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Essay Instructions: Warning systems are essential to communicating threats, whether man-made, technological, or natural, to the public. Provide a summary overview of at least two types of disaster warning systems used in the international disaster community or a nation's communication system (other than the U.S.). Discuss the use of these two types of warning systems throughout the world (excluding the U.S.). Then choose one of the two warning systems and fully describe the warning system, its regional coverage, who uses the system, and how, when, and where this communication system has been used. Provide an example of whether this warning system worked to save property or lives.

Essay Instructions: Answer the following 5 questions:

1. How effective is a tsunami warning system in mitigating disasters?

2. In an article written by Nathan Freier (2006), he states that:
"Today, the greatest risk to American position is not defeat at the hands of a peer competitor, but slow voluntary retreat from international activism hastened by a cultural aversion to grand strategic calculation and risk assessment. Quite simply, the end of American primacy may come via a persistent, unwelcome, and unanticipated accumulation of strategic costs, as successive American executives exercise great power without reference to grand design, and as average Americans, their most influential opinion elites, and those states upon whom the United States relies for support grow increasingly weary of the price associated with doing so. Absent a real ends-focused, ways and means-rationalized, and risk-informed grand design, the United States is vulnerable to slow surrender to strategic exhaustion and voluntary retreat from that essential activism necessary to the security of its position in perpetuity."
(Freier, N. (2006). Primacy Without A Plan. Parameters, 36(3). http://tinyurl.com/2597yc )

What do you think this quote means in terms of risk assessment? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

3. Mitigation is action taken to eliminate or reduce the impact of hazards which exist within a community.
As Director of Homeland Security, what are some additional mitigation measures that you would consider implementing to avoid another 9/11 incident? Do you think that the war in the Middle East increased or decreased the threat of terrorism against the US?

4. Following criticism for its response to the 2001 anthrax attacks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has placed a high priority on bioterrorism preparedness and subsequently developed a controversial Smallpox Response Plan. See http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/prep/cdc-prep.asp

Why is this plan controversial? Do you think that we are taking the right approach in preparing for bioterrorism? Why or why not?

5. The national response efforts received criticism following the Hurricane Katrina Disaster in 2005. Do you think the national response plan should be modified? Why or why not?

LINKS
1. Harrald, J. (2006). Agility and Discipline: Critical Success Factors for Disaster Response. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 604(p. 259). http://tinyurl.com/35z8u4
2. Grasser, E. (2005). National Preparedness Plan Faces Challenges. Security Management, 49(10). http://tinyurl.com/2qgqge

Essay Instructions: Efficiency and Effectiveness

As you continue in your fairly new position as Sheriff, you realize the organization has developed a rather unfavorable reputation for inefficiency, ineffectiveness, and even corruption. You are determined to improve the organization's performance.

Prepare a 2- to 3-page report in Microsoft Word that will address these issues. Your report should cover the following points:

Begin your report by:

?Explaining the concepts of efficiency and effectiveness. Is it possible for an agency to exhibit one but not the other?

?What political consequences might result from an unfavorable opinion of your department?

?Describe how the Sheriff's department would measure efficiency and effectiveness.

?Are the methods of measurement likely to be the same in other criminal justice agencies?

?Define corruption and discuss how the managers and Sheriff can guard against it.

In addition to the above, one of the biggest issues that a Sheriff or Police Chief will have to deal with is an officer's involvement with violence. This could be in the form of excessive force during an arrest, domestic violence at home, or even suicide. You recall that in your studies you reviewed an article in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Law Enforcement Bulletin entitled "Early Detection of the Problem Officer" (2005, July). Use the South University Online Library to locate this article.

In your report mentioned above, include on 2- to 3-page Microsoft Word document, a memo to the five commanders in your Sheriff's Department, instructing them to implement an "early-warning" system for intervening with at-risk officers. Your message should include:
?An explanation of the need for such a system.

?A discussion of warning signs to be on the lookout for, including identifying which behaviors most often indicate problems.

?Procedures for how to respond when these warning signs are noticed.

?Identify potential obstacles, objections, or political concerns to be overcome in order for your plan to be successful.

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

Assignment 2 Grading Criteria

Analyzed the concepts of efficiency and effectiveness.

Analyzed and identified political consequences of negative department image.

Analyzed and described measurement of organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

Analyzed and discussed corruption and the manager's role.

Analyzed early-warning systems for problem officers.

Analyzed and provided procedures for responding to warning signs.

Written Components.

Essay Instructions: I need a bibliography page.

Research Paper
An emergency manager has an awesome responsibility to provide effective, orderly and efficient leadership and response, if a disaster strikes. As we are learning, each disaster is unique and requires different strategies. Therefore, planning is one of the most critical components to and effective preparedness, response and recovery for to any type of disaster, be it natural or technological.

Research Paper requirements:
1. Identify two (2) separate State Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) in the United States,
a. Review individually how they are set up and provide a written detailed overview of their make-up,
b. Include the different organizations that are involved,
c. How the organizations interact with or are apart of the EOC
d. What is the responsibilities of each member to the EOC,
e. Who activates the EOC at the time of an emergency,
f. How the EOC responds to a emergency/disaster and coordinates the efforts of all responsible parties,
g. Is there a separate warning system to alert the organizations of an impending emergency/disaster,
h. What laws if any, enable the EOC to act,
i. Does the public or public agencies have a mechanism to notify the EOC of an emergency/disastrous situation, and
j. Any other information you feel is important and that relates to the operation of the EOC.
2. Compare the two organizations identifying their:
a. Strengths,
b. Weaknesses,
c. Similarities.
3. Conclude the research project with:
a. Your opinion on which State has the most effective EOC,
b. Your opinion on what you liked or disliked about how the EOC's operate, and
c. Any recommendations on how to improve the current EOC's or for future programs.

Your research paper will provide you with invaluable information for the future. It will expose you to the different or similar methodologies for dealing with emergency situations and give you a foundation as an emergency manger to understand the enormous tasks ahead.

In addition, the paper will allow you, to appreciate the responsibility an emergency manager has to provide effective and efficient disaster response to the citizens they are to protect.

I am looking for comprehensive research/compairson paper written at a Masters level:
- You will be required to completely research the topic,
- Uitize any resources you feel is necessary to complete this task including any magazines, newspapers,professional journals or internet web-sites,
- Use APA styles when citing your references,
- You are required to have a cover page that includes the title and your name,
- You are required to include a complete bibliography,
- There is no page or word requirement for the research paper, but you must make sure that the topic has been completely researched and your thoughts, opinions and/or personal views have been included. I am interested in a quality paper not one that is long and wordy, and
- You will be graded on how well you researched the topic and intergraded the facts and your opinions.