Regionalization planning, preparation, and response approach - Research Paper Example

? Running head: REGIONALIZATION PLANNING, PREPARATION AND RESPONSE APPROACH Regionalization planning, preparation and response approach Governance in the US is mostly dealt with by local, state and federal governments but this system does not allow efficient means of addressing problems from the perception of regional and multi-jurisdictional security. It is very difficult to enable regional coordinated efforts to succeed in view of the power of local governance bodies in keeping with the execution of their strategic plans to meet their priorities. Therefore, it is important that all endeavors aimed at overcoming such challenges in regional coordination should consider the varied aspects of civic patterns and operational frameworks of different local bodies and states. This paper has examined the issues of regional planning, preparation and responses approaches in the context of their economic, social and legal impacts. In addition, the paper has also incorporated the role of the Saint Leo University core value of Community as it relates to local response to terrorism; such as, mutual aid agreements, regionalization approaches, multi-jurisdictional training or exercises, cross-discipline training or exercises, interoperable communications, etc. Introduction While considering the American system of governance across history, it becomes evident that the processes are dealt with by local, state and federal governments. However, this system does not permit an effective means to address issues of public policy from the standpoint of regional and multi-jurisdictional perceptions. In fact, it becomes difficult to affect regional coordination because of the authority given to local governance bodies in keeping with their opposing priorities. Therefore, it is important that all endeavors aimed at overcoming such challenges in regional coordination should consider the varied aspects of civic patterns and operational frameworks of different local bodies and states. This is because most states have varied relationships in the context of local governing bodies and the corresponding development of regional infrastructure. Local bodies are different in terms of past patterns of cooperation amongst different jurisdictions. While many local bodies are known to have a history of coordinated aid agreements and function mutually, some regions are characterized with different partners coming together in the context of federal homeland security arrangements in order to initiate effective planning. This paper examines the issues of regional planning, preparation and responses approaches in the context of their economic, social and legal impacts. In addition, the paper will incorporate the role of the Saint Leo University core value of Community as it relates to local response to terrorism; such as, mutual aid agreements, regionalization approaches, multi-jurisdictional training or exercises, cross-discipline training or exercises, interoperable communications, etc. Body Regionalization or regional coordination relates to using government resources in harmonizing ways in order to achieve objectives that are mutually agreed amongst different stake holders in the given region. Regionalization also helps in overcoming the disjointed characteristics of federal systems and grants as provided to states and other local bodies. Coordination is successful through vertical processes amongst local, state and federal government as also through horizontal processes in different regions. Resources can be efficiently aligned to achieve security in communities, but this often requires considerable planning within the given judicial jurisdictions. The neighboring jurisdiction can be impacted by urgent situations in many possible ways, such as through implementing mutual aid agreements and the acceptance of evacuated citizens. After the September 2001 terror attacks, the US has strengthened efforts and initiatives towards improving the programs established to safeguard the safety, health and welfare of people and community during emergency situations. Nevertheless, a lot needs to be done in completely integrating involved health workers into an integrated program for providing the best possible responses. Currently, the response approaches are known to face considerable challenges on a daily basis. In responding to the given challenges, the American Public Health Association has arranged a number of leadership programs in developing a strategic action plan to improve preparedness, with the objective of adopting resilience and response strategies towards terrorism as well as other emergency happenings. In order to improve the current response patterns a number of recommendations have been made by some core agencies involved in response to terror activities. The government has to ensure that there is appropriate funding for developing the crucial infrastructure that is imperative for the day to day emergency situations in ways that they can be enhanced as and when required in order to cope with the demand of bigger and more serious emergency situations. The response approach should be such that the people assigned to respond under such conditions must be sufficient in terms of numbers as well as competency to deal with disaster situations. It is important for public health systems and health care systems to be well coordinated and to have the ability of interoperability in all situations. This competence is required at all government levels as well as in the civil sectors so that quick disaster response can be affected (American Medical Association, 2007). Regionalization in this regard is most effective when collaboration amongst regions and regional agencies results in the involvement of a large number of stake holders in terms of having different disciplines and jurisdictions that result in efficient regional collaboration in the context of different public programs. Additionally, efficient strategic planning comprises of quantifiable goals that are effectively allied with resources. This is crucial for the encouragement of regional initiatives that improve emergency awareness and help in achieving varied other public objectives. Whenever possible, the application of standards to the planning procedures assists in defining and measuring the basic status in terms of the base structure of awareness. In addition, it is needed that the required performance levels, by way of extent of readiness that has to be attained, has to be also attained along with establishing a reasonable gap amongst the base and the required levels that serve in focusing in terms of the program efforts. Another issue in this regard is effectively dealing with