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HLS 470 CTU Local Emergency Response Planning Paper

 

Unit 5 – Group Project

Unit: Local Emergency Response Planning

Deliverable Length: Part II 3-4 pages

Assignment Details:

Part II:

Assignment Guidelines

For this assignment, you will compile a condensed version of a complete Emergency Response Plan for Ocean Port and Rest over from the Week 4 Key Assignment scenario.

Here is the condensed version of a complete Emergency Response Plan for Ocean Port and Rest-over from the week 4 key assignment scenario:

Contents

Introduction. 3

Interagency/Interoperable Communications Systems. 3

Communications Languages among Regional Response Agencies. 4

Finances and Software and Equipment Updates. 4

Hiring and Training of Maintenance Personnel4

Equipment Training For First Responders. 4

Contingency Plan for Power Failure. 5

Recruitment and Training of a Public Spokesperson. 5

Purpose. 5

Roles. 5

Challenges. 5

Media. 6

Public Information Dissemination. 6

Complications That Will Be Faced Regarding Working and Communicating With an Ethnically Diverse Population. 6

Complications That Will Be Faced Regarding Working and Communicating With Military Personnel, Aircraft, and Ships. 6

Conclusion. 7

References. 8

Introduction

Communication is critical when responding and recovering from an emergency. However, the effectiveness of communication on collaboration when the emergency involves two distinct jurisdictions can be compromised without a clearly outlined contingency plan. Apart from communication, lack of resources to facilitate immediate response and subsequent recovery can be a challenge in registering positive outcomes. Hence, this report entails a plan for ensuring that systems, agencies, resources, and processes that would facilitate positive outcomes in responding to and recovering from an attack on the electricity grid between the twin cities of Ocean Port. Implementing the proposed strategies would play a critical role in advancing the two jurisdictions’ resiliency and operational continuity.

Interagency/Interoperable Communications Systems

No emergency response agency operates solely. The joint response is critical. The effectiveness of this joint approach to a coordinated response to a criminal emergency like an attack on a shared electric grid is measured by the difference between life and death (DHS, 2006).For the twin cities, this effectiveness will rely on the interoperability of the communication systems. Considering the expansive area the emergency would cause, it will be better for the agencies from both sides to utilize wireless broadband communications spread across systems of systems framework (DHS, 2006). Using a system of systems approach, each system becomes a component in a regional and nationwide group of other systems where each communication system can be connected to others as long as jurisdictions and agencies collaborate when establishing the communication system for emergency response (Homeland Security, 2007).

Communications Languages among Regional Response Agencies

The twin cities are an amalgamation of diverse populations and activities within the national framework. This means that communication should be based on the use of national language. In America, the national language is U.S English. To eliminate confusion, the national language should be the primary communication language among regional response agencies.

Finances and Software and Equipment Updates

Funding is a critical element to drive success in emergency response. Also, technology is becoming increasingly integrated within emergency response strategies. Equipment such as transportation and communication media promote urgent responses to emergencies (Aruru et al., 2021). The twin cities, in preparation for and response to and recovery from the electric grid attack, should form a joint funding policy and agency to finance an emergency response. Also, the two jurisdictions must come into agreement on collaborative use of current technology based on regionally accepted standards, and equipment to foster positive outcomes in addressing the attack on the electric grid.

Hiring and Training of Maintenance Personnel

Each city will provide potential candidates for the training on maintenance. Based on agreed-upon terms, and each city’s ability, the trainers must be competent enough in emergency response and implications (Aruru et al., 2021). Training should be based on simulated events to increase familiarity with real-life occurrences.

Equipment Training For First Responders

First responders must have a high level of understanding of the functionality of the equipment they will use and contact in the field. In a typical training station, the following need to be provided: interactive emergency smartphone, pull station, electric cut-off, strobe light and annunciator, and a digital fire extinguisher stand (Aruru et al., 2021). For health issues, human-like figures need to be present and manuals on bets life-saving techniques.

Contingency Plan for Power Failure

A major attack on the shared electrical power grid will send blackouts across major areas in both cities. This calls for an emergency electric backup plan. While it is near impossible to have a regional backup generator, first responders must be provided with mini-back-up generators as emergency personnel work towards powering up failed backup generators in major centers and areas. That is, it is crucial to have backup power generators at major hotspots.

