What are the advantages and disadvantages of Pre-drawn Hazard maps from the agencies?
Risk mapping refers to a program introduced by the federal agencies to equip the communities with the flood tools and information, which enables them to come up with the readily appropriate strategies to reduce hazards and improve their mitigation plans. The pre-drawn maps have various advantages. They help the concerned bodies come up with essential floodplain regulations regarding land use. This move ensures that the people have the ability to target higher-risk locations and come up with the evacuation needs. Such moves provide the reduction of loss of lives. Additionally, employing the appropriate regulations on land use means that the people might be able to reduce property loss because people will engage in wise infrastructure management. Pre-drawn mapping also aids in the insurance sector. This idea is true considering that it structures the insured at the appropriate standards. Mapping also positively affects the insurance industry in the sense that it provides a platform to obtain consistent covers given the risk information available. It also lowers devaluations because of the information submitted by the pre-drawn map (Alcántara & Goudie, 2010).
Pre-drawn maps also have adverse effects. The major con of the hazard maps is the updating process. It is worth noting that FEMA has an inadequate amount of money each year that is preserved for the map updating process. They also lead to the increase in construction expenditures. Therefore, it forces the agencies to prioritize their needs and study according to the highest concern. Additionally, the changes registered when updating hazard maps means that there are increased insurance rates. This idea is true considering that the affected individuals will obtain additional costs to insure their homes and businesses. It is imperative to highlight that the pre-drawn maps are utilized when mitigating damages that emerge from natural tragedies. It helps to create a safe community (Lindell, Perry, & Prater, 2007).
You are an emergency planner for a small coastal town in Florida. You know that a hurricane might affect your community and you must prepare a warning message. What questions should the message content address?
In the case of a likelihood that a hurricane is to take place in a particular location, it is essential that I prepare a warning message to the community members that equip them with the appropriate mitigation plans. This message should address various questions. It should solve the question of what scenarios may exist that may deem one fit to rely on the preparedness supplies. The potential circumstances will give out a clear picture of how one should search for the core needs at the appropriate time. The message will also address the question of how long the emergency will last. The longer the duration means, the more effect it has on the victims. Another issue that the message will address is the type of attitude that one should embody in the mentioned circumstance. It is worth noting that an appropriate approach is of necessity during hurricanes. Individuals should be aware that their positive emotional viewpoints would help them survive throughout the complicated scenario (Korn, 2015).
Another query worth addressing in the message is the type of transportation option that would be of necessity during the emergency. The need to go mobile requires that one engage in serious planning. Therefore, the message should prepare the people to check the type of transport facilities available for their migration. The communication will also focus on addressing the query of what financial implications that are likely to take charge during the emergency scenarios. Additionally, it should also provide answers to the question that asks about the list of essential supplies that the incoming victims should possess (Korn, 2015). It means that it will prioritize the essentials required and enable the victims to check the supplies that they have in place.
You are the LEMA Director in Morenci Arizona. You have moderate resources and only small federal emergency funding. What problems do you face in trying to implement NIMS? What are the principal challenges DHS faces in overseeing NIMS?
In trying to implement the NIMS in Arizona, I experience several problems. NIMS implementation requires that the concerned body engage individuals in preliminary staff training to ensure that they adopt the proposed programs. This idea remains a challenge because LEMA organization has limited financial aid to oversee the attainment of the required knowledge. Additionally, lack of enough resources makes it difficult to implement the preparedness concept of NIMS. This idea is correct given that the mentioned section requires equipment acquisition and proper planning to ensure efficient management. Implementing the NIMS also requires that technology and the systems in place provide supporting abilities. Lack of the mentioned resources made it difficult for LEMA organization to facilitate the enduring incident and operations management in instances where exceptional technological-based proficiencies are a necessity (Alcántara & Goudie, 2010).
The DHS also face various challenges in supervising the implementation of the NIMS. The DHS requires massive resources to produce annual tests and standards that certify the command officers involved in the task. Additionally, it becomes a daunting task if the equipment also undergoes the certification process. The successful implementation of the NIMS requires the organizations to make substantial commitments to exercises, training, and drilling. This idea makes it difficult for the DHS to impose their requirements on agencies that need federal funding on disaster preparedness. Another challenge experienced by the DHS is the lack of financial support from the federal body, which is aimed at providing funds for the initiated programs. The last challenge involves improving the communication and coordination among the agencies linked to collecting and disseminating the intelligence data (Lindell, Perry, & Prater, 2007). It is a difficult task considering the lack of enough resources and updated technological techniques to counter the problem.
References
Alcántara, I., & Goudie, A. (2010). Geomorphological hazards and disaster prevention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Korn, D. (2015). 12 Crucial Questions of Preparedness & Disaster Planning. Learn To Prepare - Expert Emergency Preparedness Information. Retrieved 12 January 2017, from http://learntoprepare.com/articles/the-12-crucial-questions-of-preparedness-planning/
Lindell, M. K., Perry, R. W., & Prater, C. (2007). Introduction to emergency management. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
