Writing Assistance - Genius Papers

A Critique of Various Programs Available to Assist Individuals and

Communities in the Post-Disaster Environment

Name

Institution

Course

Instructor

Date

Abstract

Comprehensive in scope, this study evaluates existing disaster relief initiatives. A literature research is conducted to identify the available programs, qualitative interviews are conducted with disaster survivors and individuals involved in the provision of post-disaster support, and a comparison analysis is conducted to determine the efficacy of the programs. Comprehensive in scope, this study sheds light on the efficacy and room for development of disaster relief operations long after they have ended. Natural disasters, population expansion, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to the rise in the importance of emergency management. The government of the United States has launched numerous projects and programs to aid with the recovery process in response to this demand. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of all of these initiatives, which include FEMA, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Disaster Relief Fund, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, Public Aid, and Individual Help. All around the United States, people and places have benefited from these initiatives. Financial aid, housing support, and other resources have been made available through the programs, which have been an absolute lifeline for individuals and communities in need after natural catastrophes. Furthermore, state and local governments have received money from the programs to aid in disaster response and recovery. Together, the findings of this study offer a thorough evaluation of existing disaster relief initiatives. It has proved the efficacy of the Department of Homeland Security’s policies and efforts and the significance of aiding individuals and communities in the aftermath of a disaster.

Introduction

It can be difficult for communities to recover and rebuild after natural disasters. There are a variety of post-disaster assistance programs that aim to meet the needs of individuals and communities. Relief and recovery services, financial aid, community building, and emotional and social support are all part of the package offered by these initiatives (Lewis,2019). Although these programs are often necessary for assisting with community recovery and rebuilding, they can be difficult to understand and apply. The study’s goal is to evaluate the efficacy of the various programs designed to help people rebuild their lives after a natural disaster.

Specifically, this study will look at programs that are already available in the United States, but it also considers international programs wherever they may be useful. Initially, we will research the existing literature to determine the available programs and to learn about their goals, scope, and limits. The next step will be to conduct qualitative interviews with catastrophe survivors and individuals involved in post-disaster support provision to hear their firsthand descriptions of their experiences with the programs. Ultimately, a comparison study will be done to evaluate the programs’ efficacy and locate their weak points (Campbell,2020).. The results of this study will give a thorough analysis of disaster relief efforts, shedding light on their successes and failings.

Background and history information

Events that resulted in the need for emergency management

Emergency management boils down to the analysis of potential threats and the methods for mitigating them. The term “risk” refers to several different types of issues and actors. Emergency management or the implementation of an emergency management system may be necessary in a wide range of contexts and situations. Since emergency management is crucial to our well-being on a daily basis, it should be factored into policy decisions on the regular, rather than being relied on only in the face of catastrophic events.

It is essential for governments to be able to respond to and recover from crises. The States are responsible for safeguarding their residents against potential dangers, as required by the Constitution. The federal government acts as an enabler in this scenario. The federal government has a responsibility to offer aid when state and local governments, as well as private groups and people, are unable to do so. Despite major shifts that have occurred as a direct result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, this fundamental premise remains the guiding light for the government function of emergency management (Campbell,2020).

With this foundation laid, emergency management will forever be recognized as a crucial part of government. States and local governments established their own disaster management agencies even before the federal government got involved. Even so, as a result of shifting political attitudes and the development of the country, the Federal Government’s role in emergency management has gradually increased through time, growing into the multi-billion-dollar program it is today (McElreath, et al 2020).

The need for emergency management has been a growing concern in recent years as the frequency and intensity of natural disasters has increased. This is due in part to climate change and the increasing severity of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. In addition, increasing population density and development in vulnerable areas has increased the potential for damage and loss of life.

The proliferation of emergency management programs has been driven in large part by the devastating effects of major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. These disasters highlighted the need for better preparedness and response, as well as more effective recovery and rebuilding efforts.

In response to the increasing need for emergency management, the United States government has implemented a number of programs and initiatives to aid in the recovery process. These programs provide a range of services, including financial assistance, community development, and psychological and social support. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the primary agency responsible for providing assistance to individuals and communities after a disaster (McElreath, et al 2020). FEMA has developed a set of guidelines and protocols to ensure that recovery efforts are effective and efficient.

The need for emergency management has been further heightened by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and response and has led to the creation of new programs and initiatives to provide assistance to individuals and communities.

Overall, the need for emergency management has been driven by a combination of natural disasters, population growth, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events have highlighted the need for better preparedness and response, as well as more effective recovery and rebuilding efforts. The proliferation of emergency management programs is a testament to the importance of providing assistance to individuals and communities in the wake of a disaster.

