PSAA Midterm Flashcards
(134 cards)
1
Q
What is the difference between disaster, emergency, catastrophe, and extinction level event?
A
Disaster: a serious disruption of the functioning of a community. Emergency: an urgent situation requiring immediate action. Catastrophe: a disaster of great magnitude causing widespread damage. Extinction level event: an event that leads to the extinction of a species.
2
Q
What is an example of a catastrophe?
A
Hurricane Helene.
3
Q
What are the definitions and aspects of homeland security?
A
Homeland security focuses on prevention and preparedness.
4
Q
Which cabinet department is responsible for emergency management?
A
Department of Homeland Security.
5
Q
What does FEMA stand for and what are its regions?
A
FEMA stands for Federal Emergency Management Agency. Its regions are I to X.
6
Q
Which FEMA region includes Hurricane Helene?
A
Region VI.
7
Q
Which FEMA region includes California fires?
A
Region IX.
8
Q
What is the nature of the US federalist system regarding disaster management?
A
Each state manages its own disasters but can seek help from others.
9
Q
What is PDD-8?
A
A directive that requires the federal government to make preparedness plans.
10
Q
What is the Stafford Act and how does it work?
A
The Stafford Act provides a legal framework for federal disaster assistance. It requires a presidential disaster declaration to activate.
11
Q
What is the national preparedness goal?
A
To prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
12
Q
What are the different responsibilities between government levels in disaster management?
A
Local, state, and federal governments have distinct roles and responsibilities.
13
Q
In which region of Texas are we located?
A
Region VIII.
14
Q
What are the public service sectors?
A
Public, private, nonprofit.
15
Q
What are different aspects of nonprofits?
A
Service delivery, advocacy, community engagement.
16
Q
What can we learn from technological and industrial disasters?
A
Lessons on prevention, response, and recovery strategies.
17
Q
What are the planning principles?
A
Involves recognizing and addressing the needs of the community.
18
Q
What is the distinction between deliberate and incident plans?
A
Deliberate plans are pre-established; incident plans are developed in response to specific situations.
19
Q
What is the general understanding of emergency support functions?
A
Coordination of resources and support in response to emergencies.
20
Q
Identify objectives, assess risks, develop strategies, implement plans, evaluate effectiveness, and revise as necessary.
A
6 steps of the planning process
21
Q
What are the seven community lifelines?
A
- Safety and Security
- Food, Water, and Shelter
- Health and Medical
- Energy
- Communications
- Transportation
- Hazardous Materials.
22
Q
What are some mitigation issues and interventions?
A
Risk assessment, infrastructure improvements, community education.
23
Q
What are preparedness issues and interventions?
A
Training, resource allocation, public awareness.
24
Q
What are response issues and interventions?
A
Coordination, communication, resource deployment.
25
What are recovery issues and interventions?
Restoration of services, financial assistance, community support.
26
What is the National Response Framework's most important principle?
Unity of effort.
27
What is the command structure in incident management?
Incident Command System (ICS) defines roles and responsibilities.
28
What is the incident action planning process?
A systematic approach to developing action plans for incident response.
29
True or False: The vast majority of incidents do not make it past the bottom of the planning process.
True.
30
What mediums should be used for media and public information during emergencies?
Radio is often used when other systems fail.
31
What are the roles of volunteers and donations during disasters?
Support response efforts and fill gaps in services.
32
What causes mass displacement?
Natural disasters, conflict, and economic instability.
33
What is the recovery continuum?
The process of returning to normalcy after a disaster.
34
Why are nonprofits necessary in disaster response?
They fill gaps in society not provided by government or the private sector.
35
What are the definitions and missions of nonprofits?
Nonprofits aim to serve the public good and address community needs.
36
What are the types of learning in policy learning?
* Shallow
* Deep
* Deepest.
37
What are the components of leadership?
Vision, communication, influence, decision-making.
38
What is the difference between leadership and management?
