Final Oral Exam Crisis and Disaster Issues

Earthquakes

Can cause Tsunamis. Occur in the crust or upper mantle Can be caused from volcanic eruptions It is the shaking of surface of the earth resulting from a sudden release of energy Result from the movement of tectonic plates. Plates will slide along each other, catch, and build up energy which is then released. Alternatively, they will press against each other until one slips above or underneath the other Measured with the Richter Scale Primary threat areas are on the pacific rim, as well as the New Madrid fault

Weakness of Professional Model

Downplays the role of government and first responders Overlooks benefits of SOPs Fails to see details of field-level operations Fails to recognize the importance hierarchical leadership Can miss the the detail that is required in specific hazards May downplay the importance of emergency services

Principles of Emergency Management

-Mitigation: alleviate the effects of a disaster or minimize the effects of a disaster -Preparedness: support and enhance response, emphasises risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities. -Response: Response to the disaster such as emergency services, sending out supplies, looking for victims etc. -Recovery: Following the crisis rebuilding and returning to a normal status, cleaning up, rebuilding damaged property and continuing day to day activities -Utilized by the Incident Command System and National Incident Management System which allows both private and public sectors to understand the terminology and the mission of the Emergency Management Cycle.

Decision-Making

A rational decision making is searching for a solution and picking one that is the best one for the situation at hand. Making decision under disaster conditions is difficult: Facing adversity- demand attention Image production- information that is gathered can be inaccurate Compressed time-acting quick Tragic choices- making hard choices and having drawbacks Fuzzy gambling- not knowing all of the information Strain and stress- taking a emotionally hit Group processes- failure to come together and agreeing on something

Disaster Recovery Center

Facility or mobile office that people can get information about fema and other disaster assistance programs They can help people fill out paperwork to receive disaster assistance Also help with understanding paperwork given to them by assistance agencies Help with loan applications

DOJ Investigating Minneapolis Police Dept.

General Merrick B. Garland announced the justice department has opened a practice investigation for the Minneapolis Police Department In response to Derrick Chauvin/George Floyd incident They will assess all types of force used by MPD officers Including uses of force involving individuals with behavioral health disabilities They will also conduct a comprehensive review of MPD policies, training, and supervision The Department of Justice will also reach out to community groups and members of the public to learn about their experiences with MPD

Damage Assessment

Identifies the extent of destruction after a disaster Calculates individual impact as well as economic losses in the community Identifies needs and resources that are needed within the community It is required for federal assistance Provides situational awareness as to the scope and severity of disaster events In past has been ignored, leading to the failure of resources to reach affected communities 4 types= windshield, rapid, preliminary, technical

The American Red Cross

Mission Statement "The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors" Fundamental Principles of the Global Red Cross Network Humanity Impartiality Neutrality Independence Voluntary Service Unity Universality Red Cross volunteers and staff work to deliver vital services from providing relief and support to those in crisis, to helping you be prepared to respond in emergenciesDisaster Relief Response - responds to emergencies every 8 minutes, 60,000 annually, 95% of disaster relief workers are volunteers, 90% of disasters ARC respond to are home fires Provides shelter, clean water, hot meals when they are needed Recovery Relief After the emergency phase of a response has been complete, we turn to helping people recover and addressing lingering community needs Some of these strategies include: Providing emergency financial assistance in the immediate aftermath of a disaster Distributing financial assistance for households that need extra help in long-term Providing grants for community-based recovery services ARC collects blood donations daily to help make a difference in lives of others Gives out training and certifications all the way from CPR to BLS

National Response Framework

Provides a framework for how to respond to a disaster. Sets a base for how responses should be done and what steps should be made. Provides a national standard to response and allows a foundation that can be built off of. Replaced the National Response Plan which was very rigid Framework is modular and scalable Resources can be mobilized or immobilized depending on needs in specific hazards and even specific time periods in those disasters Scalability and modularity lead to usefulness in any disaster. Just as applicable in a bombing in a major city as it is in a tornado in a rural area.

Categories of Public Assistance

Public assistance is directed toward governments, those eligible for Public Assistance include local/state governments, Indian tribes and private/nonprofit organizations. -Public assistance is divided into emergency assistance and permanent assistance. -Emergency Assistance is financial/other types of assistance to help state/local governments deal with immediate impacts of disasters. Permanent Assistance is financial payments to local/state governments for long term rebuilding activities. -Examples of Emergency assistance include assistance with the removal of debris and protective measures, which are a reimbursement category that has the purpose of reducing losses/eliminating threats to life/public health/safety. Sandbagging during a flood to limit property damage is an example of this. -Examples of Permanent assistance include road system assistance, water control assistance, public building.equipment assistance, public utility assistance, and other assistance.

Biden "Red Flag" Legislation/FedEx Shooting

Red flag laws allow the government to take guns and prevent the purchase of them by people determined to be a threat to themselves or others Brandon Hole, who shot 8 people at a Fedex building warranted a red flag law violation, however it did not go through He had told his mother he wanted death by cop, however the courts did not put the issue through because of how time consuming and difficult it is to obtain The gun was secured, so the court ignored this because they saw the issue as resolved This allowed Brandon Hole to purchase an assault rifle later on to commit the shooting

Positives of Traditional Model

SOPs provide clear guidelines for responders so they'll know what to do in a crisis situation War often produces more destruction than other disasters such as natural or technological The government is an important participant. They prevent terrorists from carrying out planned attacks and issue warnings and evacuate people from hazardous situations

VMAT

Stands for Veterinary Medical Assistant Team Has access to a full field hospital, and provides aid to people and care to animals Helps with food safety, zoonotic disease, terrorist events and toxicological problems Helps in disaster situations such as search and rescue after a hurricane, floods and fires Can be deployed to any state in 24 hours Designed for quick, rather than sustained response

Disaster Sectors

The Public Sector The public sector includes government entities at the local, state, and federal levels as well as tribal nations. City personnel, state agencies, federal officials, and tribal groups all form part of the public sector. The Private Sector- The private sector includes businesses who get involved in response and recovery operations. On many occasions, those in the private sector will operate independently in disasters, taking care of their own needs and interests. However, at other times, the private sector will help the community to deal with the disaster and may be a vital asset for those working in EM. The responsibilities of the private sector are broad and range from emergency medical care to reporting and the settlement of insurance claims. The Nonprofit Sector- Nonprofit organizations are charitable agencies that are prohibited by law from gaining financially for their humanitarian services to individuals and communities. While there are many nonprofit organizations that do not have a relation to EM, there are others that become heavily involved in disasters when they occur. A well-known example is the American Red Cross, but there are a host of other religious and community groups.

Interoperability

The ability to communicate and operate across and with various disaster organizations. Communication is difficult due to technological and human factors, and coordination suffers as a result. Decision making is often challenging because of incomplete and ever-changing information. Transportation systems become disrupted, which complicates response and recovery operations. Organizations don't see eye to eye for political reasons, and blame is placed on those who are regarded to be responsible for mistakes and failures. Numerous people have unique needs after a disaster, and these must be met in an effective and expeditious manner. Lawsuits may be witnessed as people express anger for the loss of life and property. Record keeping is problematic because of the many activities taking place or because the disaster results in their loss. If you are to overcome these challenges after a disaster, it is imperative that you fully comprehend their causes and what can be done about them.

The Public Sector

The public sector includes government entities such as local, state, and Federal levels. Local governments are an example of the public sector, mayors, fire departments, police departments and emergency managers are an example. State resources such as state police, state fire services and the National guard are some examples, state governments may also allocate resources and contact Federal Governments. The public sector is often the first sector to begin operations before and after a disaster has struck. The public sector receives support and funds during a disaster, their funds fall under that of Public Assistance. Those within the public sector may work together in mutual agreements to overcome a disaster or in the event a disaster is out of their scope of control.

