# Session No. 24

### Course Title: Disaster Response Operations and Management

### 

### Session Title: Midterm Exam

## Time: 50 minutes

**Objectives:**

24.1 Test students' knowledge of the concepts, issues, functions and
processes related to disaster response operations and management.

**Scope:**

**During this session, the professor distributes and collects a midterm
exam that tests the degree to which students have understood the
information presented up to this point in the course.**

**Session Requirements:**

Instructor Preparation:

1.  Review sample exam provided in this session of the instructor guide
    and adapt as necessary (based on the required readings and content
    of the course provided thus far). Copy sufficient number of exams
    for the students enrolled in the course.

2.  Professors may contact Dr. David McEntire for the answer key to this
    test. He can be reached at (940) 565-2996 or <mcentire@unt.edu>. If
    there is no reply after one week, professors may contact Barbara
    Johnson at <Barbara.l.johnson@dhs.gov>. As a last resort, professors
    may contact Wayne Blanchard at
    [wayne.blanchard@dhs.gov](../wayne.blanchard@dhs.gov).

**Remarks:**

1\. It is expected that there will be logical reasons for changing the
content or format of this exam. Professor interests, course
title/description, student comprehension, quarter/semester schedules,
and other factors may justify alterations of this exam. The professor
may wish to add or delete questions, or focus more heavily on objective
or subjective exam questions. In any case, the professor should read
through the exam before its administration.

2\. The professor may desire to use scantron forms (bubble sheets) to
speed up grading for the objective portion of the exam.

3\. Due to time limits of exams, the professor will probably want to
select only a few of the objective questions for testing purposes.

Objective 24.1

Administer the following exam:

**Midterm Exam**

**Disaster Response Operations and Management**

**I. True/False (write T or F next to the question or fill in A for true
and B for false)**

1.  Disaster response only takes place after a disaster has occurred.

2.  Natural hazards include hurricanes and landslides but not volcanic
    eruptions.

3.  Disease outbreaks and infestations are examples of biological
    hazards.

4.  A lightning strike may create a forest fire.

5.  We should not expect that natural hazards will create technological
    disasters.

6.  Disasters are a product of the natural and technological
    environments, but they are never influenced by human activity.

7.  Disasters may result in power outages and disrupt the flow of
    traffic.

8.  An emergency is not the same thing as a disaster or catastrophe.

9.  Sand bags are an example of an agent-generated demand.

10. An agent-generated demand is related to the logistical aspects of
    disaster response.

11. After a terrorist bombing, search and rescue would be considered a
    response-generated demand.

12. There are no state emergency management agencies.

13. A number of federal agencies participate in response and recovery
    operations for Presidentially declared disasters.

14. The private sector does not make any contributions during disaster
    response.

15. Businesses provide insurance but do not distribute important
    disaster information.

16. Churches and community groups donate food, water and clothing to
    disaster victims.

17. The American Red Cross helps individuals obtain information about
    the well-being of their loved ones who have been affected by
    disasters.

18. Emergent groups are formed after disaster in order to address
    demands that are not met by existing organizations.

19. Emergent groups participate in search and rescue operations only.

20. People exhibit irrational and anti-social behavior in disasters.

21. Looting is a major problem in every disaster.

22. Most disaster victims have more capability than they are given
    credit for.

23. Instead of evacuating when asked to do so, many people stay in harms
    way.

24. There were some instances of deviant behavior after the World Trade
    Center disaster.

25. Martial law is needed in most disasters.

26. The traditional model of disasters has been referred to as the civil
    defense, command and control, bureaucratic and emergency services
    perspective.

27. Emergency managers only find out about disasters via the media.

28. When an emergency manager learns about disasters, he or she should
    naturally desire to obtain more information about the impacts and
    ongoing response operations.

29. When a major disaster occurs, the emergency manager should activate
    the EOC as soon as possible.

30. Warnings are important as they allow people to take measures for
    protection.

31. All warning systems have the same strengths and weaknesses.

32. Most people hear about disasters from the media.

33. A reverse 911 system uses a computer to dial multiple phone numbers
    in a pre-determined area to relay important disaster information.

34. The purpose of evacuation is to move people to safer areas.

35. Some people will not evacuate as they fear looting or re-entry
    delays.

36. Education and experience in prior disasters has no bearing on
    evacuation.

37. People may evacuate by bus and plane, but not by boat.

38. All of the people that evacuate utilize public shelters.

39. Sometimes it is actually safer to shelter in place than leave a
    disaster area.

40. Horizontal evacuation implies going up to a higher floor in an
    office building.

41. Search and rescue relates to collapsed structures only.

42. Research reveals that social relationships may play an important
    role in search and rescue operations.

43. Those participating in search and rescue must be aware of the
    dangers inherent in the performance of this function.

