Emergency Management Chapter 1-3

Avalanche

Avalanche: mass of ice/snow moving downhill at a high velocity. Risk of an avalanche increases as temps increase and snowpack becomes unstable.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Impediments to mitigation?

Denial of risk Political agendas Lack of funding Lack of education/willful ignorance

Landslides

Landslides - dry rock, soil or debris moving uncontrolled down a slope

Liquefaction

Liquefaction - seismic or hydrologic activity causes soil to become saturated and spread apart, becoming more liquid than solid

What was the emergency management policy during the cold war?

"Be like Bert the Turtle" ***The Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) provided technical support to local & state level civil defense directors. These directors were the OG local emergency managers. - OG emergency managers - no homeland security or FEMA - In reality FCDA merely existed to assist local and state level governments, sounds similar to FEMA - Early in game see emphasis on local level response, response begins where it happens - During this era natural disasters handle by federal government when need, but not many natural disasters in this era ***The Office of Defense Mobilization was established by the DOD to allow for quick production, stockpiling & mobilization of critical materials in the event of a war. - Creates something to build off - Can use ideas and logistics and transfer it over to next disaster and time period

Hurricane major seasons in 2000s

2004 hurricane season: 9 hurricanes, 6 major including Charley and Ivan 2005 hurricane season: most active in recorded history // 15 hurricanes, 7 major including Katrina, Rita, Wilma and Dennis

Wildfires

3 categories: 1. Ground - usually started by lightning and burn on or just below the surface floor - Ground fires burn organic matter in the soil beneath debris on the ground 2. Surface - most common, burn along the forest floor, move slowly killing & damaging trees - Surface fires burn leaf litter, fallen branches & other fuels that build up along the ground 3. Crown - burn through the forest canopy and spread much more rapidly due to wind - Crown fires burn through the top layer of foliage. These are the most intense & can be the most difficult to contain

Tornado

A rapidly rotating funnel of air extending to the ground from a supercell (thunder storm) Measured using the Fujita-Pearson Tornado Scale, aka the Fujita scale, more accurately the Enhanced Fujita scale (EF-0 to EF-5) Tornado Alley Dixie Alley - Almost averages as many as in Tornado Alley - In Tornado Alley have great planes so easier to see Tornados than in Dixie Alley - radars making up deficit and reveal quantity of tornados in Dixie - More humidity and rain in south, Tornado rain wrapped and hard to see - Tornados more often at night, more often in afternoon in Midwest

Tsunamis

A wave or series of waves generated by a mass displacement of sea or lake water Tsunamis can reach heights of over 100 ft & extend a mile or more onto land

New Madrid Seismic Zone

According to USGS this zone is at significant risk for damaging earthquakes Most cannot be detected by humans but constantly occurring Major quakes in 1811 and 1812, two additional major ones in last 2,000 year, likely another major earthquake will occur again Little attention paid to this zone New Madrid zone is not where two plates meet, no idea why earthquakes happen in the middle of the plates Located in Southern/Midwestern America near Tennessee

What major natural disaster occurred in 1900

Galveston Hurricane About 6,000 killed Little to no warning Island city in Texas Most deadly natural disaster in history

What happened in April 1995 that led to major change?

April 1995 - Lead to Major Change Rental truck with explosives outside exploded outside federal court building in Oklahoma City August 1996 FEMA released their report on the event and focused on mitigation - Focused on reviewing damaging and building structure - FEMA solidifying role as mitigation

Biological

Biological - live organisms or toxins produced by live organisms that can kill or incapacitate humans, livestock & crops. Grouped into 3 primary categories: bacteria, viruses & toxins Can be delivered covertly or overtly. Bacteria and viruses rarely have an immediate effect unlike toxins. Examples: anthrax, smallpox, ricin

Structural Fires

Can be triggered by lightning, faulty electrical infrastructure, accidents or arson and intensified by winds, dry conditions.

