Action Plan Guideline

Order Description

As this course begins, consider the Action Plan Guidelines (listed within the unit lesson) as the criteria that you will use to analyze and evaluate each case study

throughout the course. After analyzing each case study, your written responses to the Action Plan Guidelines are submitted for grading. For the final project, the

analysis of each case study will be used to determine the lessons learned from each disaster and to project the future direction of emergency management.

For this assignment, complete the following:

1. Review the list of resources in the Action Plan Guidelines.
2. Choose two resources. Describe the resources and explain how and why you would use the resources in disaster response efforts.
3. Identify any additional resources that you would include in the resource list.

Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

2. Discuss the response and recovery processes that were undertaken in past disasters.
2.1 Identify the guidelines for an action plan.
2.2 Review the list of resources for an action plan and discuss their benefit in disaster response.

5. Analyze and discuss the future direction of emergency management.
5.1 Identify resources of an action plan and discuss the basis for their use.

TEXTBOOK
Valcik, N. A., & Tracy, P. E. (2013). Case studies in disaster response and emergency management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Your APA-formatted paper should be a minimum of two pages (not including the title and references pages).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ADDED TO MESSAGE FOR WRITER AREA

TEXTBOOK
Valcik, N. A., & Tracy, P. E. (2013). Case studies in disaster response and emergency management. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Your APA-formatted paper should be a minimum of two pages (not including the title and references pages).
As this course begins, consider the Action Plan Guidelines (listed within the unit lesson) as the criteria that you will use to analyze and evaluate each case study

throughout the course. After analyzing each case study, your written responses to the Action Plan Guidelines are submitted for grading. For the final project, the

analysis of each case study will be used to determine the lessons learned from each disaster and to project the future direction of emergency management.

For this assignment, complete the following:

1. Review the list of resources in the Action Plan Guidelines.
2. Choose two resources. Describe the resources and explain how and why you would use the resources in disaster response efforts.
3. Identify any additional resources that you would include in the resource list.

Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

2. Discuss the response and recovery processes that were undertaken in past disasters.
2.1 Identify the guidelines for an action plan.
2.2 Review the list of resources for an action plan and discuss their benefit in disaster response.

5. Analyze and discuss the future direction of emergency management.
5.1 Identify resources of an action plan and discuss the basis for their use.

Guidelines for Evaluation of Case Studies
This course is written for emergency managers or anyone who participates in emergency response efforts to disasters. It presents a comparative analysis of applied

response and emergency-management practices from multiple disasters that have occurred in past or in more modern times. The goal is to demonstrate to how response

efforts to disasters in the past have enhanced the practical knowledge and increased the capabilities of leadership and emergency responders to mitigate and respond to

future disasters. In the scope of this course, you are provided with the opportunity to critique the decisions made in past disasters, using the adapted criteria

provided by the textbook authors Nicolas A. Valcik and Paul E. Tracy. Case study exercises are applied to natural, man-made, and terrorist disasters to provide a broad

perspective for you to consider and to test emergency management techniques. In addition, the textbook authors summarize the failures, consequences, and implications

for each case study to demonstrate how choices can determine the success or failure of response and recovery efforts.
In reading the case studies in the textbook, it is important for you to identify the contributing factors that led to the disaster and analyze the plan of action, the

response plan, resources, and intangible factors that affected the disaster response as they were applied to the disaster. The following criteria will be used to

analyze the case studies in this course. While some criteria are applied in some disasters and not in others, they assist in evaluating the success of the response and

recovery efforts.

Action Plan Guidelines
I. The Basic Framework for the Action Plan:
a. Plan of Action: What is the plan of action? What is the primary focus of the response? How large is the affected population?
b. Emergency Operations Center: Have primary and secondary locations been established?
c. Communications Plan: Was there a communications plan with redundancy?
d. Affected Population: What is the size and locations of vulnerable populations?
e. Evacuation Plan: Are evacuation routes identified? Is transportation provided for vulnerable populations without transportation? Are evacuation shelters identified

and supplied with resources?
f. Emergency Response Plan: Was there an emergency response plan?

