Homeland Security #5 - Essay Example

Lecturer Emergency Response This paper outlines the development of a plan that will be used to implement and monitor response to anemergency. This measure will ensure a quick response to a particular emergency is attained.The first level will be the determination of how and when to distribute information between various agencies involved. Information is key in getting the right response to a given incident and it will be better if such information is relayed in a timely manner (Docobo). Another measure is to have in place various teams of fire personnel, police, mayors and health workers for each county.

This will help to create a structure within which response to a particular incidence can be coordinated (Federal Emergency Management Agency 10) by having an authority responsibility structure. Lastly, we will have in place a team, specially picked to tackle cyber security issues. Such a team will collaborate with other teams so as to ensure that there is proper information sharing among various levels.A team of fire personnel will have the responsibility of accessing and reporting buildings and areas containing hazardous materials.

Besides, they will undertake the detection of weapons of mass destruction, observing and detecting symptoms of exposure. They will also do evaluation of physical integrity of buildings (Gartenstein-Ross & Kyle).The team of police officers will be responsible for development of community policing philosophy and training of officers to support these efforts, analysis of terror issues, and development of partnerships with other external bodies to enhance security and the collaboration with the department of homeland security (Docobo).

The mayors will be the ones to take command of any incident reported via 911, coordinate the warning or evacuation of affected areas, assessment of the situation and putting out any request for help to the state and federal agencies (Federal Emergency Management Agency 23). They will also ensure that local agencies are harnessed to coordinate the rescue efforts.Health workers will have the responsibility of monitoring various aspects of health of a given area, diagnosing and investigating any health or environmental health issues and educating and empowering people on specific health issues.

They will also ensure that the state and local partnerships are mobilized to identify and solve issues before, during and after the event.Monitoring PhaseThe monitoring phase will be preceded by emergency planning. This will help in ensuring that each team is aware of their responsibility in the event of an emergency. The teams should also be prepared to perform their functions and this will necessitate a range of training activities (Gartenstein-Ross & Kyle) so as to give them the required levels of competencies.

Next, it should be possible to ensure that there is a smooth coordination between various groups. Inter-organizational coordination is thus important. This can be achieved through having proper communication structures to ensure distortion and delays are avoided (Federal Emergency Management Agency 278, Gartenstein-Ross & Kyle).Assessment of emergency levels of various buildings, communities and schools should be done. This will be achieved by looking at the historical trends and trying to project future vulnerability towards particular emergencies (Stojkovic, Kalinich &Klofas 22).

This should go hand in hand with emergency monitoring. Lastly, we must have an incident management system that outlines the command and management structure which brings together various teams. Each one must have clear roles (Federal Emergency Management Agency 282). Besides, management of resources aimed for this plan will have to be agreed. A good way is to have a committee in place to ensure that adequate resources are mobilized and shared out equitably (Welsh & Harris 153). Technologies necessary for this plan should also be integrated within the structure to ensure the organization is able to get good results.

Lastly, continuous management and maintenance of the buildings is important in reducing chances of emergencies (Stojkovic, Kalinich &Klofas 35) occurring and in ensuring also that in the event of such emergencies, the at the situation can easily be contained.Works CitedDocobo, Jose. Community Policing as the Primary Prevention Strategy for Homeland Security at the Local Law Enforcement Level. Homeland Security Affairs. Web. 5 Nov 2014.Federal Emergency Management Agency. Chapter 10: Organizational Emergency Response. Web. 5 Nov 2014.

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Managing the emergency Consequences of Terrorist Incidents. Washington, D.C., July 2002. Web. 5 Nov 2014.Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed & Kyle Dabruzzi. Firefighters Developing Role in Counterterrorism. Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Web 5 Nov. 2014.Stojkovic, S., Kalinich, D. &Klofas, J., Criminal Justice Organizations: Administration and Management, 5th Edition, 2012, Wadsworth.Welsh, W. & Harris, P., Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, 4th Edition, 2013, Anderson