The underlying concerns

Anxieties about the growing number and severity of natural catastrophes are essentially what prompted the creation of emergency management. Natural catastrophes like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive as a result of climate change. The rising population and construction in disaster-prone areas has also heightened the danger.

As a result of the widespread devastation caused by natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012, emergency management systems have proliferated. All of these disasters have shown how much work needs to be put into preparation, reaction, recovery, and reconstruction.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the necessity of emergency preparedness and response in addition to natural disasters. As a result of the pandemic, many new relief efforts have been launched to help affected people and communities.

Disasters, population increase, and the recent COVID-19 epidemic have all contributed to the rise in the field of emergency management. These calamities have brought to light the importance of stronger prevention, response, and rehabilitation measures. Emergency management programs have mushroomed in recent years, attesting to the significance of aiding victims and rebuilding communities after natural or man-made disasters.

The main actors within the emergency management arena

Federal, state, and municipal governments are the primary players in the emergency management field. During a natural or man-made disaster, people and communities can turn to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for aid. So that relief activities are as efficient as possible, FEMA has developed a set of rules and protocols.

It’s not just FEMA that helps people and places recover after a disaster; state and local governments do too. Commonly, aid and funding for community restoration come from state governments. The local government is usually in charge of coordinating relief operations and offering services to survivors (Skryabina,2020).

After a natural disaster, private organizations are also active in the relief effort. A few examples of these groups are charities, churches, and private foundations. Typically, these groups aid victims by providing them with money, food, housing, clothing, and medical attention.

Last but not least, individuals and groups play important roles in emergency management as well. Through helping with relief and recovery operations, lobbying for legislative changes, and increasing awareness of the importance of disaster management, individuals and communities play a crucial role in the restoration process.

Many different groups and individuals contribute to emergency management. Individuals and communities, as well as public and non-profit organizations, play critical roles in the post-disaster recovery process.

Actual events that led to the development of emergency management.

Several factors, including population increase and the COVID-19 epidemic, necessitated the establishment of emergency management.

Increases in the frequency and severity of natural disasters including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires have been observed in recent years as a direct result of global warming. This raises the stakes, both in terms of property damage and human lives lost, and highlights the need for enhanced prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and reconstruction measures. The need for emergency management was further demonstrated by recent natural catastrophes including Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Sandy (2012).

The demand for emergency management has grown not only because of natural catastrophes but also because of population growth and infrastructure expansion in disaster-prone areas. Rising numbers of people living in disaster-prone areas has increased the difficulty of providing aid after a catastrophe.

Finally, the need of disaster preparedness and response has been further emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, many new relief efforts have been launched to help affected people and communities.

Disaster relief is primarily the purview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is in charge of coordinating the federal government’s reaction and recovery operations and enacting various programs and initiatives to help with the cleanup.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is DHS’s main program (FEMA). Help with disaster relief, recovery, and prevention is FEMA’s responsibility. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers many different types of aid, from cash grants to emergency shelter to crisis counseling and even community building. State and local governments can apply for assistance from FEMA to aid in disaster response and rebuilding.

DHS manages several more post-disaster aid programs in addition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). State and local governments receive funding through the Disaster Relief Fund and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, respectively, to aid in disaster response and recovery, and NFIP provides financial assistance to property owners who have been impacted by floods.

DHS does more than just administer programs and projects; it also offers advice and tools to help local communities better anticipate, plan for, and respond to catastrophes. Funding for state and local governments to create emergency preparedness plans and other measures to minimize catastrophe risk is provided through the federal government’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. DHS also conducts education and training programs for people and communities on disaster response and recovery.

Public Assistance is a funding program managed by DHS that assists local and state governments during times of crisis. Disaster relief organizations that get funding through the program are also supported. In addition, DHS is in charge of the Individual Assistance program, which offers financial aid to people who have been personally impacted by disasters. Also, DHS is in charge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is a nationwide framework for response and recovery operations. The goal of NIMS is to guarantee that all levels of government, from the federal to the local, are well-equipped to handle emergencies. DHS also funds studies of disaster relief and restoration procedures. Research evaluating the efficacy of existing programs and efforts, as well as studies of novel technology and recovery methods, are examples of what may be done to better prepare for and respond to disasters.

Relief and recovery services, financial aid, community building, and emotional and social support are all part of the package offered by these initiatives. When it comes to helping people and places rebuild after a natural or man-made disaster, the Department of Homeland Security has you covered with a wide variety of programs, initiatives, and resources. The organization is in charge of a wide variety of projects and programs, including those that aid in disaster planning and response, fund studies of disaster recovery, and promote public awareness of these issues. Relief and recovery services, financial aid, community building, and emotional and social support are all part of the package offered by these initiatives.