Recruitment and Training of a Public Spokesperson

Purpose

The purpose of recruiting and training a public spokesperson is to have a medium between the response team and the public for information dissemination.

Roles

The roles of the public spokesperson include building trust between the response teams and the public. The spokesperson is also responsible for gaining support from the public health response (CERC: Spokesperson, 2014). The individual also works to reduce the incidence of injury, and other complications by getting it right.

Challenges

Finding the best approaches for reassurance. Another challenge is acknowledging the public’s fears without being defensive. It can also be challenging to gain trust and support from the public (CERC: Spokesperson, 2014). Noteworthy, it is important to be able to refute negative allegations without repeating them.

Media

To deal with the media, first, the spokesperson must have a clear purpose for the interview by identifying the core messages to deliver during the interview. Tittles short be kept short when informing the media on the identity of the spokesperson (CERC: Spokesperson, 2014). Last, the spokesperson should accompany self with evidence in the paper of supported format to present to the interviewer after the session.

Public Information Dissemination

The first preferred communication channel should be through social media or text messages. Since the power will be out in most regions, dissemination through public radio and televisions may be ineffective in reaching most people. Social media and websites can be accessed through phones, the same as SMS (Merchant & Lurie, 2020). Increasingly, community-based organizations are using social media as a communication channel.

Complications That Will Be Faced Regarding Working and Communicating With an Ethnically Diverse Population

There are increased chances of facing communication issues such as different communication preferences or styles, language barriers, or misinterpretations. Also, cultural misunderstandings can drag the emergency response behind. When people from diverse ethnic backgrounds come together, inclusivity and innovation emerge, which slows the decision-making process (Aruru et al., 2021). When diverse groups combine, issues of biases, discrimination, and harassment become prevalent.

Complications That Will Be Faced Regarding Working and Communicating With Military Personnel, Aircraft, and Ships

One main complication is misguided response priorities, leading to confusion. This can be pronounced if communication is not inclusive or not through one system. Also, in cases where no consensus was established on resource allocation and utilization. Hence, the significance of cross-city contingency plan.

Conclusion

A major attack against the electrical power grid serving the twin cities, airports, and military bases is an emergency that mandates a strategic communication plan to achieve minimum repercussions. This document has provided such a plan that the city council should consider implementing. Doing so would increase the possibilities of registering positive outcomes from a timely and well-coordinated response and recovery process.

References

Aruru, M., Truong, H., & Clark, S. (2021). Pharmacy Emergency Preparedness and Response (PEPR): a proposed framework for expanding pharmacy professionals’ roles and contributions to emergency preparedness and response during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17(1), 1967-1977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.002

CERC: Spokesperson. (2014). Crisis emergency risk communication.

DHS. (2006). Wireless Communications Interoperability Awareness Guide.

Homeland Security. (2007). The System of Systems Approach for Interoperable Communications.

Merchant, R., & Lurie, N. (2020). Social Media and Emergency Preparedness in Response to Novel Coronavirus. JAMA, 323(20), 2011. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.4469

  • The plan must include the following sections:
  • Title
  • Table of contents
  • Synopsis
  • Executive summary
  • Introduction
  • Details
  • Summary
  • Conclusion
  • Recommendations

Below is week – 4 key assignment scenario that you will use to complete Unit 5 work part II.

Unit 4 – Key Assignment Scenario

Top of Form

Assignment Description

Key Assignment

Ocean Port is a major seaport and shipping city with approximately 150 miles of open ocean waterway to the east. The socioeconomic and ethnically diverse population approximating 825,000 people forms a community of mixed occupations, businesses, and financial and shopping centers. A neighboring community, Rest over, with approximately 132,000 people who normally make the morning and evening commute to work in Ocean Port, lies to the southwest, immediately across the quarter-mile wide river separating the two cities.

To the northwest of Ocean Port is an international airport serving three counties; a basic-training facility for the army supporting 3,000 soldiers forms the boundary to the west and connects to the international airport. The two cities have separate governments and infrastructures that include power; water; public transportation; telecom; oil/gas assets; and police, fire, and emergency medical facilities.