Terrorism has evolved dramatically throughout history, from early manifestations such as Julius Caesar's assassination to more sophisticated modern tactics such as bombings that target populated areas like urban centers and government buildings. A prime example is the September 11 th attack, which serves as a stark example of the threats posed by terrorist organizations (Ahmad, 2018). Following this attack, the U.S. made significant strides to create more robust terrorism prevention and response programs. For example, the "Department of Homeland Security" (DHS) and the publishing of "National Strategy for Homeland Security" (NSHS) were established (Kahan, 2015). Besides, the U.S. government increased funding to help counter-terror attacks. The increase in funding and establishment of DHS, NSHS, and other strategies or programs acted as a model for the nation's effort to develop and implement comprehensive plans and programs to deter terrorism and other crimes.
Nonetheless, there is widespread agreement that the U.S. remains vulnerable to terrorist threats. Despite comprehensive efforts to reduce the threat of both domestic and global terrorism in the U.S., the situation still persists. Because of the significant threat posed by terrorists, the U.S. needs to have an effective emergency response plan to help deter terror attacks and other crimes. The paper's principal focus is to discuss the development of emergency response plans to deter terrorism.
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Overview of Response Plans after the September 11 th Attack
In the aftermath of the September 11 th attack, the U.S. implemented robust terrorism prevention and response programs. Among them are the establishment of DHS, NSHS, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), and Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) (Weiner, 2018). NSHS's "emergency preparedness and response" mission directly engages in mitigating the harm and injuries from attacks and assist with recovery efforts. The NDMS and the MMRS are the primary medical response systems when it comes to terrorist threats. These two systems provide vital infrastructure and operational plans for national and local preparedness strategies and efforts.
The NDMS was established in 1984 to help with casualties during disasters, calamities, and/or terrorism attacks (Young, 2007). The NDMS serves three purposes: 1) to deploy first responders (FRs), such as medical personnel; 2) to ensure safe transportation of casualties to treatment facilities; and 3) to provide definitive medical care for casualties (Young, 2007). The MMRS, on the other hand, coordinates FRs in metro areas. The initiative is based on the assumption that terrorists often target populated areas, such as large cities. From fire and law enforcement to the health care department, each city and emergency department must establish a comprehensive response plan under the MMRS program.
Developing Emergency Response Plan
Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is the "centerpiece" of a detailed emergency management effort. ERPs are usually developed to define what governments should do when responding to emergencies. The plan usually outlines the roles and responsibilities of emergency departments and personnel (Skryabina et al., 2020). In addition, the plan outlines the hierarchical structure as well as organizational and organized agreements. The ERP provides comprehensive details of how to protect people and critical infrastructures during an emergency or disaster. It also outlines steps to mitigate or deter crises, such as terror attacks. An ERP ought to be versatile in all incidents ( Walsh , 2010). To aid in response and synergistic incident management, ERPs should have representation from jurisdictions and functional agencies to the Incident Commander. A wide range of plans and protocols, such as public awareness, education, and communication, should be incorporated in ERPs. A well-developed ERP will help in response and short-term recovery activities.
Including Law Enforcement in ERPs
When developing ERPs, it is vital to include local, state, and federal law enforcement. This is because they are part of the first emergency responders during disasters. In this regard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created to coordinate response to disasters that occur in the U.S (Hu et al., 2014). To achieve its mission, FEMA integrates the services of a wide range of personnel, including law enforcement, private sector security, and emergency management communities. The aim is not only to enhance communication and coordination but also to enable synchronization of internal and externa activities that involve law enforcement and security activities. Local, state, and federal law enforcement officers are vital when it comes to preparing for, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters.
When developing ERPs, the developers should make use of various tools that provide guidance. Among them is the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 ( Walsh , 2010). This tool provides guidance for developing ERPs. CPG 101 provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles of risk-informed planning and decision making. This helps the developers as well as the planners to assess hazards and threats and develop integrated, coordinated, and synchronized plans. In addition to law enforcement, it is vital to involve the community when developing ERPs.
The elected and appointed supervisors in the jurisdiction are usually in charge of ensuring that proper emergency and disaster preparation is carried out. When residents are confronted with adversities such as disasters and hazards, they look to these individuals for assistance in resolving the issues. The residents or community share vital roles and obligations in order to ensure that the community, their families, and their property are all protected. ERPs that include the whole community help create resilient communities ( Walsh , 2010). When preparing for an emergency, there are a few guidelines to follow to ensure the safety of people, property, and the environment. These guidelines are: Community-based planning is required, with the whole population and its needs represented. This helps the planners know who lives in the neighborhood, their needs, and their expectations when it comes to emergency preparedness and response. It's also necessary to know the population in terms of numbers so that enough shelter space is available if the need arises. Community-based plans would positively impact response and recovery activities, and the community will be truly prepared if you know the community dynamics and understand the composition of the population.
The importance of culture in good planning cannot be overstated. After all, the plan is for their families, and they would like to have a say in how they are cared for. As a result, the most practical and comprehensive strategies are created by a diverse planning team that incorporates input from various government authorities, such as local law enforcement, such as the Sheriff or Police Department, city officials, and business owners and organizations. These organizations are the ones that can have the best perspectives and help carry out the strategy. These law enforcement and emergency response personnel are highly likely to support and use the strategy if the plan considers and incorporates the opinions of the individuals and organizations assigned roles within it.
