NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK - Essay Example

National Response Framework ISSUES THAT ARISE WHEN SEVERAL AGENCIES ATTEMPT TO COORDINATE A NATURAL DISASTER [Pick the Coordination in national disasters is essential for effective delivery of assistance to the affected population (Perry, 2007). Since multiple agencies are involved in the process of managing such disasters, it is very often observed that various shortfalls are witnessed when such activities are analyzed post-incident (Altay & Green, 2006). Coordination during disaster management is done at various levels due to the fact that the tasks of assistance during disaster management are often interconnected and demand coordination of activities for a positive outcome (Kapucu, 2005).

The organizational structure of the agencies which function during disasters is one main issue; those with much disciplined personnel and structure are likely to function properly than those which are not as disciplined. Exchange of information between agencies is another issue. It is essential that information is relayed in a proper manner, since overloading a particular agency with information is likely to cripple the agency in functional terms. Additionally, inter and intra-agency flow of information should be tightly controlled, as false information may misdirect the relief efforts and in some cases may become a cause of panic during working for relief during disasters.

Coordination between agencies is not only important in post-disaster scenarios, but also in situations where a disaster is expected to hit a community. In scenarios where a disaster e.g. a hurricane is expected to strike a city, coordination between different agencies is extremely important. In situations like this, it is extremely important that the agency which determines the magnitude of an expected disaster provides the correct information to allow the other agencies react accordingly. Misinformation in this context is likely to result in over or under-preparation by the other involved agencies, which may ultimate result in loss of lives or a wastage of resources.

ReferencesAltay, N., & Green III, W. G. (2006). OR/MS research in disaster operations management. European Journal of Operational Research, 175(1), 475-493. Kapucu, N. (2005). Interorganizational coordination in dynamic context: Networks in emergency response management. Connections, 26(2), 33-48. Perry, M. (2007). Natural disaster management planning: a study of logistics managers responding to the tsunami. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 37(5), 409-433.