The Massachusetts Disaster Preparedness Plan focuses on several key points. First of all, the state administration recognizes the region’s vulnerability to disasters of various kinds, from natural to man-made (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). Objectively evaluating their situation, the state has developed a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to prepare for diverse threats. As part of such activities, the administration is proactively creating unique legal acts to facilitate actions in the event of a disaster and taking measures to ensure the coordination of various structures (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). In this context, the developed plan is a general framework that determines the nature of the relationship and creates conditions for quick solutions. Simultaneously, the basic program is supplemented by annexes focused on specific tasks (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). These chapters explain actions in a particular situation, such as Search and Rescue operations.
To analyze the quality of this plan, it is necessary, like its creators, to assess the region’s key characteristics. The state of Massachusetts is one of the smallest in terms of area in the entire US, ranking sixth from the bottom (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). Its geography has a substantial variability – from rocky coasts to hills, plains, and lakes in the state’s west. The state is home to almost seven million people, which, given the area, makes Massachusetts the third most densely populated state (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). Its economy is well developed, demonstrated by the value of per capita income and gross state product, ranking third and eleventh in comparison with the rest of the country. In addition, the poverty rate for Massachusetts does not exceed the all-American value (“National poverty,” 2022). These facts testify to the sufficient development of the region and its great economic potential.
When evaluating the quality of CEMP, it must be considered that this plan is prepared for the entire state. Consequently, since it affects a vast population in a small area, it cannot provide precise instructions for action. In this regard, the strategy chosen by the creators of CEMP to develop a general scheme complemented by more specific annexes is appropriate. Moreover, since this framework must be extended to all structures within the state, its excessive detailing would lead to a deterioration in quality. On the other hand, general recommendations and ways of action allow each organization to adapt to the requirements in accordance with its capabilities.
However, the general focus of CEMP does not mean a lack of development of such approaches. On the contrary, even without considering annexes, the plan includes a massive amount of information, analyzing all levels of interaction. This is a logical consequence of one of the tasks – ensuring structures’ communication and cooperation. CEMP considers such critical points as the conceptual definition of steps to be taken in the event of any disaster and the distribution of duties and responsibilities among institutions (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). In addition, the plan evaluates measures related to the population and the economy, as can be seen from the points related to prevention and joint recovery after incidents.
Finally, another decisive factor of this plan is a detailed approach to all the features of the state that may pose a danger: both geographical and man-made. In this context, CEMP considers almost all possible natural phenomena common in this region, from the possibility of a tsunami to severe temperature conditions (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). Given the diversity of the state’s geography, this approach is essential. From a human factors’ perspective, the plan addresses general disasters, such as terrorism, and more state-specific threats, such as a nuclear power plant accident (Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, 2019). This approach can also be identified as a strength, as it effectively closes the most likely threats associated with human activities. The last point is crucial because of the high population density in the state. Thus, CEMP is a reasonably detailed and practical framework that analyzes the existing strengths and weaknesses of the state and wraps them in a single adaptable system.
References
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. (2019). Comprehensive emergency management plan (CEMP). Web.
National poverty in America awareness month: January 2022. (2022). United States Census Bureau. Web.