California has had its share recently from earthquakes, wildfires, and drought.
For decades, scientists have been predicting a major earthquake, registering 9+ on the Richter Scale, along the Southern California coastline. Estimates from the predicted ensuing damage range into tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dead, injured, and displaced persons. In addition, property damage has been estimated in billions of dollars.
As a newly hired Intelligence Analyst with the Department of Homeland Security, you have been directed to develop a background paper pertaining to the response capabilities and responsibilities of DHS and its component agencies with regard to dealing with a major natural disaster. This background paper will cover the following issues:
Describe which DHS agencies would play a primary role in responding to either of the following:
Earthquakes
Wildfires
Discuss any National Guard or other military assistance.
Explain how the major “lessons learned” from responding to Hurricane Katrina might be applied to a future earthquake or wildfire disaster. Especially discuss racial or other diversity in relation to rapidity of response and treatment. Were all races given equal attention?
