Discussion Question

The Role of the Military in Disaster Response and Recovery

A massive earthquake occurs along the New Madrid fault line that leads to tremendous damage and loss of life all along the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. The military is dispatched to help the nation respond to the incident.

Shortly thereafter, a situation arises in another part of the world necessitating a military response. Opponents of mobilizing the military for disaster response and recovery argue that using the military for these types of incidents compromises the ability of the military to respond to other high-level incidents.

The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 outlines provisions for limiting federal military personnel to enforce the laws of the land. To what extent are disaster response and recovery activities restricted to civilian efforts? When should the military become involved in disaster response and recovery?

For this Discussion, review the media and Learning Resources for this week. Then consider the relationship between military- and state-level emergency management. Reflect on those situations that require military- and/or state-level response.

Post your position on whether the Posse Comitatus Act should be enforced during national and state emergencies and explain why. Then describe two emergencies that may require military response and explain why.

Be sure to use the Learning Resources and current literature to support your response.

Canton, L. G. (2007). Emergency management: Concepts and strategies for effective programs. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

• Chapter 3, “The Emergency Manager: Evolving Roles and Shifting Paradigms” (pp, 63–83) (Review)

Sylves, R. (2015). Disaster policy and politics: Emergency management and homeland security (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: CQ Press.

• Chapter 7, “Civil-Military Relations and National Security” (pp. 194-219)

Walsh, D. W., Christen, H. T., Jr., Callsen, C. E., Jr., Miller, G. T., Maniscalco, P. M., Lord, G. C., & Dolan, N. J. (2012). National incident management system: Principles and practice (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

• Chapter 13, “Resource Management” (pp. 135–149)