Response and Mitigation for US Gulf Coast Hurricane Disaster - Assignment Example

Response and Mitigation for US Gulf Coast Hurricane Disaster A hurricane hit southwest US Gulf Coast and left 500, 000 people homeless, without food or medical support. The disaster would benefit from response and mitigation plans to handle to emerging issues from the crises. The disaster would utilize the input of federal agencies to execute plans for response and mitigation. The Response Plan The best response plan for a disaster is one that covers plans before, during and after the occurrence (Fema.gov). The hurricane that hit U.S Gulf Coast would benefit from the following response plan before the hurricane; Designation of an emergency kit and a family communication plan Acquaintance with the surroundings Learning the level of elevation to know the level of damage the hurricane may cause through flood and make plans to secure properties Building a safe home, avoiding high-rise building, and installation of emergency generators would help to caution from flooding and wave effects. During the hurricane Listen to the radio or TV for real-time information about the extent of the hurricane Securing all storm shutters and outdoor objects Turning off utilities such as thermostats and propane tanks Securing adequate food and water supply for sanitary purposes Considering evacuation for persons located in high rise buildings, coast and temporary structures that may be hit by hurricane waves After the hurricane Getting local weather updates by listening to the news in radio and TV Getting alert for any subsequent rainfall or flooding after the hurricane has subsided The communications plan design before the hurricane comes in handy for families that have lost contacts with their members The evacuated lot is returned to their homes but for the homeless should get grants to repair or replace their houses Wear protective clothing to prevent injury from the debris carried by the waves Avoid drinking tap because it might be contaminated Federal Agencies That Should Be Engaged In the Response Plan a. Federal emergency management agency (FEMA) FEMA is charged with search and rescue exercises and provision of electrical power, food, water and top basic human needs during a hurricane. The agency also manages funds coming from President’s Disaster Relief Fund and disaster aid programs from other federal agencies participating in the process. The agency also keeps the White House up to date with the recovery procedures of the disaster and makes necessary recommendations. Moreover, after the occurrence of US Gulf Coast hurricane, FEMA is supposed to notify all the victims about the aid programs to help them replace their properties if their applications are approved. The agency helps to provide funds for damage mitigation procedures such as replacing the damaged structures (Fema.gov). b. National Guard National Guard is charged with both state and federal duties, responsibilities and actions during a national disaster. The agency is charged with planning, preparation and response during the hurricane. The members have been trained to deal with emergency medical response for the victims in need of immediate medical attention. It is also the duty of National Guard to organize search and rescue plan and utilize the communication plan in the response plan. Moreover, National Guard takes necessary actions within the limits of engineering, chemical, biological and radiological sector to counter any contamination that may occur as a result of the adverse damage by the hurricane. The federal agency is trained to contain any nuclear incidence that may arise in because of strong hurricane waves (Fema.gov) Mitigation Plan for U.S Gulf Coast Hurricane A mitigation plan would help in reducing or lessen the extent of losses caused by the hurricane to the victims who do not have food and medical attention (Luther, 2008). The damage prevention and thorough insurance plans should suffice to the help the victims recover the losses. The mitigation plan would entail; Risk assessment that entails identifying the hazards posed by the hurricane, previous and present occurrences and extent of damage and identifying the vulnerable populations that need urgent food and medical attention Mobilization of federal agencies charged with emergency and recovery plans after hurricane disasters and stipulated their jurisdiction in the mitigation process Assessing the performance of the building after the hurricane storms such as high-rise building Proposing and developing new designs that would enhance resistance against hurricane flooding and strong waves; the plans would help in the construction of new buildings in the affected areas The existing buildings are made safe for use after the storm if retrofitting techniques and development of designs are considered Making recommendations to the state and local regulatory programs on the improvements of the buildings and properties that have been affected by the hurricane Implementing long-term housing needs through federal agency assistance; victims that are homeless are offered grants to repair their homes and find a replacement for their houses. An awareness program or notice on how the citizens should conduct themselves around the debris; people should drive in areas that are not flooded or with bridges. Federal Agencies That Should Help In the Mitigation Plan a. Federal insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) FIMA is charged with the management of food programs to feed the starving victims. It puts in place strict building codes, flood-proof prerequisites during construction or repair of new or existing buildings after the hurricane. FIMA will be responsible for retrofitting all the affected public buildings to reinforce their capacity to withstand the strength of hurricane winds and ground shaking as a result of wave effects. Moreover, the agency would be charged with acquiring homes and business areas that have been affected by floods. It will relocate the victims to new structures and leaves the wet areas for recreational purposes. Building safe rooms and community shelters from the hurricane would help in the recovery process. b. Department of Housing and Urban Development The Department Of Housing and Urban Development will be charged with implementation of housing solutions that are consistent with the needs of the affected community following the hurricane (Luther, 2008). The agency also ensures that there is a resilient, accessible, and sustainable mitigation strategy plan for housing before the hurricane. Additionally, the department of Housing and Urban Development oversees maintenance and communication throughout the recovery process between all federal governments and partners. The agency exists to caution the state from incurring further losses that cannot be recovered from the hurricane by installing adequate housing procedures after a disaster. It prevents any issue related repair rehabilitation and reconstruction from arising and causing further problems after the hurricane. Main Difficulties in the Emergency Response US Gulf Coast hurricane would upset the infrastructure such as road and communication lines. The emergency response team would find it difficult to offer relief effort in terms of food and medical attention to severely hit locations. Dealing with breakdowns in sanitations, clean water, overcrowding and housing would result to spread of infections. The emergency response team would be forced to come up with alternative outlets where they can treat victims. The hospitals end up in ruins, and the number of victims may outnumber the number of health professionals charged with offering medical attention (Luther, 2008). Communication logistics is hurt by the hurricane’s infrastructural damage because it hampers the ability of the emergency team to communicate during and after the hurricane. The Best Strategy for Overcoming the Aforementioned Difficulties There should be a unified national response management to help overcome the emergency response difficulties (Mayer, James Jay Carafano & Zuckerman, 2011). Managing a catastrophic event such as US Gulf Coast hurricane requires coordinating the combined effort of private and public organizations. The current coordination platform under the jurisdiction of federal agencies and states agencies such as FEMA is not comprehensive, and the needs are executed on request. Both private and public organizations should be boosted with adequate resources and a proper prior planning procedure stipulated in order to prevent difficulties such as communications. The government should expand the response protocol beyond the federal governments to other public and private organizations within the Gulf Coast. References Fema.gov,. (2014). Recovery Support Functions. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/recovery-support-functions Fema.gov,. (2014). Plan, Prepare & Mitigate. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/plan-prepare-mitigate Luther, L. (2008). Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for disaster response, recovery, and mitigation projects. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. Mayer, M., James Jay Carafano, P., & Zuckerman, J. (2011). Homeland Security 4.0: Overcoming Centralization, Complacency, and Politics. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/08/homeland-security-4-0-overcoming-centralization-complacency-and-politics Read More