The Benefits of Emergency Management Doctrine - Essay Example

Emergency Management Doctrine Emergency management doctrine is an embedded documentation which plays a critical role in the implementation of legislative and other government regulations (Alamri 1). Most Arabic countries have for a very long time been victims of major human related hazards like terror attacks, motor vehicle crashes, technological hazards; oil spills and natural hazards; floods and earthquakes. The first concept under emergency management in United Arab Emirates was derived from religious functions especially in areas like Makkah. Traditionally, people around such places had to evacuate their homes for the sake of visitors and holy servants who crowded the area for such functions and since the climatic conditions are always harsh, the inhabitants had to move around all day long distributing water to quench thirst. The United Arab Emirates, for the last eighty years has been on the move coming up with an effective emergency management plan. From the Saudi Arabian documentation, the first response to such emergencies was by the establishment of a fire brigade in 1927 to serve pilgrims who flock Makah each year for special prayers. The establishment of emergency management doctrine has brought along great benefits to the United Arab Emirates. It has been possible to save lives and assets from damage. United Arabs Emirates has been the centre of discussion because of the terrorist attacks for example the Khobar tower bomb attack in 1996, which claimed 19 lives, the Yanbu and Asir floods caused pure destruction to property estimated over 230,000 km2, the fire and meningitis outbreak during Hajj and Ramadan festivals in 1997 and 1987 respectively affected close to 2,000 pilgrims (Alamri 15).. These are just a few examples of the damages caused by hazardous happenings. Through emergency management doctrine, it has been able to contain most of the calamities through resource optimization; which means being in a position to deploy and respond to emergency situations. For instance, due to a daily increase in the number of worshippers flocking Makkah, the Saudi Red Crescent Society has already come up with a medical evacuation system which involves the use of twenty five helicopters. This in turn will help save innocent lives in case of disease outbreaks. In addition, it has eased the motor vehicle crashes and traffic jams. This is evident through the creation of Makah Metro, which has the capability to connect all the holy places around Makah 24/7. This works in line with a digital traffic control system; Saher. This ensures all traffic updates are relayed to the National Centre of the Ministry of Interior which can easily locate and trace road related problems. Emergency management has made logistical coordination effective because different department can be in a position to move from one location to another in order to contain a hazardous incidence. Preparedness for such abrupt events has forced UAE to come up with logistical solution for it gain access worst hit areas. It is already using mobile ambulance clinics that have got rescue helicopters. In addition, the international society has willingly accepted to offer support should such problems arise. The United States of America’s army was among the sourced external forces used in evicting survivors of the bomb attacks and floods. Emergency management doctrine is helpful in reducing exposure to legal claims. UAE is rich in oil fields, industries, commercial business entities. With such a rich economic background, it is always targeted by terrorists who seek revenge or have their own unknown missions. Through emergency management, it can be easy to contain such incidents and save property from damage. This means insurance companies will have a break from continuous claims regarding such events. There are so many ways of enhancing the creation of emergency management doctrine. It is evident that illiteracy accounts for the highest percentage of most hazards. Therefore, to ensure effectiveness, the governing bodies have to ensure mass awareness promotion. This will help people get it off from their minds that such hazards occur once in a life time. For example, most people, due to ignorance ignored the signs that warned them from using vehicles when on less important events. When floods locked off Jiddah in 2009, most people became victims. Proper communication can be achieved only through eliminating illiteracy and getting them prepared psychologically. However, according to the Ministry of economy and Planning, 2010-2014, it is true that the UAE’s workforce is composed of up to 60% of foreign individuals (Al-Qahtani 134). This brings in communication barriers due to language variation. Many illiterate people suffer comprehending important signs written in foreign languages. The foreign workers as well have a problem because most of the media publications in UAE are in Arabic language. This communication barrier is a ticking bomb. To increase preparedness even among minority groups, both illiteracy rates and communication barriers have to be eliminated. Many states in the Arabic regions experience political stability due to continuous fights with neighboring nations over the management of oil fields. The only option left in enhancing emergency management doctrine is investing and pumping money into this section. Political unrest can set a nation into a problem that requires such managerial skills. By investing, UAE will be in a position to face any change in climatic conditions especially regions bordering large water bodies that often experience tsunami and other flooding problems. Since most Islamic countries rarely give up in fighting, preparedness against terror attacks is a good way of enhancing effectiveness. Conclusion UAE continuously face hazardous problems, and this should get policy makers on their toes in making sure everything is set. Emergency management doctrine has already served a number of benefits as discussed above. It has been easy to save property, lives and reduce claims. Worshippers have got the freedom to go pilgrim without fear of an outbreak. However, to enhance its creation, illiteracy and communication barriers must be addressed in time. In addition, UAE must be ready to strengthen its political wellbeing. This will eliminate, if not reduce the number of terror attacks in targeted locations. The natural disasters have served as a wake-up call to UAE and are trying its very best in fighting and establishing measures. Works cited Alamri Yassar A. Emergency Management in Saudi Arabia: Past, Present and Future. Comparative EM. Web. 8 Oct 2014. Ministry of Economy and Planning (2010-2014) Ninth Development Plan. Saudiembassy. 9 Aug, 2010. Web. 9 Oct 2014. Al-Qahtani, Ali, Mohammed.”Disaster Risks and Preparedness: Effects of Petrochemical Hazards on the Enviroment in Soudi Arabia” Journal of Environment and Earth Science. 4.4(2014). 129-140. Web. Read More