Integrated Interagency Disaster System

Integrated Interagency Disaster System
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Integrated Interagency Disaster System
Emergency management entails activities associated with responding and avoiding human-caused and natural hazards. In particular, it involves coordinating a vast number of the private sector, non-governmental and volunteer organizations, and other agencies. The Constitution of the United States of America (USA) entitles the government responsible for public safety and health. The federal government plays a secondary role in emergency management and helps when the individual, state, and local entities are overwhelmed. Additionally, the four primary stages of emergency management include mitigation, response, preparedness, and recovery (Lindsay, 2012). The paper discusses and analyzes the process of responding to disasters at the local, state, and federal levels. Moreover, it focuses on the consequences of the lack of interagency cooperation on comprehensive emergency management, including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation at each level of the government.
Local Government’s Response to a Disaster
The local government holds significant responsibilities during the disaster response. Every time a catastrophic event occurs, local emergency agencies are usually the first to assist the affected people (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2007). In that light, the local government offers the initial emergency response via its service agencies and activates the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Moreover, it coordinates responses from private and public organizations. The local government assesses the magnitude of the disaster and notifies the state emergency management about the scope of the situation. After identifying and coordinating relevant agencies and gathering relevant resources, the local government reviews, assesses and develops proper management practices (Lindsay, 2012).
Additionally, it ensures that the community understands how to respond when a hazard occurs. Some local governments have community emergency response teams (CERTs) with highly trained residents. CERTs are crucial since they enhance community preparedness and mobilize relevant stakeholders to assist in a disaster (Flint & Brennan, 2006). However, when the local government is overwhelmed, it requests assistance from the state government.
Interagency mutual aid agreements and the response by community volunteers and non-governmental organizations are crucial in the local disaster response. For instance, mutual aid agreements introduce terms that guide emergency agencies to provide facilities, resources, medical supplies, equipment, and other vital things. Specifically, emergency management functions are usually managed based on the National Incident Management System's (NIMS) principles. Interagency mutual aid agreements are formed before, after, or during incidents and can involve all government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations (FEMA, 2017). Nevertheless, the local government entails principles that guide individuals and emergency agencies to undertake their responsibilities when responding, mitigating, recovering, or preparing for a disaster. For example, non-governmental and community volunteer organizations know their specific roles in disaster response based on their mutual aid agreements. If the former provides food, housing, and clothes to the affected individuals, the latter offers other forms of assistance, such as medical supplies. Since local emergency responders are the first ones to arrive at the disaster site, they must give first aid to victims to save their lives and reduce further destruction of properties. If resources provided by non-governmental and community volunteer organizations are not enough, the local government can request assistance from the state government.
When the local government is overwhelmed by the disaster, it must request assistance from the state government. In particular, the local government acts as the “first provider” of emergency response services. It activates the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The most significant thing that the local government must do is notify the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) about the disaster (FEMA, 2017). In addition, it should submit situation reports regularly. The local government is expected to activate response agreements with the federal and state agencies. When the available resources are limited, the SEMA should request more resources, which means the state government will aid in the disaster response.
State Government’s Response to a Disaster
The state government holds significant responsibilities during the disaster response. Indeed, it coordinates all activities when addressing incidents in cities, intrastates, counties, and regions. Governors are the chief communicators and are responsible for states’ responses to emergencies. When local governments request assistance from state governments and the SEMA approves it, the governor authorizes relevant resources to be released. Under the governor’s leadership, states use their capabilities and resources without forgetting to mobilize emergency agencies to aid during the disaster response. Unless federalized, National Guards stay under the command of governors (Homeland Security, 2016). The state government also administers homeland security grants, allocates proper resources, bolsters local government disaster response, and prepares to address hazards.
The interagency mutual aid, such as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), the response by volunteer organizations, and state assets, such as the National Guard, are crucial to the state response to disasters. The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) administers EMAC. In particular, EMAC refers to the congressionally ratified agreement, which offers structure and form to interstate mutual aid during states of emergencies declared by the governor. Through EMAC, officials from the state affected by the disaster can request and receive appropriate aid, such as commodities, equipment, and personnel, from other member states, thereby addressing four primary issues, namely license reciprocity, tort liability and immunity, reimbursement, and workers’ compensation (FEMA, 2017). Except when the National Guard is federalized, governors are the ones who make decisions on their behalf. In that light, they can authorize the release of appropriate resources during the disaster. Additionally, governors coordinate volunteer organizations to provide proper assistance to help people affected by the disaster in their specific states.
In some cases, when state governments are overwhelmed by the disaster, they can request assistance from the federal government. However, there must be a specific procedure to be followed for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve a state’s request for emergency aid. According to the Stafford Act (Section 401), it posits that "all requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State" (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, n.d.). The Columbia, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands are considered American states. The governor’s request is made via the regional FEMA or the Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) office. Federal and state officials ought to conduct a preliminary damage assessment (PDA), showing the extent to which the disaster affects public and individual facilities. The governor’s request should portray the magnitude and severity of the disaster and prove that it is beyond the local and state governments’ capabilities. Based on the Stafford Act, the governor should indicate the amount of state and local resources that have been used to alleviate the catastrophic event, the severity of the damage to public and private properties, and the estimate of the amount of money required to address the disaster (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, n.d.). Moreover, the state and local governments should agree with the applicable cost-sharing requirements. When the request is approved, the President declares an emergency ...