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Disasters, whether natural in origin (earthquakes, hurricanes) or man-made (terrorist attacks), require coordinated management and relief efforts by government agencies and non-governmental organizations to alleviate the impact of such events. This is the role of disaster management, or emergency management, agencies. These organizations lead disaster relief efforts and take measures to prepare communities to better cope with future catastrophes.
Identification
In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the government agency in charge of disaster relief and management. FEMA is under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. Other countries' emergency management agencies include Public Safety Canada, Emergency Management Australia, National Disaster Management of India and the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management in New Zealand.
Function
The role of disaster or emergency management agencies is to create a framework for communities to cope with disasters. They also coordinate planning efforts to prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters. This means working with relevant public and non-governmental organizations at national and local levels, including police and fire departments, medical and public health officials, charities and others.
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) describes the mission of emergency management as protecting communities by "coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters." This means that disaster management involves a coordinated response in cases of actual disaster as well as effective response planning before such disasters occur.
Benefits
Effective disaster management helps save lives and provides relief to people affected by disaster. It further helps minimize property damage resulting from these incidents and creates a framework in which rebuilding of affected areas can begin.
Disaster management also requires action to prevent areas hit by disasters--natural or otherwise--from deteriorating further. Natural disasters, such as devastating earthquakes or hurricanes, can often lead to civil disorder among affected populations.
Principles
IAEM's Principles of Emergency Management state that disaster management should be comprehensive, considering all possible hazards and impacts; progressive, anticipating future disasters and taking preventive measures; risk-driven, based on sound risk management principles; and integrated, involving communities and all levels of government. In addition, sound disaster management should be collaborative, building strong relationships among relevant organizations; coordinated among stakeholders; flexible, using creative approaches to problem-solving; and professional.
Famous Ties
Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, illustrates the consequences of inept disaster management. FEMA was widely viewed as incompetent because of its clumsy response to the devastation wrought by Katrina, which killed hundreds of people and flooded nearly all of New Orleans. Critics noted that the agency's director at the time, Michael Brown, had no emergency management experience and had been a director of the International Arabian Horse Association before being appointed head of FEMA by then-President George W. Bush.
Expert Insight
In a report on disaster management in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the international relief and development organization Oxfam pointed out that natural disasters have a social context in which issues of power, politics, poverty and vulnerability to disaster affect outcomes. Successful disaster management requires recognition of these complex matters.
Considerations
Oxfam's report stated that countries facing multiple emergencies, such as Sri Lanka, can benefit by linking disaster management policies with full participation by citizens. The organization cautioned, however, that such a linkage requires political will and greater cooperation among government officials, business and civil society. This insight also could apply to the U.S., which faces multiple natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes), as well as the threat of terrorist attacks.
Identification
In the United States, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the government agency in charge of disaster relief and management. FEMA is under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. Other countries' emergency management agencies include Public Safety Canada, Emergency Management Australia, National Disaster Management of India and the Ministry of Civil Defense and Emergency Management in New Zealand.
Function
The role of disaster or emergency management agencies is to create a framework for communities to cope with disasters. They also coordinate planning efforts to prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters. This means working with relevant public and non-governmental organizations at national and local levels, including police and fire departments, medical and public health officials, charities and others.
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) describes the mission of emergency management as protecting communities by "coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters." This means that disaster management involves a coordinated response in cases of actual disaster as well as effective response planning before such disasters occur.
Benefits
Effective disaster management helps save lives and provides relief to people affected by disaster. It further helps minimize property damage resulting from these incidents and creates a framework in which rebuilding of affected areas can begin.
Disaster management also requires action to prevent areas hit by disasters--natural or otherwise--from deteriorating further. Natural disasters, such as devastating earthquakes or hurricanes, can often lead to civil disorder among affected populations.
Principles
IAEM's Principles of Emergency Management state that disaster management should be comprehensive, considering all possible hazards and impacts; progressive, anticipating future disasters and taking preventive measures; risk-driven, based on sound risk management principles; and integrated, involving communities and all levels of government. In addition, sound disaster management should be collaborative, building strong relationships among relevant organizations; coordinated among stakeholders; flexible, using creative approaches to problem-solving; and professional.
Famous Ties
Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, illustrates the consequences of inept disaster management. FEMA was widely viewed as incompetent because of its clumsy response to the devastation wrought by Katrina, which killed hundreds of people and flooded nearly all of New Orleans. Critics noted that the agency's director at the time, Michael Brown, had no emergency management experience and had been a director of the International Arabian Horse Association before being appointed head of FEMA by then-President George W. Bush.
Expert Insight
In a report on disaster management in Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the international relief and development organization Oxfam pointed out that natural disasters have a social context in which issues of power, politics, poverty and vulnerability to disaster affect outcomes. Successful disaster management requires recognition of these complex matters.
Considerations
Oxfam's report stated that countries facing multiple emergencies, such as Sri Lanka, can benefit by linking disaster management policies with full participation by citizens. The organization cautioned, however, that such a linkage requires political will and greater cooperation among government officials, business and civil society. This insight also could apply to the U.S., which faces multiple natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes), as well as the threat of terrorist attacks.
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References
http://www.ehow.com/about_5381848_role-disaster-ma ... .html
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