Natural Hazards

It is the responsibility of the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to respond and recover all forms of hazards. In natural hazards, FEMA is primarily concerned with destabilizing incidents or factors posing threats to the national security. Any disaster arising from physical phenomena like floods, hurricane, earthquakes, tsunamis, drought, and tornadoes are considered a natural disaster. A natural disaster that is catastrophic can occur anywhere in the world. Natural disaster contributes to the overwhelming deaths, economic losses, and damage to properties. Natural hazards have remained relatively unchanged, but factors like urbanization, increased societal complexity, and climatic changes have increased the risks gradually. Currently, the occurrence of a disaster is more frequent having greater consequence hence demanding for more and greater response capability and capacities. For instance, a country like United States, the trend of disaster occurrence shows no sign of slowing (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2012). This paper analyzes how federal emergency management agency addresses the issues of natural hazards.

Achieving the goals for major disasters and catastrophic accidents is challenging. It requires sufficient pre-and post-disaster coordination and cooperation among different levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and private sectors. Likewise, individuals can take the initiative themselves hence contributing to the success of natural disaster mitigation. They should be having the knowledge of evacuation routes, complying with evacuation orders, and having a disaster preparation plan and supplies for the family. Preparedness and response are considered to be the major challenges in the 21^st century (Jenkins, 2008). No nation can be completely safe as security is the unachievable goal. Then, homeland security requires strategic plans that maximizes the risk and mitigates the risks within available resources.

Flood is among the natural disasters that threatens lives and destroy property in the whole world. Flood is excess water that engulfs dry land and property. The causes of floods include heavy rainfall, melting snow, and other generative factors. United States is one of the countries in the world that experience frequent floods hence deemed a national disaster. The incidences of floods increase with increased rate of development and urbanization. It is approximated by FEMA that 10 million families are at risk from flooding in the United States. FEMA’s authority for flood hazard is constituted largely in the National Flood Insurance Program, (NFIP).

The NFIP is substantially responsible for reducing the impact of floods on private and public structures. Its aim is achieved by providing affordable insurance to owners of properties (Carter II, 2013). The agency also encourages communities to adopt and enforce the regulations on managing flood plan. Through these efforts of the organization, the effects of floods are mitigated as new and improved structures are put in place. The presidential climate action plan in June 2013 directed federal agencies to act appropriately with the aim of reducing risk to national investments. It improves the nation’s resilience to flooding as better preparations are in place for the impacts of climatic changes. The signing of flood insurance affordability Act for the homeowner was in March 2014. FEMA working together with NFIP are responsible for the flood awareness program. During floods, people are supposed to move to a higher ground and evacuate their houses. They should make sure that they know all escape routes in case of destruction.

Earthquake is a sudden and rapid shaking of the earth’s surface caused by breaking and shifting of tectonic plates. Natural and man-made environment can be affected by the earth’s shaking. The occurrence of earthquakes in the United States is in hundreds all-round the year. A good example is the Northridge earthquake that occurred in 1994 striking California. According to FEMA relief costs, it was the second most expensive natural disaster that has ever occurred in the United States. The federal funding towards the disaster accumulated to an estimate of $7 billion.

The national earthquake hazards reduction program (NEHRP) enhances the efforts of the federal government in reducing the adverse effects of shocks. NEHRP work consists of research, development, and implementation activities. The study gives the citizens the idea as to why and how earthquakes occur as well as its negative implication to the natural and manmade environments. The program also develops techniques, tools, strategies and other measures that focus on reducing adverse effects of earthquakes (Carter II, 2013). It additionally facilitates and promotes these measures hence strengthening earthquake resilience among communities that are at risk. On the other hand, FEMA supports various programs that help the nation in planning and implementation of earthquake mitigation measures. The agency also has the initiative of bringing people together to reduce risks of quakes. The enhancement of earthquake mitigation and response planning is at all levels of government and the private sector.

