FlexibilityFlexibility

A Vital Principle in A Vital Principle in

Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

The Importance of Proactive The Importance of Proactive Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

Rising disasters can not be reversed Rising disasters can not be reversed without itwithout it

It helps to identify what might occur and It helps to identify what might occur and how bad it could behow bad it could be

It helps to identify what needs to be done It helps to identify what needs to be done and by whomand by whom

It increases effectiveness and efficiency It increases effectiveness and efficiency

However . . .However . . .

It is impossible to eliminate all disastersIt is impossible to eliminate all disastersThe future promises more and worse eventsThe future promises more and worse eventsTerrorism remains a threatTerrorism remains a threatPeople live in dangerous areas due to People live in dangerous areas due to

benefitsbenefitsThere are no hazard free areasThere are no hazard free areasOur best efforts sometimes failOur best efforts sometimes failReversing risk will not be easyReversing risk will not be easyWe lack omniscienceWe lack omniscience

However . . . (cont.)However . . . (cont.)

It is impossible to eliminate disastersIt is impossible to eliminate disastersCitizens are apatheticCitizens are apatheticThere are many priorities in societiesThere are many priorities in societies Identifying correct balance among policy Identifying correct balance among policy

options is difficultoptions is difficultThere is a tension between experts and There is a tension between experts and

citizen preferencescitizen preferencesPerceived solutions may exacerbate the Perceived solutions may exacerbate the

disaster problemdisaster problem

However . . . (cont.)However . . . (cont.)

Disasters unfold in unpredictable and Disasters unfold in unpredictable and dynamic waysdynamic waysLeaders may be killedLeaders may be killedFire fighters may be victimsFire fighters may be victimsRoads and bridges may be damagedRoads and bridges may be damagedPower outages may occurPower outages may occurMedical personnel may be overwhelmedMedical personnel may be overwhelmedThe mass media may be unable to broadcastThe mass media may be unable to broadcast

However . . . (cont.)However . . . (cont.)

Disaster unfold in unpredictable and Disaster unfold in unpredictable and dynamic waysdynamic waysSupplies will arrive without being requestedSupplies will arrive without being requestedAltruism of citizens will tap emergency Altruism of citizens will tap emergency

management personnelmanagement personnelThe number of victims may generate new The number of victims may generate new

demands on federal disaster programsdemands on federal disaster programs

The Need for FlexibilityThe Need for Flexibility

““Under some circumstances . . . In dealing Under some circumstances . . . In dealing with less routine tasks, emergency with less routine tasks, emergency organizations need to preserve an ability organizations need to preserve an ability to respond flexibly, and, where necessary, to respond flexibly, and, where necessary, an ability to improvise appropriate counter-an ability to improvise appropriate counter-measures for the special needs of an measures for the special needs of an unanticipated situation which threatens to unanticipated situation which threatens to become a crisis.” (Turner 1994, 87).become a crisis.” (Turner 1994, 87).

What is Flexibility?What is Flexibility?

Dictionary.com defines flexibility as Dictionary.com defines flexibility as “susceptible of modification or adaptation; “susceptible of modification or adaptation; adaptable.”adaptable.”

Synonyms include: pliable, elastic, suppleSynonyms include: pliable, elastic, supple

What is Flexibility? (cont.)What is Flexibility? (cont.)

Flexibility is an attitude of accepting the Flexibility is an attitude of accepting the need for adjustment. It is related to need for adjustment. It is related to improvisation, innovation and creativity.improvisation, innovation and creativity.

ImprovisationImprovisation

““To improvise is to organize for emergency To improvise is to organize for emergency response during an event” (Kreps 1991, response during an event” (Kreps 1991, 34).34).

InnovationInnovation

Innovation refers “to any new and creative Innovation refers “to any new and creative program, procedure, or technique that a program, procedure, or technique that a community implements to meet the community implements to meet the demands of their environment” (Kendra demands of their environment” (Kendra and Wachtendorf 2006, 323).and Wachtendorf 2006, 323).

