Introduction
The relaying of information to the areas that are bound to be hit by a disaster forms one of the best ways to tackle it. FEMA’s reaction to the predictions on the hurricane Irma was fast, and they had the information spread to the relevant units of the government which could help in the mitigation of the impact of the disaster (Paul, 2005). They realized the fact that if the people were evacuated then from the area, then it would be straightforward for them to operate in the regions that would have been hit. The body sent the information to top officials such as the governor of Florida who went on to proclaim an emergency in the area that saw schools being closed down as a result of this command (Sobel, 2006). There was also the close down of business as well as tourist activities as people were given mandatory evacuation from the islands. The removal, as well as proper communication aspect of the emergency planning by the body, were essential aspects that determined their success in the area with regard to minimization of the casualties or damages incurred by the people or the nation because of the disaster.
The paper will also consider the outcomes of the Hurricane Irma’s channel through the Caribbean as well as the West Indies. The hurricane destroyed infrastructure and tremendously devastated the roads, airports, as well as harbours, thereby considerably disturbing the regular transportation, as well as a conveyance of relief materials to the affected people or regions (Hamilton, 2006). The issues touched foreign nations and provided a substantial amount of assistance to be given in dealing with the aftermath of the disaster. Warships as well as planes were sent by the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and the USA governments to help with relief supplies as well as a workforce to manage the issues (May, 1985). The affected nations also collaborated with the aim of helping each other to deal with the impacts of the hurricane. The hurricane destroyed handy ports that were being used for tourist activities in the nation thereby implying that they would contribute to a lot of losses because of the destruction of small business, as well as beaches, initially being used for tourist activities in the area (Wise, 2002). The Hurricane Irma’s impact on infrastructure implies that these nations would spend a lot of income to bring the situation back to normal.
Therefore, the primary purpose of this research study is to show the world or regions that need emergency assistance and the different ways the FEMA body has improved over the years regarding the disaster management planning as well as reaction to hurricanes uncertainties in various parts of the country (Framingham, 2012). It is worth noting, that government has made the access to services or advises from the FEMA organization easier which resulted in their quick spread of evacuation notice as well as other preparation to deal with the disaster entirely. The government has also not politicized the body, thereby making it serve all the people equally without being biased in the way it helps specific groups in the nation. For instance, through the government, FEMA has resulted in the construction of stronger buildings that can withstand the impacts of the hurricanes (Roberts, 2006) The body also has very high technological devices to help in the prediction of the disasters as well as to communicate any information to the people at the appropriate time so that they can take the necessary step in minimizing the effects of the hurricanes. This research study insists that people should care about the disaster management planning as well as responses given by FEMA because this determines the amount of damage they realize from the hurricane attacks in their areas. The call centre of the institution is also the key to its recent success as it has enabled them to be in perfect position to receive information about disasters or people in need of their help, which has seen them come promptly reacting to the accidents thereby resulting in their success in mitigation of hazards.
The audience for this research study being conducted about the changes in the disaster management, planning, and response by FEMA during the Hurricane Irma as compared to other disasters, is mainly groups of people who have particular interest in data obtained from hurricanes that have hit different parts of the country or states in the past years. The main desire of the paper is to make these people read it and have a clear picture of the way the planning, as well as reaction approaches to disasters, has changed considerably after the hurricane Katrina. The paper will identify the various ways in which the collaboration or the union and working together with other bodies has helped the firm to be effective in mitigating the impacts of the disasters that affect the nation especially the deadly hurricanes that are known to bring lethal outcomes to the different parts of the country (Mesa, 2017). The paper also wants the people to read about the natural and free access to the services offered by the body to the people who may be in need of help, which has been seen it getting enough information that has in turn made them a step ahead in the making of sound decisions about methods to be used in lowering the effects of the hurricanes (Lawson, 2004). Furthermore, the paper wants its audience to understand the new technologies that have been employed that is making it more efficient in the distribution of services to the people. The people also need to understand the effect of sound leadership or management that has seen the body enjoy fruitful mitigation of disasters in recent years as compared to the past years where the damages being noted from the uncertainties were fatal. Lastly, the research study desires that the audience reads and understands the contribution of the government to the success of FEMA in their recent disaster curbing activities.