Impact of emergency management upon the United States

After a fire completely destroyed a town in New Hampshire in 1803, Congress passed an act to aid in its reconstruction. This is the very first time the federal government has intervened in a municipal emergency.

Public infrastructure that had been destroyed by natural catastrophes might get funding in the form of catastrophe loans from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and the Bureau of Public Roads in the 1930s. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was founded at this period to supply hydroelectric electricity and, as a result, reduce local flooding.

Legislation that would later be considered historic in terms of disaster management was passed by Congress during this time period. The Flood Control Act of 1934 expanded the authority of the United States Army Corps of Engineers to develop and implement flood protection programs.

The United States has been profoundly changed by the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. To aid in the recovery process, the organization in charge of disaster relief has developed a number of programs and initiatives.

The 1950s marked the beginning of the next crucial era in the subject of disaster management. The most catastrophic event that may have occurred as a result of the Cold War was a nuclear conflict, followed by radioactive fallout. During this time period, a number of different municipalities created their respective departments of civil defense (Ahsan,2022).

Nearly every city in the United States had a director of civil defense, and the vast majority of states also had an official in charge of civil defense on the level of the state government. The majority of the group consisted of veterans who had previously served in the military, but neither the federal nor any state or local government assisted them in any way.

The Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) was tasked with the primary function of providing various civil defense projects with technical assistance. Although having a very tiny staff and funding, this was the FCDA’s primary mission. On the other hand, state and local civil defense directors have evolved into the first point of contact for the general public when it comes to the disaster management system in the United States.

Within the Department of Defense is where you’ll find the Office of Defense Mobilization, which is one of the FCDA’s equivalent agencies (DOD). The major responsibility of the Office was to simplify the operations that were required for the rapid mobilization of resources as well as the manufacture and storage of requirements in order to get ready for war. The FCDA’s activities included a department that was responsible for crisis management and preparation. In 1958, these two departments were merged into a single organization that would become known as the Office of Civic and Defense Mobilization (Cocco-Klein,2022).

The decade of the 1950s was mainly free of significant natural disasters, with the exception of three storms of extremely high intensity. The most catastrophic of the three hurricanes, Audrey, struck Louisiana and North Texas in 1957. Hazel, a Category 4 storm, caused widespread destruction in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast in 1954. Diane caused widespread destruction in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast in 1955. The response of Congress to these natural catastrophes adhered to the time-honored practice of introducing ad hoc legislation in order to boost the financing for disaster aid provided to the areas that were affected.

There were three big natural catastrophes that occurred at the beginning of the 1960s. People didn’t realize the United States faced seismic risk outside of California until the 7.3-magnitude Hebgen Lake Earthquake devastated a sparsely inhabited area of Montana in 1960. At that time, people were only aware of the seismic risk in California. Hurricane Donna made landfall on the western coast of Florida in the same year as Hurricane Carla tore through Texas. The following year, Hurricane Carla made landfall in Texas. During the administration of John F. Kennedy, the United States Federal Government introduced several new rules regarding the management of disasters and emergencies. In reaction to the increasing number of natural disasters that were occurring at the time, President John F. Kennedy established the White House Office of Disaster Preparation in the year 1961. The Office of Civil Defense within the Department of Defense was in charge of ensuring that civil defense operations were kept running smoothly.

All those who have suffered because of natural disasters may attest to FEMA’s effectiveness. When towns and individuals have been devastated by natural disasters, FEMA has been there to help them recover and rebuild. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded grants to state and municipal governments to aid in disaster relief and rebuilding.

DHS manages several more post-disaster aid programs in addition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NFIP, the Disaster Relief Fund, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, the Public Assistance Program, and the Individual Assistance Program are all examples of such initiatives. Financial aid, housing aid, crisis counseling, and neighborhood improvement are just some of the services and resources made available through these programs.

All around the United States, people and places have benefited from these initiatives. Financial aid, housing support, and other resources have been made available through the programs, which have been an absolute lifeline for individuals and communities in need after natural catastrophes. Furthermore, state and local governments have received money from the programs to aid in disaster response and recovery.

The United States as a whole has benefited greatly from the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. The agency has launched numerous initiatives and programs to aid individuals and communities in the aftermath of disasters by supplying them with money, shelter, and other resources to help them recover and rebuild. The organization has also given money to local and state governments for disaster relief.