Regulations on Debris Removal

There are variety of regulations that that pertain to debris removal, and to get reimbursement for expenses must follow these guidelines: Debris is direct result of the disaster Found within the designated disaster area Minimize threats to lives and public health Reduce the additional damage to public/private property Help the economic recovery of the area Debris within the area must be removed and disposed of within a set time period In some situations, debris must be identified and a request is sent to FEMA within 90 days of the disaster declaration. If approved of, the debris must be removed and disposed of within 180 days of the declaration. There are also ineligible debris guidelines that must be followed: Trees/Tree trunks from unaffected zones Sediments from channels that are a result of the disaster (natural buildup in a river basin) Debris from private roads/gated communities Extra tree trimmings/trees cut up by contractors Yard waste coming from unmaintained lots Construction debris created from contractor demolition/repairs

Volunteer Management

There is mass participation of untrained volunteers, leading to a variety of issues There can be a lack of direction Volunteer responders will often show preference for some victims over others Professional teams may or may not work with emergent groups Lack of skills - Volunteers may lack the necessary training or skill that are needed for the particular disaster. Number - the sheer number of volunteers can be overwhelming to manage. safety - As with the media, volunteers create additional concern about safety. Frustration- Volunteers often get frustrated if they can not help, this can be due to their lack of skill, excessive numbers, or restrictions based on safety.

Johnson and Johnson Vaccine

This is a single injection COVID-19 vaccine that is administered into the upper arm and recommended for those over 18. -Unlike some of the other vaccines for COVID-19 the Johnson and Johnson vaccine does not need to be stored frozen. -Command side effects of this vaccine include pain, redness, swelling, tiredness, chills, fever, muscle pain, etc. -In trials the vaccine was found to be 66.3% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, 85% effective in preventing evere COVID-19 and 100% effective in preventing hospitalization by the disease. -The Johnson and Johnson vaccine entered Phase 3 of the clinical trials in September of 2020 and it was complete by December 17, 2020 -Clinical trials for the vaccine first started back in June 2020 -This vaccine's use was put on pause on April 13, 2021 after some people who took it developed blood clots. The CDC has said a meeting to discuss this vaccine will be held on April 23, 2021. The CDC also recommends people who have taken this vaccine in the past 3 weeks seek medical aid if they begin displaying a certain number of specific symptoms.

Pre-Assesment Activities

To effectively assess damages, you will need to meet with others and distribute more assignments Hold Meetings - after a disaster occurs, all of those involved in damage assessment should meet to discuss various issues. During the meeting, you will identify: The process of conducting the assessment You will also need to make participants aware of how to fill out the forms correctly and completely Key distribution should also be discussed so inspectors can enter buildings Individuals/teams should know who they should report to and how to communicate concerns/questions Make sure you/your team announces the deadline as well as location for turning in the assessment Make things clear, especially the dangers that are presented Make arrangements for firefighters/ems personnel to participate in damage assessment in the case that someone becomes injured Plan Routes - during the meeting, it will be necessary that you identify access routes and locations of responsibility To avoid gaps or duplications in counting, one will want to divide the affected area into geographic districts The area should be distributed in a logical manner and clearly assigned to individuals and teams - maps will be useful in this route assignment planning In some cases, more than others, it will be necessary to send someone out to spray paint the street names on the asphalt at the meeting intersections

National Disaster Medical System

Used to supplement state and local medical resources during disasters or emergencies Mobilize and deploy medical teams, supplies, and equipment to disaster affected areas 105 teams which can be activated by FEMA Specialty teams include pediatric, burn care, mortuary, pharmacist, mental health, and veterinary Teams are also staged at other large events such as the inauguration, so that they are already present in case of some sort of attack

Tornadoes

Violent rotating column of air that is in contact with the earth and the clouds. Can last between just a few minutes and a few hours. The Tri-State tornado lasted over 3.5 hours for example. Forms from a thunderstorm. Can form on land or over water. There are multiple types/forms of tornadoes: Waterspout, dust devil, satellite tornado, wedge tornado, cone tornado, multi vortex tornadoes, rope tornadoes, fire tornadoes. Usually there is hail involved with a tornado. Fujita pearson is used to measure tornadoes on a scale from F0-F5, with an F6 tornado being listed as possible in theory, as well as an F7 again being listed as possible in theory. Some have argued that a tornado that struck Oklahoma in 1999 should be classified an F6 but it remains an EF-5 officially. Moves SW to NE Minimum wind speed is 73 mph Can be very thin and small to miles wide; the El Reno tornado was over 2.5 miles wide.

Alexei Navalny

Was an anti Russian Government Activist Famous because the Russian Government (Putin), tried to kill him to quiet his opposition using Novichok This is a powerful Nerve agent This was delivered in water bottles in his hotel room He survived the attempted assasination and went on a flight to Germany He exposed them/Putin for the crime Governments put sanctions on Russia He returned to Russia, and they put him into a penal colony, and is reported to have tortured him

Obtaining Public Assistance

When approved, a briefing will review all aspects of federal programs/requirements to give local officials an overview of the recovery process. These briefings are arranged by the state emergency management personnel that are overseeing the recovery process. A kickoff meeting will be held to go over federal disaster assistance programs/policies in an in depth manner. The meeting goes as follows: Introduce the PA Coordinator Explain the process of applying for/receiving aid Hand out appropriate forms Discuss damages/applicants needs Answer questions that arise Address concerns about mitigation, historical sites, and environmental protection After the kickoff meeting is held, the government affected may then formally apply for federal disaster aid. This request must be made within 30 days after the presidential disaster declaration. The information applicants must submit is: Documents that show the need for assistance and lists damages Documents that note the point of contact for the government entity seeking federal assistance Documents that help to initiate and record emergency/permanent assistance activities There are only four types of projects: Small Projects- Paid in advance by the federal government that cost less than $66,399.00 Large Projects- Similar to Small Projects but require payment over $66,400 Improved Projects- Make repairs beyond the initial design/expand on the building Alternate Projects- Includes permanent projects that require abandonment of old facility and building in totally separate area FEMA/State officials will complete a Damage Survey Report for each type to determine the validity and need. This will be done after the application materials are received.

Brooklyn Center/Daunte Wright Shooting

Wright was stopped for an expired license plate and an object hanging from rearview mirror; later revealed that he also had a warrant for attempted aggravated robbery Officers had removed him from the vehicle but he re-entered. They attempted to pull him out again when one officer deployed their handgun instead of a taser, as intended Wright was shot and died as a result Led to protests in the area Near Minneapolis while the Chauvin trial was occuring, raising already high tensions Defense wanted Chauvin jury sequestered to avoid this instance influencing them, but judge denied the sequestering

Mutually Assured Destruction

-Also referred to as MAD. -This was a major fear during the Cold War, it was essentially nuclear armageddon. MAD refers to the scenario when one country fires a nuclear weapon at the other, the country that was attacked will do the same and all major cities and other essential areas of the respective country's function. In the end both countries are destroyed in this scenario of total destruction. -This fear was present in most countries during the Cold War as tensions between the USA and USSR/the allies of each country intensified. The Cuban Missile Crisis can be argued as the closet the world has come to experiencing MAD. -These fears led to the creation of Civil Defense, which was a way to prepare the citizens for what to do in the event nuclear weapons were used.

Changes Associated with Disasters

1. Uncertainty. In the immediate aftermath of disaster, there is a lack of information about what has happened, why it occurred, the number of injured or dead, the extent of the devastation, and what should be done to deal with these problems. 2. Urgency. Seeing needs arise, most citizens and leaders desire to act quickly to issue warnings, treat injuries, and clear roads of debris as quickly as possible. 3. Emergency consensus. Individuals, groups, businesses, government departments, and political leaders generally work together (at least in the immediate aftermath of a disaster) to overcome problems. 4. Expansion of citizen roles. People are not only more willing to cooperate in a disaster, but they are also likely to be involved in searching for neighbors trapped under debris, transporting the wounded to hospitals, and providing relief supplies to charitable organizations. 5. De-emphasis of contractual relationships. Because victims' needs must be met as soon as possible, written agreements are not relied upon. Verbal arrangements are made instead. Accounts and debts are settled when the situation u down. It is also likely that supplies will be donated with no thought of reimbursement. 6. Convergence. People and material resources will flow to the scene of a disaster. This may include evacuees returning to the location and those wanting information about victims. It may also include volunteers, reporters, and researchers, people wanting to take advantage of the situation, groups cheering on the emergency workers, and others mourning those who have died in the event.

