Journal on My Community’s Disaster Preparation

My community is vulnerable to many natural disasters. The greatest risk comes from
tropical storms and hurricanes. Other risks, though comparatively minor, include flooding,
droughts, and tornados. Dealing with all these risks requires concerted efforts of the
community, private and non-governmental organizations, and local, state, and federal
government agencies. This paper examines the role of the governor in preparation for and
response to the many risks that the community faces.
Governor’s Responsibilities

The state’s governor plays an important role in preparation and response to
emergency/disaster situations. Before a disaster occurs, the governor is responsible for
establishing an effective emergency response team that will ensure that any time a disaster
occurs, loss of life and property is kept at a minimum. Secondly, the governor is responsible
for compiling all important emergency management information and assessing the
capabilities and resources of the state for dealing with emergency situations of different
magnitudes.
After establishing an emergency response team and assessing the state’s capabilities
for emergencies, the governor is responsible for the development and implementation of
disaster mitigation strategy. A disaster mitigation strategy is supposed to reduce the
vulnerability of the state to disasters, increase effectiveness and efficiency of response to
disasters, and promote quick recovery after disasters.

Confidence in the State’s Disaster Preparedness

I believe that my state is adequately prepared for any emergencies. The State of
Florida has endured many disasters in its history. After each disaster, lessons learnt are

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usually incorporated into plans for managing the next disaster. Thus, over time, the state has
become adept at preparing for and managing disasters of different types and magnitude. It not
only has highly experienced disaster management personnel but also adequate resources for
disaster mitigation and response.