The Significant Barriers to Emergency Management

The Director of Emergency Management Lisa Dawson indicated that the significant barriers to wards emergency management were communication and financial information technology. In the face-to-face interview session, the director indicated that the major factors that hindered the department from protecting the homeland or managing emergencies included the failure of field and operational personnel to share responsibilities and coordination issues that often reduced response time ( DHS.gov, 2020) . In terms of the major factors that affect achieving homeland security and or emergency management goals, Dawson indicated that financial issues, technological issues, communication issues, and lack of adequate training methods for field and operational personnel are the primary impediments. The interview session was useful in demonstrating that the department has been making progress despite these challenges. In the face-to-face interview with Mason Kingsley, Adjutant General of Emergency Management, it became apparent that the most significant barriers to effective homeland security operations include lack of effective cooperation from other stakeholders and agencies such as the NFIP. He indicated that the factors that hinder the department from protecting the homeland or managing emergencies include cybersecurity issues and the capabilities of the in-house IT department. He cited poor community engagement, climate changes, technological changes, and capabilities of filed and operational staff as the major factors that affect achieving homeland security and emergency management goals ( DHS.gov, 2020) . The interview session shows that most of the challenges facing the department are perennial. A telephone interview session with George Benson, the Director Field Operations, revealed that the major barriers to effective homeland security operations are lack of shared responsibilities among stakeholders, limited resources, and inadequate support from communities and organizations. Benson indicated that technological factors are the common hindrance in protecting the homeland and managing emergencies. He also stated that employee training, support from other stakeholders, cybersecurity, and an all-hazards approach are major factors that affect the attainment of emergency management goals. From all the three interviews, it is evident that technological changes are critical to emergency planning and management. 

References 

DHS.gov (2020). Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security Retrieved 16 February 2020, from https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/Mgmt/OIG_11-11_Nov10.pdf