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MEXICO’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: MORE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT

MEXICO’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: MORE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT. Heriberto Urby , Ph.D. FEMA HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE June 2011 . Outline of Presentation. Introduction Significant hazards and vulnerability in Mexico Major disaster history – three of top 100 worst disasters

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MEXICO’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: MORE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT

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  1. MEXICO’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: MORE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT HeribertoUrby, Ph.D. FEMA HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE June 2011

  2. Outline of Presentation • Introduction • Significant hazards and vulnerability in Mexico • Major disaster history – three of top 100 worst disasters • Law and organization • Emergency management activities • Lessons for other countries • Conclusion and Recommendations

  3. INTRODUCTION • More serious, intense, and frequent disasters are expected, especially in densely-populated urban areas • Mexico must continue to bring its emergency management system to standards necessary for humankind in the 21st century

  4. Significant hazards and vulnerabilities • Earthquakes • Tornadoes • Floods • Wildfires • Droughts • Mudslides • Tsunamis • Gas Explosions

  5. Major disaster history • 3 worst disasters among world’s top 100 have occurred in Mexico • Attitudes of fatalism are still strong • Mexico’s large urban areas are permanently on the verge of disaster

  6. Law and Organization • Major emergency management laws of this nation • Systems of Civil Protection, etc. • Mexico’s organizational structure • Highly bureaucratic and hierarchical (i.e., vertical) organizational chart for emergency management

  7. Emergency management activities • Mitigation – better land use planning; educating the public (especially children) about hazards and ways to not only reduce but also prevent risk • Preparedness – developed response procedures, installation of warning systems, evacuations plans, simulation exercises, and training of emergency personnel • Response – bring damaged services and systems back online, search and rescue, food and shelter programs, how to better deal with emergent groups • Recovery – help restore normal operations to the community fast and effectively. Restoration of power, water and other municipal services

  8. (Negative) Lessons Learned • Many first responders are not certified; this can (and often does) create a disaster-within-a-disaster. • Collaboration among emergency managers in the past has been very minimal (i.e., more collaboration is needed). • Public intervention needed to protect life, livelihood, and property has been insufficient, erratic, and late in coming (Puente, 1999).

  9. (Positive) Lessons Learned • Prevention, through reduction of vulnerability, may contribute to the creation of a culture of safety. • If professionalism in EM is improved, emergency managers’ effectiveness will increase.

  10. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS • Mexico’s EM system has improved in last 2-3 decades; more to 21st century standards, however more progress is needed • Encourage participation in “simulacros,” and more collaborative public-private endeavors • The government could afford more incentives and opportunities to enhance public participation in the EM system

  11. THANK YOU! • Questions • Comments

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