Parkinson’s disease Study

Parkinson’s disease Study

  M3A1: Draft Contingency Plan

Hazard Identified

Threat identification and risk assessment are essential in preparing for disasters at the community level (FEMA, 2018a). Heatwaves can be destructive, causing damage to property and injury to human beings. Extreme temperature is an identified hazard in New York. As such, mitigation and preparedness measures have to be instituted to reduce the impact. It is important to note that heatwaves are a natural phenomenon; hence prevention measures may not yield expected results. Preparedness, however, would significantly reduce the negative impact anticipated. A plan that is feasible, acceptable, accountable, compliant, and engaging should thus be laid out as it is more likely to succeed (Fema.gov, 2011). The three-step THIRA process is therefore essential in plan formulation (FEMA, 2018b)

Mitigation Measures

Mitigation involves measures aimed at reducing the severity of the heatwave. Such actions would include structural controls, for example. Though highly debatable (Bullock et al., 2017b, p157), structural controls can be used as a mitigation tool. Steel and concrete trap heat, thereby increasing heat impact. Having structural controls that allow for alternative materials would reduce the heat impact during a heatwave. Ensuring round the clock news concerning weather updates would be essential. Updates, in this case, would include the expected temperature rise, duration, and any abrupt warning. An excellent update includes mitigation and preparedness information as well.

Preparedness Measures

Preparedness involves measures aimed at dealing with the heatwave once it occurs. Training, exercise, and evaluation are essential phases in a preparedness plan. The assessment determines the effectiveness or lack thereof of the preparedness measures put in place. In the case of an ineffective strategy, the necessary recommendations are made, and a review is done. Training, in this case, would involve training exercises both at community and volunteer levels.

Asphalt and bitumen conventional in road construction is equally a hazard during a heatwave (Stierwalt, 2018). Driving or walking on asphalt roads during a heatwave would be detrimental as chances of burning are high. Driving or walking on dirt roads, for example, would reduce the chances of asphalt related injuries. Staying indoors is yet another preparedness measure. The extreme heat causes high levels of dehydration and heart-related side effects such as heat rash, for example. Staying indoors would thus translate to people not going on with daily activities. These include shopping, learning, and working on naming a few.

Social media is crucial in ensuring community safety (Gosnell, 2015). Social media platforms such as Face book would ensure well being through safety status updates. Having a volunteer system would also ensure that vulnerable individuals such as homeless people, individuals with mobility challenges, for example, the sickly, older adults, children, and disabled people are taken care of. Putting up centers for the homeless would ensure that these groups of individuals are kept away from the outdoors sun.

Impediments to Mitigation and Preparedness Measures

A lack of political goodwill plays a significant role in the absence of mitigation. Mitigation plans require funding that has to be allocated at a legislative level. Political squabbles among Congress members thus can hinder fund allocation. Lack of funds also thwarts mitigation efforts. Costs associated with the mitigation efforts can also hinder mitigation planning. Structural controls, for example, maybe costly, thereby preventing structural controls mitigation efforts. Risk denial and ignorance equally are impediments to mitigation efforts (Bullock et al., 2017b, p160). Denial involves ignoring the heatwave hazard deeming it as an unlikely threat when, in reality, it is a potential threat. Denial could also mean downplaying the level of risk and subsequent impact. Downplaying the heatwave temperature rise and areas affected translates to downplaying the possible adverse effects. As a result, fund allocation would equally be downplayed. Minimal funding in this regard would be inadequate for the maximal impact realized.

Recommended Steps

Training, exercise, and evaluation are crucial in determining the effectiveness of the preparedness measures. The information and warning channels, for example, should be evaluated to ensure the efficacy. Technology, in this case, comes into focus. Funding, equipment acquisition, and expertise are thus inevitable and should be well factored in the preparedness efforts. The indoor stay would also translate to individuals stocking up on essentials in their homes. The availability of these essentials in more substantial quantities should equally be factored in to ensure comfort and well being. Increased focus on vulnerable groups should be given as these individuals are more likely to suffer extreme impact that could easily lead to loss of life (Ortiz et al., 2018).

Conclusion

The effects of hazards are not only felt at a community and State level but at a national level. The economy is ultimately affected at the national level. Transport and trade would be hampered by the heatwave affecting the country as a whole. Transport interconnects at communities; region and states level hence affect the system at a national level (Bullock et al., 2017a, p156). Closure of business would also negatively impact the economy of both the community and country. In this regard, hazard, mitigation, and preparedness are essential and, as such, should not be ignored or taken lightly. The process involves stakeholders at community, federal, private, and public levels. Goodwill plays a significant role in the mitigation and preparedness of a heatwave hazard.

References

Bullock, J., Haddow, G., & Coppola, D. (2017). Homeland Security: The Essentials (2nd ed.).

Butterworth-Heinemann Publications.

Bullock, J., Haddow, G., & Coppola, D. (2017). Introduction to Emergency Management (6^th

ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann Publications.

FEMA. (2018). Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment | FEMA.gov. Fema.gov.

Retrieved 16 March 2020, from https://www.fema.gov/threat-and-hazard-identification-and-risk-assessment.

FEMA. (2018). Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and

Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Guide. Fema.gov. https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1527613746699-fa31d9ade55988da1293192f1b18f4e3/CPG201Final20180525_508c.pdf.

Fema.gov. (2011). CPG 101, version 2.0 – process and analysis support tool.

https://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/divisions/npd/CPG_101_v2_past.pdf.

Gosnell, A. (2015). Social media’s role in disaster response expands. Govtech.com.

https://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/Social-Medias-Role-Disaster-Response-Expands.html.

Ortiz, L., Gonzalez, J., Wu, W., Schoonen, M., Tongue, J., & Bornstein, R. (2018). New York

City Impacts on a Regional Heat Wave. Journal Of Applied Meteorology And Climatology, 57(4), 837-851. https://doi.org/10.1175/jamc-d-17-0125.1

Stierwalt, E. (2018). The 5+ effects of oppressive heat waves. Scientific American.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-5-effects-of-oppressive-heat-waves/.