MHE511 Emergency Operations (2018MAY21FT-1)
Module 1
Bio-Terrorist and Other Emergency Responses:
Few people in emergency management will disagree that an
immediate response to a bio-terrorism emergency is appropriate; however, very
few people agree as to what is an acceptable and a timely response.
An immediate problem
that arises with bio-terrorism responses is that it may take several days after
the event has been activated before anyone realizes that they have been exposed
and involved in such an incident.
•In your opinion should local, state, and federal disaster management agencies
develop different response plans for bio-terrorist emergencies and natural and
other types of emergencies?
Module 2
The Internet and Security Emergency Operations:
Although emergency planning and operations have been
conducted without a real consideration of integrating Internet into emergency
operations, recent developments in Internet and computer technology have made
it possible to change the ICS to allow for stronger (an assumption) external
control of all types of emergencies.
There are obvious
advantages and disadvantages to using Internet during emergencies. One problem
is that the Internet was not developed with security in mind. There is no
governing body on the Internet to ensure compliance with security measures.
Although freedom from authority fosters innovation, it has an adverse effect on
security.
The distributed
denial of service (DDoS) attacks in February 2000 illustrate how lax individual
security can affect Internet security. Attackers used intermediary sites to
launch attacks on the targeted sites. These activities were not transparent to
the intermediate sites. Consequently, the intermediate sites did not realize
they needed to implement security measures to prevent the attackers from using
them to attack the targeted sites; further, they had no motive, other than
general good will, to close the vulnerabilities on their sites that facilitated
the DDoS attacks.
Without some central
authority to ensure full implementation of security measures, each organization
is more or less on its own and can be at the mercy of other organizations whose
concern about security is far less than their own, or maybe even nonexistent.
For local and state emergency response agencies to trust the Internet with
their most sensitive data, additional precautions must be taken to ensure the
right people are accessing the emergency response networks and that only
authorized users can read transient data.
•Based on this brief discussion, do you believe that the significant use
of Internet in emergency operations will be limited until they can be conducted
safely on the Internet?
Module 3
Mitigation and a Perceived Lower Risk
During a forum titled Cities and Megacities at Risk
(sponsored by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Stanford University’s John A. Blume
Earthquake Engineering Center, and the World Seismic Safety Initiative, on
Capitol Hill on January 21, 1998) Kendra Briechle, International City/County
Management Association, reported the results of a recent study on Needs, Barriers,
and Opportunities to Mitigation in Local Government.
The survey indicated many governments are confused about
mitigation, and most perceive a lower risk for their area than actually exists.
In addition, smaller governments generally have fewer tools for mitigation,
including a lack of capacity and enforceable building codes.
1. In your opinion
why do many local governments perceive a lower risk of a disaster for their
communities than actually exists?
2. Do you believe
that your community may down-play disaster risks?
Remember to support your statements with quotations.
Module 4
Full Government Control in an Emergency?
It is characteristic in all major disasters that many regard
their role to assess survivors’ needs. There may be confusion within government
departments about where this responsibility lies.
Health, housing and
emergency planning officials have often regarded it as their particular task.
In addition, groups such as the military frequently make their own
assessments—as do voluntary organizations, and representatives of international
agencies. They often do so either to suit their own views and operational
policies, or as verification of official assessments which they may be inclined
to distrust, or which may not be sufficiently detailed for their purposes.
1.Given
this situation, if the government is to maintain full control during disasters
can it enter into a close working relationship with all assisting agencies and groups,
and still maintain full control?
2. Is it
necessary for government to maintain full control during disasters?
