User:TheBasher55/sandbox

The first article I discussed was about suicide attacks. I found the article had a couple questionable items like integration of a section about different terms used (homicide, genocide terrorism), which didn't contribute to the overall objective of the article. Also I critiqued the definition the author used in terms of him/her saying the perpetrator "expects to die". I argued that in the definition of suicide attack, the perpetrator must die or it is just terrorism alone. The other post I commented on was about Abu Hafs al-masri brigades. Overall this article lacked credible sources to back the data which lost the total credibility of the article. I recommended that the author do more research to give a better background to the group and make more about the group rather than just question if they even exist. Brett Asher

The topic I choice to do my project over is the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. The overview and fact section is pretty well established and up to date but there are other sections that need improvement. In concurrence with the leadership section, I would like to expand this to include networking and the various groups or agencies that work in line with the OEM. In particular, I want to expand the history section and do more research into the various situations they have participated in and how their involvement helped the problem. The division section states the different divisions and their purpose but they can be connected with events in the history section to help show readers examples how their work is done with real life examples. Brett Asher 3/24/17

My article, "Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, is currently a great outline for me to improve upon in the coming weeks. The lead section of the article is very well established and seems to cover the basics and sets a good outline for the rest of the article. On the actual OEM website, it is states that the organization was actually founded in 1951 by legislative action and the current article says it was created in 2003. I believe it should be mentioned in the lead paragraph and the info box instead of just down in the history. I would also like to expand on the history of the organization since its founding. Another improvement I would like to make to the article is the funding section. With more research, I would like to figure out how all the funds are divided out to certain projects and programs. I know most Oklahomans have a major concern with funding in the state and this could be valued information to them and others. Next I would like to update the leadership section. There is actually more than just two leadership positions that are listed on the current article and I would like to mention all of them into the article. The biggest change I would like to make to the article is take the current information under functions and create a new section titled partnerships. The current information under functions basically lists other organizations that OEM works with and shouldn't be placed under functions. In addition to creating the new section, I would like to expand on the partnerships because the OEM is involved with the community and numerous organizations to make a difference when disaster strikes. In turn, I would like to fill the function sections with research I have done and information listed on the OEM website about the four phases of disaster and the way OEM handles them (Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation). The final Step that I would like to take on improving the article is creating a section that lists major events and examples of OEM in action. These examples can help the reader of the article apply the information they know to real life situations. Brett Asher 3/27/17

Outline With Changes:

Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

I.                  Lead Section

-Complete

II.               Mission

-Complete

III.            Leadership

-The OEM director reports directly to the Governor. The department is structured to reflect the four phases of emergency management (Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Mitigation) and allow delivery of services through local emergency managers.

Director - Albert Ashwood

Deputy Director - Michelann Ooten

Executive Assistant - Joyce Stribling

Chief Financial Officer - Sandy Henry

Preparedness/Response Manager - Steve Palladino

Recovery/Mitigation Deputy Manager - Alden Graybill

EOC Manager - Putnam Reiter

Grants Program Manager - Bonnie McKelvey

Public Information Officer - Keli Cain

Special Projects Officer - Zach Stanford

Individual Assistance Officer - Luke Pratt

Public Assistance Officer - Mike Teague

State Hazard Mitigation Officer - Matthew Rollins  

(I couldn’t find when each position was created).

IV.            Functions

-Before Disaster Strikes, OEM:

·        Writes and updates comprehensive emergency plans.

·        Offers assistance to governments and private industry in developing emergency plans and conducts emergency exercises to test those plans.

·        Provides training opportunities to emergency management professionals, first responders and others.

·        Promotes and advocates emergency preparedness and awareness.

·        Works to improve technology and communications capabilities. 

When Disaster Strikes, OEM:

·        Coordinates a fast, efficient and effective response by all state departments and agencies.

·        Supports and assists the response efforts of more than 400 local governments.

·        Facilitates and coordinates state resources such as generators and water to provide necessary assistance.

·        Provides timely and accurate information to the public through the media and local emergency management.

·        Works with appropriate federal departments and agencies to obtain needed resources.

After Disaster Strikes, OEM:

·        Supports and assists local governments with their recovery efforts.

·        Develops public information messages to advise the public to report damage and file for assistance.

·        Coordinates the implementation of federal assistance in a presidentially declared disaster.

·        Creates or assists with mitigation projects to lessen the effects of future disasters such as drainage projects, Safe Room rebate programs, NOAA weather radios and reverse 911 systems.

V.               History and Accomplishments

-Last year, OEM delivered more than $76 million in federal disaster assistance and $4 million in state disaster assistance through the State Emergency Fund. This disaster assistance benefitted individuals and business owners, as well as municipalities, counties, school districts, rural water districts, tribal nations, and electric cooperatives impacted by Oklahoma disasters and emergencies

Including tornadoes, wildfires, floods and ice storms.

• A total of 88 local jurisdictions were approved to receive $1.9 million to fund local emergency management programs through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The EMPG program has a minimum 50%

local cost-share requirement.

