Confidence and Disaster
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1. The most significant problem that state and local education agencies are facing in relation to disaster and emergency planning is that there is no consistency to the efforts in this regard. Individual states have specific plans in some cases (western and Pacific coast sates), but for the most part there is no specific disaster or emergency plan in place beyond a very basic emergency response system (National Association of State Boards of Education). Given the ever-present threat of terrorist attacks, which can occur anywhere and in any manner, and the fact that natural disaster can also strike anywhere at any time, emergency and disaster planning is vital in all schools. There needs to be a coordinated effort nationwide to establish emergency plans in all schools, and these need to be standardized so that there can be cooperation between agencies within any region and involving any particular school. Inter-region coordination of disaster response efforts could also be employed in the case of a large scale disaster. If all schools work on the same disaster and emergency system, then the responding agencies will be able to better assess the situation quickly and respond appropriately. If no such coordination exists, this may result in not getting appropriate response teams to a situation in a timely manner. If they know exactly what emergency response is being taken by the individual schools, they know how to react appropriately and use resources effectively. W
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their response each individual situation.
Agencies can cooperate fully, as Comfort points out from the response to the September 11 terrorist attack, but even then, it was a novel response for everyone concerned and everyone had to rely on learn-as-you-go techniques. No two disasters are identical, and though once one has occurred and as it is analyzed in hindsight much can be learned to prepare for future disasters, the chances of another one occurring in that location are extremely remote. That is why something broader than a regional approach is needed. A national approach to earthquake preparedness is needed because no one knows when or where the next one will strike and so everyone needs to be prepared for this, and for any other type of disaster.
3. The Federal Response Plan (FRP) pertains to disaster response at the federal level. State and local schools cannot improve on this plan: all they can do is develop their own immediate response plans in the event of a disaster to deal with the immediate effects of the disaster before the federal authorities are able to be mobilized to respond. These plans should include: identifying hazards; mitigating hazards; developing a response plan; devising an evacuation route;
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Approximate Word count = 1417
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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