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The New York County has laid out several goals to serve the purpose of preparedness in case of emergency management and homeland security. In the 2014-2016 homeland security strategy, there are 10 goals to guide if such a case arises.

The first goal is fortifying the preparedness levels for chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear defense (CBRNE) and improving their reaction capabilities. This is done through carrying out intense training, purchase of required important equipment and other resources required for effectiveness and efficiency of first response to those caught in cases pertaining to CBRNE for fast and easy solutions to be put forward (Friedlander et.al, 1979).

Based on the threats the New York County is susceptible to, securing the critical infrastructure and major resources through effective identification of these threats or the infrastructure under threat as well as assessing the impact of these threats is important in strengthening the protection provided for the safekeeping of critical infrastructure.Having counter-terrorism and law enforcement measures put in place and fortified in a way that ensures terrorism is dealt with head-on. This is to be done through improving the relationships with countries on an international level and making adjustments based on new discoveries and previous threats in a way that deals with future threats that may arise.

Improving the relationships between the federal, state governments, local and the private stakeholders such that crucial information and intelligenceare shared every so often is importantto ensure that threats are counteracted in whichever case before they happen.Emergency management ought to be catered for in case of the worst case scenarios so that the county can always get back up despite the threats to New York.Strengthening the preparedness among the citizens of the county as well as the community through equipping them effectively with skills that will keep them charged and sustained for a while and at the same time, be in a position to provide assistance to those affected by the threats and disasters.

Another goal is being able to get back up as both a county and country by ensuring plans put in place to guide during disaster strikes are adhered to, to the latter and with the very much needed resilience.Improving the communication channels when disasters strike so that first responders catch wave before much damage is done to people, animals, property or infrastructure in the area, which would otherwise result in severe loss.Cyber security ought to be improved through equipping IT people with these capabilities of counteracting crimes and enhancing technology as it advances (Friedlander et.al, 1979). Health emergency preparedness is also important. The health providing professionals and trainees ought to be equipped with skills important enough to be used during emergency cases as well as possibly equipping the community to be ready for the same.

In the case of any disaster striking, the New York County also authorizes a few state and local disaster plans that are not necessarily mandated, yet. They include the creation of a division that deals with homeland security and emergency management, an anti-terrorism act and a preparedness act, pets’ evacuation, the review of pipeline security, provision of security to schools and assisted living facilities among others.

The New York County, in order to see through the effectiveness of these plans, has several stakeholders. Federal partners including the federal government, non-profit organizations such as emergency management services and the American Red Cross, the academic community which consists of schools having units or divisions to deal with disasters, Disaster Preparedness Commission (D.P.C.), first responders and locally elected officials, tribal partners, border security partners with Canada for instance, the private sector encouraging public-private partnerships, urban area working groups, and the general public. With all these groups in play, it ought to be easier dealing with catastrophic events and disasters.

The core stakeholders in every county would be the federal and state governments, the local and private stakeholders (Friedlander et.al, 1979). The other stakeholders depend on the decisions agreed upon by the county itself.The relationship between the EM/HS and the federal government is important because this government deals with the most catastrophic events and ought to be included in dealing with such to ensure the best teams; equipment and training are put in the picture.The state government is important as a core stakeholder in the case of EM/HS as it very well knows its counties or state such that if anything catastrophic is to occur, it would know what first steps to take and how to deal with the issue at hand thus it would be fully engaged in the process.

The private sector plays a crucial part in dealing with disasters as it is the principal provider of infrastructure as well as the needs for the people in that county. This sector then has the ability to provide the most important resources for the counteracting of catastrophes in the county. It therefore, deals on a one-on-one basis with the EM/HS team.Benefits that ensue as a result of these partnerships include having to worry less about what to expect in future for the federal, state and local governments in terms of security for the country. As for the private sector, strengthening the relationships with the government and improving the situation for the citizens is an added advantage.

