Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Response Plans ....................................................................................................14
Emergency Support Functions ............................................................................15
ESF Support Agencies.....................................................................................15
Federal Response Plan.....................................................................................16
National Response Plan ..................................................................................17
National Response Framework........................................................................20
Emergency Support Functions ...................................................................23
ESF Support Agencies ................................................................................24
Conclusion..........................................................................................................24
Disasters happen. No one is immune to them or the devastation that they can bring
to communities of any size.
Disaster
applies to a variety of events, each with varying
magnitudes and of varying natures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) defines a disaster as
an occurrence of a severity and magnitude that normally results in
deaths, injuries, and property damage and that cannot be managed
through the routine procedures and resources of government
Because of the unpredictable nature of disasters, it is essential to plan for such
events. Only through planning is it possible to effectively respond to and mitigate
against the potential effects of disaster.
Types of Disasters
Disasters usually fall into one of four categories: natural, man-made, deliberate, or
accidental. In the United States, the most frequently occurring disasters are natu-
ral. Because natural disasters are not caused by the actions of humans, they are the
most difficult to prevent. However, because most, although not all, natural disasters
(e.g., weather related) are predictable, they should be the easiest to plan for.
Because it is impossible to stop natural disasters from occurring, emergency
planners and responders must increase their awareness of how and why they occur.
At the same time, they must analyze the risk in their communities so that they
can focus their efforts on the highest risk or highest impact hazards. For example,
Florida residents need not prepare for paralyzing blizzards. They must be prepared
for hurricanes, however. On the other hand, New England residents need to be
prepared for both blizzards and hurricanes as well as a multitude of other hazards.
Man-made disasters fall into two categories: deliberate and accidental. To iden-
tify a single cause of any man-made disaster would be nearly impossible. For as many
types of man-made disasters that exist, there are a hundred reasons why. Whereas
natural disasters are caused by the forces of nature and can only be predicted, not