Another natural disaster is the occurrence of hurricanes in the western hemisphere where the United State covers most of the land. It is a cyclonic tropical storm accompanied with sustained winds measuring 74mph or even more. Once the hurricane is on land, it can be destructive by the means of torrential rains and winds. The season for hurricane runs annually from June to September. The most expensive natural disaster in the history of the United States stands to be the hurricane Katrina. It occurred in 2005 the month of August, and the federal funding amounted to $29 billion. Hurricane rainfall especially in hilly topography causes inland flooding resulting in massive loss of life and severe property damage. 

The national hurricane program (NHP) helps to protect citizens from hurricane hazards by conducting various projects and activities. The NHP in conjunction with FEMA conducts assessments and offer technical assistance to state and local agencies with the aim of developing hurricane evacuation plans. The evacuation plans come in hand with studies that help in determining the probable effects of a hurricane and prediction of public response to the threat. It also offers advisories as well as identifying appropriate shelters for the people during the hurricane period. The national hurricane program training is continual educating citizens and its officials on the preparedness, awareness, and decision assistance tools. The aim of training is to address hurricane hazards and issues. Mitigation against hurricane losses reduces the risks on people’s lives, property through proper insurance and damage prevention.

Another natural disaster is as a result of the tornadoes. They are rotating funnel of air that extends groundwards from a cumulonimbus cloud. The wind speed of the storms is approximately 300 mph. Tornadoes in the United States is mainly as a result of thunderstorms. The force created by the tornado’s wind is capable of lifting and moving huge objects off the ground as well as destroying or moving building. People living in valleys are most exposed to damages of tornadoes because they follow a path of less resistance.

A safe room is a structure designed specifically to meet the federal emergency management agency. It provides absolute protection to extreme weather conditions like for the case of tornadoes. A safe room constructed according to FEMA guidance guarantees its occupants a higher chance of protection from injury or even death. The design and construction that comply with FEMA guidelines is considered a safe room. The agency strongly recommends homeowners and communities at large to build safe rooms in their houses. It will help reduce cases of injuries and loss of lives during tornado disaster.

Wildfires have three classifications; they are surface fires, ground fires, and crown fires. The surface fires burn on the floor of a forest and are the most common type of wildfire. It spreads slowly but kills and damages trees. The ground fires are usually started by lightning and burn on the forest floor. Lastly, the crown fires burn through the canopy high above the ground. The spread of crown fire is much faster because of the wind and direct contact with other trees. Wildfires pose a dramatically increased risk in the human population as residential areas expand towards the wild lands. It also imposes several secondary hazards (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2012).

There are four recommendations made by FEMA in mitigating wildfires. They include; increase the community involvement in fighting and preventing such fires. It is achieved by eliminating hazardous fuels from forests, restoration of fire damaged landscapes and provision of additional firefighting resources. It is a ten-year strategic fire plan, and it is still being tweaked and implemented. The flame Act was created to separate budgets for emergency wildfire suppression by the Department of the Interior. Currently, the efforts of fire prevention are accomplished through coordination among agencies and organizations that have statutory suppression responsibilities. 

The causes of mass movements are by abrupt shift and free fall of blocks of loose rocks. They produce lateral or horizontal movement of a large quantity of physical matter. There are several different risks caused by mass movements The mass movement causes loss of life through several different processes like burying and crushing. It causes destruction in major transportation links and alters natural environments that possess a negative impact on humans. Rugged topography is likely to experience mass movement, unlike level land.

Among the citizens, awareness of mass movement hazards is quite tricky to detect as many people assume that these are not actual dangers to them. People who are living in areas vulnerable to mass movements must be more aware of landslide hazard in preventing catastrophes. In Unites States, the general public receives awareness information from FEMA. There are mechanisms that are used to control mass movements and public policy as well as awareness efforts provided. The organization provides people with instruction templates. They are instructed to look for locations on the property where water converges, progressively tilting of trees and signs of soil movement. Mitigation is dependent upon educational, technical, and public awareness actions. The reduction can lessen the devastations and destruction resulting from the mass movement. A well informed local population is at its initial stage in mitigating the impact of the disaster (Stoltman, Lidstone & Dechano, 2007).  