• The Sooner-Safe safe Room Rebate Program allowed Oklahomans to further benefit from the nationally acclaimed initiative first born here following the May 1999 tornado outbreak. The program provides a 75% rebate, up to $2,000, to eligible Oklahomans who install safe rooms. More

than 50,000 people have registered for the program since its launch in 2011, with more than $5 million in safe room rebates delivered to Oklahoma homeowners.

• OEM will surpass the goal of six closeouts again in FY-2016. It is projected that up to five Public Assistance Grants and five Hazard Mitigation grants will be closed by June 30, 2017.

-Safe Schools 101 trains architects, engineers, emergency managers, and other local officials to assess school buildings for safe refuge areas already existing in schools as well as options for new safe rooms. Classes feature lecture, hands-on exercises and onsite assessments for local schools.

• OK Emergency mobile app, completed in 2015, provides severe weather preparedness information for Oklahomans before a disaster and the latest updates from emergency management partners when a disaster occurs. The Department can also collect photos and description of damage from residents or others after a disaster.

• OEM distributes an average of $70 million in Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation grants to sub-recipients annually.

• Working with the Oklahoma 9-1-1 Authority to support 9-1-1 services in Oklahoma; and

• Continue to develop the Earthquake Addendum to the State Emergency Operations Plan.

VI.            Budget

-         OEM is divided into five programs for their budget. 95% of the Budget goes to Disaster Assistance, 4% goes to Operations, 1% goes to ISD Data Processing, and 0% for Administration and Disaster Field Office Administration. The revenue is divided up into three sources. 24.7% comes from federal source, 1.3% revolving source, .03% from state appropriated revenue, and the rest, 73.7%, from other sources.  

VII.         Divisions

-Complete

VIII.       See also

-Complete

IX.            References

-Hogan, David E., et al. "Emergency department impact of the Oklahoma City terrorist bombing." Annals of emergency medicine 34.2 (1999): 160-167. (Provides facts about OKC bombing response).

-Daley, W. Randolph, et al. "Risk of tornado-related death and injury in Oklahoma, May 3, 1999." American Journal of Epidemiology 161.12 (2005): 1144-1150. (Provides facts about Tornado disaster).

-https://www.ok.gov/OSF/documents/bud18.pdf (Budget).

X.               External Links

-https://www.ok.gov/

-http://www.oema.us/

-https://www.ok.gov/OEM/documents/012011localem.pdf

4/25/2017 ~~~

Road Map II (5/4/2017)

Leadership:

The Director of Emergency Management is appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma with the advice and consent of the Oklahoma Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor. The Director is head of the Department as well as the chief advisor to the Governor on emergency management.

History:

The Department of Emergency Management was created in 2003 during the term of Governor Brad Henry by the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act of 2003.

Programs and services:  

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Managements provides two programs for Oklahoma citizens: Individual Assistance/Human Services Program and Public Assistance Program. In addition to these two programs, OEM provides three services to help with mitigation and preparedness for disasters: Safe Schools 101, OK- WARN, and incident hotline.

The Individual Assistance Program/Human Services Program is predicated on connecting citizens individually and local/small business owners with OEM. This program guarantees that all local Oklahoma communities are up to date on all services available and technology in all four phases of disaster. In order to simplify this process, OEM uses a process of stages that ensures the most productive way for the program to benefit all communities.  The four stages are coordination (connects with organizations), Activation (training), Respond (Plan in place for sustainability after disaster strikes), and Engage (oversight of all operations).  In coordination with OEM there are other organizations who help with this program including The American Red Cross, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and FEMA.

The Public Assistance Program is primarily a funding program to ensure that funds are accessible to Oklahoma and local Oklahoma governments from federal funds.  These funds can also be provided to nonprofit organizations who participate in disaster relief.  The Process starts with FEMA which specifically approves public assistance programs. These programs receive their money either from federal funds or grants. The available funds are given from these programs to the State of Oklahoma, which then distributes the funds to local community applicants (Oklahoma local communities must apply for federal money with reason for aid). Most of these funds are used to rebuild infrastructure damage from disasters. 

The Safe Schools 101 service is a voluntary option to all schools in Oklahoma that allows for volunteer expert architects and engineers to assess the structure of schools and the possibility for the implementation for safe rooms. This service was implemented by the OEM after the deadly 2013 tornado outbreak that directly affected fifty-four schools in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Weather Alert Remote Notification (OK-WARN) is a weather alert system that specifically was created to benefit the deaf and hard-of-hearing. With the fear of deaf and hard-of-hearing not being able to access knowledge of incoming weather events. OK-WARN provides these Oklahoma citizens with current weather events via specific pagers or email. This program is in accordance with the Individual Assistance/Human Services Program to help ensure local communities have resources available to help those specific people like those who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

The Incident Resource Hotline service ultimately allows for local government and emergency responders the ability to pre-identify resources which can be transported and the ability to know exactly what they’re receiving when requested (OEM).

Reference:

https://www.ok.gov/OEM/    

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