44. Urban Search and Rescue Teams have special equipment and training,
    but they often arrive too late to save most victims of disaster.

45. A single disaster may generate hundreds and even thousands of
    injured victims.

46. Disaster victims will arrive at the hospital in waves.

47. A DMAT is on 24/7 standby and may be mobilized to the site of a
    disaster within 12 hours.

48. It may be difficult to determine the exact number of deaths in major
    disasters.

49. The identification of bodies can be extremely disturbing for victim
    relatives.

50. The media never presents problems for emergency managers and first
    responders.

51. It is always wise to have a designated PIO to deal with the media.

52. There are often too many clothing donations after a disaster.

53. There is no way for the emergency manager to limit donation
    management problems when a disaster strikes.

54. In-kind donations are generally preferred to cash donations.

55. Volunteer management is an easy task in disasters.

56. Poor debris management may create public health concerns.

57. Debris management is one of the most expensive functions to be
    performed after a disaster strikes.

58. The best way to ensure effective debris management is to have a plan
    in place before a disaster strikes.

59. The volume of debris can be reduced by chipping and recycling.

60. Engineers and building inspectors will only be involved in damage
    assessment.

61. Damage assessment is a one-time occurrence.

62. Damage assessment can be very dangerous.

63. It is not necessary to conduct a damage assessment in order to
    receive disaster assistance.

64. A federal declaration can be given before a disaster strikes.

65. Presidentially declared disasters are based on the number of homes
    destroyed, estimated financial losses, unemployment and other
    factors related to the disaster.

66. Disaster declarations have no relation to politics.

67. IA stands for impact assessment.

68. Disaster victims will never receive tax assistance after a disaster.

69. In order to obtain disaster assistance, victims must call the
    National Processing Service Center.

70. The DRC is a place where disaster victims can obtain information
    about disaster programs and applications procedures.

71. Public assistance is directed towards citizens and private
    corporations.

72. The federal government will not provide assistance to replace public
    utilities.

73. A kickoff meeting is the first meeting where federal officials
    discuss public assistance with the affected community.

74. Response personnel cannot be affected by critical incident stress.

75. One way to help reduce the possibility of psychological disturbances
    is to debrief emergency workers after a potentially traumatic event.

**II. Matching (select the best answer)**

76\. Natural hazard a. Sabotage or terrorism

77\. Biological hazard b. Tornado or severe weather

78\. Technological hazard c. Nuclear accident and computer failure

79\. Civil hazard d. SARS outbreak

80\. Uncertainty a. A feeling that we need to do things now

81\. Urgency b. People become involved in response

82\. Emergency consensus c. Verbal agreements suffice

83\. Expansion of citizenship role d. Lack of information

84\. De-emphasis of contractual relationships e. Agreement on priorities

85\. EMTs a. Restore utilities

86\. Department of Public Works b. Deal with mass fatalities

87\. Coroner's Office c. Provide medical care

88\. Mayor d. Assist with evacuations

89\. Police Officers e. Declare disasters

90\. Dept. of Housing and Urban Affairs a. Provides disaster loans

91\. Environmental Protection Agency b. Issues warnings

92\. Small Business Administration c. Helps provide long-term sheltering

93\. Federal Bureau of Investigation d. Deals with hazardous materials

94\. National Weather Service e. Investigates terrorist attacks

95\. Senses a. Relays information to field responders

96\. Feedback from field personnel b. Includes satellites and flood
gauges

97\. Dispatch c. Feeling an earthquake or seeing rain

98\. Skywarn d. Radio traffic from police and fire

99\. Technology e. Helps to warn of impending severe weather

100\. Emergency sheltering a. Staying at a friend's house

101\. Temporary sheltering b. Rented apartments

102\. Temporary housing c. Includes schools, churches and stadia

103\. Permanent housing d. Returning to repaired home

104\. Local media a. Focus on what the President is doing

105\. Regional media b. Illustrate the global impact

106\. National media c. Provide detailed stories about individuals

107\. International media d. Examine how multiple cities are responding

108\. Vegetative debris a. Asphalt and concrete

109\. Aggregates b. Damaged brick and insulation

110\. Construction and demolition debris c. Broken tree limbs and yard
waste

111\. Debris removal a. Repairs to rivers, dikes and dams

112\. Protective measures b. Replacement of structures and contents

113\. Water control c. A type of emergency assistance

114\. Road systems d. Reduce or eliminate threats to life and public
health

115\. Public buildings e. Repairs to streets and lights

**III. Multiple Choice (circle the correct answer)**

116\. A flood has occurred and requires sandbags. Obtaining sandbags and
volunteers to fill them would be an example of:

a\. Disaster recovery

b\. An agent-generated demand

c\. A response-generated demand

d\. Answers a and c

e\. None of the above

117\. Which organization participates in federally declared disasters
but is not a federal agency?

