2 forum responses 150 words each APA format include citations:
1. Laura Sackett
The whole community concept is pretty simple to grasp. In my own words its all about information, making sure the community has all the information is key. With the correct information it can then be applied to help protect and prepare others. "Individual and community preparedness is fundamental to our National success. Providing individuals and communities with information and resources will facilitate actions to adapt to and withstand an emergency or disaster." (DHS, 2015, pg.2)
The key information is broken up into core capabilities: prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery. The areas that need these capabilities are looked at and plans are made accordingly. These areas are primarily the communities infrastructure, plans need to be made to continue operations. Looking at how the community will communicate, have emergency services ready to go for health and protection, transportation, and access to supplies and resources. "The information gathered during a risk assessment also enables a prioritization of preparedness efforts and an ability to identify our capability requirements across the whole community." (DHS, 2015, pg.4)
An example of how a local level government uses the concept of a whole community is how my community works when the risk of a hurricane is present. There are many plans that are put into place, if an evacuation happens certain people stay and others go. Most of the military in this area stay, as well as the local law enforcement and emergency services. They work together to secure the area because of the threats of high winds and flooding. They prioritize what needs to be protected first, the military must make sure operations on base are stable before helping the local community. Once this occurs they help mitigate further risks that arise with high wind speeds and flooding. Sandbags are placed to help prevent flooding, many people are on call or standing by to prevent long blackouts, and many will stay at a near by hospital if they are part of an emergency service team. There are also shelters set up for those who are caught in a bad situation and were not able to evacuate.
Having the whole community informed and a part of the planning process really does help to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover. When different elements of the community work individually it can become more disastrous because they are only aware of their current situation and they aren't able to help others as quickly or receive help either. If our community didn't work together before, during, and after a hurricane then we wouldn't all be prepared, protecting and helping others wouldn't be done in a timely manner which would lead to more emergencies, longer blackouts, and the return to normal operations and clean up would be further dragged out.
References-
Department of Homeland Security. (2015). National preparedness goal. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office.
2. Jesse West
Has been interesting and informative regarding the whole community concept at the local level in the efforts to mitigate risk from a variety of sources, both natural and man-made. Through numerous efforts and directives set forth by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), five key mission areas are broadcasted with the utmost importance. They are; prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery and in concurrence with those five areas, three core capabilities span the spectrum in the context of planning, public information and warnings and finally, operational coordination. As an overview and general guideline, the National Preparedness System has become the pinnacle in which all echelons of government from the local township to the Federal government reference in regards to all facets of homeland security risks, threat, and consequences.
In the framework of the whole community, a baseline understanding is needed in order to convey the importance concerning mitigation activities and efforts. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), "Whole Community is a means by which residents, emergency management practitioners, organizational and community leaders, and government officials can collectively understand and assess the needs of their respective communities and determine the best ways to organize and strengthen their assets, capacities, and interests" (FEMA, 2011, p. 7). Additionally, a whole community approach specifically identifies the collaborative partnership between all facets of private and nonprofit entities to participate in some capacity with the ongoing efforts of local, tribal, state, territorial and Federal government partnerships.
Further adding to the whole community domain, a set of whole community principles and strategic themes are established in order to improve and set the standard for sustained stability, security, and resiliency, nationwide. The whole community principals include; "understanding and meeting the actual needs of the whole community, engaging and empowering all parts of the community and also strengthening what works in communities on a daily basis" (FEMA, 2011, p. 8-9).
Not until the "whole community strategic" themes are explained can the concept of local government mitigation techniques be thoroughly understood. These themes build the foundation of what develops local and communal cohesiveness for the benefit of all involved. The concept of whole community is used at the local level of government to mitigate against risk through the implementation of the following themes; "understanding community complexity, recognizing community capabilities and needs, fostering relationships with community leaders, building and maintaining partnerships , empowering local action and finally, leveraging and strengthen social infrastructure, networks and assets" (FEMA, 2011, p. 9)
It can be commonly thought that the large centralized government is the final word and all-knowing entity of protecting all facets of Homeland Security, but in reality, it starts with efforts and collaboration at the local level within communities across and throughout the country.
References:
FEMA. (2011). A whole community approach to emergency management: Principles, themes, and pathways for action. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office.