Natural Hazards

-Atmospheric Hazards: Thunderstorms are another example of a natural Atmospheric hazard, these occur when warm moist air rises through convection. They also occur during cold and warm fronts where different air masses collide. Hail is yet another example that occurs when vertical movements of air freezes water droplets that fall to earth as hail, large golf ball sized hail can injure people and damage property. Tornadoes also are a hazard and are associated with thunderstorms, as warm moist air collides with cool, dry air they begin to rotate and move in a circular motion. Measured by the Fujita Pearson Scale. Range from F1-F5. Examples of this include hurricanes that begin as Tropical depressions in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical depressions start at roughly 30mph -Geological Hazards: Landslides are the most common Natural Geological Hazard and occur on angled slopes, caused by moisture content of the soil, and physiology of rock, or absence or presence of vegetation, may occur without warning -Hydrological Hazards: Storm Surges are a hydrological hazard that result from hurricanes, temporary rise of water, can damage roads, bridges, dunes, and beaches. Can be extremely deadly. May take days or weeks for the water to reach dangerous levels Droughts are also considered hydrological hazards, resulting from lack of rain and high evaporation. The Great Depression was triggered in part by drought These can occur from flooding which is the most common disaster, dam failures, snowpack and ice jams. -Seismic & Volcanic Hazards: Earthquakes occur along fault lines where land masses move apart, collide, and slide against each other. These emanate from a Focal Point, directly above this is the Epicenter. Volcanic activity is also related to seismic activity, magma may bubble up and fissure in the earth's surface, they also can vent superheated gasses and emit lava flows down the side of a cone. Earthquakes are typically measured in intensity with the Richter Scale. Each magnitude quake is measured as .30 times more powerful than the one before it. The Mercalli scale is used to describe the physical observations of damages that result from movements of the earth's crust. -Wildfires: Things such as high temperatures, drought conditions, low humidity in the air, and strong winds can cause wildfires to spread rapidly, can be lessened by controlled burns, humans can be at fault by such things as cigarettes and leaving outdoor grills on. 57,000 wildfires occured in 2020 alone Can spread faster when debris like fallen sticks are left on the forest floor and are never removed.

Risk & Vulnerability in Disasters

-Vulnerability is the proneness of people to disasters based on factors. -Some of these factors include; geographic location, exposure of poverty, level of income or other social variables. -An example of being vulnerable to a disaster living in a tornado prone area but not having a storm shelter built/ready in case one does/when one does occur. Risk is when you expose yourself to a possible threat, either current threat or a future threat. -Examples of risk include:Buying a house near a volcano that is known to be active and could erupt in the near future or going outside for a long walk in a period of extreme heat and not taking any water with you, you then run the risk of suffering from heat related ailments; such as heat stroke.

Disaster Declarations/How They're Determined

A disaster declaration is a formal statement that a community or state is unable to respond effectively to a disaster without outside assistance To receive a Presidential disaster declaration, the following must occur: City and county initiate their own response and assessment Local capabilities are overwhelmed State personnel evaluate impact and expand presence State resources are overwhelmed as well Governor makes a declaration and requests assistance from FEMA FEMA sends assessors out who will conduct a preliminary damage assessment If damage is consistent with a disaster, the president will make the declaration and dedicate resources Emergency declarations are for national security situations while disaster declarations are more in line with natural disasters Factors determining declarations include extent of damage to homes, estimated repair costs, state and local capabilities, and extent of insurance coverage

The Reality of Looting during Disasters

A false belief that looting occurs rampantly in the event of a disaster. In reality looting may occur during a disaster, however it is not as widespread as it is said to be, may occur in small pockets after or during a disaster but it is not done by the majority. Looting may also be a factor of one's survival, some may loot to acquire supplies such as food, water and clothing to survive a disaster, some may loot grocery stores for food and not monetary gain. Commonly looting will be out of survival instinct rather than monetary gain, however it does happen, looting was seen during Hurricane Katrina, along with this looting does occur during riots however this is more or less a factor of riots rather than a factor of disasters.

Reducing Expenses/Preventing Fraud

A few different types of contract can be developed with the private sector to reduce expenses: Lump Sum- Provides payment for completion of a well-defined scope of work Unit Price- Based on truckload sizes and are more common in disaster with an unknown amount of debris Time & Material- Based on labor/equipment costs and are suitable for rights-of-way clearance. These should not exceed 70 hours according to FEMA regulations on reimbursement Most communities assign someone to keep track of employee hours, trucks utilized, money spent on fuel, etc. Fraud is one way that resources can be lost during debris management through scams by public officials or private contractors Some people intentionally include non-disaster debris for removal, such as clearing land of trees or demolishing/gutting homes for more increase quantity of debris During debris removal, be on the lookout for: Hauling ineligible debris (EX: Tree stamps) Excessive water placed in the bottom of dump trucks Inaccurately specified truckload capicaties Double counting of personnel/equipment Trucks reentering disposal sites Ways to discourage criminal fraud during debris removal is to photograph activity, place trained monitors, reporting procedures, and documentation that consist of photographs, written reports, and sketches of questionable activity.

Challenges in Damage Assessment

Accuracy There are many reasons why damage assessments are often inaccurate - some of the damages may not be readily visible or may not be reported immediately Damages may also be missed or double counted due to human error Another reason for inaccuracy is due to the fact that damage assessments are performed repeatedly after disasters - Significant factors affecting the damage assessment process included aftershocks, continued ground failure, and secondary hazards There are many types of damages, losses, and impacts that may get overlooked in the damage assessment process Physical and eumconomic damage to the infrastructure, including road, water, sewer, gas, and electrical systems Loss of historical buildings Diminished ability to carry out emergency response activities Inconvenience and lost economic revenues due to service interruption Longer-term economic losses due to limits on recovery Loss of life Environmental damages For this reason, damage assessments should consider not only damages but other anticipated losses and needs as well Working with Others Another challenge related to damage assessment pertains to the large number of organizations involved in this postdisaster function It will be difficult for you to harmonize the activities of everyone that participates in damage assessment These members include private and public engineers, the Red Cross, local emergency managers, and others from the state and federal government Each organization has divergent purposes for conducting damage assessments FEMA and engineerings firms might look at damage to public infrastructure such as roads and bridges Each organization may use different forms for damage assessments The distinct documents do not always allow quick and easy integration or summary of the damages Access and Safety Because of widespread destruction associated with disasters, it can be quite difficult to travel to an affected area and complete a damage assessment Flood, debris, and missing street signs may make travel to the damaged area impossible or difficult Inaccessibility is an issue, but either way with or without it, damage assessment can be dangerous - this is because of the potential for fires or building collapses after disasters Damage assessments are dangerous, but they do ultimately promote a safer environment for the public and those who are involved in demolition or reconstruction

Fukushima, Japan

After a major earthquake a 15 meter tsunami would destroy the power supply and cooling of three Daiichi reactors in 2011, the three large cores would melt within 3 days. Over 4-6 days extreme levels of radiation would be released totaling at about 940 PBq. Took three weeks for the reactors to be stabilized and by July the reactors were being cooled by recycled water. No deaths were reported due to radiation sickness however, over 100,000 people were evacuated for safety measures, to this day the government is weary of letting people return with guards still in the area so as to not let people loiter and possibly be affected by the radiation. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake was responsible for the initial disaster, along with a rare double quake further increasing the damage. The quake itself would kill 19,000 people and completely destroy houses and structures.

