Category: Emergency management

Wk 8 – Scenario 2 Module 4 Questions – Carrie E. Martin
Contains 
Carrie Martin 
Health and Medical/Mass Care Facilities
Primary Question:
22. Many students have been displaced from their dormitories.  The Red Cross doesn’t have enough resources in place yet to fully support the displaced students with food, water, and shelter.  Can DoD legally assist in helping until the Red Cross can fully meet the community’s needs?  If yes, where is that authority derived?
The Sarin gas attack in Bobsville, Oklahoma, has created a critical situation, displacing many students from their dormitories and overwhelming local resources.  The American Red Cross, while present, is currently unable to fully support the displaced students with essential needs such as food, water, and shelter.  In such a scenario, the Department of Defense (DoD) can legally assist until the Red Cross can meet the community’s needs.  This authority is derived from the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which allows for federal support to state and local governments during disaster response and recovery efforts (FEMA, 2020).  Additionally, the DoD can provide assistance under the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) guidelines, which permit military resources to support civil authorities during emergencies when requested by the appropriate state or federal agency (U.S. Department of Defense, 2018).
Additional Questions:
24. How would the federal volunteer protection act of 1997 provide liability coverage for volunteers supporting disaster response?
Regarding liability coverage for volunteers, the Federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 offers significant protection.  This act provides that volunteers working for non-profit organizations or governmental entities are shielded from liability for harm caused by their acts or omissions, provided they are acting within the scope of their responsibilities and not engaging in willful misconduct, gross negligence, or reckless behavior (U.S. Congress, 1997).  This legal protection is crucial as it encourages volunteerism by reducing the fear of legal repercussions, thereby ensuring that more individuals are willing to offer their assistance during disaster response efforts.
25. Is there a responsibility for states to ensure that they maintain laws, rules, and regulations when it comes to volunteers supporting disaster response and recovery operations?
There is a substantial responsibility for states to maintain laws, rules, and regulations concerning volunteers supporting disaster response and recovery operations.  A clear legal framework is essential to protect both the volunteers and the recipients of aid.  This framework should include training requirements, liability protections, and guidelines for coordination with other agencies.  Effective state-level regulations foster an environment where volunteers can operate safely and effectively, ensuring that aid reaches those in need promptly and efficiently.
The Bobsville incident highlights the necessity of a coordinated response involving various agencies and volunteers.  Ensuring adequate legal protections and clear guidelines for all participants is crucial to managing the immediate and long-term impacts of such catastrophic events.
References
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (2020). Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, and Related Authorities. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/stafford-act_2019.pdf
U.S. Congress. (1997). Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/911
U.S. Department of Defense. (2018). Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=817178

The project must be not less than twelve (12)
pages in length (excluding the title page and bibliography) and at a minimum
include the group’s purpose, history, structure, ideology, threat potential,
and the government’s efforts to contain the threat. 
Rubric:
1.  Introduction (5
points)
2.  History (13
points)
3.  Structure (13
points)
4.  Ideology (13
points)
5.  Threat Potential
(13 points)
6.  Containment
Efforts (13 points)
7.  Paper Length (10
points)
8.  Graduate Level
Writing (20 points) 

Ferraro Week 8
Contains unread posts
Dana Ferraro posted Jun 24, 2024 5:28 PM
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In our fictional Bobsville scenario, volunteer organizations have started their response efforts to the area. Although volunteer support is extremely helpful, there are a variety of concerns when dealing with volunteer organizations. Since the Red Cross cannot fully support their response efforts, the Department of Defense (DoD) can legally assist in helping until the Red Cross can fully meet the community’s needs. This assistance is derived from the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Specifically, Section 309 of the Stafford Act discusses the use and coordination of relief organizations, such as the American National Red Cross. This section states that the President is authorized to enter into agreements with a variety of long-term recovery groups to provide relief and aid to communities after a disaster. It also advises that the resources that these organizations can provide include medicine, food, and supplies in the restoration of community services housing and essential facilities if the President deems it necessary (Department of Homeland Security, 2019). 
Another component of organizing volunteer organizations during a disaster is to maintain order. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure that they maintain laws, rules, and regulations when it comes to volunteers supporting disaster response and recovery operations. Although volunteers involved in these organizations are eager to lend a helping hand, it is important that they abide by the state and local laws of the community they are providing assistance to. This is especially important when national organizations are utilizing volunteers from different states or regions where they may have different sets of laws, rules and regulations. 
One helpful piece of legislation that would protect the volunteers in this scenario is the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. This act was created in order to ensure that nonprofit public and private organizations are able to protect volunteers from “frivolous, arbitrary, or capricious lawsuits” (US Congress, p 219). Prior to the inception of the Volunteer Protection Act, people were deterred from volunteering for organizations in fear of potential liability actions against them (US Congress, 1997).
Resources
Department of Homeland Security. (2019). Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act & United States Code, Title 42. The Public Health and Welfare, Chapter 68. Disaster Relief. Stafford Act, as amended, and related authorities. In FEMA P-592. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/stafford-act_2019.pdf
United States Congress. (1997). Volunteer Protection Act of 1997. In PUBLIC LAW (Report No. 19; Vol. 105, pp. 218–220). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ19/pdf/PLAW-105publ19.pdf

