This document discusses developing an emergency response plan for the Atlanta, Georgia community. It identifies three major disasters that occur annually in Atlanta - winter storms, hurricanes, and floods. Winter storms can dump several inches of snow, causing flight cancellations, school closures, and disruptions to power and other services. Hurricanes bring strong winds, storm surge, heavy rain, tornadoes, and have caused deaths in the past. Floods are a common occurrence after heavy rain or snow melt, with one catastrophic flooding in 2009 causing over $500 million in property damage. The response plan will include mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery strategies to address these three disasters.

3. Running head: EMERGENCY OPERATION
Topic: Introduction to emergency operation, and types of emergencies and disasters
Order type: Essay Subject: Disaster management
Academic level: Masters Style: APA Language: English US
Pages: 3, double spaced Sources: 5
Written by https://writersperhour.com
Task Details:
Develop an emergency response plan (ERP) for a specific community which is subjected to at
least three major emergencies or disasters each year. Select a community for your Session Long
Project. What are the three types of disasters or emergencies, other than routine emergencies, that
you intend to plan for in your ERP? Briefly discuss why you selected these disasters.

4. EMERGENCY OPERATION
Introduction to Emergency Operation; Types of Emergencies and Disasters
Name
Institution
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5. EMERGENCY OPERATION
Introduction to Emergency Operation; Types of Emergencies and Disasters
Introduction
The paper will seek to identify a particular community and find out the various major
emergencies or disasters it faces. It will further focus on the operational requirements necessary
for managing the established emergencies. The selected area of study is the Atlanta, Georgia
community. Among the various disasters that the community faces or is prone to, include the
winter storms, hurricanes, and floods.
Types of Emergencies Faced by the Atlanta Community
As noted by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (2015), disaster and
emergencies entail a widespread economic, material, human or environmental impacts that
exceed the affected community’s capacity to cope up with them using its resources. The study’s
findings revealed that Atlanta is not immune from both natural and human-made disasters.
Winter Storms
The Metro-Atlanta faces bitter arctic blast, which sweeps the south from Texas State to
Carolina. According to Copeland & Rice (2015), the winter storm dumps up to four inches of
snow. The occurrence of the winter snow in the Metro-Atlanta causes devastating losses such as
the cancelation of commercial flights while others are delayed. Copeland and Rice (2015)
reported that there was a cancelation of 1,350 commercial flights nationwide while thousands
were delayed. Also, buses reduced their operations with some only operating at night. In the case
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of extreme and severe winter storms, power, heat and communication services are adversely
affected for days. Besides, several schools were closed since the snow continued to fall.
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Hurricanes
The tropical systems from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean cause the hurricanes
that face Georgia community. According to the American Radio Relay League, Inc. (2002), when
this community experiences such a calamity, wind gusts over 74 mph while the torrential rain
damages Georgia’s shoreline. Besides, hurricanes cause storm surge through its direct hit that
result in a large dome of water. According to the American Radio Relay League, Inc. (2002)
report, the water dome can even exceed 50 miles wide and sweeps across the coastline where the
hurricane’s eye makes a landfall. It also brings up to 6 inches rain while forcing winds that reach
the Georgia’s mountain regions. Besides, hurricanes bring damaging tornadoes. Since the 1800s
when Georgia faced five major hurricanes,the community has experienced several of them. For
instance, in 1898, it hit Savannah, causing 179 deaths, 17 deaths in 1911, 50 deaths in 1940 and 1
death in 1947 (World Confederation for Physical Therapy, 2015).
Floods
They are another major disaster that is experienced by the community of Atlanta,
Georgia. Copeland and Rice (2015) reported that floods are the most common of all natural
disasters. They are mostly experienced after winter snow thaws, spring rains or heavy
thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service (2014), the Metro-Atlanta
experienced a catastrophic flooding in September 2009 after a prolonged rainfall that resulted
from the ample moisture whose source was the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean and Atlanta’s
topography. Within a period of 24 hours, the rain had hit 10 to 20 inches, leading to a historic
flash flooding, which made the river basins to remain swollen for weeks. The occurrence of this
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catastrophe significantly affected the community, as well as the economy with property damage
worth $500 million being reported in Georgia (National Weather Service, 2014). Also, the
flooding destroyed over 20,000 buildings.
Comprehensive Management of Disasters
Mitigation
To reduce the exposure to potential loss from floods, the study advocates for zoning and
building code requirements in high hazardous areas and a critical analysis of floodplain. Also, the
community of Atlanta, Georgia should be educated on measures to reduce losses in case of a
disaster.
Preparedness
The Atlanta, Georgia appreciates that it cannot eliminate its vulnerability to all hazards.
Therefore, it has authorities such as the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency
that has the necessary equipment and resources, and trained workforce involved in disaster
management.
Response
Upon the occurrence of a calamity, the necessary and quick actions are taken to save
property and lives, and also to contain the situation. This is achieved by sending an immediate
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notification to the responsible emergency management team so that it can organize for an
evacuation exercise and provide medical care to the injured victims.
Recovery
It involves the restoration of the community’s socio-economic life and infrastructure to
normal. When executing such an exercise, the concerned authorities should have mitigation as a
goal. The Atlanta, Georgia should respond by giving its community the basic human needs such
as shelter, food, and clothing. It can also bring necessary lifeline systems like power, water,
sewerage, and communication. Besides, individual societal needs such as maintaining the rule of
law, and offering crisis counseling are paramount (Federal Emergency Management Agency,
1996).
Motive for the Selection of the Disasters Discussed Above
The study purposely chose to address the winter snow, hurricane and floods as
emergencies facing the residents of Atlanta, Georgia since these catastrophes have a higher
probability of occurring because of the geographical location of Atlanta Georgia and the
topography. Therefore, it was paramount to understand them adequately so that the necessary
comprehensive emergency management practices can be introduced in the area.
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References
American Radio Relay League, Inc. (2002). Assessment of Potential Disasters in Georgia.
Retrieved July 16, 2015, from American Radio Relay League, Inc.: http://
www.gaares.org/ARESPlan/potential_disasters_in_georgia.html
Copeland, L., & Rice, D. (2015, February 25). Atlanta hunkers down as the winter storm sweeps
the South. Retrieved July 16, 2015, from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/
news/nation/2015/02/25/winter-weather-snow-ice-north-texas-carolinas/23985911/
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (1996). State and Local Guide 101: Guide for All-
Hazard Emergency Operations Planning. Owensboro, KY USA: FEMA Printing and
Publications.
National Weather Service. (2014, September 13). Atlanta Floods 5th Anniversary September
15-22, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2015, from National Weather Service: http://
www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/?n=atlanta_floods_anniv
World Confederation for Physical Therapy. (2015). What is disaster management? Retrieved
July 16, 2015, from World Confederation for Physical Therapy: http://www.wcpt.org/
disaster-management/what-is-disaster-management
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