Homeland Security, Response and Recovery - Essay Example

?HOMELAND SECURITY –RESPONSE & RECOVERY What are the key success factors in managing large, multi-agency and multi-judicial response programs? It is very difficult to achieve success in disasters management programs especially in a large, multi-agency and multi-judicial area. There are lots of factors in which we should consider to maximize our probability of success. In the book of Miskel (2006), he mentioned that in disaster management, one should not thought of it to be as a structure but rather as a system of programs . . . a system in the sense that it consist of a number of independent elements that must work together to achieve common outputs – such as rapid alleviation of suffering by the victims of a natural disaster, industrial accident or terrorist attack” (p.1). Thus, he mentioned of three essential independent elements: namely the private sectors like Red Cross; state and local agencies; and federal agencies should coordinate and collaborate with each other to achieve the desired result which is to have a more efficient and effective disaster response programs. There were scenarios before in United States of America in which the Federal government only aids local states in financial matters alone (p.2) and in which Miskel mentioned that in a typical disaster, the government plays no operational role –a meaning they just support them in terms of money reimbursement (p3). Therefore, the first thing that the primary elements should do first is to coordinate with one another. The three major elements (private sectors, state and local government, and federal government) must contribute and work together to achieve a better result and achieve the goals of quick-reducing suffering from timely and effective coordination. The National response system (NRS), under the Federal government, endorses this so-call Incident Command System (ICS) or Unified Command (UC) as an effective tool of managing all emergency response of incidents for multi-jurisdictional situation. This brings together local government, the federal government and the Responsible Party (RP) in coordination to retort in oil spills and/or other harmful chemical substances that can endanger to the lives of its constituents. Aside from this, they should implement programs that will aid the citizens in times of calamities or disasters. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a tool in helping the people through its advocacy in giving seminars and education to prepare themselves whenever unexpected things happened. “It educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact heir area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.” (CERT’s official website article). So, government should also seek for people empowerment as one of the effective tool to achieve success especially in large, multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional society, thus, we must always put in mind that we are not always there when accidents happen. Thus, it is also safe to ensure that the people themselves could help themselves. Under our law, there two main agencies that are in-charge of management disaster control namely: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Executive cabinet of Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE) that was established by the US Congress. In line with the DHS, the Citizens Corps (a voluntary organization) seeks to mitigate disaster and prepare the population for emergency response through public education, training, and outreach. What our state do is to give seminars and actual-case demo to at least make our citizen prepare when an unexpected things occurs. We target the youngsters in schools and teach them what they would do in times of calamities. An example would be earthquake drills, first aids and alike. We target class rooms and young people because these are the ones that mostly freak-out when disasters happen. Also, in school or university, we expect a massive population in which students outnumbered the school staff. Thus, they must know what they do to avoid things that could make the situation worst. One thing that we aim is to evade circumstances like stampede during evacuation in times of earthquake. We educate the people to know their responsibility and make them cooperate to make our disaster management system work in its full level. Moreover, we highly recommend the people to update themselves of the weather condition that the state has to prepare the things that they will need if worst cases happen. We do not stop in people empowerment alone, though we consider this as one of our best option in disaster management, still we equip our state with facilities that could easily reach out our people and backed them up to maximize their protection. We used the latest tools and gadgets that are known to be more efficient in recuing other people. The mobile emergency response support that is responsible to provide information regarding hurricanes; a new trailers to evacuate citizens from a safer area when tornadoes happen, a chopper and motorboat that would rescues anybody when typhoons and floods. These are the things that the government can contribute to help the people in times of trouble. Thus, one key to a successful managing response operation is competency and up-to-date service equipments. For example, the FEMA MAC which some of our most frequently requested maps include: storm track and damage prediction maps, remote sensing maps, maps of federally-declared counties in an affected state, basic census demographics about an affected area by county and census block, street locations, and summaries of teleregistered and service center applicants, housing inspection numbers, Helpline calls, disaster unemployment claims, Small Business Administration (SBA) applicants, etc. Also, prior to making landfall, MAC staff can generate maps that depict the track of a hurricane or tropical storm.  The E-GIS Team uses a hurricane wind model to develop estimates for projected damages in affected states or areas. The staff then maps these results.  Typical model output maps include estimated wind damage to mobile homes, single family homes, and multi-family homes in affected areas along the track of the storm. MAC staff can also produce maps of toxic release inventory sites, bridges, dams, and other public safety locations. We can do more better things if we use the latest equipment to have a faster and more accurate data for rescuing. We have now internets and live satellites broadcast networks that could be a big help whenever trouble is heading our way. One thing that could also be helping for us in achieving our success is the so-called National Preparedness Network (PREPnet) which provides award-winning professional media products to federal, state, and local agencies. Programming is delivered in a variety of formats that include: satellite broadcast, Webcast, video streaming, podcast and video-on-demand. For over 30 years PREPnet has supported the emergency management community and first responders by producing programs on public safety, emergency management, disaster response training, certifications, continuing education, and professional development (PREPnet official website). Through this, there would be a faster relay of information that could be helpful whenever there would be disaster or catastrophic events that will be happening. This could help the citizens to at least prepare themselves to whatever things they will need and in worst case, to evacuate their selves into a safer place. Another key to success would be the proper utilization of resources in which there should be a sensible employment of assets. In this case, the government should know when or where to use the things that they acquire. What hinders them, as Miskel had discussed is the misemployment of the resources in which financial aid is not actually a big help in disasters. Thus, reimbursement is just for secondary purposes in catastrophic cases. What people need the most is physical presence