Managing homeland security: strategies and challenges

Managing Homeland Security

Risk and vulnerability

There are two general types of disasters which occur, that of disasters which occur regularly with moderately severe consequences such as flooding and less common but far more horrific events, such as terrorist attacks. The latter type of disaster naturally draws the most press coverage, although it is the first type of disaster that tends to concern local residents the most and draws the majority of community dollars. As noted by my colleague Charles Cowart in his response, this is because these types of small-scale disasters are virtually certain to occur and are thus seemingly more deserving of scarce resources.

However, as noted by my classmate Mark Taylor, major disasters can draw a great deal of public outrage after they occur, if they are handled in an incompetent fashion. A good example of this is Hurricane Katrina. People are upset by major disasters not only because they cause tremendous loss of life but because they symbolically significant in terms of how they point out our nation's vulnerability (in the case of 9/11) or class disparities in the case of the treatment of Hurricane Katrina's victims.

To some degree, I believe that the dichotomy between the two types of disasters is a false one. Many of the contingency planning efforts for both types is similar: a plan for evacuation of large numbers of citizens, educating residents in disaster preparation and mitigation activities (like having supplies on hand and knowing how to stay in touch with local authorities); and above all consistent and continued communication by public safety personnel on a local, state, and federal level. Whether planning for a terrorist attack or a tornado, these types of efforts can help save lives. There are also preventative strategies to ensure that both kinds of disasters do not occur. Not building homes in flood-prone areas or areas known to be magnets for tornados; instituting more effective gun control policies to ensure that rogue elements do not obtain firearms; and engaging in community outreach efforts to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities from within communities.