Incorporating Ethics in Disaster Communication Strategy: The Case of the U.S. Government in Deepwater Horizon

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Suzanne Horsley ◽  
Amber L. Hutchins
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Deepwater Horizon ◽  
The United States ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
News Releases ◽  
Government Mandates ◽  
United States Federal Government

Abstract BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010 was a major test of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which the United States federal government mandates for response to all disasters. At the time, this disaster was perhaps the greatest event in scope and duration under NIMS disaster management guidelines since they were revised in 2008 (the third edition was published in 2017). Ten years later, NIMS provides procedures for operating a joint information center (JIC), but still offers no guidelines for ethical communication. This case study examines the ethical implications of 178 news releases distributed by the Deepwater Horizon Incident JIC. Qualitative analysis found that communication was conducted in an open, ethical manner, with few exceptions. Conflicts emerged, however, that may have compromised ethical standards. The authors conclude with recommendations to inform ethical decision making by JIC communicators.

Implementation and effectiveness of the National Incident Management System’s Incident Command System in law enforcement since 2003

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-417
Author(s):  
John K. Nichols, MS, LCC ◽  
Magdalena Denham, EdD
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Homeland Security ◽  
Initial Phase ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Incident Command System ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Relevant Case ◽  
Open Question

This paper investigates the use of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)’s Incident Command System (ICS) in law enforcement since Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 was issued in 2003. It attempts to answer the following questions: (a) To what degree has law enforcement adopted the NIMS style ICS?; (b) To what degree has the NIMS/ICS framework been applicable to law enforcement?; and (c) Is the NIMS style ICS effective in the law enforcement response environment? The research includes a review of relevant case studies and literature and also includes the analysis of a survey instrument sent to 1,220 current and former law enforcement practitioners across the United States. The survey includes both open- and closed-ended questions. The data from closed-ended questions were compiled and displayed. Data from open-ended questions were grouped thematically. Responses were then assessed and compared with information gleaned from the literature review. Results indicate the system has been widely adopted by law enforcement, and its use is applicable and effective in some law enforcement responses. Its use in the highly chaotic initial phase of incidents, however, remains an open question.

U.S. Space Dominance

2020 ◽  
pp. 123-150
Author(s):  
Joan Johnson-Freese ◽  
Kenneth Smith
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Ethical Decision ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Applied Ethics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The U.S

This chapter considers the ethical implications of the United States trying to achieve “space dominance” as part of an increasingly muscular U.S. “space warfare is inevitable” outlook. The methodology used in the analysis is drawn from Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, using utilitarian, rights, fairness, common good, virtue, and technology considerations as ethical decision-making lenses. Additionally, the chapter examines space dominance as a function of time and contractarianism. It concludes that the U.S. pursuit of space dominance appears to stem mostly from fear and self-interest, and that a better approach would be to shift more closely to honor and self-interest by pursuing more balance between military readiness and assiduous diplomacy. There is, however, no evidence that the latter approach is being considered.

Engineering the Incident Command and Multiagency Coordination Systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly S Stambler ◽  
Joseph A Barbera
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Complex Development ◽  
Coordination System ◽  
Coordination Systems

The initial development of the Incident Command System (ICS) and the Multiagency Coordination System (MACS) was conducted through an extensive research, development, and application program initiated by the United States Forest Service in the 1970s and 1980s. Known as FIRESCOPE (Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies), the complex development process produced these two major management systems that are now central to the Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System (NIMS). Despite the prominence of NIMS, very little information is widely available regarding the original research and development of ICS and MACS. This paper explores the extensive product development and consensus process used to create ICS and MACS, plus the implementation process that propagated these landmark systems that continue to expand in prominence for incident management and coordination during emergencies and disasters. Through analysis of historical documents and interviews with professionals centrally involved in FIRESCOPE, this paper chronicles the evolution of ICS and MACS, including a summary of their varied courses following the end of the original 10-year FIRESCOPE Program initiative.