ERPs usually employ compelling and systematic problem-solving mechanisms to resolve the complexity and concern associated with possible hazards and risks. As I previously said, since FEMA is a government agency, there are always step-by-step procedures to follow (Hu et al., 2014). It's no different for a city to prepare for a natural disaster or an emergency. Following a step-by-step procedure involves collecting and reviewing data, assessing organizational goals, and devising alternate approaches to achieving a goal. When it comes to preparing for the uncertain, developing an effective strategy fabricates thought and is the foundation of innovation and motivation. Similarly, following a fixed preparation process does not guarantee a good outcome; poor plans and haphazard planning have been shown to fail.
When making a strategy, consider the lessons learned from others. States also publish their own emergency planning requirements and manuals. They reach out to other governments, such as local governments, and collaborate to develop local planning strategies and skills. FEMA also provides courses to help urban planners develop their skills. "Identify relevant authorities and statutes," for example, is one of the lessons addressed in the FEMA planners course (Hu et al., 2014). Get a sense of how people in your group feel about danger. Identify previous organizational structures. Identify mutual aid agreements (MAAs) with jurisdiction or a private security sector that can supplement ERP.
Strategic planning, organizational planning, and tactical planning, including on-scene planning, are the three tiers of effective ERP. Each planning is reliant on the previous planning. In other words, strategic planning influences operational planning, and operational planning influences tactical planning. In terms of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, strategic planning refers to how a community or entity intends to carry out its overall goal. Senior leaders of the organization or society are usually in charge. During an event, operational planning provides an organization or authority with roles and obligations, activities, integration, and behavior. Authorities use plans to establish the principles, components, and obligations that an area agency must follow. They're also used to organize and accommodate the activities of the various entities within the jurisdiction. The private sector is held in high regard by operational planning, which sees them as an integral part of community-based planning and ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to interested parties. In terms of physical, spatial, and time-related capability, operational plans are common. These plans are more complex and all-encompassing than tactical plans, but they are less detailed. Tactical strategies focus on dealing with staff, equipment, and resources directly involved in an emergency or incident response. Prior to the event, tactical preparation based on organizational plans is a great way to define staff, supplies, practice, and training standards ahead of time. Mutual aid arrangements, policy updates, technical support, procurement, and contingency leasing are all good options for dealing with problems that might arise. Extensive and unified coordination will assist all levels of government in planning their responses to an event that occurs within their jurisdiction. The jurisdiction should create pre-established resource requests by understanding the concerns an organization faces during planning.
Since the principal focus of this paper is to create an ERP that involves law enforcement, it is critical to discuss the role of law enforcement in disaster response. Local law enforcement is given an incredible amount of responsibility when responding to disasters. In fact, law enforcement officers are regarded as the first line of defense when it comes to responding to disasters and emergencies. Emergency technicians and police officers are well aware that life-threatening emergencies can and do occur unexpectedly. The pre-incident plans made by FRs directly influence response and recovery plans. In terms of public safety and serving the local community, supporting the community on a daily basis and reacting to an incident or tragedy are inextricably linked. When it comes to emergency preparedness, police officers depend on their experience and their firsthand knowledge of the environment.
Law enforcement and FR personnel receive much-needed feedback from training simulations representing various levels of scenarios. They are very familiar with the neighborhoods they protect and maintain daily contact with residents. In the case of a disaster, such as a terror attack, the information they gather during these everyday interactions is critical. Particularly when third-party organizations are involved, they will provide much-needed situational awareness to assisting response and recovery groups.
During a disaster, local law enforcement serves in a variety of roles, including ensuring public safety and conducting search and rescue operations. These activities are critical to the overall project, both in their home town and adjacent areas. When it comes to emergency situations, law enforcement has two essential positions to play: 1) function as FRs in times of crisis. 2) Ensure that the environment is safe and secure ( Walsh , 2010). Responding to emergencies is a joint responsibility, and police officers and other law enforcement officers understand the importance of holistic emergency management preparation in order to keep our communities secure.
Conclusion
This paper's principal focus was to discuss the development of ERPs that includes local law enforcement. The focus was on how law enforcement officers can participate in putting together a well-thought-out, successful ERP in which the community has a role to play. This will raise the likelihood that the proposal will be approved by the group. This paper also addressed how police officers can fit into such a plan as well as how they are critical during emergencies. Terrorism has evolved dramatically throughout history. Today, terrorists employ sophisticated tools and devices to conduct terror attacks. To effectively address such threats, it is vital to have an effective ERP. An effective ERP will help deter terror attacks and other crimes. ERP is the "centerpiece" of a detailed emergency management effort. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of emergency departments and personnel. ERPs also provides comprehensive details of how to protect people and critical infrastructures during an emergency or disaster. When developing ERPs, it is vital to include local, state, and federal law enforcement. Local law enforcement exercises many roles and responsibilities when responding to disasters. In fact, they are regarded as the first line of defense when it comes to responding to disasters and emergencies. In addition to including law enforcement, the importance of culture in good planning cannot be overstated when developing ERPs. The most practical and comprehensive strategies are created by a diverse planning team that incorporates input from various government authorities, such as local law enforcement, such as the Sheriff or Police Department, city officials, and business owners and organizations. Thus, it is vital to consider inputs from law enforcement officers and the community when developing ERPs.
References
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Walsh, D. W., Christen Jr, H. T., Lord, G. C., & Miller, G. T. (2010). National incident management system: Principles and practice . Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
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