The Distributed Functions of Emergency Management and Homeland Security: An Assessment of Professions Involved in Response to Disasters and Terrorist Attacks

The Distributed Functions of Emergency Management and Homeland Security outlines the roles and responsibilities of various individuals and agencies involved in homeland security and all aspects of emergency management. Each chapter focuses on the practical and applied aspects of a range of public servants in various departments and the organizations that they represent.

Rather than presenting a theoretical exploration alone, the book examines the practical knowledge and hands-on skills related to various functions and how their decisions and actions play into the larger framework of safety and security ―in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Every professional has a unique and integral part to play in fulfilling their roles and obligations, whether it be in relation to prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response or recovery operations. Personnel that frequently come to mind in such scenarios include emergency managers, geographers and land-use planners, EMTs and paramedics, fire fighters, police officers, public health officials, nurses, public administrators, and public information officers. And while these individuals are integral to homeland security and emergency management, there are other professionals that also perform essential duties that―while they aren’t first-to-mind―are vital to efforts relating to terrorism and disasters; this includes pilots in the aviation sector, the military, attorneys, psychologists, and forensic professionals serving in pathology, DNA, and dentistry roles.

Chapters provide a holistic rendering of the homeland security and emergency management landscape to present all these various professional capabilities and contributions. This includes how current functions are coordinated as well as how future efforts might change relative to a more proactive, all-hazards and holistic approach. As such, the book will be a useful resource for students and practitioners to understand the dynamic professions―and various disciplines and fields―that impact disaster and terrorism preparedness and response capabilities.

David A. McEntire is a professor in both the Emergency Services and Criminal Justice Departments at Utah Valley University. He teaches emergency management, and national security. His expertise is in emergency management theory, vulnerability reduction, community preparedness, response coordination, terrorism and homeland security. He has received a number of grants which have allowed him to conduct research on disasters and emergency management systems in Australia, California, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, New York, New Zealand, Texas and Utah. Dr. McEntire has written 5 books and published over 135 articles. He has presented his research in both domestic and international conferences. He is the recipient of FEMA’s Dr. B. Wayne Blanchard Award for Academic Excellence and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award from the University of Central Florida.