a\. Department of Labor

b\. American Red Cross

c\. National Emergency Management Association

d\. Department of Homeland Security

e\. Salvation Army

118\. What is an example of an established organization?

a.  The Red Cross

b.  A fire department

c.  Churches

d.  Victim advocate group

e.  None of the above

119\. What is an example of an expanding organization?

a.  The Red Cross

b.  A fire department

c.  Churches

d.  Victim advocate group

e.  None of the above

120\. The professional model:

a\. is concerned about problem solving

b\. relies heavily on networking

c\. assumes that disasters will require improvisation

d\. does not focus heavily on one type of disaster at the expense of
another

e\. all of the above

121\. Triage:

a\. means to sort

b\. is performed at hospitals only

c\. is based on a color code only

d\. is not a controversial approach to emergency medical care

e\. answers b and c only

122\. Mass fatality management may require:

a\. Coroners

b\. Morticians

c\. Medical examiners

d\. answers a, b and c

e\. answers a and b only

123\. Which of the following help in mass fatality management:

a\. A Community emergency response team

b\. DMAT

c\. DMORT

d\. USAR

e\. USACE

124\. An example of "intrusive manner" is:

a\. The media exaggerates the impact of a disaster

b\. News reporters sneak in to the hospital to interview a patient

c\. The media films disturbing images

d\. News reporters fail to cooperate with officials

e\. The media relays warning information to the public

125\. Which of the following is not a typical problem associated with
damage assessment?

a\. An inability to detect damages initially

b\. Double counting

c\. Coordination of area assignments

d\. Divergent forms and purposes

e\. All of the above are problems in damage assessment

126\. Government officials manage recovery operations in the:

a\. DRC

b\. NPSC

c\. NEMIS

d\. DFO

e\. NIMS

127\. Common signs of PTSD include:

a\. Decrease in alcohol abuse

b\. Increased energy

c\. Nightmares

d\. answers a and c

e\. Improvement in family relationships

**IV. Short Answer and Essay**

128\. Why is disaster response necessary?

129\. What factors are making disaster response operations more
challenging in the future?

130\. How is response related to the other phases of disaster?

131\. Explain what a hybrid, complex or compound disaster is and provide
an example.

132\. Discuss the typical negative consequences disasters produce.

133\. Explain the difference between an agent and response generated
demand and provide one example of each.

134\. Discuss three of the main goals of emergency management.

135\. What are the distinct roles of local, state and federal emergency
management agencies in disasters?

136\. Draw the DRC Typology and explain its elements in detail.

137\. Discuss human behavior in disasters and note its relation to myths
and exaggerations.

138\. A great deal of literature addresses the traditional and
professional models of emergency management. Explain the assumptions and
recommendations of each model, and explain why one should be preferred
over another.

139\. Describe how an emergency manager obtains information about an
impending or actual disaster.

140\. Explain how an emergency manager will activate the EOC and what
things need to be considered to do so in an effective manner.

141\. Explain how a warning is issued and what variables may determine
if people heed it.

142\. Research has illustrated that evacuation is related to a number of
variables. List three and explain their impact on whether or not people
flee the scene of an impending or actual disaster.

143\. What issues and problems relating to sheltering should emergency
managers be aware of and how can they be overcome?

144\. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of relying solely on FEMA
Urban Search and Rescue Teams.

145\. Explain the ethical dilemmas associated with triage.

146\. Discuss at least five considerations for effective mass fatality
management.

147\. Describe the vital role of the media in emergency management.

148\. Donations often flow to the scene of a disaster. Explain why this
is both good and bad.

149\. Define the concept of donations management.

150\. Identify the diverse types of damage assessment and discuss the
means by which they may be conducted.

151\. Explain the process of declaring a disaster.

152\. Pick one of the following processes and discuss how it takes place
after a disaster: individual assistance and public assistance.

153\. Identify the common signs of PTSD.

154\. Describe the reasons why a disaster may result in PTSD and the
steps that can be taken to resolve it.

155\. Select any function mentioned thus far in the course. Discuss the
academic literature regarding the function and how the findings relate
to the practice of emergency management.