Disaster Management Advancement

The Timeline of American Disaster Legislation

Year of the Law: 1950

Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Relief Program Disaster Relief Act of 1979 (FEMA)

Homeland Security Act of 2003 and the 1988 Stafford Act

HSPD-5: Management of Domestic Incidents

Act to Prepare for Pandemics and All-Hazards in 2006 (PAHPA)

HSPD-21 for 2007: Disaster Healthcare

Stafford Act Updated in 2010 2011 PPD-8: National Preparedness

Act to Reauthorize Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness from 2013 (PAHPRA)

Introduction

The field of emergency management deals with risks and risk mitigation. The hazards typically encompass a wide range of problems and a diversified group of participants. In the current history, the events and leadership have brought about the dramatic changes to the U.S. emergency management more than anything else. 2001, September 11th terror attack resulted in the massive organizational adjustments together with the programmatic moves in the emergency administration. The 2005 Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans and other sections of the Gulf Coast also led to the renewed interests in the duty of the local emergency managers in the implementation of the plans and policies regarding the disasters (Stehr, 2007).

Federal Disaster Relief Program

The notable time frame for the evolution of the emergency management took place during the 1950s. It was an era marked by the onset of the Cold War that presented the nuclear war and the fallout of the nuclear. During that time, the civil defense programs proliferated across the land, and there was the encouragement for the individuals and the regions to construct the bomb shelters for protection. The Congress created the Federal Disaster Relief Program, which authorized the President to offer the provision of the additional assistance on request by the governor for help, and the President made an approval by the declaration of the major catastrophe. 1966 was marked the introduction of the Disaster Relief Act, which expanded the assistance of the Federal disaster to be inclusive of the recovery for the recovering regions after the adversity. It led to the emergence of the idea of community-based alleviation into the emergency management practice. It was the duty of the federal government to assist the regions in combating the catastrophes whenever necessary.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

The formation of FEMA was in the year 1979 with the mission of offering a distinct national entity for working with the state and the local administrations in responding to the disasters. It was after a series of large-scale catastrophes in the 1960s-1970s that led to its formation, and its director reported directly to the President. The organization’s roles included the coordination of preparedness and planned to reduce the outcomes of the major terrorist events. It led to the promotion of the idea of forming partnerships among the community stakeholders as a way of encouraging the sustainable economic development. The President had the power of appointing the directors that governed the organization (Waugh Jr. & Streib, 2006).

The Stafford Act

The Stafford Act gives the definition of whom and how to allocate the disaster assistance. It is the legislative authority for the majority of the general calamity responses and support activities inclusive of the operations of FEMA. The release of the federal assistance is only if the administration of the affected state makes a request or if the event of the catastrophe needs the action of the federal government. The Act allows the states to handle the calamity incidents locally without seeking for help from the federal authority. It also mandates the President to proclaim an emergency for the measures that devastates the state or the local governments so as to get the federal grant and support.

The Homeland Security Act

Immediately after the 2001 September terrorist attack, by the executive order, the President formed the Homeland Security Office inside the White House; in the year 2002, President Bush passed the Homeland Security Act into directive. The mission of the Act is to stop, decrease susceptibility to, curtail harm created by, and help in re-establishment from terrorism in America. FEMA became a part of the Homeland Security Department and worked under its guidance. There was the consolidation of other agencies under the Homeland Security Department, as the principal aim for its formation was to harmonize efforts in the various federal bureaus in regards to the calamity preparedness and reestablishment, law enforcement, civil defense, and border protection. The Act also generated HSPD and PPD, and the Secretary of Homeland Security came up with the National Incident Management under the directive of HSPD (NIH).

Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)

PAHPA’s formation was in 2006 to improve the public health of the nation and the medical response capabilities for any emergency whether natural, accidental, or deliberate. The Act also generated NHSS and ASPR within the DHHS department for the management of medical response and national health. In 2007, there appeared the HSPD-21 Disaster Healthcare, a directive that mandated the improvement of the federal stratagem for the community health and medical awareness, inclusive of bioterrorism protection, training, and requirements for the group victim care. There was the revised Stafford Act in 2010 due to in part to the functions of the libraries as relations centers and recuperation information after the Rita and Katrina hurricanes. It made the libraries appropriate for the temporary replacement during the emergency periods. In the year 2011, there was the PPD-8 National Preparedness, which is a national all-danger approach for the calamities, terror attacks, and emergencies within the United States. In the year 2013, there was the establishment of the PAHPRA, which builds on the HHS efforts for the advancement of the public health precautions. It also gives the authorization of financial support for mutual health and medical preparedness plans (Lynn, 2010).

Conclusion

The emergency management has had an extensive history in America, and its importance keeps on growing. The risks of future terror invasions, natural catastrophes such as global warming and even the pandemics of flu carry on generating a higher demand for the emergency specialists. The new system that is the Department of Homeland Security requires coordination from the federal, state, local and other private sector programs to render services in case of any calamity, thus making it more efficient. The federal government should also involve the military with the duties of the National Response Plan, as they are capable of performing all the operational functions.

References

Lynn, M. (2010). Disaster Preparedness in America. Pre-hospital and Disaster Medicine, 25(S1), S13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x00022007

NIH. (n.d.). U.S. Disaster Legislation Timeline. Retrieved on May 5, 2017 from https://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dis_courses/us_response/resources/disaster_legislation_timeline.pdf

Stehr, S. D. (2007). The Changing Roles and Responsibilities of the Local Emergency Manager: An Empirical Study. Retrieved on May 5, 2017 from http://m.ericholdeman.com/docs/IJMED3-2207.pdf

Waugh Jr., W. L., & Streib, G. (2006). Collaboration and Leadership for Effective Emergency Management. Retrieved on May 5, 2017 from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.461.2066&rep=rep1&type=pdf