Andrew Langstaff
Liberty University
HLSC500 Foundations of Homeland Security
Discussion Thread: Understanding Mitigation and Preparedness
Dr. John Bentley
Understanding the risks and hazards to the community directly correlates to the functions and
mission sets of the agency responsible for safeguarding its citizens. Whether it is just an agency
focus approach the boss wants, the needs of the community must always be incorporated in some
shape or form, when discussing emergency management functions. This is the risk management
framework. Apart from the risk management framework is mitigation and preparedness. Both are
core functions of emergency management, along with response and recovery. Mitigation can be
defined as “Activities undertaken in the long term, before disaster strikes, that are designed to
prevent emergencies and reduce the damage that results from those that occur, including
modifying the causes of hazards, reducing vulnerability to risk, and diffusing potential losses.”
(Donahue & Joyce, 2001, Pg. 730). In other words, through mitigation, deliberate planning can
greatly impact the outcome of a disaster and either increase or decrease the loss of life and
property. Preparedness, similar to that of mitigation, is defined as “The activities are undertaken
in the shorter term, before the disaster strikes, which enhance the readiness of organizations and
communities to respond to natural disasters.” (Reddick, 2011, Pg. 46). This can be accomplished
through prevention and protection goals. Prevention and protection can be achieved through
deliberate planning, training, coordination, and communication of potential threats in the
homeland.
In relation to the topic, using the risk management framework, NIPP (The National Infrastructure
Protection Plan) as a guide. As an agency you need to set goals and objectives; Identify assets,
systems, and networks; Assess risks; Prioritize; Implement programs; measure effectiveness.
When all this is said and done you will continue to do this, continue to revise, and refine.
First, you want to set goals and objectives. For example, if you are in the office of Domestic
Nuclear Detection, your goals are developing protocols in researching, developing, and detecting
nuclear threats (Nemeth, 2017, Pg. 154). Identifying assets, systems, and networks also plays a
role early on in this framework. Who are these in the Office of Domestic Nuclear Detection?
These are your key personnel, physical security, and technicians who are on call 24 hours a day,
7 days a week to respond to any attack on the infrastructure. Risk assessments, such as facility
vulnerabilities, and consequences of an attack are routinely assessed. This is accomplished at the
federal, state, and local levels because the department could not function properly on its own.
Then the department will prioritize specific programs based on the potential threat assessment.
These will be implemented through deliberate planning and scenario-based training in which the
department will measure the effectiveness of said planning and training. Once these are all
complete the department will continue to revise and refine its framework based upon the
environment and threat assessments.
Regarding allocating resources and budgeting, what resources are available? This is manpower,
equipment, vehicles, and infrastructure such as buildings and facilities. Resource utilization is
based upon the scenario, the plan, training, and again the revising and refining of the plan.
Cannot do anything unless there is a budget. Where is the money going to come from? The
budget is going to help pay to keep key personnel proficiently trained and able to respond to any
given scenario. This is the same budget that pays for key resources such as facilities and
infrastructures, detection, and surveillance systems. Planning, allocation of resources, and
budgeting all correlate to the emergency management function.
What does the Bible say about mitigation and preparedness?
Proverbs 22:3 – “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes
blindly on and suffers the consequences.” This passage clearly outlines mitigation and
preparedness as only fools fail to see the risks from threats. That a “prudent”, a wise person
prepares and makes sufficient preparations to deal with the coming of a disaster. Lastly, if an
individual fails to see and prepare for the risk, the threat greatly increases and so will the
consequences.
References
Nemeth, C. P. (2017). Homeland security: An introduction to principles and practices (3rd ed.).
Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis (CRC Press). ISBN: 9781498749091.
FEMA. (2019). National Response Framework (4th ed). Department of Homeland Security.
Donahue, A. K., & Joyce, P. G. (2001). A framework for analyzing emergency management with
an application to federal budgeting. Public Administration Review, 61(6), 728-740.
http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1111/0033-3352.00143
Reddick C. (2011). Information technology and emergency management: preparedness and
planning in US states. Vol. 35. Pp. 45-61. ISSN: 1467-7717.
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