Discussion question

Similar to the federal-to-state issues you examined in Week 8, special considerations need to be made when designing international emergency preparedness and mitigation activities. Aside from cultural aspects, governance structures can also present emergency managers with unique challenges and barriers. 

For this Discussion, select one other country (not your own or the United States), ideally a developed country, and review the media, International Emergency Management, located in this week’s resources. Consider the emergency management structure in the country you selected.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief description of the country you selected, and explain how emergency management is structured in that country, particularly related to risk assessment and mitigation. Then explain similarities and differences in the emergency management structure between the country you selected and the United States. Finally, explain what can be learned from that country related to emergency management structure and mitigation that may be useful to U.S. jurisdictions.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources and the current literature.

• Sylves, R. (2015). Disaster policy and politics: Emergency management and homeland security (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: CQ Press. 
  • Chapter 8, “Globalization of Disasters” 

• American Red Cross. (2012, January). International disaster response. Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do/international-services/responding-disasters-overseas

• United States Agency for International Development, US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System Program. (2007). Last mile warning communications inventory: An on-the-ground assessment of Thailand’s tsunami early warning system. Retrieved from http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADY206.pdf

• FEMA. (2011). FEMA’s international programs and activities. Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/femas-international-programs-activities

• Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012b). International emergency management [Video]. Baltimore, MD: Author