HLSC 510 Discussion Board 1
“Be Prepared” is the Boy Scout motto and as an Eagle Scout, I strongly feel preparedness
is the most important phase of emergency management. I believe the reason why preparedness is
the most important phase is because it involves protecting yourself and others from as many
known hazards as possible. In emergency management, there have been countless failures in
which preparedness was not properly executed and it resulted in tragic consequences. The United
States spends considerable taxpayer funding for preparation which suggests the efforts are
worthwhile and that we can do something about potential threats. Preparedness covers a wide
range of activities done in advance of a disaster (Phillips et al., 2016). This can also involve
passing laws or creating policies that are aimed at improving readiness. These pre-disaster
activities also help improve capabilities for disaster response and recovery operations (Sylves,
2019). Not only is this smart, but it also follows Biblical wisdom and guidance. Obviously on the
individual level, it is a forward-thinking mentality that involves planning ahead for potential
hardship. Regardless of where you live, the threat of hazard(s) will always be present. Natural
disasters cannot be avoided, generally speaking and we know they pose significant threats that
could put you and your family at risk. The entire community will also be at risk so taking steps to
prepare helps minimize the impact should be a priority.
It is best that emergency managers and their staff be housed in a secure location that is
centrally located within close proximity to the emergency operations center. This allows all the
necessary players in the emergency response command structure to come together quickly when
a crisis arises. This could be in a city building, government facility, or a fire or police department
location. By having all the leadership located near a primary city government facility, the ability
to effectively communicate and respond to the crisis is improved. “At the local level, emergency
support services are usually within the departments of local government. These units are
expected to be staffed in a way that enables them to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day”
(Sylves, 2019, p. 11). Obviously, this facility should have adequate provisioning to endure
known environmental threats, and the ability to operate independently should there be a loss of
utilities.
The location for emergency management function is well served when collocated in a
place where law enforcement, fire and rescue services are present. These are the very
professionals trained in all facets of emergency response and it demonstrates proper planning and
coordination when these resources are all close to one another. Conversely, not having this type
of central resource planning is indicative of a poorly designed emergency management strategy.
If manpower cannot be quickly gathered in a facility equipped to synergize resources, lifesaving
decision making during a crisis is diminished considerably.
The emergency operations center (EOC) is a site where leadership from various agencies
and levels of government can come together to “meet, confer, render decisions, and communicate
with one another and externally to others” (Sylves, 2019, p. 423). Ultimately, EOCs serve as a
place to support the disaster management team and its leadership during times of crisis.
Similarly, fusion centers provide a centralized location for local emergency managers to
coordinate efforts with federal terrorism-focused law enforcement and local emergency
managers. These locations serve as the command headquarters for all parties tasked with
responding to crisis and threats to the community. Having these facilities in place means nothing
however if emergency preparedness training has not taken place. Everyone should know their
role at the time of crisis and be prepared to respond accordingly to the types of anticipated
threats possible.
There are many places where Biblical wisdom can be found that apply to emergency
management. One Bible verse that provides guidance and wisdom says: “For, brethren, ye have
been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one
another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself” (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Galatians 5:13-14). There are many verses that apply to
emergency management, but I chose this one because of how it ends. It commands us to love our
neighbors as ourselves. This verse reminds us to always us to be ready to serve others and
especially those in need. There will be occasions when disaster strikes and brings hardship to our
fellow neighbors, but we cannot turn our backs on them. Emergency managers and first
responders are servant leaders who fulfill a vital role to the community during their time of need.
References
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
(Original work published 1769)
Phillips, B. D., Neal, D. M., & Webb, G. R. (2016). Introduction to Emergency Management
(2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781315394688
Sylves, R. T. (2019). Disaster Policy and Politics (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc.
(US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781506368702
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