which could help them whenever they are in trouble and not just financial support whenever they lost their lives to support their abandoned family. Also, the government should set up what people really needs (p.48). For example, the deployment of military whenever a terrorist attacks, but neither ways, it must not be limited only to them. Civilians as well as the military would also need medical doctors and even other actors that would be essential to maximize the protection of the people. For example, Psychologist to solve traumas, Radiologist if chemicals were being used as a mode of weaponry and so on and so forth but this must not always be the ones if even disaster occurs. Of course it would vary depending upon the case and nature of the tragedy or problem that happen. The NRS which is in-charge of marine and fluvial contamination, the HSC in terrorist attacks, the FEMA in catastrophe and so on and so forth. These are the ones which has a field of specialization which can help in different ways and may act differently. The competence of these would also be a determining factor to ensure and maximize the safety of the community. Another key to achieve success in disaster response would be, the division of labor must be corresponding. Though the federal government is the one responsible for the overall effectiveness of the disaster relief system, this does not mean that local agencies have lesser responsibilities. In United States of America, there are number of different catastrophe and tragic events which occur every year. If the local agencies wait for the Federal to respond before they do, then it could create a greater problem and more damages would incur. Thus, it is also essential that each and every independent element should work in accordance to their capacity to act and their goal. Cooperation does not mean that they would be handicapped whenever the other party is not present, it just men that it would be more effective and efficient if they have someone to help them achieve their goals. Thus, they should not wait for the other for them to respond. They need to start it and have it strengthened as their partners come by – they should make the trouble in its lesser level as much as they can. Last but not the least key in achieving a successful responsive management in large, multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional area is a strong Leadership skill and credibility. A number of critics were thrown to the leader of FEMA due to the failures in hurricanes Andrew, Hugo, and Katrina (p.87). This is because the leader lacks in leadership skill in implementing the right rules and preparations in responding to disasters. Also, their failure is because of inadequate preparedness and cooperation at the federal and state levels. Other main emphasize of the NAPA report was that FEMA and the Family of Federal agencies should invest more effort and resources in preparedness. In this case, it is important that we should have leader who really knows how to lead its people properly and manage resources adequately. He should know what is best for the state and must to its best to protect them especially in disasters. As superman would say “with great power comes great responsibility”, thus would imply that leaders should not expect an ordinary citizen to do better because the power is vested in him and in return, he should do better. Also, he should have the capacity to make people move and produce efficient and effective outcomes. How can we determine or measure “success” in response? In terms of disaster, we can measure success in looking at the lives that we have saved during the span of time that we are responding to the disastrous phenomenon. This does not mean that we will be setting aside other factors in measuring our success. For instance the Unified command which is in-charge of the problem in hazardous ways, their main aim to create solution in the problem of dangerous chemicals on our marine environment. In this case, they attain success if they create a solution on this. But in the end, they are also doing this to save the lives of the people who will be contaminated with these ones. Or in the other side, they will be saving marine habitats that others are utilizing for income. The first and for most factor in accomplishing success would be the number of mortality in the area affected if none will lost life, then it is safe to say that we are already successful. These would be the primary measurement because in disaster like war or catastrophe, it is impossible to secure establishment’s safety and preventing them to be damaged – it is impossible to handle hurricanes, making it to alter it route so that it would not induce damage in our state; as well as it is impossible to stop tsunamis and put it back in the ocean immediately so that it would not destroy our properties. We cannot command these natural calamities and ask them not to attack our country, so destruction of natural resources is just inevitable to such. In this case, it is the lives of our people that would be the most important to save whenever disasters happen. Also, we must look at the expenses in acquiring things and equipments in aiding us – is the price worthy for the outcome it produced? How can we design drills and tests that specifically evaluate the key success factors for response? We can design drills by assessing the establishments that was being built. The local agencies in this sense should be the one responsible for this to go at their local infrastructure if it is safe if disaster happens like earthquakes or alike. Also, there should be a continuous interaction between and among the above mentioned elements. Moreover, the state should do continuous seminars and actual-drills to prepare people whenever disaster happens. They should forget and regret to inform the citizens what to do and where to go if anything bad occur. There should be also researches done before infrastructure would be established. They should know if what kind of calamity is vulnerable within their country. This would prevent more problems to occur in the state whenever disaster happens. Like in Japan today, they worried because of the nuclear plant that had been destroyed due to the earthquakes that transpire in their country. We too, must not wait for these adversities to take place; we must prevent them as soon as we can. And if ever our state is also vulnerable to calamities, then it is safer for us not to establish such things. These are our ways and preventive measures to ensure the safety of our citizens. We highly emphasize the cooperation; proper utilization of resources; competency and up-to-date service equipments; division of labor must be corresponding; strong leadership skill and credibility; and most especially people empowerment method because these are the things that the people can do in when their lives are in danger. Also, it would be harder to help, if the people do not cooperate and are not willing to help their selves. Thus, teaching them what to do and letting them know of the consequences of their actions in times of disasters and calamities would be one of the most basic yet effective way in controlling and managing people in disasters. References: Alexander, D. (2002). Principles of Emergency planning and Management. Harpendern:Terra Publishing. Herrald, J. (2006). Agility and Discipline: Critical Success Factors for Disaster Response. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Miskel, J. F. (2006). Disaster Response and Homeland Security: What Works, What Doesn’t (Praeger Security International). Other Sources: http://www.hrotoday.com/Magazine.asp?artID=1589 https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/index.shtm http://www.dhs.gov/xfrstresp/training/ http://www.fema.gov/media/archives/2007/061207.shtm http://www.gismaps.fema.gov/gis04.shtm http://www.nato.int/issues/eadrcc/tasks.html http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/ics/index.html http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/responder.html Read More