the threat of weapons of mass destruction for which it is important to conduct drills on a regular basis. The practices in this context, during the last few years, have indicated that there are risks of the outbreak of serious health complications. It has been experienced that no society can claim to be fully prepared against this risk and hence to respond effectively in the case of a large scale bio-terrorism attack. This is why there is unanimous agreement amongst government officials, health care practitioners, emergency management experts and leadership related with first responder societies that there is a strong need to develop relations and to establish efforts towards awareness planning by governments at local, state, national and global levels. At the same time, there is some level of agreement in regard to the best possible levels of regionalization and localization in the context of all the services and resources required to be used in responding to a bio-terrorism event (GAO, 2009). Research agencies have found that there is a strong need to make all inclusive reviews of awareness planning initiatives and responses and capability levels at national, state, local and global levels in order to know of the different possibilities of coordinating response efforts and maximizing the required resources for responding effectively to terror events. Upon examining the relevant literature it is found that there are largely diverse systems that reflect frequent patterns of individual readiness and planning initiatives on the part of every response group, such as emergency managers, first responders, healthcare professionals and public health workers. Not much evidence is available to directly know if regionalization plans results in advantages or hurdles in the context of effectively dealing with preparedness planning relative to terror events. For instance, the continuing efforts towards regionalizing preparedness against terrorism and making response plans can be significantly improved through meticulous assessment and fusion of the learning from the 2001 terror attacks. This will also lead to better response patterns towards surveillance efforts against bio-terrorism and regional response towards natural disasters and outbreaks. In addition, regional systems provide for better proviso of specialized medical treatment such as during trauma and while regionalizing terror response chains (Smith and Thomas, 2001). The federal government has the authority and means to give support towards regionalization because by using its grant design prerequisites, it can encourage the establishment of practices and structures related with constructive regional initiatives. It is known that billions of dollars have been allocated to first responders following the terror attacks of September 2001, which has highlighted the need of addressing terror threats from regional perspectives by the federal government. Moreover, regional planned and coordinated programs in such areas have been functioning for several years. Regional organizations that represent diverse jurisdictions and different stake holders have started serving as structured institutions for such parties in discussing issues of public policy and thus to agree on probable resolutions. Such organizations are known to be functioning in metropolitan regions because of varied objectives such as coordinating water initiatives and transport plans. Under these circumstances it is logical that decisions made with collaboration will usually have bigger support and acceptance than unilateral decisions (Foster, 2005). In cases where regional partnerships are fostered through political leadership and conventions in the states, regions and local bodies, it is very important for regional institutions to have flexibility in establishing the membership conditions and partnership procedures. This kind of flexibility works in assisting regional institutions to work efficiently within the current civic and political atmosphere through expansion of the extent of collaborative actions being undertaken. Under such circumstances, excessively prescribed conditions will have the potential to obstruct efficient coordination efforts. Regional organizations can make strategic action plans that can work in being an effective means for focusing efforts and resources for problem resolution. Regional organizations are known to enhance their effectiveness by adopting flexible approaches that are in keeping with political and civic traditions. This is because metropolitan regions vary in terms of their political and civic traditions that foster collaboration efforts. Regional coordination is also enhanced with integrated strategic plans that are founded on resource grouping and assessable objectives. Discussions amongst regional collaboration authorities can foster mutual agreements on solutions to the given problems. Additionally, strategic planning proves to be a useful means for articulating tasks and objectives because by enhancing the frequency of deliberations relative to problems and solutions, it becomes possible to focus strategic plans towards operationalizing efforts and dealing effectively with the given problems. Many programs of the federal government are known to provide benefits to local jurisdictions for initiating regionalization efforts. Grant programs are known to consider regional and local circumstances and historical patterns, thus enhancing regional coordination. Flexibility patterns in the context of grant requirements usually accommodate regional disparities by permitting the local governance authorities to be flexible in pursuing work systems that have the potential to lead to regionalization. By permitting local governments to determine the regional boundaries, they are in a position to benefit from regional and political leadership, which brings in more resources, stake holders and ideas relative to the given procedures. Federal grant conditions in regard to integrated strategic plans that have assessable goals and alignment of resources have the potential to lead towards effective regionalization planning. The role of Saint Leo University in terms of core value of community relative to local response towards terrorism relates to providing an integrated overview of the requirements of planning towards possibilities of terrorist events at local levels. It is possible for terrorist events to occur that restrict or curtail the ability of the state or federal government to respond effectively towards the local community. A major objective of the university is to imbibe core values by providing students with the required tools to effectively prepare local agencies for responding immediately in their respective communities. The objective is