Principles of Emergency Management

Hazard Specific Issues and Mitigation Strategies

Michael J. Fagel, Michael J. Fagel

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2011
• ISBN:
  9781466516694
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Jura
• Subtopic: Forensik

Principles of Emergency Management: Hazard Specific Issues and Mitigation offers preparedness and mitigation recommendations for advanced emergency planning. Because disasters are so unpredictable, advance planning is needed to effectively respond to and mitigate against the potential effects of such events.Whether a disaster is natural or man-made

Chapter 1

Introduction: Why Plan for Disasters?

Michael J. Fagel and Stephen J. Krill Jr.

Contents

Types of Disasters

Phases of Disaster

Levels of Severity

Why Plans Fail

Planning as a Blueprint

The Disaster Cycle and Planning.

Mitigation

Preparedness

Response

Recovery.

A Brief History of Emergency Management

Authorities and Directives

Robert T. Stafford Act

Homeland Security Act of 2002

Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act

Presidential Decision Directives

Homeland Security Presidential Directives

HSPD-, Management of Domestic Incidents

HSPD-, National Preparedness.

Other Policy References

Response Plans

Emergency Support Functions

ESF Support Agencies

Federal Response Plan

National Response Plan

National Response Framework

Emergency Support Functions

ESF Support Agencies

Conclusion

Disasters happen. No one is immune to them or the devastation that they can bring to communities of any size. Disaster applies to a variety of events, each with varying magnitudes and of varying natures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines a disaster as

an occurrence of a severity and magnitude that normally results in deaths, injuries, and property damage and that cannot be managed through the routine procedures and resources of government

Because of the unpredictable nature of disasters, it is essential to plan for such events. Only through planning is it possible to effectively respond to and mitigate against the potential effects of disaster.

Types of Disasters

Disasters usually fall into one of four categories: natural, man-made, deliberate, or accidental. In the United States, the most frequently occurring disasters are natural. Because natural disasters are not caused by the actions of humans, they are the most difficult to prevent. However, because most, although not all, natural disasters (e.g., weather related) are predictable, they should be the easiest to plan for.

Because it is impossible to stop natural disasters from occurring, emergency planners and responders must increase their awareness of how and why they occur. At the same time, they must analyze the risk in their communities so that they can focus their efforts on the highest risk or highest impact hazards. For example, Florida residents need not prepare for paralyzing blizzards. They must be prepared for hurricanes, however. On the other hand, New England residents need to be prepared for both blizzards and hurricanes as well as a multitude of other hazards.

Man-made disasters fall into two categories: deliberate and accidental. To identify a single cause of any man-made disaster would be nearly impossible. For as many types of man-made disasters that exist, there are a hundred reasons why. Whereas natural disasters are caused by the forces of nature and can only be predicted, not prevented, man-made disasters occur through preventable, sometimes deliberate, and often malicious acts.

Not all man-made disasters are deliberate, however. Many can be categorized as accidental and completely unexpected. As we continue to enter the era of technology, an increasing number of technologically sophisticated incidents will continue to occur, and community disaster plans must take into account the potential for an increasing number of incidents involving toxic spills, radiological releases, and other accidents. The events could be highly disastrous in densely populated areas, and as communities continue to grow, these events could have consequences that expand beyond the realm of anything imaginable in today’s society.

Table 1.1 represents the types of disasters that fall into the categories just presented. This list is not intended to be inclusive, and certainly there are other potential disasters that could strike any community. For this reason, when the time comes to create or revise the community’s disaster plan, it is critical that planners be prepared to protect their communities from these and other potential disasters that may occur at any time, with or without warning.

Each of these situations poses its own threat to communities and challenges to emergency response personnel. Some are relatively easy to predict, whereas others may occur with virtually no warning. Some will devastate a community for weeks or months, whereas others may pack a powerful punch, then be over, leaving devastation in their wakes.

It can be expected that most disasters, regardless of type or cause, will bring about some degree of death, injury, and property damage. Depending on the circumstances, disruption in communications systems, power, and water supplies; contamination of air, food, and water; and a multitude of other problems may also occur.

Table 1.1 Types of Disasters

Phases of Disaster

Each type of disaster and its subsequent response effort—regardless of how, when, or why it takes place—can be expected to consist of a number of phases that are fairly consistent. The success of a community’s response plan depends greatly on the planner’s understanding of these phases and how they are incorporated into the overall disaster plan.

The initial phase of a disaster is the warning phase. It is during this phase that emergency officials have the best opportunity to provide the public with disaster-related information. It is also during this phase that an evacuation or shelter in place, if necessary, will be initiated.

The second phase of a disaster is the threat and impact phase. This phase is typically followed by the inventory, rescue, remedy, and restoration phases.

Levels of Severity

Within each type of disaster, varying levels of severity will exist, each with its own response requirements. There are three levels of disaster, and even the lowest level can require the involvement of state and federal officials.

Level I Disaster—A localized multiple-casualty incident wherein local medical resources are available and adequate to provide for field medical treatment and stabilization, including triage. The patients will be transported to the appropriate medical facility for further diagnosis and treatment.

Level II Disaster—A multiple-casualty emergency where the large number of casualties and/or lack of medical care facilities are such as to require multijurisdictional medical mutual aid.

Level III Disaster—A mass-casualty emergency wherein lo...