Generated Demands

Agent Generated Demands: needs made evident by the hazard, occur as disasters unfold, examples such as sandbags to fight floods, and shelters for homeless. Response Generated Demands: Needs made evident by organizations and communities, made evident as groups try to deal with the impact. Normalcy Generated Demands: Pressure to return to normal conditions, return to homes and business activities. Mitigation generated demands: Desire to prevent recurrence of a disaster, better building codes and relocating residence to less hazardous locations. Tie into the Emergency management cycle, we see mitigation in both revolving around the idea of preventing further disasters or lessening their impacts, the recovery is also seen in Normalcy and the return to normal following a disaster, the response section is also shown in both revolving around the response from private and public sectors.

Hurricanes

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes Saffir Simpson Wind Scale Atlantic hurricane season last June to November with peak season from mid-august to late October Winds can exceed 115 MPH Can spawn tornadoes and microbursts Can cause storm surges and extensive damage from rainfall Hurricanes are put into 5 classes 3 and higher-level hurricanes are considered major hurricanes Flood on rivers and streams can stay for several days or more Secure buildings and listen to TV and radio warnings

Stafford Act

Allows the president to create a presidential disaster declaration Preauthorization of a disaster declaration is also allowed as a presidential power Provides individuals/families aid, as well as providing on a larger level communities aid Difficult to get aid to these communities and people if a request is not made by the local and state authorities Pandemics do not qualify because they do not damage physical structures

Homeland Security Presidential Directives

Also known as HSPDs. -Are orders issued by the President of the United States, focus on matters relating to Homeland Security. -HSPDs were created under the Bush Administration, following the attacks of September 11, 2001. -An example of an HSPD is HSPD 5, Management of Domestic Incidents; -This directive identifies steps for improved coordination in response to incidents. -Another example is HSPD 8, National Preparedness; -This directive describes the way Federal Departments/Agencies will prepare for an incident, it requires the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate with other Federal departments/agencies/with state, tribal, and local governments to develop a National Preparedness Goal.

All Hazards Approach

An approach that counters all types of hazards instead of focusing on one specific hazard. Used by FEMA in their response efforts. Prior to Hurricane Katrina saw a focus on terrorist related incidents and resulted in a lack of readiness for other disasters, following that we saw an approach to all types of hazards instead of just specific threats. The Post Katrina Reform Act advocated for FEMA to use this approach Is now a fixture of the Professional Model of emergency management Most infrastructures now look at an All Hazards approach when assessing their vulnerabilities. Whether it is a roadway, or a dam they take into consideration all factors such as natural disasters, technological, man made, etc. Initially after 9/11 the focus was fixated on terrorism which would result in the failure of the response to Katrina, enforcing that an approach would be needed that looks at all hazards that can exist.

Industrial Hazards & Environmental Hazards

Any condition produced by industries that may cause injury or death to people/loss of product or property Usually caused by human error Includes three main types, chemical, biological, and physical Involved in manufacturing/transportation/stocking of materials and goods Examples of such are fires and deadly gas leaks Think about the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the disastrous effects on the Gulf of Mexico it had Agents that result in the degradation of our physical surroundings and pose a risk to peoples health and well being, usually the result of careless industrial activity Examples include pollution, fracking, desertification/salinization of the soil Can be investigated and responded to by state natural resource agencies, Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency

Interactions of Established/Expanding/Emergent Organizations

As the disaster increase Expanding and Emergent Organizations start to play a bigger role in the disaster, examples of these are Red Cross volunteers and Search and rescue bucket brigades, as the disaster turns into a catastrophe, the role they play increases with the damage and/or danger level. Established: Groups that perform routine tasks with existing structures (fire departments) Expanding: Groups that perform routine tasks with new structures (Red Cross Extending: Groups that perform nonroutine tasks with existing structures (Pastor/congregation) Emergent: Groups that perform nonroutine tasks with new structures (citizens)

Natural Disasters in 2020

Australia had the Black Summer Wildfires leading to 29 deaths and massive amounts of ecological damage California experienced its worst wildfire season ever Swarms of locust overran East Africa US experienced a violent derecho storm pattern Compound disasters occur when two or more disasters mix. Example includes individuals going to public storm shelters and spreading COVID-19 due to close contact Worldwide, there were 40 disasters that resulted in at least one billion dollars in damage

The Private Sector

Businesses and private entities play a major part in response. Businesses can provide shelter such as hotels, and apartments.9l) Volunteers and donations can be made to those in need, however too much donations can result in issues. Large companies such as Walmart can contribute large amounts of funds, resources and materials to locations in need. The private sector may also provide storage for donated goods and other means of storage or transportation, an example would be a storage facility donating a warehouse to allow donated water to be stored. Another would be a private company donating tractor trailers to help transport supplies. FEMA will pay private companies that assist with debris cleanup, these companies move various types of debris, other companies will also move large objects such as fallen roadways and vehicles.

Communication & Coordination

Communication- relaying vital information, which can help with disaster response and recovery. When it comes to communication, there are two ways to do so and they are verbal and nonverbale forms. When there is communication and team work in a disaster, response and recovery will be at the best as it can be because coming together and knowing what to do is the best plan to do. Coordination- emergency management with the purpose of the same goal to overcome challenges that are made from disasters. To improving both communication and coordination agreements, and establishing trust with each other Five key methods to coordinate disasters: Core strategies-clarifying agency roles Consequence strategies- keeping track of needs and how they can be met Customer strategies- partner agencies, stakeholders and the victims Control strategies- approved agreements, experience from past disasters Cultural strategies- understanding the cultural differences

Debris Types/Management

Disasters produce substantial amounts of debris that must be collected, sorted, stored, transported, and disposed of or recycled Vegetative debris is plant matter which is primarily limbs and trees Aggregate is asphalt or concrete Construction is anything from damaged homes like lumber, carpet, shingles, etc Debris volume should be reduced by chipping, crushing in some instances. May also be burned but this can raise environmental and health concerns Some materials may be able to be recycled

Obtaining Individual Assistance

Due to the possibility power and internet lines may be down, victims of a disaster can call a National Processing Service Center, a NPSC is a location victims can call to apply for government disaster assistance. While there are 4 permanent NPSCs located in the country more may be opened temporarily if needed. FEMA will then use the National Emergency Management Information System, this is a system used to record personal information about victims such as damages, losses, needs, etc. This system and FEMA members in the field will determine the type of disaster assistance programs victims are eligible for. Within days to weeks financial assistance in the form of a check will be sent to disaster victims. The use of NPSCs has greatly increased the speed in which individual assistance is carried out, however, a potential drawback is that victims may want to speak with someone in person instead of using a phone or computer, along with this if phone lines are down victims may need to contact a Disaster Recovery Center.

EOC

Emergency Operations Center Staffed by pre-designated personnel such as local response agencies, contractors, volunteers agencies, politicians involved in response to disasters etc. Collects info and coordinates action for disaster response Is activated if local and state authorities are unable to handle situation All response in in accordance to the NRF and the Stafford Act Activated in response to a natural/man made disaster, disease outbreak, or other public health emergency Has 3 levels of activation, Level 3 being the lowest

Traditional Model

Emergency management has been employed in many disasters in the United States Know as Civil Defense, Command and Control, Bureaucratic or Emergency Services perspectives Features Need to focus on war disasters Belief that government is the most reliable actor Belief that it is best to operate under hierarchy and Standard operating procedures (SOPs) "guidelines for an event" Emergency management is concerned with first-responder's issues only Strengths War is devastating Government is an important actor SOPs and hierarchy help protect emergency personnel A desire to manage the situations Weakness Ignores other disasters Neglects important actors Over reliance on SOPs that may not work in each situation Fails to recognize orders in chaos Relies on top-down communications

Civil Conflict Hazards

Encompass hazards in which conflict between individuals or groups happens. Consists of mass shootings, panic flight, terrorism, riots, and war as large examples of these types of hazards. Mass shootings have become more common since the 1990s, can be perpetrated as an act of terrorism or as an armed assault by a single indivisual. Panic Flight is the term used for the fleeing of many individuals from imminent harm or a hazard. This is rather rare but has happened in large scale events such as terrorism during sporting events in which people may rush an exit resulting in injuries and death. Riots consist of looting, rock throwing, tipping of vehicles, starting of fires, and attacks on law enforcement. Have been numerous over the years generally in larger cities, see clashes between law enforcement and rioters along with possible deployment of state military forces.

