David A. McEntire - Disaster Response and Recovery

Posttest to evaluate your knowledge on hazards and disasters.

Measure your learning by comparing pretest and posttest results .

1 A crisis is a much bigger problem than a catastrophe. True or false?

2 A disaster occurs when a hazard interacts with human vulnerability. True or false?

3 Emergency management is a profession that attempts to reduce the probability of disasters and prepare a community to respond and recover effectively if they cannot be prevented. True or false?

4 There is no relation or overlap between response and recovery operations. True or false?

5 Hurricanes may damage homes and other structures, but they do not impact animals on farms. True or false?

6 The straight‐line winds that damaged crops in the Midwest was known as the “Derecho” storm. True or false?

7 An earthquake is an example of a geological hazard. True or false?

8 The “Camp Fire” illustrated problems associated with inadequate warnings. True or false?

9 Mass shootings and riots are civil/conflict hazards. True or false?

10 Disasters are not characterized by the disruption they cause to people’s daily, routine activities. True or false?

11 “Community lifelines” are fundamental services in society that could be negatively affected by disasters. True or false?

12 A normalcy‐generated demand is a desire to prevent the recurrence of a disaster. True or false?

13 Resilience is concerned about the effectiveness of emergency management, but not the efficiency of response and recovery operations. True or false?

14 A disaster is:Smaller than an accidentSmaller than a crisisLarger than an emergencyLarger than a calamityLarger than a catastrophe

15 Tornadoes may be classified as:An atmospheric hazardA hydrologic hazardA biological hazardA civil/conflict hazardA geologic hazard

16 A chemical release is an example of:A natural or atmospheric hazardA technological hazardA civil/conflict hazardAll of the aboveNone of the above

17 The riots in 2020 and 2021 would fall under which category of hazard?A social hazardA civil/conflict hazardAn environmental hazardA technological hazardNone of the above

18 Disasters are complex because:One hazard may trigger another hazard.A hazard interacts with human vulnerability.Low preparedness levels may exacerbate impact.Answers a and b.Answers a, b, and c.

19 Uncertainty:Is defined as an urgent situation.Results from an expansion of the citizen role.Is associated with a lack of information.Is equated to a de‐emphasis of contractual relationships.Answers a and b.

1 Explain the difference between an accident and a catastrophe.

2 Define the term disaster and note its relation to hazards and vulnerability.

3 What is an emergency manager and what does he or she do?

4 What are the four phases or functional areas of emergency management? How do these relate to homeland security?

5 List the major categories of hazards.

6 Provide one or two examples of hazards under each category identified in question 5.

7 Explain why Covid‐19 could be considered a complex disaster.

8 What are the major changes an emergency manager can expect after a disaster?

9 What are the goals of disaster response and recovery?

10 What is an agent‐generated demand?

11 What is a response‐generated demand?

12 What is a normalcy‐generated demand?

13 What is a mitigation‐generated demand?

14 What is a preparedness‐generated demand?

15 What is resilience?

1 After responding to a major apartment fire in Boise, Idaho, you become aware of the fact that a sprinkler system would have prevented much of the damage. How can you link recovery activities to the goals of mitigation?

2 Suppose you are expecting the arrival of a hurricane in Charleston, South Carolina. What hazards might be present along the coast, and how would they interact with each other? Give two examples.

3 A terrorist has just blown up a courthouse in Seattle, Washington. What changes might occur when this takes place? What can you as an emergency manager do to effectively deal with the unique challenges associated with such a disaster?

4 The mayor and city manager in Birmingham, Alabama, are questioning you about the value of your position in the government. Explain what types of disasters could occur in your city and justify the need for response and recovery operations.

5 A flood has destroyed many homes and businesses in Greenville, Mississippi. How can you help your community recovery from disaster while also promoting the necessary changes to prevent a recurrence in the future?

6 As an emergency manager, you are frequently invited to speak to various organizations in your community. While discussing the goals of response and recovery to a group of Boy Scouts, one of those in attendance asks, “What is resilience?” How would you define it to the young man and explain why it is necessary to pursue after disaster strikes?

Answer the following questions by providing a list of organizations and their contact information: If you wanted information about hurricanes, who could you contact? If you desire details about the impacts of earthquakes, who could assist you? If you need to learn more about volcanic hazards, what government agency could assist you? If you sought to understand tornadoes better, who could answer your questions? What if you required a better comprehension of hazardous materials incidents? Who could provide such information? What about terrorism? Who could help you understand terrorist behavior more fully or accurately?

Suppose your community was affected by a tornado. What are the possible consequences of this hazard if it interacts with human vulnerability? What would you need to do to respond? What considerations should be taken into account for recovery?

You are the emergency manager for New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina has just struck your community. What are the hazards? Are the hazards related? If so, how? What are the implications of compound or natech hazards?

Disasters result in a great deal of change. What are some of the changes you can expect? Are these good or bad? How would they impact your job as an emergency manager? Why is it important to be aware of them?

What are agent‐generated demands, response‐generated demands, normalcy‐generated demands, mitigation‐generated demands, and preparedness‐generated demands? Make a list of the demands placed on you and categorize them. How do these impact your job as an emergency manager? Do they present difficulties for you? How could you overcome them?

1 Aini MS, Fakhru’l‐Razi A, Daud M, Adam NM, Abdul Kadir R. (2005) Analysis of royal inquiry Report on the collapse of a building in Kuala Lumpur: Implications for developing countries. Disaster Prev Manag, 14 (1):55–79.

2 Blanchard Wayne B, Canton LG, Cwiak CL, Goss KC, McEntire DA, Newsom L, Selves MD, Sorchik EA, Stenson K, Turner III JE, Waugh Jr WL, West D. (2007) Principles of Emergency Management Supplement. Emmitsburg: Federal Emergency Management Agency. Available at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/edu/emprinciples.asp. Accessed June 18, 2014.

3 Drabek TE. (1986) Human system responses to disaster: An inventory of sociological findings. Springer: New York.

4 Godschalk DR. (1991) Disaster mitigation and hazard management. In: Hoetmer GJ, Drabek TE, editors. Emergency Management: Principles and Practice for Local Government. Washington, DC: ICMA.