II. Resources: What resources were in place for emergency response?
a. Manpower
b. Food and Water
c. Medical Supplies and Resources
d. Law Enforcement
e. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
f. Specialized Equipment and Support (hazmat)
g. Electricity and Fuel
h. Transportation
i. Mortuary Services
j. Resources for Displaced Persons (evacuation and shelters)
k. Emergency Facilities (emergency operations center)
l. Financial Resources (local, state, and federal)
m. Local Resources
n. State Resources
o. Federal Resources

III. Intangible Factors that Affect Disaster Response:
a. Coordination with Other Entities (profit and non-profit organizations, local and regional memorandum of understanding agreements)
b. Authority of Leadership
c. Scope of Operations
d. Political Disposition
e. Time
f. Threat Level/Threat Assessment

IV. Lessons Learned for Future Application:
a. Identify components of the response that were effective.
b. Identify missing components of the response.
c. List suggestions to develop or improve action plan.

The components of the action plan are applied to each disaster for consistency in comparative analysis. Although some of the components are not applicable to every

disaster, you are able to analyze the actions taken and identify how response efforts could have been improved. The lessons learned from studying these case studies of

disasters can be applied to improve present and future emergency response and recovery plans. It is suggested that you create a file of action plans for each type of

disaster in order to compare, contrast, or to improve or develop an action plan.
In addition to the criteria provided by the textbook, it is important to consider the resources available through local, state, and federal governments. In an effort

to supplement local resources, state and federal governments can provide additional resources through the emergency disaster declaration process. Within the action

plan, it is advisable to identify resources, the provider, and contact information. This information can be maintained in a computer database and expedites the

timeline for emergency response efforts.
Another consideration for an action plan is the population within the area that maybe affected by a major disaster. In past disasters, the affected population was not

a consideration, but is important in present-day planning efforts. The increased population in the U.S. and increased number of people living in vulnerable areas

multiplies the present vulnerability to disasters. For example, the action plan for New Orleans prior to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 did not identify the

vulnerable population that lived in the Ninth Ward of the city. The residents did not have transportation to evacuate from the city or to the shelter. Transportation

for assisted living and nursing homes is also a consideration for the action plan. In a modern action plan, redundancy is an important factor. The primary location for

the emergency operations center should have a back-up power source for the facility. Redundancy for communications is achieved with satellite radios and ham operators

when the primary communications, such as cell towers, fail. Many states have installed underground fiber optics to ensure the capability of communication between

strategic locations. Likewise, a secondary Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is necessary in case the primary facility becomes inoperable. After the September 11,

2001, disaster in New York City destroyed the primary EOC, operations were immediately relocated to the secondary location. The resources for power and communications

were previously installed, which enabled a quick transition of operations. In the study of these disasters from the past and present, it will become apparent the

importance of a current action plan and the resources to implement a timely response and recovery effort.
When an action plan is current and the resources are ready to move, the response time is quick and effective—lives are saved, and property damage is minimized.

Likewise, the response time is shortened and efforts are quickly transitioned to the recovery phase. As a result of poor response efforts to Hurricane Katrina, some

areas in New Orleans are still recovering from the disaster. In the study of these disasters and the application of the action plan guidelines, you will learn and gain

knowledge and perspective of the importance of planning for an effective disaster response and recovery. It is advisable that action plans are reviewed annually and

resources are updated. An annual tabletop exercise for the primary response agencies ensures that everyone is familiar with the plan. In addition, a full-scale

exercise with all participating agencies, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, is suggested every three years to test the plan. Exercises are an

excellent emergency management tool to identify any redundancy and improvements for the action plan. Any changes in the population and vulnerable populations should

also be noted. These considerations for an action plan ensure a successful response and recovery effort.