Introduction
External and internal factors have a significant impact on the efficacy of risk assessment planning for various organizations and communities in regard to threat and vulnerability in emergency management. Communities can benefit much from well-thought-out plans for risk assessment if they can identify the threats facing them and the vulnerabilities. Identifying and understanding the specific threats that could arise is a crucial first step in emergency preparedness (Madhav et al., 2017). Local, state, and federal governments can all work together for the common good with the help of these mitigation plans. This essay will evaluate the risk assessment planning associated with a pandemic event scenario in New Jersey State and the effectiveness of the threat, vulnerability, and consequence of the assessments done.
Identification of the Risk
The first step is to identify the risks, and in this case, it is the risk of an influenza pandemic in New Jersey. A pandemic is an epidemic that affects a vast number of people and which covers a wide global area. An imminent and potentially catastrophic pandemic is a serious worry (New Jersey, 2019). The lack of human immunity to the virus poses a threat of a global pandemic. This viral disease is transmitted from one person to another. The New Jersey Race Migration Plan identifies foodborne diseases, Mumps, coronavirus, West Nile virus, and Zika virus as potential sources of disease epidemics (New Jersey, 2019).
Assessing and Analysis of the Risk
The second step is to assess and analyze the risk, which involves taking into consideration all the factors that could be affected by the risk. All 21 counties of New Jersey were hit by the pandemic. The dense population concentrations in New Jersey are a major factor for the rapid spread of the pandemic (New Jersey, 2019). Mosquitoes thrive in this area due to the huge body’s conducive nesting environment. The large water bodies also prompt the spread of West Nile Virus. The 46 positive West Nile virus test findings provided credence for the spread of the virus.
Strategies to mitigate the risk
The developed methods are the result of a thorough examination of the threats presented by the prior trademark. The New Jersey Mitigation Plan took into account at-risk areas and the potential scale of an outbreak in order to develop strategies to mitigate the risks. Another strategy used to mitigate risks was the tracking down of prior incidents related to pandemics. As of 2014, three global influenza pandemics had already occurred, each with far-reaching consequences for New Jersey. Nearly 50,000 deaths have been predicted as a result of another influenza pandemic (New Jersey, 2019). One strategy for reducing future risk and severity involved figuring this out.
Evaluation of the Strategies
The fourth step involves evaluating the strategies employed to curb the epidemic and determining their efficacy. When evaluating the efficacy of the developed plans, it is important to take into account not only the original threat but also the potential for future attacks. The presence of secondary and tertiary dangers, and the length of time the public has to prepare for them should also be evaluated (Madhav et al., 2017). Examples of the strategies include mandatory mask use and isolating the person in question from the rest of society. The success of the mandate will be assessed after it has been put into place through a series of questions.
Implementation and monitoring
The final phase, implementation and monitoring, begins now that the strategies are in motion. In this way, they could track the development of new threats, new variations, new outbreaks, and new vaccinations, and assess their efficacy (New Jersey, 2019). All of this is an ongoing process that does not end there. The implementation procedures will still be in place, and monitored for effectiveness. These plans will be regularly assessed, and revised as necessary in response to changing risk conditions (Madhav et al., 2017). This will require them to monitor the proper execution of the plan. Decisions about the success of a strategic plan can be difficult to make during pandemics. Infections evolve and adapt in a constant cycle. One clearly defined strategy may not be adequate in the event of another pandemic.
Threat and Vulnerability
The potential implications of a pandemic incident were discovered by a comprehensive and efficient threat vulnerability assessment conducted as part of the New Jersey Hazard Mitigation Plan. This was done by evaluating the vulnerability and threat by location within different states by including the various state facilities at risk and an estimate of the loss incurred (New Jersey, 2019). The entire state’s population was said to be at risk, no matter where they lived. As a result of these analyses, the mitigation plan can be relied upon to be consistent in its approach because of the variety of solutions considered in its creation. The validity can be accepted as legitimate because of the extensive research used to back up its conclusions.
Conclusion
Finally, the 2014 New Jersey Hazard Mitigation Strategy is thorough and comprehensive in its planning approach for a pandemic emergency, despite the lack of supporting activities to validate the plan. It is an updated version of the original plan from 2011, incorporating what was learnt and what worked well from that year, and it is meant to increase predictability by making better use of the data at hand. It detects potential threats and weaknesses in the event of a pandemic emergency and possesses all five qualities of an effective risk assessment plan. This plan helps New Jersey’s municipalities get ready for a disaster by outlining the state’s mitigation limitations and strengths.
References
Madhav, N., Oppenheim, B., Gallivan, M., Prime Mulembakani, Rubin, E., & Wolfe, N. (2017). Pandemics: Risks, Impacts, and Mitigation. Nih.gov. Web.
New Jersey State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Executive Summary. State of New Jersey 2014 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Web.