Leadership is about people; management is about processes and resources.
39
What is the definition of ethical leadership?
Leading with integrity and a commitment to fairness and justice.
40
What is the purpose of the Mid-Term Exam in PSAA 210?
Review course materials in preparation for the Mid Term Exam
41
When is the Mid-Term Exam scheduled?
Thursday, 6 March 2025
42
What type of questions will be on the Mid-Term Exam?
Multiple choice, True-False, Matching
43
What are students advised to do to prepare for the Mid-Term Exam?
* Pay attention in class
* Review slides (Canvas Files)
* Scan relevant readings
* Review class discussion notes
* Apply course principles to current events
44
Define 'Emergency' in the context of emergency management.
Usually sudden, puts the life or well-being of at least one person at risk, local emergency response resources are adequate
45
An emergency affecting multiple people, local response resources are inadequate, requires additional resources from outside jurisdictions
Disaster
46
Either an emergency or disaster with a diverse response from various jurisdictions, no single entity can coordinate it all
Catastrophe
47
An event so severe that humans may not survive, no useful organized interventions can be anticipated
Extinction level event
48
Preventing future emergencies or minimizing the effects of those future emergencies
Mitigate
49
A process that poses a threat to human life or property; the risk, trigger, or threat that initiates a disaster
Hazard
50
List the types of hazards.
* Natural
* Technological
* Anthropogenic
51
A measure of proneness along with the ability to withstand or react to adverse consequences
Vulnerability
52
What are the two schools of thought regarding Vulnerability?
* Social Vulnerability
* Holistic
53
Define 'Emergency Management'.
The study of how humans and their institutions deal with hazards, vulnerabilities, and the events that result from their interaction
54
What are the four phases of Emergency Management?
* Mitigation
* Preparedness
* Response
* Recovery
55
What is the mission of Homeland Security?
A concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks, reduce vulnerability to terrorism, and recover from attacks
56
What are the National Preparedness Goal Mission Areas?
* Prevention
* Protection
* Mitigation
* Response
* Recovery
57
Describe the role of FEMA.
Ensures America is equipped to prepare for and respond to disasters
58
What is the significance of the Stafford Act?
Gives the president the power to declare a national emergency and access funds for disaster relief assistance
59
What must a governor do before invoking the Stafford Act?
* Exhaust the state's emergency plan
* Decide the state can't handle the disaster
* Request help from the president
60
What is the purpose of a 'FEMA state agreement'?
Outlines the period of the disaster, areas eligible for assistance, type of assistance required, cost-sharing provisions
61
What is the structure of the U.S. Emergency Management System?
Decentralized with state, local, and federal agencies collaborating with various stakeholders
62
What is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)?
An agreement allowing states to borrow resources from other states without needing a federal disaster declaration
63
List the sectors involved in the U.S. Emergency Management System.
* Public Sector
* Private Sector
* Nonprofit Sector
* Local Government
64
What are the categories of planning in emergency management?
* Deliberate plans
* Incident plans
65
What are the 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF)?
Each ESF has a federal department or agency identified as its coordinator. During response operations,
the coordinating agency forms and activates a team that is responsible for working with the appropriate
state and local officials to identify unmet resource needs. The team also coordinates the flow of
resources and assistance provided by the federal government to meet these needs.
66
What is the first step in the planning process for emergency management?
Form a Collaborative Planning Team
67
What should planners understand about the situation in emergency management?
Start with the Operating Environment & Threat, confirm plans are risk-based and reflect population needs
68
What is RISK! in the context of disaster planning?
RISK! refers to the THIRA/SPR process used to understand and assess risks associated with different types of disasters.
69
What are FACTS in disaster planning?
Verified pieces of information such as laws, regulations, terrain maps, population statistics, resource inventories, and prior occurrences.
70
What are ASSUMPTIONS in disaster planning?
Elements of information accepted as true in the absence of facts, helping planners envision expected conditions in an operational environment.