Developing a Case-based Emergency Response System with Adaptive Case Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abobakr Y. Shahrah ◽  
Majed A. Al-Mashari
Keyword(s):  
Case Management ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
Emergency Response System ◽  
Response System ◽  
Case Based

AbstractThe emergency responses required during large-scale crises or disasters are extremely knowledge-intensive processes and are usually characterized by a high degree of unpredictability and unrepeatability. An emergency response is mission- and time-critical, unstructured, very dynamic, and it is very difficult to predefine or even to anticipate all possible response scenarios. Therefore, designing and implementing a software system to support such a response system is highly complicated and challenging. This research aims to investigate and discuss how Adaptive Case Management (ACM) can be leveraged in the design and implementation of a case-based emergency response system. In particular, this research considers the best practices of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is an essential part of the National Response Framework (NRF) developed in the United States. As a proof-of-concept, a prototype demonstration has been carried out on a leading commercial ACM platform. In addition, a walkthrough scenario is discussed to elaborate how ACM can support emergency response activities in real settings using the Incident Command System (ICS) organizational structure. The key benefit of this research is to guide the development and implementation of cased-based emergency response systems with a flexible and agile approach.

Integrating the Food and Drug Administration Office of the Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation Network’s foodborne illness outbreak surveillance and response activities with principles of the National Incident Management System

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-141
Author(s):  
Sharon Seelman, MS, MBA ◽  
Stelios Viazis, PhD ◽  
Sheila Pack Merriweather, MPH ◽  
Tami Craig Cloyd, DVM ◽  
Megan Aldridge, MPH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
Drug Administration ◽  
Food And Drug Administration ◽  
The United States ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Outbreak Investigations

The Food Safety Modernization Act mandates building a national Integrated Food Safety System, which represents a seamless partnership among federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal agencies. During multistate foodborne illness outbreak investigations, local and state partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service, depending on the regulated food product, become engaged and assist in coordinating the efforts between partners involved and determine the allocation of resources. The FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Office of the Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network coordinates foodborne illness outbreak surveillance, response, and post-response activities related to incidents involving multiple illnesses linked to FDA-regulated human food, dietary supplements, and cosmetic products. FDA has implemented the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) principles across the agency to coordinate federal response efforts, and CORE has adapted NIMS ICS principles for the emergency management of multistate foodborne illness outbreaks. CORE’s implementation of ICS principles has provided several benefits to the operational cycle of foodborne illness outbreak investigations, including establishing a consistent, standardized, and transparent step-by-step approach to outbreak investigations. ICS principles have been instrumental in the development of a national platform for rapid and systematic laboratory, traceback, and epidemiologic information sharing, data analysis, and decision-making. This allows for partners across jurisdictions to reach a consensus regarding outbreak goals and objectives, deploy resources, and take regulatory and public health actions.

scholarly journals (A324) Emergency Management Preparedness and Response Planning in the US: Aphis Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (FAD PREP)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s91-s91 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.M. Myers ◽  
L. Fromberg
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Animal Disease ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Response Plan ◽  
Foreign Animal Disease

BackgroundPreparing for and responding to foreign animal diseases are critical missions to safeguard any nation's animal health and food supply. A specific challenge of foreign animal disease preparedness and response is the ability to rapidly incorporate and scale-up veterinary functions and countermeasures into emergency management operations during a disease outbreak. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services has established a Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (FAD PReP) which provides a framework for FAD preparedness and response. The FAD PReP goal is to integrate, synchronize, and de-conflict preparedness and response capabilities, as much as possible, before an outbreak by providing goals, guidelines, strategies, and procedures that are clear, comprehensive, easily readable, easily updated, and that comply with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). An overview of FAD PReP will be presented.BodyThe APHIS FAD PReP incorporates and synchronizes the principles of the National Response Framework (NRF), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the National Animal Health Emergency Management System (NAHEMS). The FAD PReP contains general plans and disease specific plans that include incident goals, guidelines, strategies, procedures and timelines for local, State, Tribal and Federal responders. The FAD PReP helps raise awareness of the required veterinary functions and countermeasures, helps identify gaps or shortcomings in current response preparedness and planning, and helps to provide a framework to the States, Tribes, and Industry sectors in developing their individual response plans for specific diseases such as HPAI and FMD. The FAD PReP will also identify resources and personnel for potential zoonotic disease outbreaks and large-scale outbreaks, define stakeholder expectations for successful and timely outcomes, identify and resolve issues that may become competing interests during an outbreak and provide a systems approach to preparedness issues that need additional time, attention and collaboration.

