Introduction
Dealing with natural disasters entail that a country have prepared itself and its citizens, even for the worse case scenario (Rubin, 2012). Furthermore, a country should also have the capability to respond when their preparations to reduce casualties have failed. Likewise, when Hurricane Sandy hit the United States and caused severe damages, there were recommendations that were provided by in order to ensure that emergency preparedness and response to natural disasters in the United States will be significantly improved. Among these recommendations is the “community-based planning and communication” that aims to improve emergency preparedness and response by seeking out private sector, families, individuals, and local organizations to develop skills to endure emergency situations.This paper will likewise analyze this particular recommendation for change and determine how changes in this area can improve the emergency preparedness and response to natural disasters in the United States.
Body
According to the recommendation concerning the planning and communication improvements in the community level, people should be able to look after themselves and anyone to whom they can extend their help. This is so that when responders come, they can pay attention to individuals that are in more critical condition. Having people who could have helped themselves to cater together with the critical ones lengthen the response time, thus lowering the quality of response. This recommendation relies on the premise that if those who have the ability to take care of themselves had initially made responses to ease the emergency situation, then they can help the first line of responders when they come. They could lead them to individuals who are most in need if they had made rounds nearby. Thus, allowing the responders to help the most frail individuals and reducing any casualties during emergency situations. Furthermore, when the family of a person has been put in safe locations, then he or she can volunteer and increase the capacity of the response team to aid other victims. Moreover, the recommendation also emphasizes that Americans should modify their mindset. This means that the people should never underestimate their own abilities to help in times of disasters and avoid from depending too much (Bucci et al., 2013).
Imploring the community to become independent is a logical way to improve emergency preparedness and response to natural disasters. It allows people to get a hold of the fact that their safety should not be put on the government’s hands alone. They are as responsible as the government is for the safety of their countrymen. Making the community aware that they can help in times like the Hurricane Sandy provides more manpower to provide necessary aid. However, this does not mean that the government should rely on the capacity of the community. They should, at all times, presume the worse case scenario so that they may plan accordingly. It may be nice to think that there can be help from the community, but it an be a disaster to rely on it heavily.
Conclusion
Changing the mindset of Americans that only the government can help them in times of emergency situations can greatly aid in their efforts to improve emergency response and preparedness. They should realize that they have an option to help each other, rather than just be on the receiving end. Local organizations, families, and private entities within a certain community should all cooperate with each other in order to come up with a stronger plan. Together with the federal government, it can be expected that the community can face any disasters with ease.
References
Bucci, S.P., Inserra, D., Lesser, J., Mayer, M., Slattery, B., Spencer, J., and Tubb, K. (2013). After Hurricane Sandy: Time to Learn and Implement the Lessons in Preparedness, Response, and Resilience. The Heritage Foundation Emergency Preparedness Working Group.
Rubin, C. B. (Ed.). (2012). Emergency management: The American experience, 1900-2010. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
