Read each paragraph give me your opinion if you agree I disagree with it

1.

• Does the information concern you? Explain why or why not.

I live in New castle county in Delaware. On the American Lung Association’s web site we get a C grade for Particle Pollution, while the other two counties get an A grade. New Castle county is the most populous of all three and the most urban. We have some refineries and we are also close to the refineries in the neighbors to the North, Pennsylvania. We also get a F grade for Ozone days. Combined together, this is concerning since I don’t see any changes for the near future, and this is not a concern for the state government. It is also stated on the website that “ if you live in New Castle County, The air you breathe may put your health at risk”.

• What effects could the air quality in your area have on lung health?

Long term exposure to pollution can lead to respiratory diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and respiratory allergies. There is also increasing evidence of the development of Lung Cancer.

Marino, E., Caruso, M., Campagna, D., & Polosa, R. (2015, September). Impact of air quality on lung health: Myth or reality?

Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC45496…

• What could be done to improve air quality in your area?

On a personal level each citizen can drive less, do not burn trash and conserve electricity. The accumulated effect is a reduction in soot from cars and trash burning and reducing electricity reduces the power generation. We can also join the American Lung Association effort to petition state governments to pass climate friendly bill and more controls on industries to help reduce pollution as well as promote the use of clean energy.

Fighting for Healthy Air. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/o…

2.

Does the information concern you? Explain why or why not.

After looking at the information for my area which is Henderson, Ky. I am a little concerned with the grade of the ozone grade which is a “C”. It concerns me because it shows our ozone is populated with a moderate amount of air pollution other than that the annual particle pollution test shows that we passed, and we remain average.

What effects could the air quality in your area have on living health.

According to the American Lung Association (2019), there are many risks when it comes to pollution. Both ozone and particle pollution can cause the following in adults and children lung tissue, swelling, susceptible to infections, cardiovascular harm, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, lung cancer, asthma attacks, possible reproductive harm and premature death.

What could be done to improve air quality in your area?

There are many things that could be done to improve air quality you could carpool or ride your bike or walk to work instead of adding more pollution to the air than there already is. Using energy efficient light bulbs and appliances as well is another way to improve the air quality. There are many other ways to protect our environment as well it is just up to us how we do so.

3.

In regards to the RBC Recovery Plan, in short term, and long term, Rick Hillard who is the Mayors Press Secretary gave a summary on the train derailment and the toxic event. Press Secretary Hillard mentioned that the Red Cross opened up the Kennedy H.S. for shelter for the evening, people were urged to seek medical attention , as many residents have already been transported to the medical center for treatment. Mr. Hillard also did mention in his briefing to the press that the residents were allowed to return home once the incident commander deemed that the spill was contained and no longer dangerous.

Stakeholders need to be involved in both the short and long term recovery process, and the above mentioned plans keeps the situation moving along in a positive direction and keeps everyone involved in the recovery process or aware of it. In unit 6 , the plan to evacuate the stadium or not was in question . I do still think that given all of the circumstances of this incident , making sure the people stayed in the stadium and being “looked after” was the best decision. This , as opposed to a mass exodus of the stadium would be the better choice. In short term recovery, there are critical components to making sure all bases are covered. Shelter and accommodations for the displaced is a key , medical attention to the ones in need, as well as the safety of all those affected. Communication between all of the stakeholders is a definite key component , to make sure nothing is overlooked.

I do find it quite disturbing that after two weeks of this incident, Jenny Cunningham is practically clueless as to the follow up and reporting of the situation post-incident. She is not sure if schools are open and functioning , how are the nursing homes functioning since the incident. As there were approx. 3,500 people evacuated , what is their status. Are all of the roads still closed or are they open? These are questions that should have been followed up immediately post incident, and not just as Ms. Cunningham is putting together her report. There should have been contact with all of the stakeholders involved , addressing their duties and if their responsibilities and goals for recovery were met or was there a shortfall in anyway.

4.

Describe what emergency planners should have done to ensure continuity of operations in the event of a catastrophe such as the one depicted in the simulation.

Develop an alternate plan.

What specifically would you do to ensure continuity of operations in the event of a catastrophe such as this one?

To ensure continuity of operation in the event of a catastrophe, emergency planners should have applied all basic principles of ICS. The basic principles of ICS are, common terminology, modular organization, management by objectives, incident action planning, command, manageable span of control, incident facilities and locations, comprehensive resource management, information and intelligence management, integrated communications, accountability and dispatch / deployment. The emergency planners should have maintained a continuous open line of communication with all responding agencies for updates on affected areas and high-level importance correspondence. Incident action planning should have included a follow-up contingency plan to include routine updates with affected areas and responding authorities to the matter. The follow-up plan should have included routine zoning details to ensure that the matter was being addressed and the condition has not worsened. Managerial span of control should have been enforced by supervising and controlling subordinates to the incident facilities and locations for optimal control and assurance. Dispatch / Deployment should have been assessed prior to and during the incident phase for adequate resources and personnel to be readily available for deployment to critical zones. Effective and efficient consideration should have been considered to assure that deployment of such resources met the needs of the disaster area. Emergency planners should have continued to monitor the traffic, quality and scene in a joint effort for the safety and security of the affected area by assigning key personnel and rotating shifts until the final after-action report was released and a clearance has been received by the appropriate authority, to include the base, staging area and camp.

The alternate plan would include all responses included in the above response and to coordinate joint response efforts with the police department uniform traffic control division to facilitate the crime scene clean-up efforts and detouring of the traffic. A second measure would be to maintain constant communication with the marine patrol division to coordinate efforts with the maintenance division for marine traffic stability and bridge operation. Communication with the School District to provide a follow-up on the school closure and efforts to re-open the school without any concern of exposure to contaminants. Contact with centralized traffic control for the railway system to establish a date, time and efforts to reactivate the transportation system and clean-up any chemical tanks and spillage that may be present within the disaster zone. Joint contingency commands for environmental health, air and water quality, epidemic studies to include water table studies and exposure to contaminants to the incident site and surrounding areas need to be closely monitored by environmental control specialist, department of health, poison control, hazardous material team and CBRN response team.

https://emilms.fema.gov/IS0230d/FEM0108100text.htm

How would you ensure the transfer of command, redundant systems, and secondary facilities?

I would ensure the transfer of command is properly commanded by following the Transfer of Command Procedures and include a complete briefing, incident action plan and any tentative assignment paperwork to the newly appointed incident commander. The transfer of the redundant system would be a joint operation with the engineering department. The redundant systems may require patching of critical components, temporary casing for the foundation and a reliable system to replace its previous version. Each component would safely have to be transported and implanted in its exact form and position for accuracy and operation. The secondary facilities such as camps and staging areas are established mobile units which may be demobilized and then transported to their known location to mobilize and resume duties.

Compare the effects of a short-term recovery at the local venue you identified in the Unit 6 discussion, Evacuate or Shelter in Place?, and the surrounding area in your community.

The effects of a short term recovery at the local venue for the Evacuate or Shelter in Place scenario and the surrounding area in my community would differ in the fact that my community is located within 10 – 15 miles of a nuclear power plant facility and consists of radioactive compounds and chemical elements such as uranium, thorium, high-level radioactive waste including fuel rods and transuranic waste. The facility, in the case of an emergency where an evacuate or shelter in place order was in effect would condone the act of evacuation, making it mandatory for all residents within a 50k (30 mile) radius if not more, depending on weather conditions such as wind speed. The nuclear reactors would be placed in a subcritical phase and eventually cooled down to allow the system to be safely placed on shutdown. There are more precautionary and mandatory steps that need to be taken to secure a nuclear power plant and its reactors. The facility would then notify the local emergency operations center and joint coordination would involve local, state and federal resources as the incident may reach a critical state, harming and polluting many in the surrounding areas. In exception to the close proximity of the nuclear power plant, no other difference in effects would exist for my community.

What would the key issues of a short-term recovery in your area be? Identity at least three issues.

One of three short-term recovery issues in my area may be: Transportation – The roads and streets are not in condition or suitable to handle a mass evacuation to the degree of a nuclear power plant matter. Extreme caution and a well-organized team would have to coordinate the evacuation effort for the community. Insufficient resources – Our community is limited on the amount of resources from responding agencies within the community. Due to the size and complexity of navigating around the Treasure Coast, response team may be slim and require volunteer help and help from surrounding counties, that is until our county is fully equipped to handle emergencies of the highest magnitude and have the personnel and resources included in a planning phase for emergencies. Financing – The initial budget to be prepared and actual expenditures may require state and federal assistance as the county may not be fully be capable of funding operational needs.

5.

For the long term recovery in regards to this scenario as well as many emergency incidents as well, there are protocols for long term recovery and practices that are put in place. In many recovery processes , the Red Cross is a big stakeholder as they provide much support, from shelter, rebuilding , recovery of the infrastructure, food, water and supplies to both the responders and the citizens affected. LTCR (Long Term Community Recovery ) holds an Emergent Support function and has as of 2004. Those who benefit from this LTCR are public, private and non profit entities.(FEMA).
These stakeholders will find useful lessons that can be material they can apply as a country implements the National Disaster Recovery Framework.(FEMA). Elements that can provide success in LTCR is to 1.) Act quickly to assess and determine the communities future. 2.) Actively plan between communities to coordinate the design , policy changes, infrastructure. 3.) Engage Communities , so they can interact with one another and cone to a general consensus as well as having a felling of cohesiveness . 4.) Developing Partnerships , networks, and strategies by combining the knowledge and ideas fro one another and incorporate the needs throughout the process of recovery. (FEMA). Principles of ICS is something I do not believe Jenny Cunningham followed which allowed for much go her confusion and the team. It didn’t seem as if the left hand knew what the right hand was doing, and it left many cracks which didn’t allow for a quick recovery of the incident. By not knowing about the roads being open or closed, if the schools were back in session, if the nursing homes were operating at capacity, businesses being open or closed. All of this seemed like a disaster in itself. Ms. Cunningham , I believe should have delegated as to who should follow up with these issues and have the stakeholders report back to her in a timely manner so she herself will know what id going on in the community . Not only was it domestic , but because the river crossed into the International Border , they also had to work with the mayor of San Serrife as he needs to know what risks these chemicals posse to the health of the residents of San Serrife. They have to work on the joint contingency plan as well. The EPA has developed the Border 2012 initiative and they are in communication with one another as well as the Ministry of Health which they have been in contact with the Incident Commander.

6.

Long-term recovery planning will include the stadium manager to ensure the stadium equipment gets fixed and an evacuation plan devised in the event that such an occurrence happens again. The railroad construction will need to develop a plan to fix the sinkholes and devise a plan for ongoing inspections of the track with operations chief as the overseeing person responsible. Hospital staff will need to conduct routine check-ups with the affected citizens and anyone within the hot zone for further complications, especially since symptoms of exposure can occur later than initial exposure. The Public Safety Officer can handle this responsibility of overseeing this process and continuing collaboration with the hospital staff. Operations chief should also oversee the environmental assessments over time to ensure they are being tested regularly. Private organizations such as the Red Cross can assist hospital staff by conducting house stops and following interviews with citizens who were exposed to contaminants. Private contractors will need to be contacted for the construction of the railroads and to perform assessments.

Jenny Cunningham should take over Incident Command and place the Chief as Operations Chief to oversee the railroad reconstruction and stadium revisions. She should have ongoing communication established to monitor progress with the environmental concerns, stadium revisions, railroad constructions, and health assessments and concerns.

-local long-term recovery

ReadyNC compiles resources for a one-stop-shop for available resources that can aid individuals after disasters. This website contains information and links to pertinent resources that are commonly used following a disaster and resources that are available throughout the community that include: utility links, links to how to obtain FEMA funding for reconstruction, and debris removal, for example.

American Red Cross provides preparedness information families can do ahead of a disaster by category as well as provide kits to purchase in case of emergencies. American Red Cross helps to provide emergency supplies such as food and water to emergency shelters and in affected neighborhoods following disasters.

United Way provides emergency relief in coordination with other recovery efforts for community support such as tangible relief items, collecting donations for families in need, as well as collaborating with local authorities that are willing to lend their assistance.