Emergency Operations Center Preparedness Training - Assignment Example

Framework Scenario Paper Introduction Security is one of the most significant aspects of a nation that ensures the protection of the life and freedom of its people. Every country develops and maintains its own homeland security services protecting the nation both from its internal as well as external threats. Therefore, it is essential for security services to adopt strategic plans and approaches in order to secure their locations against any kind of threat. In fact, security analysis is a complicated issue that demands serious attention from the security service providers as well as the government of the country. This paper addresses all the relevant issues elaborating the security-related problems, assumptions, and possible solutions that will lead service providers to the development of a realistic action plan and its implementation. Scenario analysis In order to be an effective and efficient security service provider, the important requisites of security services include certain factors such as authenticity of the service, secure communication system, latest technology usability, and so on. Considering security issues post 9/11, it has become almost mandatory for all security services to create an integrated emergency system supported by computer and technology-based solutions. In order to go further into the details of security system issues, it is important to state the main problems and key concerns faced by the homeland security service provider. Problem areas Considering the emerging extremist threats from the technology-bound terrorists, it is extremely significant for emergency service providers to update their technologies. The problems are manifold and common to most of the security services. Here is a brief overview on the problems. Lack of threat awareness - Most of the security organizations tend to fail mainly due to the inability to respond appropriately to the imposing threat. The emergency services usually do not have proper access and capability to quick response system. Besides, there are organizational confusion as well as inadequate management of security services that hamper their preparedness to tackle emergency with efficiency and effectiveness. Technological inadequacy - Lack of technological usefulness in security programs is another major concern resulting in the incapability of the emergency organizations to handle security threats and attacks. Technological inadequacy is one of the most frequent causes for security organizations to fail responding to terrorist alerts and threats. Loophole in communication systems - Integration of the security service as a whole is important regarding the interoperability between entities within the security service. Compatibility of the communication systems used by the security organization is a must in order to counter security threats. Districting problems - Setting up of initial locations for various units of the security service is another problem. Without proper planning and financial assistance, districting is a grueling task. It also affects day-to-day operations of the service. Lack of proper training to the employees of the emergency service - Homeland security guards usually lack proper training in responder training and incident coordination (Ward, 2001). This proves as one of the greatest roadblocks in countering or responding to a security threat or an emergency situation. Assumptions In order for security services to work efficiently, Pollak et al (2004) recommend some of the operative efforts to address the integration challenges of system integration within a security service. Currently, security services exercise limited interoperability between emergency response modeling and simulation applications. It requires proper verification for effective operations. Emergency response simulation software applications often include high costs. That means there is a higher requirement of re-evaluation of the existing security plans so that the security service can adopt cost-effective strategies. Moreover, government grants are also equally important for emergency services to afford new technological assistance for better functionality. Maintaining databases and transferring data between various emergency units are limited presently. It further demonstrates the incompatibility of the communication systems practiced by the emergency service. Responding quickly to the emergency situation is not yet effective for the security service due to the lack of treatment of call priorities (Larson, 1973). Therefore, homeland emergency guards must be trained with regard to paying attention to the emergency situations on the basis of priorities if more complications are involved the situations. Framework for homeland defense Recent attacks on the United States with the use of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have increased the response awareness among the emergency security services, making homeland defense an inclusive part of the US national security strategy. This further demands security services to adopt an appropriate approach to homeland defense emergency security service. In this context, we are going to discuss the relevance of an operational analysis framework that would help emergency operations to counter any emergency situation with efficiency and effectiveness. The main purpose of an operational framework is to make the emergency service effective with modeling and simulation that help them ‘predict the outcome of decisions, visualize, analyze, and optimize before committing capital and resources’ (Pollak et al, 2004). Under operational analysis framework, homeland emergency services can prepare different modeling tools in order to develop and execute models for the analysis of operational processes and system performance within the service. For instance, such modeling tools can check the operationality of the emergency simulation software applications used to maintain the databases and other relevant information. The modeling tools can also be optimized for repairing other loopholes in the communication systems of the emergency service including different units such as fire, police, emergency medial, and so on. In other words, operational analysis framework can be put into managing the compatibility of various emergency units in order to improve the operations of these services. The government funding for an improvised emergency security can be granted easily. However, there are enough competition for that grant. In order to avail it, the management authority of the emergency security service must make clear opinion about what it wishes to do and how to do. This further implies that a realistic action plan needs to be developed and executed by the security service. The action plan for the security service would look into accomplishing the following objectives - To prepare quick response emergency teams in order to counter precipitous emergency situations. To develop and improve technological usability in order to increase operability of the various emergency units. To improve communication systems between the units and integrate them to improve operability. To help homeland security guards well-trained in responder training and incident coordination. SWOT analysis Strengths Following operational analysis framework is useful and effective for emergency security services. This is an appropriate way to evaluate the existing communication systems of the emergency units and improve them so that the systems become well-prepared to tackle emergency situations. Weaknesses Many of the modeling tools of operational analysis framework are too complicated, which require appropriate training skills. Without special training and technical expertise, emergency security guards can never improve their capabilities to increase efficiency in their day-to-day operations. Opportunities Operational analysis framework is effective in improving the day-to-day operations of emergency security services. Adequate communication systems can improve operability of the services, and make the security services well-prepared for handling the emergency situations. Threats Considering the competition in the emergency security services, it is really difficult to get the grant aid from the government for effectiveness of the services. Without a proper proposal, it is not easy to get the government fund. Besides, high compatibility should also be maintained in order to be in the list of high scorers on the Homeland Security Risk Matrix. Implementation plan Implementation of the action plan will be adopted on the basis of evaluation through the operational analysis framework. The security action plan will require minimum timeframe of 6 months extendable up to 1 year. The action plan will include the following factors as key responsibilities - To develop training centers for homeland security guards in order to improve preparedness including responder training and incident coordination. To improve communication systems through integration policies by solving districting problems of initial locations. To adopt new technologies in order to maintain databases and proper data transfer. In order to make the action plan efficient and effective, it is important to focus on the pluses and minuses of the operational analysis framework. The plan will include special training of the employees of the emergency service so that it can adequately meet the needs of technical expertise to operate the modeling tools. As high security is our topmost priority, technology will not be compromised at any cost. Therefore, the homeland security guards will be trained for improving the technological operability of the emergency service. Conclusion Well-prepared and efficient emergency security services are important for countering emergency threats and situations. Operational analysis framework is relevant for emergency service evaluation in the context that “the current US Homeland Security initiatives provide a unique opportunity to leverage modeling and simulation capabilities to help explore and define how the current and evolving operating procedures and infrastructure will address the emerging requirements from local, state, and regional operations centers and agencies.” (Pollak et al, 2004) With terror getting new recognition and definition on the technological ground, it is important for homeland emergency services to develop their communication systems and improve database maintenance so that they can counter emergency threats more efficiently and effectively. References Pollak, Eytan, Falash, Mark, Ingraham, Lorie and Gottesman, Vivian (2004). Operational Analysis Framework for Emergency Operations Center Preparedness Training. Retrieved from http://www.informs-cs.org/wsc04papers/105.pdf. Larson, Richard C. (1973). A Hypercube Queuing Model for Facility Location and Redistricting in Urban Emergency Services. Retrieved fro http://wwwcgi.rand.org/pubs/reports/2006/R1238.pdf. Ward, Judith A. (2001). Homeland Defense: Are we there yet? Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cpc-pubs/ward.pdf. (2008). Strategic Plan - One Team, One Mission, Securing Our Homeland. Homeland Security. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/strategicplan/. Read More