Chemical

Chemical - naturally occurring or man-made liquids, gasses, or solids (dust) toxic upon exposure. Must be delivered onto or around intended victims (aerosol spray, introduced into food or water supply, released by explosives). Can be invisible, tasteless, odorless and may be affective immediately or delayed. Symptoms of exposure are difficulty breathing, nausea, burning sensation in eyes, skin or lungs, seizures Examples: chlorine gas, nerve agents, sarin gas

CBRN Incidents

Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear This class of weapons has the potential to cause an extraordinary degree of deaths, injuries and property destruction (aka WMDs)

FEMA in the 90s

Considering the current state of the agency, how equipped do you think they were for Hurricanes Hugo ('89) & Andrew ('92). President Clinton appoints James Lee Witt director of FEMA in 1993. Witt instituted reforms to increase unity and consistency within the agency. He also repaired relationships with state and local emergency managers. Unfortunately, the changes made by Witt had ample opportunities to be tested.

What is a disaster?

Disaster - when the response requirements of an emergency or event exceed the capabilities of established emergency services in one or more critical areas

Droughts differ from other natural hazards in what ways?

Droughts differ from other natural hazards in 3 ways: 1. A drought's onset and conclusion are difficult to determine because the effects accumulate slowly & may linger even after it seems to have ended 2. There is no precise or universally accepted determination of official drought conditions or degree of severity 3. Droughts effects are less obvious & affect a larger geographic area

What are the mitigation tools?

Early tools: building codes, warning systems, public education In the past century, deaths from natural disasters has significantly declined, however, economic effects and property damages have escalated Technological disasters can be more difficult to analyze. - Increased/improved intelligence & security? - Better inspections, training, education & exercises? - Improve building construction? - All of the above? - Or are those preparedness tactics rather than mitigation? Remember: the primary intent of mitigation is to create economically secure, socially stable, better built, and more environmentally sound communities - sustainable communities that are out of harm's way Mitigation tools known to reduce risk: - Hazard identification & mapping - Design & construction applications - Land-use planning - Financial incentives - Insurance - Structural controls

What is a natural hazard?

Essentially any hazards that exist in the natural environment; hydrological, meteorological, seismic, geologic, volcanic, etc. The risk associated with natural hazards is often intensified in scope and scale by human activities, including development and modification of landscape

Federal mitigation programs: National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program

Established by Congress in 1977 to reduce earthquake hazard risks to life & property *** Goals: 1. Improve understanding, characterization & prediction of hazards and vulnerabilities Improve model building codes & land-use practices 2. Reduce risk through post-quake investigations & education 3. Accelerate application of research results Improve mitigation capacity *** NEHRP is a multiagency effort. Agency responsibilities: National Institutes of Science & Technology (NIST) - Lead agency; responsible for earthquake engineering research to provide the technical basis for building codes, standards & practices FEMA - emergency response & management, estimate loss potential, implement mitigation actions National Science Foundation (NSF) - conducts research in seismology, earthquake engineering and social, behavioral & economic sciences USGS - operates seismic networks, develops seismic hazard maps, coordinates post-quake investigations

What is the Stafford Act

Establishes a federal process for declaring a disaster Also work on creating a plan to tackle disaster and what states need to do to qualify for assistance

Severe Winter Storms

Extreme cold coincides with excess moisture, causing rapid & heavy snow/ice accumulation, + high winds = blizzard Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS) values range from 1 (least severe) to 5 (most severe)

Federal mitigation programs: The National Hurricane Program

FEMA program supporting activities at the federal, state and local level focusing on the physical effects of hurricanes, improving response capability & new mitigation techniques This program has made strides in storm surge modeling, evacuation planning, design & construction in vulnerable areas, and public awareness programs. ***Useful tool: HURREVAC All this in spite of its average $3 million budget

Reorganization Plan Number 3

Fundamental Organizational Principles: 1. Federal authorities who were to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to major civil emergencies should be supervised by one official who is responsible to the president and given attention by other officials at the highest levels 2. An effective civil defense system requires the most efficient use of all available resources 3. Whenever possible, emergency responsibilities should be extensions of federal agencies 4. Federal hazard mitigation activities should be closely linked with emergency preparedness and response functions Created FEMA

