United States Federal Agency under the Control of the Department of Homeland Security - Coursework Example

FEMA: FEMA is a United States Federal agency under the control of the department of homeland security. FEMA is a short word for Federal Emergency Management Agency. Originally, this organization was developed by Plan no 3 of the Presidential Reorganization of 1978. Later on, it was implemented through two executive orders in the year 1979, 1st of April (Westley, Robert and William, 502). The main aim and objective of this agency is to coordinate the various measures aimed at combating disasters, which occur in the United States, and the state and local authorities are unable to effectively respond and control the disasters under consideration. For FEMA to intervene, the governor of the state under consideration must issue a state of emergence, and thereafter make a formal request to the President of United States, asking for the intervention and help of FEMA. Hollis (540) denotes that FEMA is also responsible for the provision of these services to territories that are owned and controlled by the United States, such as the territory of Puerto Rico. Lowe (1135) goes on to explain that there is an exception to the intervention of FEMA in the various disasters occurring in the United States. This exception occurs when the disaster or the emergency under consideration takes place on a federal property or asset. An example includes the bombing of the Alfred Murrah building in 1995, in the city of Oklahoma where FEMA intervened without the intervention of the state’s governor, because the building under consideration was a Federal building. Hollis (540) denotes that one of the major parts of the charter of FEMA is its provision of the on ground support during the process of disaster recovery. Langabeer, James, Jami and Diaa (327) believe that FEMA is responsible for providing local and state governments with experts and professionals in various specialized fields for purposes of mitigating, controlling and responding to a disaster. Lowe (1134) further explain that FEMA is also responsible for funding various relief programs and rebuilding efforts for purposes of improving the lives of people, and this is mainly through the Small Business Administration programs. Furthermore, Hollis (541) observes that FEMA is responsible for the provision of funds for purposes of training personnel who are able to respond to the various disasters that might occur in the United States, and all its territories. This is part and parcel of the preparedness programs initiated by FEMA. Since 2003, FEMA has been an organization that is controlled by the department of homeland security. This was made possible through the homeland security act of the year 2002 (Whitehead and Adam, 657). This law was developed for purposes of helping federal agencies to effectively coordinate issues regarding disaster preparedness, law enforcement, civil defense systems, etc. On this note, FEMA was in scripted into the department of homeland security, under the directorate of emergence response and preparedness office (Westley, Robert and William, 503). Anderson (29) believes that one of the major strengths of FEMA is that it has developed programs that have the capability of mitigating the various disasters that can occur within the territory of United States. These programs are always aimed at preventing the occurrence of a disaster, or developing the necessary manpower required for purposes of responding to a disaster. For example, FEMA has a mitigation directorate responsible for identifying various risks that United States faces, and thereafter developing programs aimed at reducing the occurrence of such risks. Langabeer, James, Jami and Diaa (324) observes that this directorate has achieved great efficiency in reducing the loss of properties, as well as injuries during the emergence of disasters. Scholar further denotes that FEMA has developed an analysis of the various hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and dams for purposes of helping the organization to effectively fight the disasters that occur as a result of these hazards. Furthermore, FEMA has a flood insurance program that targets homeowners living in flood plains. Anderson (22) denotes that FEMA also has developed measures that discourage individuals from building structures in flood zones. This is for purposes of saving lives, and properties in case of the emergence of a flood. Furthermore, Langabeer, James, Jami and Diaa (321) denotes that FEMA operates and manages three very important hazard mitigation grants, namely, program on hazard mitigation, pre-mitigation as well as flood mitigation assistance. Hazard mitigation programs are initiated for long term prevention of major disasters. On the other hand, Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants are responsible for acquiring property for purposes of converting them into an open space, as well as constructing storm and tornado shelters. These funds are also used for purposes of managing vegetation in order to control soil erosion, or even the occurrence or spread of wild fires. Anderson (27) believes that pre-disaster mitigation grants are always offered annually. Anderson (33) further observes that the flood mitigation assistance is developed for the main purpose of eliminating the risks associated with the emergence of floods. Despite these strengths of FEMA, Langabeer, James, Jami and Diaa (320) believe that the organization also has a variety of weaknesses. One such weakness is that the organization does not involve the community in developing mitigation policies in relation to the prevention of disasters. Scholar denotes that the participation of the community is only involved when it comes to the identification of the hazard under consideration. Furthermore, Binns (44) believes that the participation of the public does not form part and parcel of the assessment process. This is because the committee responsible for planning and developing the mitigation programs will only involve experts who are experienced in developing emergency programs. Furthermore, Hollis (540) observes that FEMA does not have a framework that provides a guideline which will help it to consider the hazards, and risks that the organization should tackle first, or lay emphasis on. Hollis (543) further observes that the method in which FEMA uses to identify risks and hazards involves allowing a large group of its employees to visit government libraries for purposes of conducting research to identify risks and hazards, as well as talking to the community in order to find answers from them regarding the various risks and vulnerabilities that they face. Due to these weaknesses, Binns (49) believes that FEMA has been unable to effectively carry out its mandate. For instance, FEMA came into great criticism for the manner in which the organization handled the 2005 hurricane Katrina. During the period of this hurricane, FEMA had positioned its response officers to the Gulf Coast region. In as much as FEMA had these personnel, they were unable to offer direct assistance to the victims of the hurricane. All that the employees of FEMA could conduct was to make a report on the situation on the ground, without providing any tangible physical assistance (Westley, Robert and William, 502). FEMA came under great criticism because of its slow response to this disaster, and because of its inability to effectively care for, manage and move people who were trying to move out of the city. Specifically, the director of FEMA was held responsible for this inefficiency of his members of staff, and for his disconnection from the situation. On this note, the government relieved Mr. Brown, who was the director, the command of this disaster, eventually he resigned from his post. Binns (17) observes that the emergence of Hurricane Katrina and how the agency handled it, was the major test of the disaster response of FEMA, under the department of homeland security. In conclusion, FEMA is an institution formed for purposes of helping to mitigate disasters that occurs in all the territories of United States. In as much as critics denote that FEMA is not effective in mitigating and controlling disasters, the organization still remain a very major agency within the department of homeland security. The head of this organization reports directly to the head of DHS. This organization is able to manage the country’s insurance program on flood, and it also administers programs responsible for preparing the state to effectively tackle disasters. By looking at the weaknesses of the organization, as identified above, and comparing it with the strengths of the organization, it is possible to denote that the strengths have more weight than its weaknesses. On this note, FEMA is an organization that has to continue existing, and operated by homeland security department. Works Cited: Anderson, C. V.. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, 2002. Print. Binns, Tristan Boyer. FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Administration. Chicago, Ill.: Heinemann Library, 2003. Print. Hollis, Amanda Lee. "A Tale of Two Federal Emergency Management Agencies." The Forum 3.3 (2005): 539-543. Print. Langabeer, James R., Jami Dellifraine, and Diaa Alqusairi. "The Influence of Politics on Federal Disaster Declaration Decision Delays." Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management 9.1 (2012): 317-339. Print. Lowe, Anthony S.. "The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Multi-Hazard Flood Map Modernization and The National Map." Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 69.10 (2003): 1133-1135. Print. Westley, Christopher, Robert P. Murphy, and William L. Anderson. "Institutions, incentives, and disaster relief: The case of the Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricane Katrina." International Journal of Social Economics 35.7 (2008): 501-511. Print. Whitehead, John C., and Adam Z. Rose. "Estimating environmental benefits of natural hazard mitigation with data transfer: results from a benefit-cost analysis of Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grants." Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 14.7 (2009): 655-676. Print. Read More