1. Coerced Confusion? Local Emergency Policy Implementation After September 11.
- Author
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Hildebrand, Sean
- Subjects
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SEPTEMBER 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001 , *EMERGENCY management , *NATIONAL security , *GOVERNMENT policy , *SOLIDARITY - Abstract
This study examines what motivates local emergency management officials to implement federal emergency management and homeland security policies within their own departments since the September 11 attacks. Pre-existing research claims there is confusion among local governments about potential changes to the role local emergency management services should play before, during, and after natural, accidental, or terror related incidents (Waugh 2007; Birkland and Waterman 2008; Lindsay 2008; Esinger 2006). Meanwhile, additional research claims the new federal disaster management policies (The National Response Plan, National Incident Management System, and Incident Command System) lack flexibility in implementation expectations, and there is limited cohesion among the layers of government, actors, and interests involved (Waugh 2006; Esinger 2004; McEntire 2004; Haddow 2005; Schneider 2005; Lester and Krejci 2007; Takeda and Helms 2006; Wise 2002; Newman 2002; Nicholson 2007; Department of Homeland Security 2008; Birkland and Waterman 2008; Edwards 2007). Assuming these researchers are correct, my study asserts that something must spur local actors to comply with federal policy demands in their daily operations. The study examines the effects of coercion, defined as actions taken by the federal government to force state and local implementers to comply with federal policy demands, which is nothing new in the policy arena (Posner 2007). Available federal grant dollars for emergency management and homeland security practices could make a dramatic difference to local emergency management operations, forcing these actors to comply with federal policy demands, even if it is in a begrudging fashion that deviates from traditional Comprehensive Emergency Management (CEM) principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013