Emergency Response Management

Paper Summary:

This paper considers current trends in emergency response management and mitigation in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. The author contends that the purpose of mitigation is to take the lessons of immediately past disasters and analyze the actions that occurred in the area of emergency management. The author further highlights several areas that affect competent disaster management. These include effective communication among all parties involved in the emergency response. Salient examples of failures from 9/11 and Katrina are presented. The author also argues that prevention is a necessary element of disaster management.

From the Paper:

"One of the paramount concerns that has been proven time and time again is that there is a lack of clear goals for change on the part of local, state and federal officials. The simple fact that these and other entities must work together to solve problems, in a pre-disaster and post disaster circumstance also challenges the cause of the reduction of lost life and property. All of these complex issues in combination with the limited time that agencies and individuals have to respond in an emergency situation can make the situation far worse, creating a situation often contrary to the goal of reducing loss and risk. (Mileti, 2004, pg. 236) To solve this complex issue, communication is key and mitigating the communication plans including back up forms of communication and chain of command plans as essential to changing the ways in which an emergency manager deals with a potential or realized disaster. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Baum, K. (2003, September). Austin's Integrated Homeland Security Approach. Public Management, 85, 28-37.
• Lessons from New Orleans. (2005, November). Security Management, 49, 58-62.
• Mileti, D.S. (2004) Disaster By Design: A Reassessment of Natural Hazards in the United States. Washington DC: Joseph Henry Press.
• Storm Forces Officials to Rethink Plans for Elderly. (2005, September 12). Sarasota Herald Tribune, p. A1.

More papers on Emergency Response Management:

• Term Paper # 103119 : "Emergency Response Plan"
• Research Paper # 97351 : "Industrial Plant Emergency Plan"
• Essay # 4815 : "Emergency Management"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: