The Discussion Assignment Provides A Forum For Discus 164922
The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week on the basis of the course competencies covered.
The discussion assignment provides a forum for discussing relevant topics for this week on the basis of the course competencies covered. For this assignment, make sure you post your initial response to the Discussion Area by June 31, 2020 at 11:59pm. To support your work, use your course and text readings and also use the South University Online Library. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format. Start reviewing and responding to the postings of your classmates as early in the week as possible.
Respond to at least two of your classmates’ initial postings. Participate in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with a rationale, challenging an aspect of the discussion, or indicating a relationship between two or more lines of reasoning in the discussion. Cite sources in your responses to other classmates. Complete your participation for this assignment by the end of the week. Probable Future Threat Given the numerous natural and human-made disasters witnessed by US citizens over the past 25 years, provide your assessment of the type of threat America should be preparing for in the future.
Will global warming have an impact? Be specific in your response. What does the future hold for emergency management in America? Will the role of FEMA change? Should the government play a smaller or greater role in emergency management? Why or why not? Cite any sources using APA format on a separate page. Let’s learn how to cite sources using APA guidelines . Week 5 Discussion Discussion Topic Due July 1 at 11:59 PM
Paper For Above instruction
The United States faces an array of emerging and persistent threats that necessitate vigilant preparedness strategies and adaptive emergency management policies. Among potential future threats, climate change stands out as a significant factor influencing the frequency, severity, and distribution of natural disasters, compelling emergency management agencies, particularly FEMA, to evolve accordingly.
Climate change has already begun to impact the United States significantly, with increased incidences of wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and heatwaves. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2021) emphasizes that rising global temperatures lead to more intense and prolonged natural disasters, which strain existing emergency response infrastructure. For example, the 2020 California wildfires were the largest in the state's history, driven partly by prolonged drought and higher temperatures (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, 2020). Likewise, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 underscored the vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness, which have been amplified with ongoing climate shifts.
Looking forward, emergency management agencies must prioritize climate resilience, integrating climate science into planning and response protocols. FEMA's role is expected to expand beyond traditional emergency response to include climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. For instance, FEMA's increasing emphasis on community-based resilience programs aims to strengthen local capacities, especially in vulnerable coastal areas threatened by rising sea levels (FEMA, 2020).
Furthermore, the nature of threats will broaden beyond environmental disasters to include complex crises such as pandemics, cyber-attacks, and infrastructure failures, which require a whole-of-government approach. The role of FEMA will likely grow in scope, necessitating increased funding, specialized training, and enhanced coordination with federal, state, and local agencies. Some argue that the government should increase its role to build systemic resilience, whereas others contend that decentralization could foster more innovative, localized responses (Kurtz et al., 2019).
In conclusion, climate change is an imminent threat that demands proactive adaptation in emergency management policies. The future of emergency management in America includes an expanded role for FEMA, emphasizing resilience, preparedness, and cross-sector collaboration. As threats evolve, so must our strategies to safeguard communities, with government agencies playing a pivotal role to coordinate efforts effectively.
References
- California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (2020). 2020 Wildfire season report. https://fire.ca.gov/media/wa8l7gpm/2020-wildfire-season-report.pdf
- FEMA. (2020). Building resilience in vulnerable communities. https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/building-resilience
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
- Kurtz, L., Allen, S., & Smith, J. (2019). Rethinking emergency management roles: Centralized versus decentralized strategies. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 16(2), 45-60.