Islam / Ryan Hazard Mitigation in Emergency Management

1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-0-12-800435-7
Verlag: Elsevier Science & Techn.
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 458 Seiten

Hazard Mitigation in Emergency Management introduces readers to mitigation, one of the four foundational phases of emergency management, and to the hazard mitigation planning process. Authors Islam and Ryan review the hazard mitigation framework in both private sector and governmental agencies, covering the regulatory and legal frameworks for mitigation, as well as risk assessment processes and strategies, and tools and techniques that can prevent, or lessen, the impact of disasters. The book specifically addresses hazards posed by human activity, including cyber threats and nuclear accidents, as well as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. Readers will learn about the framework for the mitigation process, hazard identification, risk assessment, and the tools and techniques available for mitigation. Coverage includes both GIS and HAZUS, with tutorials on these technologies, as well as case studies of best practices in the United States and around the world. The text is ideal for students, instructors, and practitioners interested in reducing, or eliminating, the effects of disasters. - Takes an all-hazards approach, covering terror attacks and accidents, as well as natural disasters - Reviews the hazard mitigation framework in both private sector and governmental agencies, covering the regulatory and legal frameworks for mitigation - Provides a step-by-step process for creating a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) - Addresses the needs of local, state, and federal emergency management agencies and of the private sector, including IT mitigation

Tanveer Islam is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Emergency Management and Public Administration at Jacksonville State University, where he teaches hazard mitigation, community resilience and GIS courses. He received a PhD in land use planning from Texas Tech University and did postdoctoral research at Texas A&M marine branch in Galveston and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Environmental Cooperative Science Center. He is also a certified floodplain manager.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Islam, Tanveer