Response to Eric Garner Case

Eric Garner was an unarmed man who was being dealt with in regards to selling "lucy's", which are individual cigarettes interviewed/interrogated by several plainclothes police officers He was refusing to be detained and they jumped on him/put an arm around his neck to bring him down Multiple officers on his back and one holding his neck temporarily Due to how he was arrested/detained he died on the way to the hospital Shouted "I can't breathe", which then became a rallying cry against police brutality Lead to massive activism, and the local departments banned choke holds, officer Daniel Pantaelo was fired

Evacuations/Shelter in Place Orders

Evacuations: "Movement of people away from potential or actual hazards for the purpose of safety." Horizontal Evacuations - generally the most common evacuation, an example would be people moving inland to escape a hurricane. Vertical Evacuations - Moving to higher ground to escape a hazard, an example would be moving to rooftops in the event of a flood. Various forms of evacuations, small evacuations may entail walking a short distance, others may drive using highways and interstates, requires large coordination and possibly larger law enforcement assistance. Busses, boats and helicopters/planes can also transport a large number of people, helicopters can be used to take people off the roof of a building, and boats have been used for evacuations, an example would be during 9/11 boats were used to take people from Manhattan Island. Some people may not evacuate for various reasons, some feel they can ride out a hazard or have in the past, some may not be aware of the risk, older individuals may not be able to leave or have trouble leaving, some may feel they will be better placed at home. Sheltering is another method to avoid hazards, some hazards such as a gas leak, an active shooter, etc may warrant individuals staying indoors to avoid a hazard. Sheltering may be used in an instance in which moving people in an evacuation manner may pose a greater risk. Some may be sheltered temporarily till a hazard has passed, some may have to be permanently sheltered until recovery is made resulting in long term housing.

Quadrennial Homeland Security Review

Every 4 years, DHS is required to publish a review that describes their focus for the next four years Most recent was published in 2014 DHS has not abandon the QHSR, but also publishes the DHS Strategic Plan Describes the homeland security enterprise involving the collective efforts of all homeland stakeholders Outlines 5 mission areas Prevent terrorism and enhance security Secure and manage our borders Enforce and administer our immigration laws Safeguard and secure cyberspace Strengthen national preparedness and resilience

FEMA Focus After 9/11

FEMA was primarily focused on natural disasters before 9/11 After 9/11, the federal government and FEMA in particular were laser focused on preventing or responding to the next terrorist attack Extreme focus on terrorism lead to a poor response on FEMA's part when hurricane Katrina struck FEMA had been neglected an all-hazards approach and were unable to respond effectively to Katrina because they were occupied with terrorism Congress attempted to correct course with the Post-Katrina Reform Act in order to redirect FEMA to an all-hazards approach

Attack on Jan. 6th

Following a rally by Former President Trump, large groups began marching to the capital Eventually became violent with groups rushing the capital and entering Resulted in the death of one police officer who was hit by a fire extinguisher, another would later commit suicide, one rioter would be shot. Chief of Capitol police would step down following the attack Various extremist groups were at the capital that day such as The Oath Keepers, Q-Anon, The Boogaloo Boys, and the Proud Boys Evidence suggests that the rioters were planning on assassinating members of congress, including VP Mike Pence. Recent evidence has shown that The Oath Keepers had stored weapons at a Comfort Inn near to the capitol "in case things got heated" as stated by some members found during an investigation of their cell phone conversations. An investigation would find that leadership within the Capitol Police were aware of the protest possibly becoming violent, but had not adequately provided their officers with the needed equipment. Along with this the equipment that was stored for this occasion was not stored properly resulting in items such as their riot shields being unusable or less than adequate. An investigation would also reveal that the Oath Keepers had prepared for this raid, images had shown the group moving in a stack formation through the crowd to the front of the rally, along with this the group had organized its members and stored supplies for the occasion.

Biden "Ghost Gun" & 2nd Amendment

Ghost guns are guns that are self assembled or handmade that are not registered Kits can be bought that allow the building of guns in under 30 min Wishes to increase penalties for owning these guns NRA states that it doesn't make sense as those kits are expensive and criminals can just remove the number/lettering on legally made guns to make them untraceable 3d printed materials and blueprints are available online for low amounts of capital

Ever Given Ship

Got stuck within the Suez canal Blocked trade through that route for 6 days Tugboats and digging was a major ordeal taking an international response Blocked 10% of world trade/300 ships were stuck behind it Livestock contained within some of those ships had to be flown emergency feed because they did not have enough rations Many ships had to be diverted around the tip of Africa Cost Egypt 12-15 million dollars a day Cost of oil went down temporarily after ship was freed

Impact of Hollywood on Disasters

Hollywood has created multiple myths regarding people's responses to a disaster. Assumes people will panic and resort to their own self interest in the event of a disaster, this is untrue as most people will remain calm and even be willing to help others. Along with this we see the myth of widespread looting which is often seen as being a rampant activity which is also untrue. Another myth may include law enforcement or emergency staff abandoning their post, which while it may happen in some rare cases but is very uncommon.

NTSB

Independent federal agency that seeks to Will investigate incidents related to aviation, marine, rail, and pipeline transportation systems Cooperate with the FBI until it is determined that there was no criminal element involved in the incident Go-Teams are made up of multiple sub-teams which look at different aspect Operations team will examine black box, weather conditions, flight plan Powerplant team will examines engines Human performance team will investigate crew to look for drugs, alcohol, medical conditions, and any other possible factors

Professional Model

Is an approach to emergency management that is based on interdependent organization operations Features Emergency managers will likely face many different types of disasters Because of the unique natural disasters, no single individuals, group, or organizations can respond alone Disasters pose serious challenges to society, but individuals, groups, and organizations will more likely meet the demands Emergence cannot be prevented. People will respond to disaster whether they are invited to or not. Strengths Takes an all hazards approach Acknowledges many actors Stresses integration of involved parties Allows for improvisation Accepts a broad picture of disaster Weakness Downplay unique difficulties of wartime disaster Downplays the role of government and first responders Fails to recognize important of hierarchical leadership Over looks benefits of SOPs Fails to see details of field level operations

Transportation Hazards

It is a hazard that deals with transport like air, on the road, railroads or at sea. The high percentage of accidents that fall under this is car-person collisions while workers are working on the side of the road. DOT- The U.S. Department of Transportation There is 9 hazard classes and some are Explosives, Gases, and Flammable Liquids Can be investigated by the NTSB, DOT, and FBI (if there is a criminal element involved)

Kobe Bryant Crash

January 26, 2020 in the city of Calabasa, California The helicopter was en route from John Wayne airport to Camarillo Airport Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and 7 other people died in the crash The National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI were the departments that investigated the crash The crash's cause was reported to be due to the pilot becoming disoriented after flying into low clouds and mistakenly flew the helicopter into a hillside

Difficulties associated with Volunteers

Lack of skills - Volunteers may lack the necessary training or skill that are needed for the particular disaster. Number - the sheer number of volunteers can be overwhelming to manage. safety - As with the media, volunteers create additional concern about safety. Frustration- Volunteers often get frustrated if they can not help, this can be due to their lack of skill, excessive numbers, or restrictions based on safety.

