Andrew Langstaff
Liberty University
HLSC510 Homeland Security Organization and Administration
Discussion Thread: Emergency Management Doctrine
Dr. McAteer
12 May 2022
Which phase of emergency management do you find most important and why: mitigation,
preparedness, response, or recovery?
The preparedness phase of emergency management is the most important. In this phase
local, state, federal entities can plan and train for the future disaster. “Developing a response plan
and training first responders to save lives and reduce disaster damage, identifying critical
resources, and developing necessary agreements among responding agencies, both within the
jurisdiction and with other jurisdictions.” (Sylves, 2019, P. 36). In the military there’s a mentality
of train how you fight; you create different scenarios that may happen, and you train it over and
over. This framework encompasses the most likely course of action, and the deadliest course of
action.
The other three phases of emergency management are still vital to the mission of
safeguarding our nation. In the mitigation phase we use intelligence and risk assessments to
reduce the likelihood of disasters. Then there’s response operations, which is about speed and
efficiency because lives are at stake. Note that speed, efficiency in response efforts only improve
when organizations are prepared, through planning and training. Lastly recovery takes place post
disaster, and that is necessary in building back better than before.
Where should the emergency manager and his or her staff be housed within local
government and why there? It is often found in various places such as a stand-alone
agency, part of fire or police. What might it tell you based on where it is, and the staffing
level and resources allocated to the emergency management function?
Emergency managers must be able to understand all “elements of public law, public
management, environmental policy, and disaster sociology.” (Sylves, 2019, P.12). In addition,
these entities are typically staffed with experienced personal from all types of local response
organizations that enables them to respond 24 hours a day. With that being said, local emergency
managers should continue to be housed where they have direct lines to either the chief admin
officer or state emergency manager, since these agencies have direct lines to the state governor.
With the expertise that these agencies bring, both state and local, they “can document disaster
loss more accurately through more expert damage assessments, and thus governors now have a
stronger factual basis for requesting declarations of major disaster than they did earlier.” (Sylves,
2019, P. 18). If certain emergency management functions are housed with fire or police, it just
emphasizes the lack of funding that these agencies get. If not that, then it can either highlight the
lack or trust or even importance in which state and local governments place in these agencies.
Where does an emergency operations center (EOC) and Fusion Center fit into the overall
process?
An emergency operations center is an “organizing concept as well as a central
management and coordination facility responsible for carrying out emergency management or
disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation.” (Sylves, 2019, P.
423). Once an EOC is activated, it is a gathering of leadership at all levels, across numerous
organizations. This “leaders huddle” is where cross talking amongst local, state, federal entities
occur. This gathering enables coordination and allows the proper assets needed in the field for
response and recovery operations to occur in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Fusion Centers “are centers for sharing information and intelligence within their
jurisdictions, as well as with the federal government.” (Nemeth, 2017, P. 257). The main
functions of fusion centers are data/information gathering, processing of information, analysis of
the data, and then sharing/disseminating to the proper state, local, tribal channels. The fusion
process helps enhance the national treat picture.
Biblical Passage (Concept or Practice of Emergency Management)
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.” – Colossians 2: 6-7
This verse from Colossians is about finding focus. This can be finding focus through your
job and faith when you experience adversity. Remember what your role is and how crucial you
are. Remember what Jesus has done, all you need to keep pressing forward is through him.
References
Nemeth, C. P. (2017). Homeland security: An introduction to principles and practices (3rd ed.).
Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis (CRC Press). ISBN: 9781498749091.
Sylves, R. T. (2019). Disaster Policy and Politics. [MBS Direct]. Retrieved
from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781506368702/
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