United States, Mountain States

The mountain states region of the United States is comprised of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. This region is subject to a variety of natural disasters that include floods, forest fires, winter storms, snowstorms, mudslides, and landslides. Each state works with the federal government as well as local communities to develop strategies for disaster preparation, mitigation, and response. Among the eight states included in the mountain states region, each also has its own department or agency charged with overseeing disaster management. To use a specific example that is indicative of disaster management within other mountain states, Arizona has designated the Division of Emergency Management to fulfill this function. Engaged in preparedness, operations, and recovery, this agency is able to provide mitigation planning, grant programs, hazard and prevention planning, and threat analysis to counties and cities within the state. Other state groups involved in this effort include the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, the Arizona State Land Department, the General Services Administration, and Arizona Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters. The Continuity Disaster Planning Unit heads up a multi-agency task force involved in various aspects of disaster management. The Arizona Red Cross maintains a Safe and Well Registry so that disaster victims are able to assure anxious family members that they have survived a disaster and to let them know how they can be contacted.

Like Arizona, Colorado and Montana have charged their respective divisions of emergency management with coordinating disaster management. In Idaho, New Mexico, and Wyoming, it is the Bureau of Homeland Security that performs the role of chief coordinator. Some states have also created entities to perform specific roles. For instance, while focusing on disaster mitigation, the Idaho Emergency Operations Center provides assistance, restoration, and rehabilitation, and coordination whenever disaster strikes. Utah assigns the responsibility for disaster management coordination to the Division of Emergency Service and Homeland Security.

Each state uses all federal assistance available to aid in recovery after disaster strikes. After declaring a state of emergency, the next step in this process is for the governor to request the president of the United States to issue a presidential disaster declaration. If approved, federal funds are allotted for recovery. Assistance may also be available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Social Security Administration, and Veterans Affairs.

[Page 728]The mountain states have begun using disaster mitigation tools such as hazard mapping and early warning systems to prevent disasters when possible, and reduce the number of lives lost during disasters that do occur. Local communities have also instituted disaster reduction programs and laws, including strict building codes, to which residents in hazard-prone areas must adhere. A variety of state and federal programs provide both physical and financial assistance to individuals and communities to promote disaster prevention.

Life in the 21st century is hazardous the world over because, in addition to natural disasters, individuals and communities are threatened by terrorism, epidemics, and pandemics. Each of the mountain states has, therefore, designated a particular agency to coordinate medical disaster management. For example, in Idaho, it is the Department of Health and Welfare that serves in this role.

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