Write a 150 word respone to Kenneth discussion below: Consider the following when you reply:
Is the reply mechanically clear enough for readers to understand the points?
Does the tone of the reply demonstrate respect towards the author of the original post?
Does the reply inspire further discussion among the class?
Module 6: Local Community Resilience Post
The first area that the text discusses is the thematic theme of governance. Governance is a massive part to a resilient community and when governance is doing its part to plan and create partnerships within the community to help them understand the importance of hardening the community in response to a disaster they can be a key kog in the creation of a community ready for anything. Most understand that governance has plenty of planning and regulation built into it but without the integration and partnerships that help with buy-in you will never get the commitment needed from the community to create a resilient community. Thematic Area 1 (Governance) is really a cross-cutting theme underlying the other Thematic Areas. Planning, regulation, integration, institutional systems, partnerships and accountability are relevant to everyone, because they are issues likely to affect any initiative in DRR, development or relief. Users are therefore advised to refer to these governance aspects whichever Thematic Areas or Components of Resilience they are focusing on. (Twigg, 2009, p. 11) For me the best way to make this aspect the best of governance is through creating positive relationships in the community.
Thematic are 2: Risk assessment. Risk assessment is an interesting portion of the thematic discussions in this module. Because it asks the question of who should be most concerned within this category? The obvious answer is everyone. That’s why we do what we do is so that everyone is buying in so that the community works harmoniously to help each and quite honestly to help make sure they dont hurt each other. By knowing the risk factors associated with your community you can better identify them and identify ways to reduce those risks. Often, zoning and planning plays a big role in this area but the operators, inspectors, and first responders can help a great deal here. By engaging the community and helping them understand the safety factors and systems that should be in place you can help with the first step of educating. Risk assessment is an on-going never ending process that is always building on itself. It takes stakeholders holding themselves accountable which is why communities always ask businesses to go through the government entity that they have charged with their safety and setting there standard/priorities on those entities attempting to enter the community. If they do not align with the community they are not approved.
Another thematic area is: Disaster Preparedness and Response. Disaster preparedness is the culmination of all of the themes associated with a disaster resilient community and thrives at its peak when there is participation, volunteering, and accountability. To be fully prepared for disasters doesnt mean that one entity is preparing for every type of disaster but rather that the community has created partnerships with intentions for resiliency towards the multitudes of different issues that can impact a community. Just today we saw a massive explosion in Lebanon where a fireworks center caught on fire and nearby ammonia nitrate that had no business being that close to something already so explosive became a community problem by impacting thousands of people and businesses. Another example that might be getting worn out but is the truth is the pandemic covid-19. The entire world in some capacity has been affected and each community has taken a slightly different approach on how to deal with it. Contingency plans and appropriate resources are crucial. As a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Specialist I can tell you the planning is never ending on how we deal with a multitude of issues which is why we are multifaceted and multi-discipline in make-up. But even we have limitations as to what our capabilities are and that’s why community approached resiliency plans are so important.
Works Cited
Twigg, J. (2009, November). Characteristics of a Disaster-Resilient Community. London, England.
Write a 150 word response to David post
Consider the following when you reply:
Is the reply mechanically clear enough for readers to understand the points?
Does the tone of the reply demonstrate respect towards the author of the original post?
Does the reply inspire further discussion among the class?
Research Article: Surviving the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Vitelli, R. (2014, November 03). Surviving the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Retrieved August 04, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/201411/surviving-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill (Links to an external site.)
The post-disaster psychological intervention I chose to write about is resiliency programs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a mental health condition when a person experienced a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, accident, act of terrorism, severe injury, war, rape or other violent and extreme assaults and has trouble recovering from it. If a person witnessed something horrific it can also trigger memories of intense physical or emotional despair. The symptoms of PTSD include but not limited to heightened reactions, fear, anger, sadness, depression, anxiety, nightmares, increased heartrate, and feeling isolated.
In the after math of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the worst oil spill in U.S. history (Vitelli, 2014), there were many research studies conducted in the communities where it affected the way people lived and the economic impact it had on their lives such as in the fishing industry. A great movie that portrays the disaster and the effects it had on the people and communities involved is Deepwater Horizon which came out in 2016. What I found most interesting was the different ways that PTSD and other long-term emotional problems can be treated or even help in their prevention. In one particular study conducted one year after the oil spill by two researchers from the University of South Alabama Jessica Shenesey and Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling, questioned residents regarding any PTSD symptoms, coping with the economic impacts, and questions about resilience in general. The telephone survey was administered by the U.S.A. Polling Group using a random digital dialing technique. Data collection occurred between April 1 and April 28, 2011. (Shenesey, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2015, p.254). Survey completion took approximately 20 minutes and consisted of 68 question.
The results discovered that adults living in affected communities described themselves as resilient and able to cope with what had happened to their communities. (Shenesey, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2015). Their research also surfaced that people who didnt report any PTSD symptoms were also the ones who thought of themselves as having a high sense of resiliency. Additionally, men rated themselves more resilient than women likely due to stereotypical labels that society claims men are less emotional when faced with adversity and express a stronger element than women. Romeo Vitelli, Ph.D who authored Surviving the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, wrote that the researchers who conducted the study identified that there are some known problems with the way they conducted the survey. One, which it was a long phone survey that many people didnt want to participate, and two, there was no way to tell if the residents had exciting trauma or symptoms of PTSD prior to, and not related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. (Vitelli, 2014). This was one of the areas of improvement which I perceived after reading the study.
Programs that have been the most effective in the mental health community to treat or prevent PTSD, have components that boost protective factors. Positive characteristics such as positive thinking, using humor, have a spiritual contribution, flexibility, and resiliency have proven to help those struggling with recovery. Improving individuals’ sense of resiliency may help mitigate psychosocial and mental health effects over time. (Shenesey, Langhinrichsen-Rohling, 2015). Additionally, programs that are geared towards prevention, have had an optimistic outlook on children and young people that have been taught resilience and strategies to deal with certain types of stress prior to, during, and after a disaster, have greater level of resilience to any long-term related traumatic event. I feel that this approach of prevention versus reaction to disasters has a high cultural and societal value and should be funded further than it has been.
References
Vitelli, R. (2014, November 03). Surviving the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Retrieved August 04, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/201411/surviving-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill (Links to an external site.)
Shenesey, Jessica & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, Jennifer. (2015). Perceived resilience: Examining impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill one-year post-spill. Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy. 7(3):252-258