71
What is the purpose of determining Operational Priorities?
To specify what the responding organizations aim to accomplish to achieve success in an operation.
72
Define Goals in the context of disaster response.
General statements that describe the intended outcomes of a response operation.
73
Define Objectives in disaster response.
Specific and identifiable actions carried out during the operation to achieve response goals.
74
What does COA stand for in disaster planning?
Courses of Action.
75
What should planners consider when developing COAs?
Whether it supports priorities, goals and objectives, is feasible, and is acceptable to stakeholders.
76
What is the criteria for evaluating a COA or plan?
* Completeness
* Compliance
77
What does Hazard Mitigation aim to achieve?
To reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from hazards.
78
What is Hazard Mitigation Planning (HMP)?
Pre-disaster measures aimed at minimizing losses and long-term risk from natural hazard events.
79
What encompasses mitigation measures?
* Engineering techniques
* Hazard-resistant construction
* Improved environmental policies
* Public awareness
80
What is Community Resilience?
A community's ability to prepare for anticipated hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and recover rapidly from disruptions.
81
What are Community Lifelines?
Fundamental services that enable society to function and support critical government and business functions.
82
What are the benefits of mitigation?
* Protect public safety
* Build resilience
* Prevent damage to assets
* Reduce operational downtime
* Lower disaster response costs
83
True or False: Mitigation can help achieve community goals.
True
84
List some issues in mitigation.
* Zoning concerns
* Lack of fire hydrants
* No public EOP
* Inadequate training for VFD
85
What are some interventions for preparedness issues?
* Consolidated EOP
* VFD training
* Public notification systems
86
What are common response issues during a disaster?
* Lack of coordinated ICS
* No evacuation plans
* Delayed response from VFD
87
Define Recovery according to DHS.
Capabilities necessary to assist communities to recover effectively, including rebuilding infrastructure and restoring services.
88
What is the Recovery Continuum?
A framework for understanding the phases and processes involved in recovery after a disaster.
89
What are some types of learning after disasters?
* Political/strategic
* Instrumental
* Governmental
* Social
90
What is the definition of Nonprofit Organizations?
Formal entities that do not distribute profits and serve public purposes, exempt from federal taxes.
91
What is the designation of a civic league under the IRS tax code?
501(c)(4)
## Footnote
This designation allows civic leagues to operate as nonprofit organizations focused on promoting social welfare.
92
What is the designation for credit unions under the IRS tax code?
501(c)(14)
## Footnote
This category allows credit unions to be recognized as exempt from federal income tax.
93
What is the designation for electric utilities under the IRS tax code?
501(c)(12)
## Footnote
This designation is for mutual or cooperative electric utilities that provide electricity to their members.
94
What is the primary reason we learn after disasters?
To anticipate that the recent incident won’t be the last incident.
## Footnote
This learning helps in preparing for future events.
95
What are the four types of learning identified in the context of policy change after disasters?
* Political/strategic
* Instrumental
* Governmental
* Social
## Footnote
Each type represents a different depth of learning and adaptation.
96
What type of learning involves processes or strategies and is considered shallow?
Political/strategic learning
## Footnote
This type reflects how cities adapt their processes in response to disasters.
97
What type of learning is characterized by the introduction of new policy instruments?
Instrumental learning
## Footnote
This involves the application of new tools or methods in policy-making.
98
Which type of learning is considered deeper and involves changes in government structure?
Governmental learning
## Footnote
This indicates a significant shift in how government operates post-disaster.
99
What is the deepest level of learning that involves reassessing goals and underlying causes?
Social learning
## Footnote
This type of learning leads to fundamental changes in perspective and objectives.
100
What change did one city make as a result of governmental learning?
Changed chain of command
## Footnote
This reflects a significant adjustment in leadership structure.
101
How many cities reduced their budget reserve goals as a result of social learning?
3 cities
## Footnote
One of these cities notably reduced its reserve goal.
102
What is the definition of leadership?