Ryan, Jeffrey

Leseproben

Chapter 2 Mitigation Rules and Regulations
This chapter discusses the major rules and regulations in the United States and other countries that provide the legal framework for carrying out hazard mitigation activities. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) is the principal authority governing federal emergency and disaster response in the United States. The legislation authorizes the president to issue three categories of declaration, major disaster, emergency, and fire assistance declarations, in response to incidents that overwhelm the resources of state and local governments. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), which amended the Stafford Act, made federal requirements for local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans (HMPs). Prior to the passage of this act, there was no defined structure for mitigation development and planning on the local level, nor were there any set of standards for anyone to follow. State, local, and tribal governments are required to develop an HMP as a condition for receiving certain types of nonemergency disaster assistance, including funding for mitigation projects from the federal government. The requirements and procedures for state, local, and tribal mitigation plans are described here, as explained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Also, there are many rules and regulations that do not focus on hazard mitigation but can result in reducing hazard vulnerability as a byproduct of their main objectives, which can be referred to as indirect mitigation programs such as the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Flood Insurance Act. Finally, the chapter describes the major legislations and frameworks in Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and India that have had an impact on mitigation planning and programs in respective countries. Keywords
Disaster legislation; Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000; Disaster Relief Act; Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 (Stafford Act); Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA); Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA); Clean Water Act (CWA); National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); National Flood Insurance Act; Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act (Japan); Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) (UK); Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act (New Zealand); Disaster Management Act of 2005 (India) Principles and rules are intended to provide a thinking man with a frame of reference. General Carl von Clausewitz (1780–1831), Prussian military theorist Objectives
The study of this chapter will enable you to: 1. Discuss the genesis and salient features of the Stafford Act 2. Discuss the importance of the Disaster Mitigation Act 3. Discuss the requirements and procedures for state, local, and tribal mitigation plans in federal regulations 4. Understand and explain other important rules and regulations that affect hazard mitigation planning activities 5. Discuss examples of rules and regulations from other countries that have had an impact on mitigation planning and programs Essential Terminology: Disaster legislation, Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, Disaster Relief Act, Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 (Stafford Act), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA), Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), Clean Water Act (CWA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Flood Insurance Act, Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act (Japan), Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) (UK), Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act (New Zealand), Disaster Management Act of 2005 (India). Disaster Legislation 101
In the United States prior to 1950, Congress provided funding for disaster relief and recovery efforts on a case-by-case basis. That meant that each time there was a major disaster in the United States, the legislative branch of government would have to convene, draft, propose, and pass into law a bill that would provide funds for the relief effort. This cumbersome and time-consuming process was put to rest by the Federal Disaster Relief Program (FDRP). The FDRP, established in September 1950, authorized the government to provide disaster response assistance for state and local governments. However, a far greater and more costly task in the wake of a major disaster is long-term recovery, which is needed to reestablish a community. The FDRP did not cover such efforts. Therefore, in 1966, Congress passed the Disaster Relief Act, which augmented the FDRP to allow federal assistance in recovery (Baca, 2008). In the mid-1970s, U.S. governors discussed their concerns about the fractal nature of disaster relief operations spread about over numerous federal agencies. In addition, they expressed a need for a new federal agency that would be responsible for comprehensive emergency management, which would include preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. The National Governors Association (NGA) met in August 1978 and produced a report requesting this action, which was sent to President Jimmy Carter. President Carter agreed with the NGA, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created under Executive Order 12148 on March 31, 1979. As such, FEMA became responsible for disaster-related “functions from the Departments of Defense (civil defense) and Housing and Urban Development (federal disaster assistance), [the] General Services Administration (federal preparedness), and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (earthquake hazards reduction).” President Carter also transferred to FEMA disaster-related legal authority inherent in the presidency or within other federal agencies. In addition, Executive Orders 12127 and 12148 consolidated authority for manmade and natural disaster preparation, mitigation, response, and recovery within a single federal agency (Baca, 2008). History of the Stafford Act
Robert Theodore Stafford (1913–2006) was a Republican U.S. senator from Vermont (Figure 2.1). Before becoming a senator in 1971, he served twice as an army officer during World War II and the Korean War. He was elected to serve as attorney general and lieutenant governor for the state of Vermont before being elected governor in 1958. Senator Stafford is well known for sponsoring and proposing legislation in support of educational and environmental issues. Indeed, Stafford loans have helped millions of Americans attend institutes of higher learning. Senator Stafford is also known for sponsoring the Clean Air Act (CAA), which was voted into law in 1963. However, what he is probably best known for is the Stafford Act (whose full name is the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988), a key piece of legislation passed in 1988. The Stafford Act, still the major legislation under which FEMA operates, provides a framework for continued disaster relief (Baca, 2008).
Figure 2.1 Senator Robert T. Stafford (R-VT) served six terms in Congress. He is best known for sponsoring the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988; U.S. Code, Title 42, Chapter 68, entitled Disaster Relief (the Stafford Act). Image courtesy of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. When a disaster strikes, response and relief efforts begin locally. Emergency workers will be tasked and local resources depleted. By definition, a disaster will overwhelm a community and its internal resources to the point where assistance will be needed. The municipality may request assistance using mutual aid agreements. Requests for support will be sent to the state emergency management agency (EMA) if mutual aid by itself is insufficient. The state EMA may request assistance from neighboring states as well. If the mayor of the affected community believes that federal assistance will be needed, he or she will make a formal request to the governor, who will assess the situation and determine what action to take. Normally, the governor will review the damage assessment and send a team to survey the damage. The governor then declares a state of emergency and request a Presidential Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act. The FEMA administrator reviews the damage assessment and request and then makes a recommendation to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The president will make the final decision. In this politically charged, media-saturated, high-visibility world we live in, most true disasters get a Presidential Disaster Declaration in very short order. In fact, state and federal assets can be seen “leaning forward,” especially if the disaster has a predictable quality to it (e.g., hurricane). The Stafford Act, which was signed into law in 1988, is probably the most important piece of federal legislation to emergency management professionals. Yet, it is also probably the one that is least read and studied by the same group (B. Long, personal communication, 2013). To truly appreciate this seminal document and what it achieved, one would have to look back at how disaster response, relief, and recovery were funded and accomplished at the national level prior to its inception. The Stafford Act gives the federal government the authority to assist states during a state of emergency. FEMA coordinates these financial, logistical, and technical resources. Funds have already been...