Disaster Management and Homeland Security

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1/ There are four classical phases of disaster management, discuss how collaboration between public and private organizations can support phases three and four of the model. Choose a threat/hazard/disaster; describe the possible interactions and involvement of each organization.

The importance of disaster management in any state cannot be gainsaid. Disaster management is carried out in four phases namely mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The private and public sector must collaborate to enhance disaster management. This is especially in the response and recovery phases of disaster management.

Response refers to the actions that are taken to save lives, as well as prevent further loss in an emergency or disaster situation. It essentially involves the implementation of preparedness plans. Response activities may include fire fighting, sheltering victims of floods, damage assessment, as well as searching and rescuing victims.

Recovery refers to the actions that are taken in order to return the individuals affected by disasters to their normal ways of life. Recovery activities may include repairing, rebuilding or replacing property and infrastructure destroyed in disasters.

In case of earthquakes, it is worth noting that there are various phases in which the private and public sectors may collaborate in enhancing response and recovery.

First, the private and public sector may collaborate in donation and volunteer activities. Volunteer services may include evacuation of the individuals in the affected areas, providing the necessary medical assistance, as well as transporting and coordinating efforts such as feeding people in the affected areas (Bullock, et al, 2009). This would assist in lowering effects of the disasters, as well as enhancing the recovery of the people in the affected areas.

In addition, the private and public sectors would collaborate in communicating information both to and from the public. The importance of communication in disaster management cannot be gainsaid as far as response and recovery is concerned. In fact, the speed with which agencies respond to disasters, as well as coordinate the response activities is solely dependent on the effectiveness of communication. In the case of an earthquake, the private and public sector would communicate information pertaining to the injured individuals, damage, as well as the areas that would need emergency care the most, thereby enhancing disaster management.

Lastly, the private and public sectors would collaborate in rebuilding the infrastructure destroyed by earthquakes. This is especially so in the case of private insurance companies. As much as the government would be obligated to compensate the individuals and businesses affected, insurance companies would also be obligated to do the same especially where the affected individuals had policies with them (Mileti, 1999). Donations from the private sector also play a role in enhancing recovery of the affected individuals.

2. How do federal agencies communicate homeland security information to local and state government, the private sector, and the citizenry of the United States? What problems exist? How can communication and information sharing be improved? Consider all sources and methods of information sharing, and any changes since the publishing of the textbook. Chapter 8

Effective communication is extremely crucial as far as disaster management is concerned irrespective of the phases involved. It is worth noting, however, that most in most cases, communication is severely hampered during disasters. This is due to damage on the communication devices and facilities for both wireless and wired communication. Nevertheless, this does not in any way undermine the importance of technological devices in communicating information from the involved agencies to the public (Bullock, et al, 2009).

In most cases, homeland security uses the public media such as social sites, radio and television to communicate any information pertaining to impending disasters to the public, private agencies, as well as local and state governments. The internet has proved to be a valuable tool in communicating this information especially with the entry of social sites. Homeland security communicates information pertaining to disaster management through its website.

Various problems have, however, been impending communication between homeland security and other state and local agencies. This is especially in times of disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. First, these disasters impend communication by destroying communication devices thereby hampering coordination of disaster management efforts. In addition, there is fragmentation of communication technology where various agencies use different communication devices and technologies. This, therefore, affects compatibility of the devices thereby hampering disaster management (Mileti, 1999).

In mitigating these problems, it is imperative that all parties concerned are required to have a certain level of technology as far as communication devices are concerned (Bullock, et al, 2009). This would enhance compatibility and allow for a seamless sharing of information between the parties concerned. The establishment of certain standards, as far as technology of communication devices for disaster management is concerned, would also enhance communication between the agencies and the citizenry thereby enhancing preparedness at all levels.

3/ How can technological advances support homeland security and emergency management? What are the current and possible future issues that need to be addressed? Based on your readings, how would you address these issues?

Technology has proved to be extremely essential as far as disaster management is concerned. This is as far as the mitigation, preparedness and response, as well as recovery phases of disaster management are concerned (Bullock, et al, 2009).

In mitigation of disasters, technological advances would come in handy through enhancing accuracy in prediction of disasters especially, natural disasters. For example, GIS has proved a crucial tool in determining predicting natural disasters. Scientists have their ability to determine volcanic activities in certain areas with a high degree of accuracy, which allows for the mitigation of losses in such disasters (Erickson, 1999). This information would be communicated to the people in time thereby allowing the concerned agencies to advise the people appropriately.

In addition, technological advances enhance the communication of information pertaining to disasters (Bullock, et al, 2009). There has been an increase in the number of communication channels in the recent times, thanks to technological advancement. These include internet channels such as websites and social sites, mobile and wireless devices, as well as satellites (Erickson, 1999). These technological advances allow for communication of information before, during and after disasters occur. Proper communication of information is extremely essential for coordination of rescue activities during disasters.

Various issues, however, need to be addressed as far as technological advances are concerned. This is especially as pertaining to response to disasters especially natural ones. It is worth noting that technology is extremely limited as far as determining the varied aspects of natural disasters such as earthquakes. In essence, it is imperative that this fan increased level of research is incorporated to enhance the accuracy of information, which would help in mitigation of losses incurred in such cases (Bullock, et al, 2009). In my opinion, it would be imperative that the investment on research is increased to devise other ways of meeting this challenge. In addition, it is imperative that the collaboration between varied sectors and countries be incorporated to enhance sharing information and improve disaster management technology.

References

Bullock, J., Haddow, G., Coppola, D., and Yeletaysi, S. (2009). Introduction to homeland security. Burlington, MA. (3rd Ed.). Elseiver Inc.

Erickson, P. 1999. Emergency Response Planning for Corporate and Municipal Managers. New York:Academic Press

Mileti, D. 1999. Disasters by Design: A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Joseph Henry Press.

(Bullock, et al, 2009) (Erickson, 1999) (Mileti, 1999)