Essay Questions
Answer these questions in regard to emergency management. Heavy sourcing is not needed.
Each answer should be at least 150 words. Thanks!
Describe the process of Presidential Disaster Declarations and how this process has changed over time. Why were these changes made? Have the changes to this process resulted in improved disaster response and recovery in the recent 2017 Hurricanes Harvey and Irma? Why?
The textbook discussed one important aspect of major focusing events and the political issues that can affect response and recovery efforts. In major catastrophes, such as Hurricane Katrina or the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, political controversies and agendas may cause independent actions by lawmakers that detract from disaster response and recovery efforts. Discuss the dynamic that causes this phenomenon, and describe what actions can be taken to reduce the likelihood of this occurring or would minimize the impact.
Describe the crisis management difficulties in response to the BP Deepwater Horizon. What were the competing directives that could be considered governing for this disaster? What problems did this cause in execution of response and recovery actions? In your view, which directive should have been invoked, and why? Has this competing directive gap been rectified?
Describe the formation of DHS. What changes to DHS and FEMA were made following Hurricane Katrina? Why?
Describe the communications confusion problems that inhibited effective response and recovery from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. What caused these problems and what actions would you recommend to prevent similar communications confusion in future major focusing events.