The people know or have a clear picture of the many harmful impacts that are brought about by the hurricanes to the various parts of the world that are prone to an attack. For instance, people know that hurricanes result in the destruction of property as well as infrastructure, which in turn hinders the free transportation that later impacts the economy of the nation deleteriously (Tucker, 2006). People also understand that hurricane attacks always brings about the death of people as some of them get buried in the collapsed buildings (Baldwin, 2006). The people also appreciate the fact that these disasters affect the other sectors of the economy negatively such as in agricultural industry it results in the destruction of crops thereby lowering the expected yields while in the tourism sector it results in the destruction of beautiful coastal features such as beaches as well as other features that in turn affects the economy of the nation negatively (Tonya & Tanya, 2017). From the statistics and weather information, the people are away from the different ways the government uses in reacting to hurricane attacks and the level of success they achieve during their reaction. The people also understand the fact that the disaster planning, as well as response to hurricane Irma, was much better than that given to Hurricane Katrina and the past ones.
However, what the people do not understand or know is the exact percentage of people who received relief from the hurricane Irma about the other storms that have hit the nation in the past years. This is because of the availability of the information to them since the cyclone Irma occurred recently and the data is yet to be published and given to them to review. This is also the reason the people are uncertain about the way FEMA was effective in dealing with the outcomes of hurricane Irma because a recovery or a mitigation plan was on the run, which makes it difficult for them to know exactly the part played by the team in the disaster control (Gill, 2004). Hence, this research aims at letting the audience know about the different evolutions in the emergency management in the United States and the position that is held by FEMA in this case. FEMA has a firm belief that the causes of the different disasters or emergencies may differ, but their effects remain the same (Gregory, 2015). FEMA also claims that its planner are always focused on mutual operational function rather than coming up with fresh strategies for every calamity that hits the nation, which brings out an image of an organization that is ready to deal with any hazards at any given time and this is their secret weapon to their success in their ventures.
Research Question and Significance
What aspects of FEMA's planning and response to Hurricane Irma differed from previous hurricane response? This is important as it will help us in understanding the reasons behind the recent change in the reaction to calamities by the FEMA organization. The research question also helps us to get to know why there was a swift change in style of response and planning for the hurricane Irma after a failure was noted in the reaction towards the cyclone Katrina (Pierre, 2008). The study question also helps in the identification of the different factors or realities that are behind the success of any organization in dealing with the aftermaths of any disaster.
Data Collection Methods
In the collection of vital data to use in the study, a review information that is already offered from the peer review papers, journals, as well as books is applied. I believe that the information that has been published on the issue or case of disaster is substantial and will be enough for me to base my studies on it. Secondly, I will come up with a set of questionnaires in which I will administer to the people who have once been victims of any disaster and were in one way or another helped by FEMA or any other emergency mitigation groups in the nation. This will help me to compare the response action of the FEMA body and its past reactions to the calamities which will, in turn, put me in the best position to decide the different aspects of FEMA disaster planning as well as the response that has improved or changed considerably resulting in a change in their success. I will also interview with FEMA’s management team (only after the body grants the permission) to ascertain the various changes in the organizational framework that could be contributing to their recent success in different fields of disaster management. This will also give me an opportune time to verify the data and figures that are presented in the secondary materials such as journals and peer-reviewed articles which I intend to use for this study. The interview will also offer me a chance to understand the different techniques that the firm employs in combating the disasters comprising of their ability to work with other teams efficiently in ending the tragedy. The study will also entail the mining of the existing data that is being provided in the disaster management records which will help me find useful information on activities that are being carried out by FEMA in different parts of the nation.
Expected Findings
From the literature, I expect to find that the organization of FEMA in handling disasters has improved considerably regarding their planning as well as response to disasters. This is because most of the resources suggest that the organizational structure of FEMA has been changed thereby bringing in a new style of management that favours collaboration with other emergency combating firms thus resulting in their success in the recent years (Carley, 1997). The literature also suggests that there has been a lot of technological improvements in the firm as well as a positive government support on its activities that has seen the firm’s services becoming accessible to the people in different parts of the nation.
Summary / Conclusion
The study question was developed after the hit by hurricane Irma. The study focuses on the different ways the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been performing in the past and compared it to its reaction to hurricane Irma. The body was threatened to be abolished in the nation as the critics were for its failures in handling the disasters. This statement forms the main reason for as why the comparison of the planning tactics that was used in the past in offering a response to disasters and the hurricane Irma that happened recently. The study will use interviews, administration of questionnaires, mining of data, and review of the current literature on the issue in obtaining useful data for the study. In conducting the study, I will first obtain consent from the administration as well as the various official bodies I wish to collect the information from. I will then analyze the data using different statistical techniques to find the relationship between the current and the past responses that FEMA used to give to disasters in the nation. Lastly, I will compile the information and write the final research study report and submit it to my instructor for marking or reviewing.
References
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