly asses what is needed. The FFCA-SERP complies with the time, resource and personnel requirements set by the FEMA and in some cases such as the identification of key personnel and accountability goes beyond what has been prescribed. The utilization of the template also has made than plan easy to understand and follow. The creation of the template will also utilize the comparison and contrast of other emergency plans. In evaluation, the FFCA-SERP serves well in the identification of what needs to be done to serve the probable emergency needs but it will not be adequate to fully address the reality of situation. Florida is one of the fastest developing residential and commercial states and this trend may have developed more habitable or viable land but it also has exposed more people to the path hurricanes, fires, tsunamis and others (Mittler, 1995). It is to be understood that FFCA standards are merely guidelines but if the guidelines to be followed are in itself insensitive to current city planning trends, real estate development, environmental and even cultural issues then it can only follow that emergency plans will be inadequate as well. Federal Agencies and Emergency Responses Usually, Federal Agencies are inevitably asked to help even the most prepared when disaster already strikes. Aside from the humanitarian reasons, it has to be realized that very few states have or allocate enough resources. Often, the sheer magnitude of disasters impedes the emergency programs set in place. After Hurricane Katrina struck, there were ample supplies for victims however federal aide barely trickled into the disaster areas for days because of the inaccessibility of the areas. Though the standard operating procedure is that lower levels of accountability can turn to the higher ones when they become unable to meet the demands of the disasters, very little strategy was set in place to actually coordinate these efforts. Forethoughts and Afterthoughts What the FFCA-SERP fails to consider are the collateral damages that the whole state may suffer in part or as a whole due to disasters. Though generally hurricanes and the emergency response that is required for them are more of a regional concern for south Florida, it should be realized that central and northern Florida will inevitably also suffer a backlash if southern Florida is to be devastated by a natural and the same goes either way for all the regions. As we have seen, even the areas that were not directly affected by the last season of hurricanes were still affected by it economically, as the eventually the whole of the country was eventually. State governance must not only consider the adequacy of emergency response they must also consider the sensitivity of state or local legislature and policy to the issues of emergency response. State emergency response should not only be a concern during disasters, but it also should play a more active role in prevention. Evaluation tools must not be means of assessment but they should become the means of developing concerted efforts by all sectors. State emergency plans should be realized, especially by the public, not just as singular in nature but as constants of living in the path of nature. These events are not anymore crises but it has to be expected as we continually expand to accommodate the need for space (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2006a). According to Mittler (1995), since 1993, Florida has the greatest number of residents who are threatened by hurricanes (Case Study of Florida's Emergency Management since Hurricane Andrew, para. 102). In the same case study he dwelled on the political machinery that lies behind emergency planning. Clearly, this only goes to show that emergency planning has factors affecting it well beyond what is readily apparent. Inevitably, more people will be at risk in the future: the price of real estate in the southern Florida area has not gone down significantly and even lesser is the effect on commercial real estate demand. Even more important to consider is the fact that the area that is most vulnerable to hurricanes, undoubtedly the prime crisis that state faces is the residence of many retirees and senior citizens. These people will need even further assistance should emergencies arise. Added to this is that the also attracts a lot of tourists which then in turns may give rise to language barriers during these circumstances. Even today, rebuilding efforts are not yet complete to rehabilitate the affected areas. Local economies have yet to recover and many localities are still in need of substantial federal aid to rebuild strategic infrastructures. Emergency plans should be supported by equally organized planning for states to be able to cope with the post-event scenarios. Also, little has been done to include the factors of environment and ecology to plans. The earth is following a trend of more violent meteorological activity and it has to be supposed that Katrina will be dethroned as the most destructive hurricane in US history. Yes, we can only prepare for the worst case scenario but these scenarios can be limited by our experience. Reflecting strictly on history may not be enough anymore. Theories and Conclusions The essentials of an operationally efficient state emergency plan is the main focus of the existing emergency plans of Florida and if an effort to consider cultural and demographical characteristics is added into the formulation of the emergency plans this would translate to a more effective plan. Programs could also benefit significantly if different groups in the various locales. Such an involvement does not only strengthen community spirit but also endeavors a sense of personal responsibility for one's self and others during what will prove to be trying times. The success of these state emergency response plans depends very little on what is planned and will depend more on what is actual executable during the emergencies. Land development should be done with the consideration of natural environment. This is not to say that states should limit development initiatives only to emphasize that emergency planning should be structured into cities from the moment of their conception. Infrastructures requirements for calamities that can occur in the area and alternatives should remain key elements in any city plan or in the case of already existing cities, be incorporated as city enhancements or upgrading. Furthermore, state evaluating disaster prepared should not only be based on the state's experience and should also incorporate the experience of other states when evaluating and formulating their emergency response plans. Hurricane Katrina has shown the US clearly that even states that before did not suffer the effects of hurricanes are now vulnerable either directly or indirectly because of economic and social factors. Consideration of environmental and ecological factors from the perspective of the earth itself and not just from what human perspective has experienced may be a key in creating programs that will respond better. Keeping in mind that though development has been instrumental in allowing us to expand into territories before considered hostile, it can not keep us safe from what is natural in the environment. The paths of these storms and the locales of other natural disasters have well been established well before the dawn of civilization. Ultimately, one will only be able to judge the adequacy of the plan when disaster strikes. Awareness, preparedness, and vigilance can only be truly tested when they are most needed. In all, what is more important is that we reserve a capacity of learning and doing better. References Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2006a). Community Recovery and Planning. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.fema.gov/government. Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2006b). Continuity of Operations Self-Assessment Tool. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.fema.gov/doc/government/coop Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2006c). COOP Assessment. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.fema.gov/government/coop. Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2006d). Federal Agencies Providing Disaster Assistance. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.fema.gov/government. Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2006e). MYSPMP Template Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/coop. Florida Fire Chiefs' Association. (2006). FFCA Statewide Emergency Response Plan (SERP). Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.ffca.org/ associations/5203/files. "Hurricane Katrina" (2006). Wikipedia, online free encyclopedia. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. Mittler, Elliot (1995). Case Study of Florida's Emergency Management since Hurricane Andrew. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/wp Rappaport, Ed (1193). Hurricane Andrew 16 - 28 August, 1992 Preliminary Report. Retrieved August 10, 2006 from http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov Read More