The process of influencing others to achieve goals.
## Footnote
This definition highlights the relational aspect of leadership.
103
What are the components of leadership?
* Process
* Influence
* Group Context
* Goal Attainment
## Footnote
These components emphasize that leadership is dynamic and contextual.
104
What do ethics represent in the context of leadership?
Principles, values, and beliefs that define what is right and wrong behavior.
## Footnote
Ethics guide leaders in making decisions that align with moral standards.
105
What is ethical leadership?
The process of influencing people through principles, values, and beliefs that embrace what we have defined as right behavior.
## Footnote
This emphasizes the importance of moral integrity in leadership.
106
Why do we need ethical leaders?
To ensure decisions align with ethical standards and promote trust in public service.
## Footnote
Ethical leadership fosters accountability and transparency.
107
What impact can ethical leaders make in public service?
They can enhance trust, integrity, and effectiveness in governance.
## Footnote
Ethical leaders serve as role models and set the tone for organizational culture.
108
If someone is interested in becoming an ethical leader, which course should they take?
PSAA 303: Leadership in Public Service
## Footnote
This course is scheduled for Spring 2026.
109
True or False: Leadership is considered a trait or characteristic.
False
## Footnote
Leadership is defined as a process, not a fixed trait.
110
Planning Process Steps
Form a collaborative planning team, understand the situation, determine goals and objectives, develop the plan, prepare and review the plan, implement and maintain the plan.
111
Mediums for letting people know about hazards
Radio, TV, Internet, and Print
112
Mass displacement
Forced migration and resettlement
113
Nonprofits
formal entities
that do not distribute profits
and are exempt from federal (and
some state) taxes. They serve public purposes, are
self-governing, and pursue
common goals of their members or
clients.
114
Shallow Policy Learning
Political/strategic (processes or strategies), Instrumental Learning (new policy instruments)
115
Deeper Policy Learning
Governmental learning (government structure)
116
Deepest policy learning
Social learning (reassess goals, underlying causes)
117
Process (Leadership)
Leadership is a process,
not a trait or characteristic.
118
Influence (Leadership)
Leadership involves
influencing others.
119
Group Context (Leadership)
Leadership
occurs within a group context.
120
Goal Attainment (Leadership)
Leadership
involves achieving common
goals.
121
Ethics
principles, values and
beliefs that define what is right and
wrong behavior
122
Leadership
process of
influencing others to achieve goals
123
Ethical Leadership
process of
influencing people through
principles, values and beliefs that
embrace what we have defined as
right behavior
124
Short term (Recovery Continuum)
Days
125
Intermediate (Recovery Continuum)
Weeks- Months
126
Long term (Recovery Continuum)
Months-Years
127
Recovery Definition
capabilities necessary to assist communities affected by an incident to
recover effectively, including, but not limited to, rebuilding infrastructure
systems; providing adequate interim and long-term housing for survivors;
restoring health, social, and community services; promoting economic
development; and restoring natural and cultural resources
128
What is Unity of Effort
Unified command enables unity of effort when no single jurisdiction,
agency, or organization has primary authority and/or the resources to
manage an incident on its own. The use of unified command enables
jurisdictions and those with authority or responsibility for the incident to
jointly manage and direct incident activities through establishment of
common incident objectives, strategies, and a single incident action plan.
ICS is used by all levels of government, as well as by many NGOs and
private sector organizations.
129
NRF Guiding Principles
(1) Engaged partnership
(2) Tiered response
(3) Scalable, flexible, and
adaptable operational
capabilities
(4) Unity of effort through
unified command;
(5) Readiness to act
130
Nonprofit sector
- The Red Cross
- Faith-based Organizations
- Community Groups
131
Federal Gov
Provides financial assistance & other necessary
resources to support state and local governments.
132
State Gov
Manages federal funds and oversees local government
response and recovery functions.
133
City and county gov
Implement required operations to care
for victims and facilitate recovery.
134
