Homeland Security Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Homeland Security Management - Essay Example It should not be viewed as a linear process. Why Because each phase needs to be reviewed based on variations of evaluation results of all components of risk management on, before, or after the disaster occurs. A disaster will inflict major damages when the member of the community is unaware of its occurrence, and of the things that should be done. Preparedness phase involves rigorous planning. It is where countermeasures are properly designed. It is done by an emergency team usually composed of selected government officials, government agencies, volunteer groups, the representative from medical groups, representatives from the private sectors such as businesses and contractors, or from any interested member of the community. The emergency team is organized during this phase. To come up with good countermeasures, it involves a rigorous process of risk analysis where possible risk or hazards are to be studied. Conducting intensive reviews and revisions of the previous emergency plans, and inventory of resources that are needed to carry out the emergency operation successfully are also done at this phase. The next step is the formulation of well designed operational plans which will be operated during the onset, upon impact, and after the occurrence of the disaster. Conducting public awareness campaign (i.e drills, an introduction of alert systems) so that the people will know how to react promptly and effectively during emergency situations, and pieces of training for organized emergency teams that will respond directly during the emergency. Mitigation phase involves the application of some countermeasures to deflect the possible damages when a disaster occurs. This is usually done by construction of appropriate defense systems to locations where the possibility of the occurrence of a disaster is high. Some examples of mitigation approach are digging big canals and installation of a proper drainage system to places where floods are likely to occur. It also involv es strict implementations of laws and guidelines for acquiring permits to different construction companies to ensure the safety of the structures to be built (i.e checking the level of the structure's resistance to possible disaster). Response phase is the proper application of emergency operational plans designed in preparedness phase and deployment of the resources that suit the need in order to preserve life and property within the community during the impact of the disaster. It involves the provision of relief goods, medical assistance, providing shelter or evacuation sites, conducting search and rescue mission. The Emergency Management team should act responsibly to evaluate the amount of damage, conduct the inventory of resources from time to time, seek out mutual emergency aid when required, and should remain in contact with the victims to attain their needs. A composition of reports of the number of casualties affected, in terms of death, injured, and valid estimates of the actual cost of the damage caused. Recovery is the most crucial part, the bigger the damage, the harder the recovery will be, this is true in developing countries. Reconstruction of damaged structures, construction of new residential sites, repairs of damaged transportation facilities (i.e roads, bridges, railway systems.)