These relationships will provide the most comprehensive and integrated preparedness, incident response and promote information sharing through fostering good and effective relationships with each other constantly, developing goals that ensure security and emergency management is well taken care of, roles and responsibilities are clearly outlined and actions and responses to disasters are doneeffectively. Some of the unique stakeholders to New York include border security partners such as Canada. Canada, for instance, coordinates its efforts well with New York when it comes to cultural and economic growth. Most importantly, Canada comes in handy when dealing with security concerns thus both discuss the best way to deal with them effectively. This relationship should be in existence to cater for the security of both parties so as to keep their citizens safe and well protected. Both of these groups benefit from the coordination through safety being ensured and gaining from partnerships that help grow the business aspects.

Urban area working groups are other stakeholders who come in handy such as Westchester counties, the city of New York and others. These groups work together with the New York authorities to ensure the homeland security of the region is well taken care of and the partnerships between these two groups are enhanced. These relationships are important as they can come together to foster the security of their urban working area thus protecting their own citizens in the process. Security is of great benefit to the groups involved.

The New York state works in coordination with the locally elected officials and the first responders to make sure disasters are dealt with in a timely manner such that the lives of New Yorkers are protected as well as the property therein. The people involved gain both security and have the power to help implement disaster management practices, theoretically and on the ground. The relationships between these groups is important as information held by each group is shared thus fosters security and the best way to deal with security concerns.

The Disaster Preparedness Commission is another stakeholder which ensures facilitation of the various groups involved in emergency management for the sake of disaster preparedness (Friedlander et.al, 1979). Collaboration of the teams involved in disaster management helps with the Governor’s insight into the matter(s) thus ensuring preparedness. Benefits are realized when the authorities involved gain from practicing and implementing their homeland security and emergency management practices.

Lastly, tribal partners both federal and state, are engaged in the involvement and preparedness for disaster efforts together with the state of New York. The relationship fosters security of all the parties involved in the long term thus ending up benefitting them both in terms of provision of security to tribal nations through their input into the preparedness.These relationships help with disaster preparedness through input from all these teams into the best ways of dealing with disasters by information sharing, sharing of trained teams and equipment in the fight against both natural and man-made disasters.

There are several methods to help conduct coordination sessions (United States, 2005). First, collection and evaluation of information to help guide a team in getting to know the importance and severity of various matters to do with disaster threats is important. Second, setting priorities based on the information presented helps guide the members involved to know the disasters to deal with first followed by those that are not as severe. Third, resource management helps with the allocation of resources to the most severe disasters based on the amount of resources required to mitigate the risks involved and managing these resources effectively.

There are several tactics to encourage robust participation of those present in the meeting. Encouraging members to be interactive so that important ideas can crop up, dividing the agenda to be discussed into short time units to reduce chances of boredom and inviting questions to keep people engaged. Appreciating and rewarding those who are active in the meeting too is an important tactic (Bullock, Haddow& Coppola, 2012).

The EM/HS teams can take into consideration interoperability and redundancy into communication to enable effective communication and operation while in the field in case disaster strikes (Washington, 2006). The baseline information that a county ought to provide to prospective partners for contributions’ sake is the kind of disasters the county is prone to, the measures that ought to be taken to deal with these disasters, at what point in time they should be expected or not, the amount of resources required to deal with these disasters based on risk assessments carried out on the same and finally, which disasters take first priority.

Creating space in which everyone can put forward their opinions and sharing information shared by other stakeholders helps gain viable cooperation from potentially recalcitrant partners so that they can feel as one and important individuals (Bullock, Haddow& Coppola, 2012).The New York County has to be convincing enough so as to have partners on board the idea of receiving help during preparing for the occurrence of disasters.

References

Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2012). Introduction to homeland security: Principles of all-hazards risk management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Facing hazards and disasters: Understanding human dimensions. (2006). Washington: National Academies Press.

Friedlander, R. A., Levie, H. S., Musch, D. J., Alexander, Y., & Lovelace, D. C. (1979). Terrorism: Documents of international and local control. Dobbs Ferry, N.Y: Oceana Publications.

United States. (2005). Department of Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate fiscal year 2005 budget: Hearing of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness and Response before the Select Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, second session, March 3, 2004. Washington: U.S. G.P.O.