Columbine/Police Response Issues

Local school police officer ran from the scene from fear Police backup created a perimeter, rather than moving in to stop the shooting Swat took 47 minutes to arrive Prior to columbine law enforcement were trained to move and clear rooms one by one./Now are trained to move towards sounds of shooting Police acting quickly is more of a priority now, and they are trained in active shooter training regularly now Training students to barricade and when to run/fight is becoming standard, seeing how these shootings have turned out

Politics in Disaster

May see some political issues during a disaster, such as who will take authority, who will be assigned central tasks, who will be given additional resources, and who will get credit for their roles. Can be seen with interactions between police and fire departments, disagreements on specific topics may exist such as whether to decide to shut down a freeway or to keep it open. Some agencies or people may be seen as the "scapegoat," politicians may use scapegoats to protect their image and sustain popularity. Politicians may also exaggerate damages done to their community in order to obtain additional funding and resources. Political hampering of response can be countered, get to know department leaders and encourage them to work together. Clarify roles and responsibilities before a disaster happens. You can reduce blame and protect yourself by: Keeping minutes: Track policy and budgets you submit to your mayor and city council and track the amount of support given or withheld. Monitoring Progress: Review progress of response and recovery operations, make adjustments, record successes, and work to address lessons learned. Going to the media if needed: As a last resort, you can try and keep your job by expressing your viewpoint with the press. Thi could, however, create more animosity for you or help you retain your job, therefore it is a last resort.

Triage

Means "to sort" Was originally used in agriculture It sorts victims by degrees of seriousness of injury and by types of injury There are four classes green/minor, yellow/delayed, red/Immediate, and Black/dead This allows for healthcare professionals to be as efficient and helpful as possible, especially when they are outnumbered by patients Is especially used in times of war or in emergency

Situational Awareness

Means constantly being aware of your environment, what is in it around you, and what might change around you at any given time. It suggests a need to be vigilant of circumstances in the environment to understand what is taking place. -Is also called "the bubble" or immediate vicinity. -Can be very important in search and rescue operations, especially when it comes to being aware of secondary hazards that are brought upon by the main one. -Some of these hazards might be high water, leaking gas or downed power lines, all of these are things you will need to be aware of and know if they are in your bubble or not. -Have a plan for a possible breakage of your baseline. You will need options available if it occurs

Legal Concerns for the Emergency Manager

NFPA 1600 establishes a shared set of norms for disaster management. Vital aspect is compliance with relevant laws Good Samaritan laws protect citizens doing what they can to provide medical and other services Litigation mitigation is an active effort with city attorneys to prevent legal liabilities and accept the need to spend time, effort, and money to avoid future lawsuits Civil Rights Act and Equal Employment Act prohibit any form of discrimination FEMA educational materials are lacking when it comes to coverage of legal issues Laws are rules established by the government to maintain order and perform important functions in society

NEMIS

National Emergency Management Information System Software used by FEMA employees at National Processing Service Center FEMA representatives record disaster victim's information Used to document a victim's damagges, losses, and needs Helps FEMA representatives determine what aid is available to a victim, after FEMA verifies damages A check will be mailed to the victim if they are eligible

Weakness of Traditional Model

Natural and technological disasters are more common SOPs may not be reliable in every disaster because by their nature, disasters cannot always be predicted or planned for The government is not the only actor in disaster response operations Over reliance on hierarchy can prevent useful feedback and free flow of information Cannot always follow a structured path, may result in some entities either not receiving information or not being included in the operation

Non Profit Organisations

Non-profit organizations are charitable organizations that are prohibited by law from gaining financially due to humanitarian services offered. These can range from well-known organizations from the American Red Cross to religious-based groups like The Salvation Army. The Red Cross was created by Henry Dunant from Switzerland and is based on these principals: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality. Faith-based organizations (ie, Salvation Army) that are non-profit but are founded on religions and other religious organizations. Community Groups donate essential supplies to disaster zones for people that are in need of those supplies. Some services are long-term like counselling for people that were affected by the disaster. Others tend to the needs of animals that have been caught in the disaster. Community based groups can make the response for sectors more complex than necessary like beginning to rebuild before new codes and laws are passed. The National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) is an organization that coordinates other community groups and promotes the various types of assistance that is given.

Challenges of Donations

Often the media blows disasters out of proportion Volunteer collection agencies will receive too many, not requested, or not applicable donations This leads to an issue of having to sort all of the donations, and storing them This can cause a drain on the resources the volunteer agencies can provide as they spend time on that issue These sorts of physical goods and services are known as in kind donation Volunteer agencies have received negative PR because of the disposal of donations that are not applicable to the disaster Some donations are not able to be given, such as dirty clothing, food that is expired, and such that are must then be disposed of Monetary donations are much more effective and efficient, though the problem of those funds being improperly used must be considered.

Oklahoma City Bombing/Response to the disaster

On April 19, 1995, ex-army soldier and security guard, Timothy McVeigh, had put together an IED using different chemicals and set a timed fuse, detonating the bomb at 9:02 am. The worst domestic terrorist act ever on US soil. The FBI found the rear axle of the truck used to trace back to where the truck was rented from. McVeigh had already been arrested 90 minutes after the bombing by Oklahoma State Police due to a missing license plate and concealed weapon. Trace amounts of the chemicals used in the bomb were found on McVeigh's clothes along with a business card that was looking for more explosives. McVeigh had two friends, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier, that had known about the bombing plans. Both McVeigh and Nichols were found to be a part of an extremist right-wing group based in Michigan. McVeigh was suspicious of the US government after the end of the Cold War and became radicalized by the events at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and Waco, Texas. The attack was planned to go after the building that housed the agents that were involved in the raid on the Branch Davidian compound. McVeigh was convicted on 11 charges, recieving the death sentence in August of 1997. Nichols received a life sentenced and then, in 2004, 161 consecutive life terms. Fortier was charged with failure to warn authorities and sentenced to 12 years, and he was released in 2007.

Civil Defense

Organization during the cold war when nuclear bombs were considered the primary threat to society Predates FEMA as a emergency response service Focused on nuclear attacks and the possibility of nuclear war Strong example of the traditional model of emergency management Activities that occurred under this model include construction of bomb shelters, warning systems, and evacuation plans Provided various advertisements on TV programs that educated civilians of the threat of a nuclear attack and what to do, would air cartoons for children such as Bert the Turtle that would tell kids to "Duck and Cover." Employed the use of raid sirens throughout towns that would warn locals of in impending nuclear attack to take shelter, each with varying levels of: Red Alert: An attack is imminent Yellow Alert: An attack is likely

Emergency Support Functions

Outlined in the National Response Framework Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) is the grouping of governmental and certain private sector capabilities into an organizational structure to provide support, resources, program implementation, and services that are most likely needed to save lives, protect property and the environment, restore essential services and critical infrastructure, and help victims and communities return to normal following domestic incidents ESF 1: Transportation ESF 2: Communications ESF 3: Public Works and Engineering ESF 4: Firefighting ESF 5: Information and Planning. ESF 6: Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, and Human Services. ESF 7: Logistics ESF 8: Public Health and Medical Services ESF 9 Urban Search and Rescue ESF 10 Oil and Hazardous Materials Response ESF 11 Agriculture and Natural Resources ESF 12 Energy ESF 13 Public Safety and Security ESF 14 Long-term Community Recovery and Mitigation ESF 15 External Affairs

DHS Strategic Plan

Overviews the goals and plans DHS has set. Overviews Border Security, countering threats to the homeland, securing cyberspace and infrastructure, preserving the economy, strengthening resilience, and championing the Homeland Security workforce. Was set for the 2020-2024 time periods. Has not replaced the QHSR One of the top threats outlined is Counter Threats to the homeland. Gathering actionable intelligence will be a large factor, use of an integrated intelligence network and a mission focused approach to produce and share intelligence. Securing the border in multiple ways, land borders, airways, and maritime borders. Prevention of possible entry of terrorist threats, criminal organizations, smuggling of illegal immigrants across borders, and underground tunnels. Innovation to physical borders, along with advancements in technology to combat these factors. Securing federal networks that may be large targets for future attacks. These networks host personal information, and proprietary information, along with being major components in the operation of Federal civilian departments. Champion the Homeland Security workforce by: Defining the best ways to maximize the investments made into the DHS and its operations. Emphasize workforce engagement and maximize employee performance. Build career paths and work-life balances. Ensure support to mission operations whether manpower, technology, monetary or intelligence, along with joint operations and collaborations.

