The Challenges to Emergency Preparedness in the 21st Century, Essay Example

What were three known vulnerabilities/weaknesses and what were three surprises? Provide the rationale and an explanation for your choices. Don’t hesitate to include some details and references to support your choices.

The first primary known vulnerability is the cyber-attacks on the United States. In an article by Riley Walters called Cyber Attacks on US Companies in 2014”. The current data breaches and cyber-attacks on American companies are major weaknesses in National Security. The is reason for national alarm stated by FBI Director James Comey because large corporations such as JP Morgan,Home Depot and Target data breaches could be a warning on future cyber-attacks in the private sector(Walters,2014). There is a deliberate attack on the United States infrastructure, financial institutions(JP Morgan) and the public’s personal information leading to the possibility of cyber-attacks gaining access to governmental defense documents.

The second primary known vulnerability is First Responders in the United States. The best example of the vulnerability is Hurricane Katrina. The inadequate and unorganized efforts of First Responders at the private and public levels.The infrastructure was inadequately designed and maintained. “For years, at least since 9/11, but even before that we have known that we had systems of preparation and response that would prove inadequate against truly large scale disasters.” (Leonard, Howitt 2006) Hurricane Katrina was a wake up called to an extensive list of bad management, and lack of preparation. It was a blaring warning to the shortfalls of the local, state, and national government in their response to national disasters. Leonard and Hewitt (2006) point out several fallacies that led to the thousands of people, and billions of dollars that were loss due to the ineptness of the response.

The third primary known vulnerability National and Homeland Security. This breach is the most frightening that potential terroristhave access to all federal employees, which include FBI, Homeland Security, and National Security. In August of 2014, one of the federal contractors that are responsible for providing security, safety, and background checks on federal employees as breached. This attacked accessed unlimited number of federal employee’s personal information (Walters, 2014).

The three surprises were 911 terrorist attacks/Hurricane Katrina, 2014 Cyber-Attacks of JP Morgan and attacks on the Homeland Security infrastructure by accessing and stealing federalgovernment’s employee information. These attacks on the United States clearly show the weaknesses in National Security because the Homeland Security was caught by surprised by all three events. It is imperative that public and private agencies create a communication channel and shared resources to ensure the borders of the United States are protected from terrorist and catastrophic disasters.

What do FDA, USDA, and other responsible government agencies need to do to improve the overall safety and security of processed foods coming as imports into the US?   

The FDA and USDA needs to develop new protocols for imports such food additives, contaminated meat, tomatoes, peanuts, and fruit contamination entering the United States. The first changed is providing sanctions on any country that allows unsafe foods to enter the United States. The penalty must be so severe that importers will spend the necessary funding to ensure the food is safe instead of cutting corners to meet their own financial rewards. The sanctions should be levied on China because they import many processed food products into the United States. China should have the most stringent import security and safety protocols because they process chicken as well as other meats, vegetables, and fruits.

With the potential threat of terrorism always looming in the United States, the export and production of chicken in China is always a threat; therefore, this process is subject to heavy inspection that will play a role in shaping the decisions that are made regarding product export and production (USDA, 2014). In addition, there are significant issues related to food processing in China and how it is unsafe by U.S. standards, thereby posing many questions regarding the safety and efficacy of this practice and its impact on food products (Kloc, 2014). In this context, it is difficult to accept the potential use of a food supply that may not be safe for consumption; therefore, these issues must be considered as these practices move forward (Kloc, 2014).

The record of food safety in China is troubling on a general scale, as the country is notorious for its poor food practices and behaviors; therefore, it is difficult to accept that the U.S. is willing to partake in this practice for the sake of financial activities and a potentially profitable beef market in the future (Siegel, 2014). These practices are difficult to accept because safety should never be sacrificed for profits, nor should it be recognized as a means of accepting mediocre rather than the highest possible quality, as this is a frustrating concept that is difficult to overcome (Siegel, 2014). The lapses in judgment regarding the overall effectiveness of food product consumption is a critical factor that has a significant impact on outcomes and on the safety of food consumed by Americans and related risks (Siegel, 2014). The FDA and USDA should utilize shared resources and shared communication channels to ensure continue to protect the United States food supply.

Are American citizens prepared to be a First Responder? Typically they are the first on the scene of a natural (Sandy, Katrina, etc.) or manmade (DC Naval Yard, VA Tech shootings, knife attack at the Franklin Regional High School near Pittsburgh, etc.) disaster. Assuming they aren’t prepared, what needs to be done to make them more effective?

The answer is “NO” the American Citizens are not prepared to be First Responders, however, with additional funding, training and collaborative efforts of public and private agencies can make a difference. The first responders are the most essential link in assisting Homeland Security with responding to terrorist, disasters, emergencies, and public health catastrophic events. In a public emergency disaster situation, every second that elapses can mean the difference between life and death. The best example of the importance of funding and training first responders is 911 emergency calls including the regular daily emergency support request. On 911, there were 3497 emergency calls in New York on September 11, 2011 and the average Emergency Medical Services (EMS) request is 3,800 calls per day, 25,000 per week, 100,000 per month and 1.3 million calls per year (Brown, 2013). The government has put a major emphasis on First Responder funding, training, equipment, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and the entire disaster response infrastructure. Conversely, the nation has spent approximately $635.9 billion on homeland security, so they have enough funding for public sectors to be prepared for future terrorist attacks. The private sector is the supporting cast in First Responders represented by United Way, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross, respectively.