Changes in society by the department of homeland security

In the aftermath of the events on September 11, 2001, the United States government created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002. The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of keeping the United States safe from things like terrorist attacks and natural catastrophes. The DHS’s establishment has resulted in far-reaching effects on social organization and people’s sense of security.

U.S. national security has been improved thanks to DHS rules and procedures. Airport security is handled by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), maritime borders are guarded by the United States Coast Guard, and land borders are governed by the Customs and Border Protection Agency. The DHS is also active in efforts to fortify cyberspace, safeguard vital infrastructure, and enhance emergency readiness. The DHS has also changed the way people travel by instituting several security procedures in airports, such as the deployment of full-body scanners (Skryabina,2020).

People’s experiences with the government have also shifted due to the DHS. The DHS has adopted a policy of openness in its operations, making data on security precautions, disaster planning, and other homeland security-related issues available to the general public. In addition, the DHS has launched a slew of initiatives including Citizen Corps and FEMA Ready to aid communities in the event of terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

The American public’s views on safety and security have been drastically altered as a result of all these shifts. As a result of the DHS’s efforts, Americans now feel more secure in going about their daily lives without constant worry. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also helped shed light on the many security challenges facing the United States and the steps that have been taken to counter them. In its efforts to aid those who have been impacted by threats or natural disasters, the DHS has also boosted public involvement in homeland security. Last but not least, the DHS has aided in lowering the public’s negative perception of the government and the security apparatus, paving the way for a more honest and open dialogue between the public and its leaders.

The United States has adopted new ways of thinking about and reacting to natural and man-made disasters as a direct result of the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts. The agency that is in charge of providing disaster relief has devised a number of programs and initiatives in order to assist in the process of recovery. This organization is responsible for managing the National Incident Management System, and in the event of a catastrophe, it offers support and resources to the communities that are located within the United States (NIMS).

Since the Department of Homeland Security was founded, there has been a shift in the way the United States views and responds to natural catastrophes. This organization is responsible for coordinating all government response and recovery efforts, and it provides a wide range of services and resources to assist individuals in reestablishing their life following a natural or man-made disaster. In addition to this, it is responsible for managing the National Incident Management System and providing communities with the resources they need to better prepare for and respond to disasters (NIMS). The results of this effort have resulted in an improvement in the nation’s ability to react to and recover from natural disasters (Benevolenza,.2019).

The formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) brought about a shift in both the United States’ way of thinking about and approach to man-made threats including terrorism and cyberattacks. This agency is in charge of advising and providing the resources necessary for local communities to be able to cope with risks that are comparable to those that the National Incident Management System deals with (NIMS). As a direct consequence of these actions, the nation now possesses improved capabilities to both respond to and prevent terrorist acts and cyberattacks.

The founding of DHS has resulted in far-reaching repercussions for American society as well as the manner in which the nation responds to both natural and man-made disasters. The agency that is in charge of providing disaster relief has devised a number of programs and initiatives in order to assist in the process of recovery. This organization is responsible for managing the National Incident Management System, and in the event of a catastrophe, it offers support and resources to the communities that are located within the United States (NIMS). The United States of America is in a better position to respond to and recover from natural catastrophes and man-made hazards as a direct result of the actions that have been taken.

References

Lewis, T. G. (2019). Critical infrastructure protection in homeland security: defending a networked nation. John Wiley & Sons.

Campbell, K. M., & Doshi, R. (2020). The coronavirus could reshape global order. Foreign Affairs, 18(3).

McElreath, David H., Daniel Adrian Doss, Barbara Russo, Greg Etter, Jeffrey Van Slyke, Joseph Skinner, Michael Corey, Carl J. Jensen III, Michael Wigginton Jr, and Robert Nations. Introduction to homeland security. CRC Press, 2021.

Ahsan, M. M., & Özbek, N. (2022). Policy considerations on hurricane induced human displacement: Lessons from Cyclone Sidr and Hurricane Katrina. Tropical Cyclone Research and Review, 11(2), 120-130.

Cocco-Klein, S. (2022). Conference Paper Children in the Storm: Disaster Policy and Children from Hurricane Katrina to Hurricane Sandy.

Benevolenza, M. A., &DeRigne, L. (2019). The impact of climate change and natural disasters on vulnerable populations: A systematic review of literature. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 29(2), 266-281.

Fasth, J., Elliot, V., &Styhre, A. (2022). Crisis management as practice in small‐and medium‐sized enterprises during the first period of COVID‐19. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 30(2), 161-170.

Skryabina, E. A., Betts, N., Reedy, G., Riley, P., &Amlôt, R. (2020). The role of emergency preparedness exercises in the response to a mass casualty terrorist incident: a mixed methods study. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 46, 101503.