Federal mitigation programs: Flood Map Assistance Program

Funded by the NFIP to help states & communities reduce or eliminate long-term risk of flood damage to structures eligible for insurance through the NFIP. Provides planning grants to prepare Flood Mitigation Plans. Communities with approved FMPs can apply for project grants to implement measures to reduce flood losses

Volcanic Eruptions

Gases and rock shoot through the volcano opening, spill over & fill the air with lava fragments Causes direct burns, suffocation from ash, trauma from debris Can trigger mudflows from quickly melted snow & ice Lateral blasts have knocked down entire forests Airborne ash can affect populations hundreds of miles away and influence global climates for years Volcanic ash contaminates water supplies, causes electrical storms, can cause roofs to collapse from debris weight Mt. St. Helen's

What were some changes in the 70s?

George Bernstein & the Flood Insurance Act of 1972 Among a number of other federal departments and agencies, HUD possessed the most significant authority for natural disaster response & recovery. 1978 - Reorganization Plan Number 3 - - FEMA President Carter submitted a plan to Congress to consolidate emergency preparedness, mitigation and response activities into one Federal Emergency Management Agency. He also stated that the director of FEMA would report directly to the president. ***Just in time for... 3 Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania

Old school mitigation models?

Great Mississippi Flood 1927 - Prompted levee building 1937 flooding again Built a real life model - Took 23 years to build

What is one of the first events that promoted Congress to pass a law relating to disaster recovery? What did that law say?

Great Portsmouth Parade Fire (December 1802) Congress passes the first act to provide financial assistance for disaster recovery at the state/local level. • Destroyed 114 buildings and a major port for delivering supplies ***This act first ever federal authorization for disaster relief at the state and federal level - many others followed • Government got involved due to the port involved in importing good to all of the US

Hazardous Materials

HAZMATs are chemical substances that can pose a threat to lives & the environment if released or misused. These chemicals are basically everywhere: agriculture, medicine, traveling down interstates and railroads & rivers May be explosive, flammable, corrosive, poisonous, radioactive aka dangerous Releases most often occur as a result of transportation accidents or accidental releases at production and storage facilities

Useful tool for hurricane preparation?

HURREVAC

"Active hurricane season"

Hard to define active season 2015 first year in Pacific since reliable record keeping in 1971 that this area had this many hurricanes

What is a hazard?

Hazard - a source of danger that may or may not lead to an emergency or disaster

What is Hazards Risk Management?

Hazards Risk Management- the process by which individuals, communities, and countries deal with the hazard risks they face 4 step process: 1. Identify the hazards 2. Assess the risks for each identified hazard 3. Analyze the hazards risks in relation to one another 4. Treat the hazards risk according to prioritization

Extreme Temperatures

Heat wave - temps of 10+ degrees above the average high persist for several days or weeks There is no widely accepted standard for extreme cold. However, any time temps fall below freezing, humans and animals are at risk of hypothermia.

What natural disaster lead to change in emergency management in the sixties?

Hebgen Lake earthquake, August 1959 - 7.3 on the Richter Scale - Located in Yellowstone, Montana - Affected people camping and those visiting - Significant because it proved states away from the West coast could experience major earthquakes New Madrid Earthquake Zone***

Hurricanes

Hurricanes Cyclonic tropical storm with sustained winds measuring at least 74 mph *** Quantified by the Saffir-Simpson 1-5 scale Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov 30 What are the peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season? - Early September Tropical storms get a name, but tropical depressions do not get named Evacuate New Orleans at category 3 with other factors Hurricane scale based on sustained wind speed Hurricane 74mph + Tropical storm 39 mph - 73mph

Insurace

If properly designed, insurance can be a tool for mitigation. Hurricane Katrina, with an estimated $40-55 billion in insured losses, has resulted in changes for the insurance industry. As a result, the insurance industry has steadily withdrawn coverage from many Gulf Coast areas & in other coastal areas, claiming they would have to raise rates to unaffordable levels

Katrina and FEMA

Katrina in numbers: - 1800+ lives lost - 1.5 million+ impacted - 800k+ displaced - 24,273 rescued by US Coast Guard - Disaster relief expenses estimated over $100 billion - NFIP paid more than 16 million to over 205,000 who filed claims

Technological Hazards

Manmade hazards, a product of technological innovation and human development. Typically less understood than natural hazards Increasing in number as our dependency on technology increases Most commonly arise from transportation, infrastructure, industry & structures

How was the Department of Homeland Security created?