Waves or series of waves generated by a mass displacement of sea water defines tsunami. Earthquakes occurring under ocean water causes movement of the ocean floor resulting in a tsunami. Tsunamis travel at extremely high speed in all directions from the origin of the disturbance. The tsunamis can strike at heights that can be even over 100ft and hence extending onto land for more than a mile. The force created by the water is disastrous as it causes destruction of everything in its path.

The mitigation program on tsunami is the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP). It is designed to protect people as well as reduce property losses due to the effects of the tsunami. FEMA is one of the primary participants that deal with the issue of a tsunami along the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The primary role of FEMA in NTHMP is to assist agencies in the state and local levels to develop tsunami preparedness, mitigation, and response capabilities. The organization coordinates relief activities of Subcommittee by overseeing and tracking the goals of strategic implementations, as well as plans for tsunami mitigation projects. It offers training programs for emergency addressing issues like planning, community warning, public awareness, and evacuation. The federal agencies work together with the state in helping the local jurisdiction with technical assistance. FEMA provides technical manuals on design and construction that offer guidance to reduce the damage to coastal structures caused by tsunamis. It also provides viable education to the public regarding tsunami preparedness, mitigation, and response.

Another natural disaster is the occurrence of volcano eruptions. The occurrence of the explosion is as a result of a mountain opening downwards to a molten rock below the earth’s surface. Volcano eruption occurs due to pressure building up as rocks shoot up through the opening spilling over. Sometimes the explosions fill the air with fragments of lava. Eruptions may sometimes cause lateral blasts, lava flows, and hot ash flows. The volcanic eruptions pose natural hazards as they are severely destructive to property as well as loss of life. Through FEMA, the losses resulting from eruptions are reduced by defining potential outbreaks in future using past information. The agency also establishes monitoring systems develops and implement disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation plans. The organization has achieved technological improvements in detecting and monitoring hence can assess warnings of eruptions. FEMA takes all measures of sensitizing the public on volcanic eruptions with the aim of mitigating its adverse effects.         

In conclusion, there is a need for federal, state, local, and private bodies to work together in implementing a national model for risk assessment. It improves the resource prioritization as well as supply utility. Individuals and private entities involved in emergency management, risk management as well as hazard mitigation need to focus on developmental and implementation of specific actions. These measures include definitions that are consistent and detailed information about natural disaster threatening various regions within United States. They also need a model risk assessment methodology to assess potential impacts and exposure to citizens, critical facilities, necessary resources, and infrastructure. Identification of hazards and assessment of risks are vital steps in the process of reducing the impacts of natural disasters. These measures support mitigation by laying the foundation for the judicious allocation of finite resources. FEMA has intended to achieve this goal by developing the national risk assessment methodology.

Among the most severe natural catastrophes in the United States, hurricanes account for the highest percentage of insured property loss. It presents the greatest potential for substantial human deaths and loss of property. Homeowners in the urban/wildland interface are primarily responsible for wildfire mitigation as they choose to live in these vulnerable areas. Many hazards can be tackled by building codes that are designed to improve construction, reinforcement, and anchoring buildings. For example, FEMA has encouraged citizens to build safe rooms that are resistant to adverse effects of tornadoes. Preparedness programs and evacuation planning are effective in protecting people living in areas subjected to eminent danger. Provision of education and awareness convey information to the public to make them aware of the effects of possible hazards. The approach of research on risk processes is successful as they make people understand the impending risks and their consequences. Agencies like FEMA and others at the federal level can provide leadership hence promoting and improving hazard identification and risk assessment programs.  

References

Bullock, J. (2006). Introduction to homeland security. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Bullock, J., Haddow, G., & Coppola, D. (2012). Homeland security. [S.l.]: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Carter II, J. (2013). Federal emergency management agency. Policing: An International Journal Of Police Strategies & Management, 36(3). doi:10.1108/pijpsm.2013.18136caa.002

Jenkins, W. (2008). Actions are taken to implement the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. Washington, DC: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office.

Stoltman, J., Lidstone, J., & Dechano, L. (2007). International perspectives on natural disasters. Dordrecht: Springer.