Major disaster event: local, state, and federal response analysis

¶ … Disaster Event

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy was a tropical cyclone that swept the entire Caribbean world across the Coastal towns of America in October 2012. This storm led to early deaths, massive loss of power and thousands became homeless. Damages occasioned by this storm can be estimated in billions of dollars. Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest storm ever to hit the northeastern parts of America. This hurricane was the most costly in the history of the nation. The effects of Hurricane Sandy reached far (FEMA (n. d)). While the storm led to the devastation of the eastern coast of America with main impacts on New York and New Jersey, its winds went as far as Canada and Wisconsin prompting the rise of water levels from one city to other cities. Hurricane Sandy is associated with over 70 deaths in U.S. from New Hampshire to Maryland. No hurricane has ever hit northern America in this manner after the 1972 Hurricane Agnes, which was attributed to 122 deaths. These deaths occurred due to accidents in the course of cleaning efforts, poisoning from carbon monoxide and power shortages (Hogan & Burstein, 2007).

Experts have estimated that the cost of the damages caused by Hurricane Sandy exceeded $50 billion. This is much higher than any other hurricane to hit America and its environs. Hurricane Sandy started at a low rate with low pressures developing into adequate and well-planned tropical depressions. This advanced into ridges in the north parts of America. The winds became strong due to warm waters and low winds. This system developed thus being named Sandy Storm. It developed an eye, which moved steadily towards the northern side because of a trough that was approaching. Later, the Sandy Storm upgraded to southern Jamaica resulting in landfalls. The storm intensified developing into strong winds with heightened landfalls (Schneider, 2011).

Compare local, state, federal response

Concerning Hurricane Sandy, sometimes official in the local, state, federal and the private sector held differing ideas on a number of issues. However, none of their differences went to the extent of creating anger and mistrust that could worsen the situation of local, state, federal (Penuel & Statler, 2011). In addition, citizens and leaders of Long Island and Staten Island are justified to become angry towards the recovery and response efforts in terms of reports on electricity, fuel and clean water. They were frustrated because all people around them went back to their normal lives despite the fact that they could not access basic needs in life. This challenge has been common in any environment of post-disaster regardless of whether it is a fire or small floods. The storm affected areas with the greatest populations in America FEMA (n. d).

It is obvious that there has never been any perfect recovery or response operation in the world. This occurs in terms of giving detailed attention and hands-on leadership by appropriate officials, mayors and governors (Penuel & Statler, 2011). The response of the various arms of the government was uniform in nature. There was need to tackle the hurricane especially at a time when the nation was heading for an election. Disaster response from all levels of the government worked in haste to handle the disaster and save the citizens from further damages. This unity in response is supported by the protocol stipulated in FEMA and DHS chain of commands.

Emergency management functions executed during Hurricane Sandy

The response operations towards Hurricane Sandy commenced with searching and rescuing focusing on quickly turning and fulfilling basic needs of the affected populations. This help was given by international and national organizations and agencies. Effective planning of disaster management emergency operations was crucial in this case with the local emergency management organization exceeding the demand to diminish the Hurricane Sandy disaster (Schneider, 2011). Some of the individual response operations were shaped by evacuation and provision of places of shelter. In the scenario of shelters, families were ready to fend for themselves for various days without any external support. During evacuation operations, families left their shelters via different transportation modes such as automobiles. They carried along maximum amount of personal effects and necessities including food and tents for shelter. Because mechanical modes of transportation were not available, they were evacuated using foot, which included bringing along rain tight beddings, three days foodstuffs and minimum rolls of blankets (Penuel & Statler, 2011).

During this period of such a large disaster, the affected populations sought donations because they overwhelmed the local capacity. The scales were efficient hence; money was often cost-effective donations with the need to avoid fraud. In this case, monetary aid was flexible and locally sourced goods were a major boost to the economy. During the Hurricane Sandy disaster, local and global donors preferred to release in kind, their support. This helped the populations to take care of their real life needs (Penuel & Statler, 2011).