As Carafano has pointed out, the necessities of the responders of the private sector do not have enough terrorist training, preparation, funding, and support. The private sector is surely the first line of defense against the next natural or man-made disaster. When planning by the government or national groups for response, has not accounted adequately for the role of the private sector in recovery or response. The role of the private sector in disaster response and planning is fundamental because an overwhelming majority of the local, state, and national critical key resources and infrastructure operates within this realm. However, it was evident that the private and public First Responders were not prepared for the terrorist attacks. The importance of the First Responder training and preparation impacts the way in which the private and the public sector can effectively respond and save lives.

The primary problem with public and private collaboration does not always surround the lack of funding. The First Responder agencies have different task such as making the disaster area habitual again, police, firefighter, dispatchers, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Port Security, Bomb units, and the First Responder Capstone IPT. The program developed a First Responder Capstone IPT, component where it is one of 13 functional units. It is believed that each unit is equally represented as being an important section of the project (Cellucci, 2009, pg. 4). The government, private agencies, and non-profit organizations have put emphasis on the collaboration of First Responders to ensure the public safety and security. It is mandatory that the public hold all accountable for making the right decisions to ensure safety in time so disasters at all cost (Homeland security, 2009).

The country needs new technology to protect our Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources from terrorist attacks or from natural incidents. One of the questions in the Technology module identified 18 unique needs as identified by you and your peers. Assume you are the senior government execrative that received the list and have the role of prioritizing the efforts for the RFP. Given these 18 needs as your input, what are your top ten priorities to improve the safety and security of food and water critical infrastructures from this list?  Provide specifics and the rationale for your choices.

The top ten Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources necessary to protect the United States from terrorist attacks are listed as Water conservations technologies, Recycle Wastewater, Irrigation, and Agricultural Technology, Water Pricing Technology, Solar Powered Plants Technology, Water Waste Resources Technology, Clean Water technology, Purification Wastewater Technology, Sewage Infrastructure, Corporate Water Usage Technology, Freshwater Protection Technologies.

The rationale for Water Conversation Technologies is based on the terrorist can attack our Water supply to cause the National Security infrastructure to crumble. The destruction of each states water supply would cripple the ability to defend against attacks. The Water Conservation Technology Center should be an organization that works with the government to utilize the most current innovative technology. The goal of the WCTC is to lead development and adoption of innovative water technologies that will help protect the United States water supply(Water Conservation and Technology Center(WCTC), 2014).The Recycle Waste Water attacks could wipe out the entire water waste systems. The needs to be innovative technology that protects and alarms concerning broken water networks, pipelines damage, structure and wastewater facilities attacks. The use of innovative monitoring systems that can protect a multi and diversified security system that would alert National Security of potential risk to the critical water infrastructure (Van Leuven, 2007). The agriculture technology allows the National Security to ensure that our food supply is protect from imports and sabotage. The FBI has technology and scientists that have the technology analyze agriculture for attacking agents. The Water Pricing Technology/Strategies is important because if the energy companies are over pricing the water resources thus allows other foreign energy companies to have the responsibility of protecting our water infrastructure. The terrorist can attach from within the United States by accessing foreign relationships. The Solar Water Technologies allow the government to ensure we have alternative water resources in case the primary waster systems are contaminated. The Water Waste Technology must protect at all cost our ecosystems for water because the country can be attacked causing the United States to lose National Security controls because the damage it can cause. This would include technology to protect fresh water, clean water technology, sewage, corporate water consumptions and purifications. All these technologies are necessary to protect the food and agriculture resources. As a senior executive making decisions on the best technologies for protecting Critical Infrastructure/Key Resources from terrorist attacks, it is necessary to put these technologies in place in the immediate future.

References

Brown.N. (2013, Sep).On 9/11, remember the importance of First Responders. Retrieved November 18, 2014 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-brown/first-responders_b_3882377.html

Carafano, J. J. (2003). Preparing responders to respond: The challenges to emergency preparedness in the 21st century: The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandDefense/HL812.cfm

Cellucci, T. (2009).Commercialization: The First Responders best friend: Best friend: DHS reaches out to First Responders to address their needs. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/st_first_responder_commercialization_article.pdf

Home Land Security (2009). High Priority Technology needs. Retrieved on November 18, 2014 from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/High_Priority_Technology_Needs.pdf

Kloc, J. (2014). The curious case of the Chinese chicken import-export business. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/2014/10/10/curious-case-chinese-chicken-import-export-business-273699.html

Leonard, H. B., & Howitt, A. M. (2006). Katrina as prelude: Preparing for and responding to future Katrina-class disturbances in the United States. Testimony before the U.S. Senate

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.2 (3)

Siegel, B.E. (2014). Chicken from China? Why you should be worried. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bettina-elias-siegel/chicken-china_b_4599502.html

Van Leuven,L.J. (2007). Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Security: Threats and vulnerabilities. Handbook of Water and Wastewater Systems Protection. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0189

Walters, R. (2014 Oct).Cyber Attacks on U.S. companies in 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014 http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/10/cyber-attacks-on-us-companies-in-2014

Water Conservative & Technology Center. (2014).About. Retrieved November 18, 2014 from http://wctc.tamu.edu/

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (2014). Frequently asked questions – equivalence of China’s poultry processing system. Retrieved from http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-transcripts/newsrelease-archives-by-year/archive/2013/faq-china-08302013