COVID-19

Pandemic-respiratory tract infection that can range from mild to lethal "Novella Coronavirus" derived from Latin corona which means "crown" Novella meaning "new" Dec 2019 outbreak reported in Wuhan, China It is a zoonotic disease-can be shared between animals and people Transferred from bat to humans Now being spread from person to person and has spread throughout the world Has affected travel within the US Had a major impact on hospitals, staff, supplies Caused great concern for prison workers and inmates Local schools and universities were closed and forced to online learning Restaurants, and different businesses had to shut down for a period of time Several people lost their jobs during this time Currently have 2 vaccines available, 1) Pfizer 2)Moderna Currently over 28 million positive cases just in the US Over 500,000 of those have resulted in deaths 66.5 million vaccines have been administered to date Guidelines and steps through the CDC to protect your family and yourself Avoid close contact (stay 6ft away) Wash your hands often Wear a mask while in groups or out in public Clean and disinfect frequently Stay at home as much as possible

American Eagle Flight 4184

Pilot had over 8,000 flight hours with the first officer having a total of 5,000 flight hours. Reports of cloud ceilings of less than 1000 ft, temperatures were near minus 3-4 degrees celsius. Plane encountered freezing rain, a dangerous icing condition that caused supercool droplets to cause ice buildup, the pilot then descended an uncommanded roll disengaged the autopilot, flight reports suggest the plane entered one whole roll where the pilot was able to regain control, another roll occurred some time later resulting in a roll that was unrecoverable resulting in the plane crashing into a soybean field. The plane disintegrated at extreme velocity, the plane and bodies on board were disintegrated too with very small bits of the plane and victims being left behind in the field.

USAR Teams

Team of individuals specializing in urban search and rescue, disaster recovery, and emergency triage and medicine. The teams are deployed to emergency and disaster sites within six hours of notification 28 task forces in the United States Members are specialists in one of four areas Search Rescue Technical Medical Canine rescuers also play a part in USAR teams Team has supplies and equipment to work independently for up to 4 days

The Media in Disaster

Portion of the private sector that informs the public about hazards and disasters. The media conveys weather warnings, and relays information regarding the Emergency Alert System. The media also recounts damages, deaths, injuries, government response, and recovery efforts. Not everything the media does can be beneficial, however, an example would be the media may request for donations that are not needed. The media may also be quick to assign blame and often points out weaknesses of response and recovery, criticism by then 8 media may help you evaluate and improve your response as well. Different levels of media: Local media provides detailed personal stories and specific information. Regional media similar to local, but desires to cover the response of multiple cities or nearby states. National media tends to focus on what the president is doing as well as actions by Federal agencies. International media gives preference to national response and global impacts. The media will often report on disasters on a day by day basis, however, if a disaster is unfolding it will dominate news programming. The media will also seek information following their initial report of the disaster, such as loss and death, and even heroism and survival.

Nuclear Hazards

Presence or threat of radioactive materials. Nuclear facilities produce nuclear waste however they produce less pollution than coal and require nuclear waste to be ridded of appropriately. Nuclear incidents can be both intentional and accidental, accidental in cases such as Fukushima, Japan and Chernobyl, or intentional such as the use of radiation in a terrorist attack. Saw various nuclear hazards and possible nuclear hazards during the cold war era, nuclear war itself was a threat, along with Chernobyl and accidents such as the Goldsboro Broken Arrow Incident.

George Floyd Case/Trial/Verdict

President Biden Supported verdict. Contacted family Maxine Waters, (US Representative from California) supported violence and chaos in support of guilty verdict Officer Chauvin charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter Extremist groups are now claiming trial was "rigged" and Chauvin was the victim Police Chief testified AGAINST Chauvin Initial call to the scene was for Floyd using counterfeit money

Emergency Managers

Public servants that help jurisdictions reduce the liabilities that leads to disasters. Governments employees that work closely with stakeholders to build capabilities to deal more effectively with disasters and hazards. Such efforts are described as the disaster life cycle The four phases that they deal with are mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery Will facilitate coordination between different responder agencies in order to increase cooperation when a disaster occurs Can act as the incident commander during response Prepare plans that drive response

Role of Media in Disaster

Role is to educate/warn the public of disasters They are supposed to relay the government's activities and instructions on the public should respond List where to seek assistance Various types-local, regional, national, international News reporters often focus on negative aspects, put spin on story, and assign blame Can be rude, or insensitive to negative situations in search of story First responders can use media effectively to keep the public well informed and ensure they have all the data they need to respond to situations appropriately However, it must be considered how people speak to the press, to avoid negative press for the government, first responders, and volunteer agencies as it could lead to worse morale and false interpretations of what is going on

Search and Rescue types/responsibilities/behavior

Search and Rescue are response activities undertaken to find disaster victims and remove them from danger/confinement. SAR might include -Looking for lost individuals -Determining the whereabouts of disaster victims -Transporting the individual away from the dangerous area to a medical facility. -Developing/implementing strategies to safely rescue people in need. -Providing immediate/basic care until further medical assistance can be provided. -There are four major types of SAR operations: -Rural SAR which occurs when experienced personnel like forest departments enter rugged areas to find missing children or lost campers/hikers. -Swift Water Rescue is when rescuers inflate rubber rafts and traverse swollen creeks to access people on roofs, on vehicles or holding onto trees to bring them back to dry land. -Air Patrolled SAR which is when an aircraft is used to search for another aircraft that has been presumed to have crashed in an isolated area along its projected flight path, -Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is where FEMA teams are dispatched to major urban areas affected by structural collapse to extract those in need. -The steps for conducting SAR are: -Gather facts, assess damage, consider probabilities, assess your situation, establish rescue priorities, make decisions, develop a rescue plan, take action, evaluate your progress.

Structural markings on buildings

Shows that a building has been entered by a response team Tells what time the team searched the building/what time they left Tells what hazards are within the building Tells the victim/death count was within the building A single slash shows that the search is in progress X inside a square means do not enter

Post Katrina Reform Act

Signed into law by President George W. Bush Reorganized FEMA to remedy gaps found in Katrina response Natural threats are every bit as important as terrorist threats Focus on preparedness policy, contingency planning, exercise coordination & evaluation, emergency management training, and hazard mitigation Various mistakes were found in the FEMA response, to name a few, temporary houses that were made for survivors were on a plot of land that was deemed unusable due to the swampy nature of New Orleans, resulting in many of the houses being unused. Trailers of supplies sent by FEMA to the disaster site were mistakenly turned away by those on site resulting in many supplies not getting to those who needed it. FEMA had a focus of terrorism following 9/11, natural disasters had fallen to the waistside meaning FEMA would not be prepared for Katrina once it would strike in 2005. This reform act would be a major step towards an all hazards approach to disasters and the way FEMA operates.

Transportation Issues/Logistics

Some of these issues can be too many people trying to leave one place at a time causing a traffic jam, Debris fallen in the road ways, road and subway closures, and people trying to escape but going into a place that can be a possible disaster area. These issues can be a big problem for first responders trying to get to the disaster When incidents happen, getting supplies, food, medical supplies, and vital personnel to the disaster is a top priority, some non-profits will help donate time and resources to the cause, some businesses will offer their rail ways to help transport items, or personnel to the area.