I have attached an approved template for this assignement.  Topic locality will be Montgomery County, Ohio (Dayton).  
Draft an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for a city of your choice as if preparing for a hurricane Katrina-type disaster. This EOP should:
Identify all eight of the topics needed for a complete EOP.
Illustrate how all eight of the topics needed for a complete EOP fits into the formats outlined in course readings.
Determine if the template is tailored to the city jurisdiction’s geographic, political, and social environment.
Address the following concerns:
The resulting plan represents the jurisdiction’s unique hazard and threat situation by ensuring that the underlying facts and assumptions that drove the template to match those applicable to the jurisdiction.
The hazard and risk assessments match the jurisdiction’s demographics, infrastructure inventory, probability of hazard occurrence, etc.
The template identifies the resources needed to address the problems generated by an emergency or disaster only in a general way.
Using the template may stifle creativity and flexibility, thereby constraining the development of strategies and tactics needed to solve disaster problems.
Determine the benefits of both teamwork and using a template.
Evaluate the eight topics as they relate to the disaster, regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of the jurisdictions EOP.
Please utilize below references:
https://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/divisions/npd/CPG_101_V2.pdf
https://www.mcohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/4795/2019-Montgomery-County-Natural-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-Revised-2021

Instructions
This Assignment consists of two parts- a Crisis Communications Plan part and an ESF 7 (Emergency Support Function #7) Logistical Resource Support annex part.  They should be submitted as two separate documents.
Part 1. Crisis Communications Plan [67% of assignment grade]
Begin to create a Crisis Communications Plan for the fictional town of Bobsville. Use Chapter 15, “The Crisis Communications Plan”, and Appendix A provided in the textbook as guidance. Use the [description of Bobsville] (https://myclassroom.apus.edu/shared/commonfolder/security-and-global-studies-common/EDMG/Media/Bobsville_Description.html) for existing information, and create any reasonable/ logical details necessary to create your plan that is not already in the description.
Your initial Crisis Communication Plan should be approximately one to two (1-2) pages in length and contain the following headings as an outline:
Purpose and Objectives
Key publics/stakeholders
Enabling
Functional
Normative
Diffused
System for Notifying key publics
Crisis Communication Team members
Media Spokespersons
List of Emergency Personnel & Local Officials
List of Key Media contacts
Crisis Communications Control Center
Equipment & Supplies
In your Assignments for Weeks 4, 5, and 6 you will add content to this CCP.
Part 2. ESF7 Logistical Resource Support annex [33% of assignment grade]
As part of integrating with Bobsville’s Crisis Management Plan/Emergency Operations Plan begun in EDMG220 that you have been developing in each course, create a one to two (1-2) page-maximum ESF7 Logistical Resource Support Annex.
Your Bobsville ESF7 Resource Support Annex should contain the following headings and content:
ESF Coordinator
Primary responsibilities
Primary Agency
Support Agencies
Purpose and Scope of ESF 7
Describe what functions this annex controls
Concept of Operations
Assignment of Responsibilities: Bobsville & Regional Support Agencies that can assist with:
Sourcing Equipment
Temporary Facility access
Providing Supplies
Staffing
Financial tracking
Remember, although many references and examples discuss federal Emergency Support Function annexes, you are writing a local, municipal Emergency Support Function annex for the City of Bobsville.  Your provisions should be written from that perspective, e.g., you will NOT be tasking federal agencies.
Submit your 1-2 page maximum ESF7 Annex as a separate document from your Crisis Communications Plan.
Supplementary reference material concerning ESF and Support Annexes for Weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6 Assignments
The following supplementary references concerning ESF and support annexes, and emergency planning, are provided for your information:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS]. (2008, January). Overview: ESF and support annexes: Coordinating federal assistance in support of the national response framework. https://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-overview.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. 2008, January). Emergency support function annexes: Introduction. https://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/nrf/nrf-esf-intro.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. (2009, February). ; IS-807: ESF #7- Logistics management and resource support student manual          (https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is807/student%20manual.pdf )
Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. (2021). Developing and maintaining state, territorial, tribal, and local government emergency plans: Comprehensive preparedness guide (CPG 101), version 3.0.  https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_cpg-101-v3-developing-maintaining-eops.pdf or via the FEMA Planning Guides webpage at https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/plan .
In CPG 101, Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Government Emergency Plans, version 3.0, annexes are discussed at pages 81- 108.
For information, the preceding edition of Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 (CPG 101 (v2.0, November 2010) is available online at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/CPG_101_V2_30NOV2010_FINAL_508.pdf , https://edge.apus.edu/access/content/group/security-and-global-studies-common/EDMG/EDMG498/DevelopingMaintainingStateTerrTribalEmergencyPlans.pdf or https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/CPG_101_V2_30NOV2010_FINAL_508.pdf .  Comprehensive Preparedness Guide .  Although version 2.0 has been superseded, its contents remain valid, especially concerning annexes, which are covered at pages 3-15 through 3-18, and Appendix C-19.
There are also numerous ESF and support annex examples published online which may inform your work.

