Before Disaster Strikes: An Analysis of Emergency Management Planning

Moody, Reagan (2019) Before Disaster Strikes: An Analysis of Emergency Management Planning. Undergraduate thesis, under the direction of Joseph Holland from Public Policy Leadership, University of Mississippi.

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Abstract

I have always been inspired by the outpouring number of volunteers that arrive to the scene of a natural disaster, ready to help in any way possible. With or without adequate training, these people arrive with warm hearts and helping hands. I admire their valiant efforts, however, it has prompted me to ask the question: If our citizens can respond so quickly in times of adversity, how are city governments preparing spontaneous volunteers for emergency management planning? The intent of this thesis is to properly evaluate the emergency management plans implemented in the cities of Baton Rouge, LA, Spokane, WA, and Oklahoma City, OK. The thesis will demonstrate that disaster policy is a complex issue and approaches to disaster response vary. Likewise, government regulations often hinder opportunities aimed at creating uniformity among emergency management operations. Despite this challenge, the utilization of spontaneous volunteers during disaster is an area of great opportunity as it is exempt from many of these regulatory constraints. To employ this important resource in a coordinated and consistent manner would add tremendous value to disaster response efforts.

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