March 2002 - President Bush signs Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3 (HSPD-3) November 2002 - President Bush signs the Homeland Security Act Mission of the HS Act: 1. Protect the US from further terrorist attacks 2. Reduce the nation's vulnerability to terrorism 3. Minimize the damage from potential terrorist attacks and natural disasters

Storm Surge

Masses of water pushed to the shore by meteorological forces Primary cause of injuries, deaths, and structural damages associated with hurricanes, cyclones, nor-easters, etc. Surge height is determined by the size & intensity of the storm, tide height at landfall, and sea floor slope ***NHC's (National Hurricane Center) SLOSH computer model estimates storm surge heights - major factor in determining evacuations

Floods

May be caused by a number of factors, including heavy rainfall, melting snow, landslides, infrastructure failure, etc. Floods are the most frequent & widespread disaster in many countries, including the US, due to the prevalence of human development in the floodplain FEMA estimates approx. 8-10 million households are at risk from flooding in the US Check out the FEMA flood risk map for your area at maps.riskmap6.com/LA In last five years all fifty states have experienced flooding or flash flooding "Turn around don't drown"

What is the emergency management cycle?

Mitigation Preparedness Response Recovery - Cycle, not linear process - Mitigation not necessarily the 1st step

What is mitigation?

Mitigation - a sustained action to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from hazards and their effects Mitigation looks at long-term solutions to reducing risk. Mitigation involves participation & support well beyond EM: land-use planners, building officials, business owners, insurance companies, engineers, etc. Mitigation often requires a separate skillset from typical EM role: marketing, public relations, political savvy, consensus building - Need experts - Need to get people attention and political savvy - marketing

Land use planning

Mitigation programs are most successful when they happen at the local level, where most development decisions are made. Land-use planning was one of the earliest tools used to encourage mitigation...the National Flood Insurance Act that established the NFIP. Moving structures out of harm's way through property acquisition is the most effective land-use planning tool, but it is also the most expensive and often unpopular. Property acquisition - Government has home appraised and government offers you money, they buy you out whether you want to or not - Reduces homes in high risk area - Can be unpopular and controversial

Earthquakes

More than 1 billion people live in seismic zones Earthquakes can (and often do) trigger additional hazards including landslides, avalanches, fires, flash floods & tsunamis Seismic-sensing technology effectively measures & tracks activity but can only predict a major event accurately within a minute or two Quantified by 2 scales: Richter & Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Greater than 6.5-7 on the Richter scale = major earthquake

Mudflows/Mudslides

Mudflows/Mudslides - water-saturated rivers of rock, earth & debris drawn downward by gravity - Washington state mudslide March 2014

Federal mitigation programs: The Fire Prevention & Assistance Act

Multimillion-dollar grant program created to support the needs of the nation's paid & volunteer fire departments and to support prevention activities

What is the NFIP?

National Flood Insurance Plan Created by congress because of repeated high costs to individuals from hurricanes & floods Congress agreed to subsidize the cost of insuring homes in hazardous areas (river deltas, coastlines) Provided funding for mitigation efforts to reduce risks Communities must comply with flood elevation requirements & strengthening building codes in flood prone areas Decades later, the NFIP is considered one of the most successful mitigation programs ever created.

What were some other changes in the 60s?