HOW WILL THE NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN AND THE NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AFFECT OIL SPILL RESPONSE IN THE UNITED STATES1

2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 747-753
Author(s):  
Kristy L. Plourde ◽  
LaDonn Hight-Allen ◽  
Denise L. Matthews ◽  
Martin L. Smith ◽  
CDR Jeff Gafkjen
Keyword(s):  
Oil Spill ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
National Incident Management System ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Tribal Governments ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Unified Command

ABSTRACT The United States faces a broad range of threats and hazards, both naturally occurring and manmade. Over the past few decades, efforts to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from these varied threats and hazards have evolved into a patchwork collection of special-purpose plans including the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). These plans govern U.S. policy toward hazardous materials releases and oil spill response. Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5), Management of Domestic Incidents, mandates the creation of a National Incident Management System (NIMS) and National Response Plan (NRP) to provide a single, comprehensive national approach to incident management. The NRP is intended to integrate the various prevention, preparedness, response and recovery plans into an all-discipline, all-hazard approach. NIMS provides a standard Incident Command System (ICS) for Federal, State, local and tribal government to work together to prepare for and respond to incidents. NIMS ICS includes a core set of concepts, principles, terminology, technologies, multi-agency coordination systems, unified command, training, identification/management of resources, qualification/certification, and the collection, tracking and reporting of incident information and incident resources. Together, the NRP and NIMS provide a standardized framework to ensure that Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations work in partnership to support domestic incident management regardless of cause, size, or complexity of the incident. How does this change what is being done in oil and hazardous materials response? The National Contingency Plan (NCP, 40 CFR 300) notes that “where practicable,” the framework for the response shall use ICS within a Unified Command (UC) system. OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.120) also require the use of ICS for emergency response. The response community (federal, state, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations) has been using “ICS” in oil spill/HAZMAT response since the early 1990's in the United States. NIMS ICS will be used when responding to oil HAZMAT spills, however, there are differences in ICS implementation between responders in the response community and NIMS ICS will have stricter requirements to improve uniformity in application. These similarities and differences will be discussed at length in this paper.

The Rise of Anchor Institutions and the Threat to Community Health: Protecting Community Wealth, Building Community Power

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence T. Brown ◽  
Ashley Bachelder ◽  
Marisela B. Gomez ◽  
Alicia Sherrell ◽  
Imani Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Anchor Institutions ◽  
Health Related Research ◽  
Research Parks ◽  
Wealth Building

Academic institutions are increasingly playing pivotal roles in economic development and community redevelopment in cities around the United States. Many are functioning in the role of anchor institutions and building technology, biotechnology, or research parks to facilitate biomedical research. In the process, universities often partner with local governments, implementing policies that displace entire communities and families, thereby inducing a type of trauma that researcher Mindy Thompson Fullilove has termed “root shock.” We argue that displacement is a threat to public health and explore the ethical implications of university-led displacement on public health research, especially the inclusion of vulnerable populations into health-related research. We further explicate how the legal system has sanctioned the exercise of eminent domain by private entities such as universities and developers.Strategies that communities have employed in order to counter such threats are highlighted and recommended for communities that may be under the threat of university-led displacement. We also offer a critical look at the three dominant assumptions underlying university-sponsored development: that research parks are engines of economic development, that deconcentrating poverty via displacement is effective, and that poverty is simply the lack of economic or financial means. Understanding these fallacies will help communities under the threat of university-sponsored displacement to protect community wealth, build power, and improve health.

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