CreativityCreativity

Creativity is the development of “new Creativity is the development of “new alternatives with elements that achieve alternatives with elements that achieve fundamental objectives in ways previously fundamental objectives in ways previously unseen” (Kendra and Wachtendorf 2003, unseen” (Kendra and Wachtendorf 2003, 123).123).

Proactive Planning and Proactive Planning and Reactive FlexibilityReactive Flexibility

Lack of planning increases need for Lack of planning increases need for flexibilityflexibility

Planning does not prevent flexibilityPlanning does not prevent flexibilityPlans should allow for flexibilityPlans should allow for flexibilityPlanning often improves flexibilityPlanning often improves flexibilityFlexibility should not eclipse planningFlexibility should not eclipse planningPlanning and flexibility are requiredPlanning and flexibility are requiredBoth improve emergency managementBoth improve emergency management

Flexibility in DisastersFlexibility in Disasters

Disasters generate special, and often Disasters generate special, and often unforeseen, problems due to their size, unforeseen, problems due to their size, complexity, and dynamic naturecomplexity, and dynamic nature

Inflexibility in DisastersInflexibility in Disasters

““An inflexible response or an over-reliance An inflexible response or an over-reliance on some pre-ordained recipe can increase on some pre-ordained recipe can increase danger rather than eliminating it. When danger rather than eliminating it. When staff fail to recognize that existing systems staff fail to recognize that existing systems are inappropriate or breaking down, or [if are inappropriate or breaking down, or [if they fail] to acknowledge that routines are they fail] to acknowledge that routines are being adopted are inadequate, a being adopted are inadequate, a hazardous degree of inflexibility exists” hazardous degree of inflexibility exists” (Turner 1994, 87).(Turner 1994, 87).

A Case in PointA Case in Point

The ‘Catastrophe’ of Caporetto during The ‘Catastrophe’ of Caporetto during World War IWorld War I

A Better ApproachA Better Approach

““Emergency organizations need to Emergency organizations need to preserve an ability to respond flexibly, and, preserve an ability to respond flexibly, and, where necessary, an ability to improvise where necessary, an ability to improvise appropriate counter-measures for the appropriate counter-measures for the special needs of an unanticipated situation special needs of an unanticipated situation which threatens to become a crisis” which threatens to become a crisis” (Turner 1994, 87).(Turner 1994, 87).

Examples from 9/11Examples from 9/11

Shutting down Shutting down airspaceairspace

Passenger shelteringPassenger sheltering Evacuation of Evacuation of

ManhattanManhattan Emergency responseEmergency response Logistical support of Logistical support of

USAR teamsUSAR teams Medical careMedical care

SecuritySecurity Reconstitution of the Reconstitution of the

EOCEOC Resource Resource

managementmanagement Communications and Communications and

infrastructure repairinfrastructure repair Recovery of office Recovery of office

spacespace

Major LessonMajor Lesson

““The lesson here is that the response to The lesson here is that the response to the September 11the September 11thth tragedy was so tragedy was so effective because it was not centrally effective because it was not centrally directed and controlled. Indeed, it was directed and controlled. Indeed, it was flexible, adaptive and focused on handling flexible, adaptive and focused on handling problems as they emerged” (Tierney in problems as they emerged” (Tierney in Dynes 2003, 20).Dynes 2003, 20).

Flexibility and the Phases of Flexibility and the Phases of DisasterDisaster

““The study of innovation [or flexibility] in The study of innovation [or flexibility] in communities is central to the study of communities is central to the study of disaster, and innovation in communities is disaster, and innovation in communities is itself central to mitigating hazard, itself central to mitigating hazard, responding to emergencies, and responding to emergencies, and recovering afterward” (Kendra and recovering afterward” (Kendra and Wachtendorf 2003, 316).Wachtendorf 2003, 316).

Flexibility and the Phases of Flexibility and the Phases of DisasterDisaster

Examples from:Examples from:MitigationMitigationPreparednessPreparednessResponseResponseRecoveryRecovery

AssignmentAssignment

Paper on the benefit of flexibility during Paper on the benefit of flexibility during disasters or the applicability of flexibility in disasters or the applicability of flexibility in each phase of emergency managementeach phase of emergency management