DMORT

Stands for Disaster Mortuary Response Team Contains a group of morticians that work to process bodies with evidence and prep bodies for funerals They catalogue personal effects and remains They look for things that could have caused the death outside of natural causes They utilize DNA Evidence to aid identification Sometimes rely on family members, however this must be handled carefully and respectfully There are 10 of these nationwide Have access to refrigerated trucks for situations where the bodies cannot be handled in other ways, to prevent their decay

DMAT

Stands for Disaster medical assistant team Used to supplement state/local resources in a disaster Response team of medical professionals to support/replace medical care workers in a disaster. Have access to semi's of equipment and supplies Designed to be self sufficient for 72 hours in a situation where they would treat 250 people a day Designed for a wide variety of situations from natural disasters to terrorist events

PTSD

Stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Caused by acute Stress, pre existing disorders, losing loved ones, physical wounds, and extended trauma Children and Elderly are the most likely to suffer from this Other people likely to experience this are first responders and military, because of traumatic experiences Defusing and Debriefing are useful for long term processing of these issue and are utilized after situations occur One in 11 people are diagnosed with this in America in their lifetime (American Psychiatric Association)

HAZMAT Response

Stands for hazardous materials Respond in issues like gas leaks, explosives and flammable liquid and such that would be dangerous without a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the effects of chemicals Uses the NFPA 704 or emergency response guidebook in many cases (the diamond), to identify quickly chemicals and its effects Can be involved in deadly situations, or situations that must be handled or else the population is at risk Must be equipped in proper PPE such as Hazmat suits, breathing apparatuses ect

Storm Surges

Storm Surges are a temporary rise of water, can damage roads, bridges, dunes, and beaches. Occurs when hurricanes push large amounts of water inland Results from a hurricane, can pull people out to sea Can result in losses of the Millions to Billions in damage Take days to weeks to recede Heavily associated with low pressure systems and hurricanes/cyclones. Tide stations measure storm surges, surges are measured simply by subtracting the water level that would have been in the absence of a storm from the water during the storm surge

Steps to take in active shooter

These are steps to increase survival success rate for victims First step would be to leave/exit the premises if possible and close to an exit. Keep in mind most establishments would have more than one exit If this fails, then the victim should block and barricade, meaning that they should get to a place where they can create distance and put something between themselves and their attackers If they are unable to do the previous step, then they should hide. It is more effective to hide than to remain visible, and especially more than standing and moving within sight The last possible step would be to fight the attacker. This would utilize improvised weapons that are within the barricaded area. This is dangerous because the victims could be shot and should only be done as a last resort, and preferably done as part of a group If someone is shot, pressure should be applied to the wound, or a tourniquet if one is able to be found/fashioned Most shootings are over in 5 minutes, some are over within 2 Main thing to remember RUN, HIDE FIGHT

Tiger Woods Crash

Tiger Woods had gone straight through a curve, travelled 400 feet, gone through the oncoming lane, collided with a tree, and rolled the SUV several times. The LA Sheriff's Department said that he was unconscious when he crashed. A crash reconstruction expert says that the LA Sheriff's Department had not taken this as critically as there was no other people involved in the crash. Black box data shows that Woods was travelling at approximately 84 to 87 mph in a 45 mph zone around the time he left his lane. The investigation by the LA Sheriff's Department was put into question due to no further investigation into Woods' blood or his phone. No marks that indicate any awareness of the curve, pointing that Woods may have been potentially sleeping or unaware. Woods could not remember driving, paired with the nature of the crash itself, rules highly that impairment is the cause. There were two other driving accidents Woods was involved in, being unconscious at both. Both indicated that he was under the influence of sleep pills and painkillers though he has gotten professional help in dealing with these drugs.

Research on Myths and Exaggeration

Various myths regarding disasters exist, primarily due to Hollywood and the media. The belief that people will panic and begin acting out of their own self interest is false, most people will even be willing to help others and will act in a calm manner. The belief that looting will be widespread is false, while it does happen in some cases it may be done for survival needs rather than monetary gain. The idea that emergency services will abandon their post in the event of a disaster, while again this has happened in some cases it is very rare and most services will continue their duties.

Southern Border Crisis/Trump vs. Biden Approach

Trump's immigration policies center around these areas: Restrict legal immigration- The administration has made it more difficult for applicants for employment-based visas and some green cards by requiring face-to-face interviews Complete the border wall with Mexico.-Trump initially promised to force Mexico to pay for the wall, but that didn't happen. In 2019, Trump declared a national emergency to allow defense funds to be diverted to the wall construction. He also devoted funds to replace or enhance segments of the existing wall. The total cost is estimated to be between $15 billion and $25 billion Reduce the number of asylum seekers- The Trump administration tried many tactics to reduce the number of asylum seekers. Most of them were shot down in court because they violated the 1965 act. Stop immigrants from receiving benefits. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for welfare, Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). End the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and deport its recipients.- None of his replacement proposals passed congress, the act is still in place Restrict travel and visas from certain countries.- On Jan. 27, 2017, Trump issued an order banning travel from seven majority-Muslim countries. It also barred entrance to Syrian refugees. This order was blocked in federal courts. In March 2017, Trump released a revised order, which was also struck down, though the Supreme Court allowed it to go into partial effect. Biden's Approach The Biden administration is acting on a number of fronts to reverse Trump-era restrictions on immigration to the United States. The steps include plans to boost refugee admissions, preserving deportation relief for unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and not enforcing the "public charge" rule that denies green cards to immigrants who might use public benefits like Medicaid. President Joe Biden has also lifted restrictions established early in the coronavirus pandemic that drastically reduced the number of visas issued to immigrants. The number of people who received a green card declined from about 236,000 in the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year (January to March) to under 78,000 in the third quarter (April to June). By comparison, in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, nearly 266,000 people received a green card.

Cold War

USSR and US, arms race as a show of force between both nations. Countries were on the brink of Nuclear war with each other. The use of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be seen as the initial factor kick starting the cold war. Encompassed large amounts of propaganda from both the US and USSR such as Burt The Turtle who taught kids to "Duck and Cover" Saw the development of the Civil Defense Agency and their focus on Nuclear war which was a focal point of the Cold War era Large focus on the Traditional Model when dealing with and looking at disasters, mainly focused on Nuclear war due to the lack of natural disasters and the main threat of that time period given the circumstances.

Hazard Detection

Various methods in which hazards can be detected. Senses - May experience the disaster first hand, smoke or debris from a disaster may be seen, or physical reactions such as feeling ill from a chemical, smelling a chemical, seeing one etc. Feedback from Field Personnel - May become aware from those working in the field, an example would be a police officer reporting a tornado touching down in the county. These individuals such as police, fire and city personnel work in the area and may even become a factor that civilians come to for information. Social Media - Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram may inform you of events as they are unfolding. An example of this was during the Virginia Tech shooting where students used social media to warn others of the events unfolding on campus. Dispatch - Citizens may call 911 centers to report incidents or get information, dispatchers will then relay that info to first responders with information such as location, type of hazard, and those involved. Increased Radio Traffic - Incident Commanders, first responders, and dispatch will use the radio to relay information to one another, those with scanners may also get this information from these sources. Those in the radio may also relay information to outside participants such as mutual aid, an example would be police units in a small town notifying a SWAT team to respond to a larger incident

Emergency Operations Centers

central command and control facility that is responsible for carrying out principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management Functions as a centralized conduit of information internally for DOL executives to support decision making and management of the emergency Provides notification of emergency incidents that lead to activation; maintains situational awareness through information monitored via the national operations center, homeland security information network, and other outlets Tracks assigned actions related to the situation Provides situation reports in the status of departments employees, programs, and facilities Keeps appropriate operation centers informed

Nationwide Protests 2020-2021

parked after the death of George Floyd while in custody of the Minneapolis police officers Protestors call for police reform or defunding of police departments nationwide More protests are sparked due to the death of black Americans when dealing with white police officers Protests sprung up nationwide, some looting has been observed in cities in multiple states Multiple buildings damaged/destroyed in Minneapolis with response from the National Guard, called in the Minnesota governor Many people joined police in pleading for people to stop setting fires, vandalizing, and looting as it weakened the cause for justice and reform The amount of protest rivaled that of protests for civil rights during the era of the Vietnam War Curfews in place in major cities across the US with 5,000 National Guard members activated in 15 states, including Washington D.C. Portland, Oregon has had a major string of BLM protests that had resulted in riots, since the death of Geroge Floyd and, more recently, Daunte Wright Portland mayor, Ted Wheeler, has invited the public to help in identifying violent protesters. He had also given police the authority to use any tactic to keep order Another wave of violence had come recently as a riot had erupted with fires and gunshots, protesters destroying windows of the First Christian Church and the Oregon Historical Society, spraying anti-cop graffiti on the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and causing approximately $20,000 worth of damages to the Boys and Girls Club.