HM500 Crisis and Emergency Management

Unit 1: Discussion Question

INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: ASSESSING RISK

As an emergency management professional, you are simultaneously part of a team responsible for the prevention and preparedness of, response to, and recovery from natural and human-caused disasters. Being a part of the emergency management team requires that you understand how and where your actions fit into the larger emergency management team, even if you are nectly involved. Starting with understanding the risks impacting a community, this unit provides you with the base of knowledge to be able to understand the concepts presented in the course that will help you be a successful contributor to an emergency management team.

Part 1: Topic 1: Response to Hurricane Katrina (Respond/Answer)

The response to Hurricane Katrina, by all standards, was a major failure of the federal, state, and local government’s emergency management systems. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proved ineffective. Why do you believe that DHS and FEMA proved to be so ineffective in this disaster? Discuss the changes that have occurred since then to improve the emergency response to such disasters, and state whether or not you believe these changes will be effective in similar disasters.

Part 1: Topic 3: “When to Cite” and “Plagiarism” (Respond/Answer)

Complete the learning activities on ‘When to Cite” and “Plagiarism.” On the Discussion Board, post your thoughts on the information presented and respond to the following questions.

· What did you learn about citations and plagiarism that surprised you or that you did not know previously?

· What questions do you have regarding our plagiarism policy, or citing sources?

· How will you use the information presented in the learning activities in your course work?