Full Government Control in an Emergency - Essay Example

The government has been mandated by the citizens to provide the necessary and appropriate measures required to save lives, prevent further damage, and ensure that the effects of the disaster are put under control. It has been said that “In the United States, the government is viewed as the only institution with the resources, authority, and capabilities to help citizens cope with large-scale cataclysmic events, like natural disasters. So, it is not surprising that the government assumed a major role…” (Schneider, 2008, p. 715). However, the National Response Framework (NRF) notes that resources from the government alone are not enough to cover all needs that arise from disasters.

Thus, it is possible for the government to assume a major role in disaster control, but it does so within the law as provided by the Stafford Act. The government takes control of disaster control, not to limit the agencies or groups, but to ensure that the appropriate resources and are affected fast enough, and in an effective way.