Developing a Proactive Approach to Flooding

Developing a Proactive Approach to Flooding

 

1. Would you take a departmental or an Interdepartmental Approach in a governmental structure that utilizes its resources in three separate departments- soil and water; Planning; and, Public Works? EXPLAIN

I will take the interdepartmental approach in government structure that utilizes its resources in the three departments. This is because the interdepartmental approach is one-stop one shop model where departments meet to coordinate top address the potential flooding. The departments will meet on a regular basis to exchange information on the level of preparedness to mitigate flooding. Coordination through organizational structure enables the representatives from soil and water, planning and public works to review the information on the requirements on the mitigation with the executive to offer a synthesis and provide final solutions on the way forward. The department of soil and water will bring onboard information on stream restoration, potential clogging in streams locations, obtaining permits from the department of environmental conservation for restoration (Pammer, 2015). The site visits rely on manual observation with no GPS equipment.

This means that the department is operating in low technology environment; therefore, interdepartmental approach between soil and water, and the planning will put things together in the sense that planning departments coordinate with soil and water by providing mapping and log trouble spots with GPS  and history of flooding and provide information on the probability of potential trouble spots. On the other hand, the department of the public works requires information on the potential trouble spots during severe whether to act on them through its expertise to problems areas to minimize damage.

 

 

 

 

1. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your proposed proactive strategy  

 

The proposed proactive strategy on interdepartmental approach on coordination has strengths in the sense that it will provide an overview and synthesis for the executive on the requirements of each department.When the information is obtained on what each department requires, it will enable for resource mobilization to coordinate all activities to mitigate flooding. It also provides an opportunity for information sharing by the departments. Due to this, the departments will complement each other to improve the processes. The weakness of this proactive strategy is that in case there is inaccurate information by one department and has been shared to the other department, it will lead to poor decision making on the overall approach. Therefore, the interdepartmental approach relies on accurate and precise information, which at times is not the case due to human error.

 

1. Did you consider other aspects besides information and data gathering, and how that information could be used to initiate work restoration in streams in developing your strategy? Why? Why not?

Besides information and data gathering, I considered other aspects, for example, implementing mitigation projects. This focuses on effective ways to improve the management of stormwater or reduce the risk of flood from a major river (Pichelmann, 2019). These projects are comprised of innovative and traditional practices, which could be used to initiate work restoration in streams. They consist of wetland restoration, impoundments, levees, floodwalls, stormwater harvest and reuse, improved conveyances and acquisition of flood-prone properties. Public works through water engineer’s resources can identify flood mitigation strategy for every community by combining the new data and tools with their proven experience.

Another aspect which I considered is providing education and outreach. This is developing publicly available resources on a national level to estimate and understand flood risk (Pichelmann, 2019). These tools give information on potential loss from flooding, reality experience and resilience. When people have understood these risks, they can initiate work restoration in streams to prepare for the flood situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                         References

Bergner, D., & Vasconez, K. (2012). Expanding Role of Public Works in Emergency

Management | Leadership and Management in Engineering | Vol 12, No 3. Retrieved 10

March 2020, from https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29LM.1943-5630.0000174

Pammer, w. (2015). Administrative Management Theory: Skill Sets for the Manager. Retrieved

10 March 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGIsvEVn_Kw&feature=youtu.be

Pichelmann, R. (2019). 4 Steps to an Effective Flood Management Plan. Retrieved 10 March

2020, from http://www.sehinc.com/news/4-steps-effective-flood-management-plan