to provide exhaustive training so that students become well aware of the National Incident Management System, which provides students with the required information to ascertain that the local government is complying with federal laws in this regard. Saint Leo University provides students with an integrated overview of national and international terror events that arise due to religious or other reasons. The university provides a basis for examining the philosophical and historical significance of terrorism as also provides information about the major terrorist organizations in the world and their ideologies and activities. Students are involved in multi-jurisdictional training and exercises, whereby specific focus is placed on the effect of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons that have begun to change the face of terror across the world. In addition, courses at Saint Leo University provide an integrated overview about legal aspects germane to regionalization approaches and global terrorism. A part of the curriculum is to involve students in examining the War on Terror and to understand the tensions amongst criminal law enforcement approaches and military approaches by focusing on the relationship between international and US laws in this regard. The objective is to make students aware of the present efforts being made to combat terrorism by referring to recent convictions and prosecutions for terror actions and for assisting terror establishments. The idea is to ensure that students become well versed in regard to the pertinent information about objectives and procedures of counter terror operations. By making students aware of national and global terrorism because of religious and other reasons, Saint Leo University creates a basis for them to examine and contemplate about the philosophical and historical significance of terror organizations. A major objective is to enlighten students about the vulnerable weaknesses of terrorists, modes operandi of terror organizations and terrorists, theories of conspiracy and association and the proactive methods that can be adopted in getting better results out of terror investigations. The university enables students to get a thorough idea about the present counter terror initiatives undertaken through state and federal responses (Saint Leo University, 2012). Summary of Findings It is found that regionalization has led to the adoption of response approaches towards improving emergency preparedness of the federal and state governments by enlisting the support of varied stake holders through the identification of possible solutions towards better preparedness and to target the efficient use of resources to fill the identified security gaps. The federal government plays a major role in affecting efficient coordination through the provision of varied grant conditions. Firstly, there needs to be a regional collaborative institution that is competent to establish the minimum ceiling towards regional partnerships by setting specific conditions for different stake holders, which results in large scale agreements about the existing problems and how they can be resolved. Secondly, in situations where the presence of favourable civic and political circumstances is acknowledged, the federal government can allow funding for regional organizations to become flexible in how they will operate while establishing their member criteria. Thirdly, the federal government provides for minimum conditions for regionalization plans whereby goals are identified that can be assessable and specific. These plans enable a basis for setting goals and mobilizing resources. Many of the funding programs provide for costs incurred by regional institutions thus providing added benefits for communities to collaborate amongst different jurisdictions. Regional approaches in this regard are continuing to evolve swiftly, although the country is still in the nascent stage of developing procedures and institutions for addressing the need for emergency readiness. Additionally, the federal government continues to be grappling in the initial stage of improving standards of preparedness for the purpose of guiding local efforts. It is now acknowledged that regionalization planning has immense significance in the improvement of national preparedness. The developments so far need to be constantly improved under the close watch of the federal government. Conclusion The extent of regionalization after the beginning of the Cold War led to the creation of enhanced opportunities for nation states as well as state sponsored entities to adopt asymmetrical strategies of attacking stronger opponents such as the US. Although value systems of terror organizations and terrorists pertain to overcoming the stronger enemy or to force it to abandon its initiatives in regional conflicts, the main objective of terrorists is to use operational methods to achieve a combination of such objectives. Nevertheless, terrorism is designed in evoking responses from the government of the targeted nation or society in efforts to force it to alter its external policies. Federal initiatives in the US have mostly focused on regionally integrated approaches to provide the needed services to citizens. This aspect is very important in the area of national security because there is an urgent need to address the threat of terror attacks in order to effectively manage the usage of federal security funding. It has become apparent that regional strategies in this regard have helped in ensuring that such funding is spent in coordinated and complementary ways in targeting the evident security gaps. Regionalization plans have targeted emergency readiness while other areas are characterized with a number of broad aspects that are encouraged by the federal government, mostly through the designing of regional strategies and allocation of funding to states. List of References American Medical Association. (2007). Improving health system preparedness for terrorism and mass casualty events, http://www.ama- assn.org/resources/doc/cphpdr/final_summit_report.pdf, Accessed on 31 May, 2012 Foster, Chad. (2005). The Impact of Terrorism on State Law Enforcement, National Institute of Justice GAO. (2009). Effective Regional Coordination Can Enhance Emergency Preparedness, Report to the Chairman, Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives. Saint Leo University. (2012). Homeland Security Online Degree Specialization, http://online.saintleo.edu/academics/bachelors-programs/homeland-security-online, Accessed on 31 May, 2012 Smith, James M., and Thomas, William C. (2001). The Terrorism Threat and U.S.Government Response:Operational and Organizational Factors, USAF Institute for National Security Studies Read More