Nowadays, effective home security and proper disaster risk reduction management has already been an important aspect for everyone. With the kind of living that we have at present, there is already a need for public safety and security, particularly in times of disasters and natural calamities. However, the fact that natural disasters and emergency risks are far more extreme and different in scope than those of home security and safety, I guess that the two points shall be separated together. At least, there shall be a specific alliance or organization that shall handle home security and safety, while there must also be another one for emergency and risk management. According to Moss, Schellhamer, & Berman (2009), the creation of U.S. Department of Homeland Security from the Homeland Security Act of 2002 has led to the allocation of once an independent department, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which aimed to coordinate and unified the federal disaster services in the whole state.
In my opinion, this action may pose a conflict since not all home security cases are directly related to disaster cases. There is a big possibility of mishandling of tasks and responsibilities if these two different departments worked as one unit. Furthermore, Skinner’s summary points about the past experiences of the Americans regarding Hurricane Katrina reveals the lack of preparation of FEMA before and after the disaster with regards to public safety and security (2006). The whole FEMA made it difficult for them to adjust with their response plans for the duration of Hurricane Katrina since they have incurred a much larger scope coverage with regards to public health and safety, both in general and in disaster risk aspects. Worst is also the fact that the whole planning efforts of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security on the pre- and post-Katrina incident were regarded as incomplete and insufficient. Thus, separating these two disciplines would result to an even focused departments handling their main tasks and objectives without any hindrance on their way of dealing public safety and security.
References
Moss, M., Schellhamer, C., & D. A. Berman. (2009). The Stafford Act and Priorities for Reform. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 6(1). 1-35. Web. Retrieved 04 April 2016. < http://www.nyu.edu/ccpr/pubs/Moss_03.09.09.pdf >
Skinner, R. L. (2006). A Performance Review of FEMA’s Disaster Management Activities in Response to Hurricane Katrina. U. S. Department of Homeland Security. 1-206. Web. Retrieved 04 April 2016. < https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/OIG_06-32_Mar06.pdf>