Natural disasters abound & ad hoc legislation continues until... National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) The NFIP sought to address risk before a disaster could strike. Ta Da! Mitigation! When a community joined the NFIP, they were offered federally subsidized, low-cost flood insurance for their citizens in exchange for restricting future development in its floodplains. The government would also help by producing maps of community's floodplains

Changes in the 80s

Natural disasters less frequent, nuclear attack again the primary concern Under the Reagan administration, emphasis was on national security responsibilities and resources and budgeting were allocated as such FEMA ends up caught in a political tug of war over its responsibilities. Yet in spite of (or perhaps because of) it all...The Stafford Act is passed. A bit of clarity in a time of much uncertainty. *** Stafford Act

Comapring two earthquakes

Northridge, CA 1994 - 6.7 magnitude - 60 fatalities - Damage estimate = $20 billion Port Au Prince 2010 - 7.0 magnitude - 220,000-316,000 fatalities (estimates vary) - Damage estimate = $14 billion

Nuclear

Nuclear - cause harm through the activation of a fission or fusion chain reaction. Only possible through the most advanced weapons technology & only using the most refined nuclear materials in quantities necessary to sustain a blast effect A nuclear blast emits intense light, heat, and damaging pressure and disperses radioactive debris over a widespread area contaminating air, water and land for miles

State of the NFIP (Familiar not memorized)

Numerous mitigation programs are directly associated with the NFIP Program funded through the collection of premiums, not through Congressional appropriations 2012 - President Obama signs the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act reauthorizing the NFIP & creating reforms aimed at making the program more financially & structurally sound. The goal was to change the way the NFIP operates, to raise rates to reflect true flood risk, & make the program more financially stable. 2014 - President Obama signs the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, modifying certain BW provisions. According to FEMA, this law lowers the rate increases on some policies, prevents some future rate increases, & implements a surcharge on all policyholders. It also repeals certain rate increases that have already gone into effect & provides for refunds to those policyholders. Program currently in debt by an est $24 billion NFIP celebrates 50th anniversary in 2018, aims for 50 more years

Federal mitigation programs: Severe Repetitive Loss Program

Provides funding to projects that mitigate damage to residential properties insured by NFIP. Designed to reduce (even better - eliminate!) repeated claims for properties that have 4+ claims >5k within 10 years or 2+ separate claims where total damage exceeds value within 10 years

1992 - Andrew

Peaceful June, July, early August First storm named on August 17th 6 named storms 4 hurricanes, 3 of which never made landfall Only 1 single hurricane developed into a major hurricane... and made landfall Category 5 - $26.5 billion in damages.

Dam Failures

Pose the most extreme flood risk - impacts are sudden and severe. Failures are most often the result of maintenance neglect or damage from a major event (earthquake, collision or blast) Dams are both publicly & privately owned & maintained, so monitoring can be challenging

FEMA Today

President Obama's administration considered removing FEMA from DHS and returning it to its former position as an independent agency Then Secretary of DHS Janet Napolitano advocated to keep FEMA within DHS and resolved to strengthen the agency Craig Fugate named Director of FEMA in 2009 - - Place empahsis on whole community approach Fugate placed emphasis on the Whole Community approach. This approach attempts to engage the private and nonprofit sectors, including the general public, in local disaster preparedness, response, recovery & mitigation. Who is the current FEMA Director? - William Brock Long Following Hurricane Sandy, President Obama assigned recovery operations to the Secretary of HUD. FEMA played virtually no role in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing. Who was the lead agency? - FBI FEMA & Harvey - TBD

Federal mitigation programs: Project Impact

Project Impact: 1997 - launched by the Clinton admin in 7 pilot communities. Mitigation had to be geared toward hazards within the community & all sectors of the community had to be involved (including businesses). 2001 - more than 200 communities participating 2002 - 6.8 earthquake strikes Seattle, mayor attributes minimal damages & prompt recovery to the city's Project Impact program The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: provides mitigation funding not dependent on a disaster declaration Project Impact - Funding not dependent on disaster declaration - - Then became Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program

Drought

Prolonged shortage of available water, primarily due to insufficient rain or exceptionally high temps & low humidity

Nuclear Accidents

Radioactive materials generate power, lead to scientific discoveries and imaging technologies and...emit radiation that can cause immediate and lasting damage to human bodies National & international law dictates who possesses these materials, how they're used, how & where they must be disposed of Nuclear power plants across the US are required to maintain emergency response plans to maintain their operating licenses On-site plans are approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) & off-site plans are evaluated by FEMA Waterford 3 Nuclear Power Plant - 32.6 miles away

Radiological

Radiological - expose victims to damaging energy emitted by unstable radioactive materials These require little technological innovation to use, however the materials needed are rare, highly controlled & difficult to obtain. Most common sources are research labs, medical facilities and hazardous waste containment facilities. Worst case scenario: terrorist group obtains radiological materials & causes destruction via a dirty bomb or RDD (radiological dispersion device). Or they attack a nuclear facility.

