Homeland Security Action Plan

Solution Preview

1.Emergency Management:
First, let's go through what we do know and use that to implement a strategy for our Action Plan. We know that time is critical; this is not the time to work on long term solutions. Second, we know that the tourists are on their way to spend Labor Day weekend on the seacoast of Maine and we have to get them to change their plans. Third, there is a 40-50% chance that the hurricane will indeed strike the area but a more accurate reading will not take place until Saturday morning; today is Friday. Let's treat it as if the hurricane would definitely strike since not preparing at all would be negligent to both residents and potential visitors. It is imperative that we treat this as a sure occurrence rather than a potential one for the safety of all involved.

Guidelines to include in your Action Plan:
?Public communication and information - Due to the present forecast, evacuation should be voluntary with a mandatory evacuation implemented based on the forecast of Saturday morning if the chances to strike become definite. Include here community updates and frequent media briefings, and real-time updates on the city's websites, and radio updates for citizens who have weather emergency radios. You can also think about distributing/selling weather emergency radios to all citizens either at the local precinct or community center for when the power will go out.
?Contact with weather consultant - regular and frequent contacts with weather consultants can help decide next course of action
?Coordinate emergency planning - policemen, firemen, local schools, power and water utilities, put on high alert to implement hurricane emergency management plan if the need arises. They are on alert on Friday and are contacted again on Saturday after the weather briefing is completed for an update on the course of action
?Planning for emergency - here, you will need to think about how the policemen and firemen, coast guard will prepare for the evacuation of affected citizens. They will have to maintain a safe route for evacuation which should have already been determined in the city's emergency evacuation plan. The public must be notified of this evacuation route.
?Transportation - school buses, emergency vehicles and others that have been previously contracted by the city to provide emergency transportation will evacuate the citizens, the elderly from various homes, the sick from hospitals out of the disaster area - put them on alert Friday starting the voluntary evacuation; touch base with them on Saturday after the weather briefing for mandatory evacuation.
?Security - police staff develops, implements the plans to assist the special needs population for an emergency evacuation. Update them regularly. On Friday, have them identify the special needs population, through a data base, assessing their needs and either directing them to providers who can assist them or provide direct assistance if necessary. Reiterate security procedures during evacuation to prevent loss and damage of personal and public property.
?Medical emergency - ...