Prepare a five page (double-spaced) paper, using your own words, that identifies and researches any ONE emergency management related magazine, conference, or association. Please describe how your research subject can contribute to YOUR development and expertise as a future emergency management practitioner. Be specific and discuss the justification for emergency managers to remain informed on emerging trends. Describe how your research subject offers professional develop opportunities to its readers, attendees, or members. Please utilize at least five textbook citations (Introduction to Emergency Management (7th edition) Haddow, Bullock, Coppola) and five citations from other sources (published after Jan. 2020) to support the discussion of the topic. While older sources are fine, students must include the required number of citations from the textbook and more current sources. Note: The paper must be written, using your own words, supported by your citations, More than 90 percent of the words, sentences, paragraphs, and pages must be written – using your own words. Using headers to break up the various section of this assignment is MANDATORY. I have selected the International Association of Emergency Managers as the topic for the paper. 

Research the terms waterboarding and torture. Based on your research, post an answer to the following question: Do you believe that waterboarding is torture or an effective interrogation tool?
In addition to your post, you must reply to at least two (2) other students’ postings. Again, no profanity, emoticons, or abbreviations. You will be graded on content and originality. Check the syllabus for the due date.
Follow the instructions for submitting your discussion response:
You may use any sources that you wish; however, the sources must be cited.
Be sure to fully answer all of the questions above in your response.
Prepare a discussion response of 200–250 words, providing your answer to the question.

Final Discussion: Student Chosen Disaster
STUDENT CHOSEN DISASTER  (NOTE: This Topic and discussion is worth 40% of your Final Grade and should be more inclusive with factual information, details of the incident, and your thoughts and perspectives)
Natural Disaster of Choice: Hurricane Sandy
Provide in-text citations in each paragraph. 
Provide 10 separate sources.
HAZARD DESCRIPTION: Comprehensively and thoroughly describe the facts of Hurricane Sandy, including what happened, those affected, and other important details. 
DISASTER CONSEQUENCES: Describe the major consequences of hurricane sandy. Consider including information about human harm (death, physical injury, psychological distress and trauma), effects on the response personnel, effects on the community, economy, environment and other important factors.
EVENT MANAGEMENT: Describe the roles played by emergency responders, law enforcement personnel, and civic leaders in response to hurricane sandy. 
LEGAL/POLICY/ETHICAL: Identify and discuss any legal issues, policies that affected the response, or ethical implications tied to Hurricane Sandy. Discuss if any new policies/laws were created because of Hurricane Sandy. If not, what type of policy would you implement to minimize/prevent future similar disasters?
FRAMEWORK/RESEARCH: Describe and analyze any incident management frameworks (ex: NIMS/CERC/ICS/HICS) that were applicable to Hurricane Sandy and if any disaster research has contributed to a specific challenge identified in this incident or type of incident (bridge collapses, transportation disasters, etc.). Discuss any research that is relevant to this type of disaster or specific disaster. 

Submit Annotated Bibliography. Site every reference and tell me why it matters or perhaps why it doesn’t. Please see the OWL Annotated Bibliography page for information on what an Annotated Bibliography is, the usefulness of one, and how to format one. Make sure you explain what led you to each source, the role it plays with in the literature. Finally, give a professional opinion. Is the source credible? Does the source explain something that others do not?

Using the information and guidance provided in the readings, write an essay (1,000-1,250 words) in which you address the following:
How does the Robert T. Stafford Act provide overarching guidance on Emergency Management and the systemic means for federal disaster assistance for state and local governments?
What was the intention Congress regarding the responsibility of states and localities to develop comprehensive disaster preparedness plans?
How does this prepare for better intergovernmental coordination in the face of a disaster?
How does FEMA encourage the use of insurance coverage, and provide federal assistance programs for losses due to a disaster to decrease liability issues in emergency management?
Directly quoted source material may not exceed 10% of the paper’s content.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.