The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKERMA)

Required DHS to reconsolidate all emergency management functions, including preparedness, into FEMA Elevated the status of FEMA within the department Protects FEMA assets from reassignment within DHS Gives FEMA enhanced organizational autonomy

What is a risk?

Risk - a measure of the likelihood that a hazard will lead to an actual emergency or disaster and the potential consequences should the event occur

Rockfalls

Rockfalls: rocks detach from a steep slope/cliff and freefall

What are structural controls?

Structural controls are a controversial mitigation tool. Typically, they're used to protect existing development. However - by doing so they can have both positive & negative effects on the areas they are not protecting. Structural controls are used to control the hazard, not reduce it. Designed to control the hazard not to reduce it Example - Dam - Levee - Spillway

Terrorism

Terrorism Definition: the use of force or violence against civilians or property for purposes of intimidation, coercion, or spreading fear in order to attain political, religious, or ideological goals Primary method for managing the terrorist threat: both covert & overt intelligence gathering. This involves a delicate balance between monitoring civilian actions & allowing freedom and personal privacy FBI categorizes terrorism into 2 subgroups: 1. Domestic - groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are aimed internally at government or people without foreign direction 2. International - groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are aimed at other countries or whose activities transcend national boundaries

Design and construction applications

The design & construction process is one of the most cost-effective means of addressing risks. States are responsible for enacting building codes. Case Study: Rancho Santa Fe, CA 2460 multimillion $ homes constructed with strictest possible construction standards survived extremely well during the Oct. 2007 Witch Fire. Standards included interior fire sprinklers, fire-resistant vegetation, extensive defensible space & are strictly maintained by the local fire marshal

Financial Incentives

The financial incentives tool is an emerging area for promoting mitigation. Residents are offered special tax assessments or relocation expenses. Communities vote to pass tax increases or bonds to pay for mitigation. Local governments target federal community development grants.

What is the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program?

The largest source of funding for state & local mitigation activities. After a major disaster has been declared by the president, this program provides grants to implement long-term hazard mitigation. HMGP projects must reduce risks & the benefits must exceed the costs. Examples: elevation of structures, building code enforcement, local flood-control projects, public education & awareness

What is hazard identification and mapping?

The most essential part of any mitigation plan is an analysis of the hazards in a particular area. The federal government has programs available to communities that map for virtually every hazard: 1. FEMA's NFIP provides detailed flood maps 2. USGS provides extensive earthquake & landslide studies and maps 3. GIS (Geographic information systems) have become staples for all aspects of local planning FEMA Hazus-MH FEMA Hazus - Standardizes methodology to estimate loses - Uses GIS to estimate physical, economic, and geographic loses - Takes into account all variables - Users can understand relations between things on the ground - Structural and economic mitigation

What was the flood control act of 1936?

This act gave the US Army Corps of Engineers increased authority to design and build flood-control projects. This is a significant piece of emergency management legislation with long-lasting impacts. *** This act gave the US army Corps of Engineers increased authority to design and build flood-control projects This is a significant piece of emergency management legislation with long lasting impacts Pro o Allowed cities to grow o Economic growth o Resources o Promote population growth Cons o Can lead to disaster and mishaps o Effects environment and ecosystems o Establishing a philosophy that nature can be controled o Area of increased risk o Can lead to more buildings and people at risk

Hurricane Forecasting

Two types 1. NOAA's CPC (Climate Prediction Center) annual hurricane forecast 2. Computer models: GFS (by National Weather Service in US), ECMWF (European)