Criminal Justice and Homeland Security

HM500 Crisis and Emergency Management

Unit 1: Discussion Question

INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING RISK

As an emergency management professional, you are simultaneously part of a team responsible for the prevention and preparedness of, response to, and recovery from natural and human-caused disasters. Being a part of the emergency management team requires that you understand how and where your actions fit into the larger emergency management team, even if you are nectly involved. Starting with understanding the risks impacting a community, this unit provides you with the base of knowledge to be able to understand the concepts presented in the course that will help you be a successful contributor to an emergency management team.

Part 1: Topic 1: Response to Hurricane Katrina (Respond/Answer)

The response to Hurricane Katrina, by all standards, was a major failure of the federal, state, and local government’s emergency management systems. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proved ineffective. Why do you believe that DHS and FEMA proved to be so ineffective in this disaster? Discuss the changes that have occurred since then to improve the emergency response to such disasters, and state whether or not you believe these changes will be effective in similar disasters.

Part 2: Topic 1: Student Response (Respond to the post below)

Student: Melissa Cuellar

Oh Katrina, So glad this was our topic for our first discussion board post. Katrina was the hurricane that put DHS and FEMA front and center. The first response to a natural disaster since FEMA was formed. The world watched as the government responders seemed unable to offer basic protection from the ravages of nature (Moynihan, 2009 p27). The Department of Homeland Security's leadership failed because they did not communicate preparation appropriately for the magnitude of this natural disaster. The major problem developed when emergency officials at local, state and federal levels deviated from the guidelines and procedures. The collapse was blamed on those involved not having a clear understanding on what roles each department was responsible for. Since then the Department of Homeland security says it has reevaluated and revised many issues that they believe went wrong. Since Hurricane Katrina FEMA and DHS have both responded to hurricanes and the changes that were made seem to be better than what happened during Katrina. 

Moynihan, D (2009). The response to hurricane Katrina, 2009. Report to the IBM center for business of government.

Part 1: Topic 2: Assessing Risks (Respond/Answer)

You are the director of emergency services for your community, and you are responsible for developing an emergency response plan. First, you must identify areas of risk by identifying those natural and technological hazards within your community. Describe how you would go about identifying these natural and technological hazards. How would you assess the potential risk to the community that these hazards present? Discuss ways that you would use to ensure these hazards are updated regularly or whenever they change.

Part 2: Topic 2: Student Response (Respond to the post below)

Student:Ashley Bird

          Areas of risk regarding natural and technological hazards within my community here in Oklahoma are; tornados, floods, and industrial pollution. By recognizing weather patterns, understanding how to read radar, and considering proximity and quantity of factories would all have a play in identifying these natural and technological hazards. 

            The potential risk for floods and tornados is relatively high. However, because tornados and floods are common, the response from the community and its leaders are fast and accurate. For example, back in December Oklahoma caught wind of the nasty ice storm that swept the South. The citizens and the responders in Oklahoma, having had ice and snow before, handled the storm well and were prepared with electricians, heaters, food in grocery stores, etc. However, Texas got the same storm and handled this completely different. People were stuck in their homes for days with no power and diminishing food. 

            Testing tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, and continuing to have a positive relationship with the Oklahoma News centers would ensure that these hazards will remain known to the public. With tornados, specifically, being so common in the spring time in Oklahoma, it would be beneficial for all people that do not have a basement or enclosed room without windows to have a specified location of where they should go if the tornado does touch down in the area. 

Part 1: Topic 3: "When to Cite" and "Plagiarism" (Respond/Answer)

Complete the learning activities on ‘When to Cite” and “Plagiarism.” On the Discussion Board, post your thoughts on the information presented and respond to the following questions.

· What did you learn about citations and plagiarism that surprised you or that you did not know previously?

· What questions do you have regarding our plagiarism policy, or citing sources?

· How will you use the information presented in the learning activities in your course work?

Part 2: Topic 3: Student Response (Respond to the post below)

Student: Melissa Cuellar

 

You do not need to cite common knowledge and must give credit to who thought of the idea. I had no idea millie vanille lip sang their songs! I just finished up a writing class so most of the podcast was review. 

The information that was provided is great information on why we cite and why to not plagiarism other peoples words. Just give them credit for their words and work and you will have no worries about plagiarism. 

I do not have any follow up questions due to my last class citing and plagiarism being the main topic.