Global Perspective on Crisis Response: Comparative Study of Crisis Response Mechanisms and Practices in Various Countries: Comparative Study of Crisis Response Mechanisms and Practices in Various Countries

Author: Liu Changmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features:
(1) Human resource management for crisis response departments from the perspective of local government, where they consciously operate crisis response institutions according to market rules, ensuring the institutions are in the optimal operating conditions. When personnel are needed and in the right places, human resource allocation provides and guarantees the best service. The U.S. government has the Merit System Protection Board under the Civil Service Commission, the Police and Fire Commission, and the Labor Commission responsible for hiring, disciplining, working hours, working conditions, and salaries in public safety, thereby managing the public safety process. U.S. federal law influences public safety managers through human resource management. It specifically stipulates priority conditions for hiring, determining qualified applicants, and evaluations, as well as the requirement that municipal personnel must be local residents. The rationale is that employees living in the cities they serve take pride in their work and environment and have a strong sense of obligation. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that such restrictions on residency conditions are valid. All aspects of public safety management are governed by legal directives.
(2) Professional crisis response institutions—law enforcement services—generally, the tasks of the police department are considered law enforcement, crime prevention, and protection of life and property. Currently, U.S. law enforcement agencies are divided into two basic areas: operational departments and administrative/support departments. In operational departments, patrols constitute the main component, forming the front line of law enforcement services. Traffic control, traffic engineering management, and traffic law enforcement are also responsibilities of operational departments. Support departments include criminal investigation, juvenile investigation, crime prevention, safety education, record management, and evidence collection and identification. Fire services—the first fire departments in the U.S. were established in 1731 in Norfolk, Virginia, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Fire services cover three areas: firefighting, fire prevention, and fire inspections. Firefighting is the primary task of fire departments, responsible for responding quickly to fires and extinguishing them. However, fire departments often require coordination with design and construction departments to comply with building codes. On-site fire inspections are used to identify hazards or violations and correct them. U.S. firefighters typically work 24 hours on, 24 hours off, with on-duty personnel available 24/7. Additionally, there are on-call volunteer firefighters, as many municipalities have mutual aid agreements, reducing the need for volunteers. A new situation has emerged, where the increasing presence of chemicals and industrial waste has led to crisis events involving hazardous materials, requiring cross-training for law enforcement and public works departments. Medical emergency services (EMS)—this service primarily responds to traffic accidents and those in need of immediate medical assistance to be transported to hospitals. Based on the high mortality rate from traffic accidents, the U.S. passed the Highway Safety Act in 1966 to establish safety standards for car manufacturers and engineering specifications for roads. In 1983, the Emergency Services Act was enacted to: "Establish a system that can effectively and coordinately transport personnel, facilities, and equipment to appropriate medical service areas during emergencies, managed by public or non-profit private entities with the authority and resources to manage the system." There are two methods for evaluating EMS systems: response time—how long it takes to reach the emergency scene—and patient mortality. However, reducing mortality comes at a high cost; for a city of about 60,000 people, using three ambulances including equipment and salaries costs approximately $2 million annually. Urban medical response systems (UMRS)—this system is an operational framework at the local level for responding to public health emergencies. It ensures that cities can respond in the first 48 hours of a public health crisis through coordination and interaction between local law enforcement, fire departments, disaster management departments, hospitals, public health agencies, and other "on-site responders," allowing cities to take control with their own resources before national emergency resources arrive.
(3) Systematic crisis response institutions—emergency management and preparedness—most local governments in the U.S. have appropriate emergency response plans to handle incidents such as fires, accidental explosions, industrial accidents, and plane crashes, as well as natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes, or man-made disasters. In local government emergency plans, local law enforcement and fire departments are the first responders to any natural disaster or emergency event. However, the plans also include coordination among municipal engineering departments, major management departments, and other public or private utility departments. These emergency management efforts are not only pre-planned but also regularly trained and drilled. The primary challenge of these emergency management efforts is the conflict between the borderless nature of disasters and the political boundaries of administration. Therefore, arrangements for personnel, equipment, and other assistance are negotiated among local governments, municipalities, and counties. Training is conducted jointly among departments to determine their respective roles. For example, in 1979, United Airlines Flight 191 crashed from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago into an open field outside the airport. Officials from local, county, state law enforcement, and many fire departments were the first responders. An emergency plan was implemented quickly, restricting journalists, thieves, and other from entering to prevent theft, destruction, and the loss of evidence. Soon after, officials from various other agencies joined the investigation to identify victims and survivors. In this case, although multiple agencies provided assistance, the final responsibility lay with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). At the crash site, the FAA conducted on-site investigations and recovery efforts. In urban residential areas, floods can occur suddenly, causing severe property damage. To handle emergencies, public safety managers must be aware of flood-prone plains and have emergency maintenance plans in place. Floods can be mitigated by using sandbags to block water, draining water from homes or streets, and medical support personnel providing emergency medical services and transportation. During the planning phase of emergency management, a list of necessary equipment suppliers and sources must be compiled. For example, if a flood-prone area needs boats or mobile phones, suppliers must be identified in advance. Intergovernmental agreements—intergovernmental agreements include agreements among departments within a state, city, or county, as well as agreements with other states, cities, counties, or the federal government outside the jurisdiction. Intergovernmental agreements benefit smaller municipalities or rural areas significantly, with economic factors being one of the primary considerations for providing services and handling any serious incidents. These agreements can effectively address events like parades on holidays or plane crashes. In severe emergencies, such as fires, intergovernmental agreements become even more critical.