CEM Emergency Management Principles & Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which phase of the emergency management cycle focuses on actions taken immediately before, during, and after a disaster to save lives?
- Mitigation
- Preparedness
- Response (Correct answer)
- Recovery
Correct answer: Response
The Response phase encompasses immediate life-safety actions taken before, during, and directly after an emergency event.
Question 2: The Stafford Act primarily authorizes the federal government to do which of the following?
- Establish FEMA as an independent agency
- Provide disaster assistance to states and localities (Correct answer)
- Mandate state emergency management plans
- Create the National Incident Management System
Correct answer: Provide disaster assistance to states and localities
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the President to provide federal disaster assistance to states, tribes, and localities.
Question 3: Which concept describes the ability of a community to anticipate, resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, and recover from hazard events?
- Vulnerability
- Resilience (Correct answer)
- Capacity
- Sustainability
Correct answer: Resilience
Resilience is the capability of a community to withstand and recover from disasters while adapting to changing conditions.
Question 4: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between two jurisdictions for mutual aid is best described as:
- A legally binding contract requiring payment for services
- A formal agreement outlining terms for sharing resources during emergencies (Correct answer)
- A federal mandate for interstate cooperation
- An internal policy document for a single agency
Correct answer: A formal agreement outlining terms for sharing resources during emergencies
An MOU is a formal agreement between parties that outlines the terms and conditions for sharing resources and assistance during emergencies.
Question 5: The principle of 'unity of command' in emergency management means:
- All agencies report to the federal government
- Each person reports to only one supervisor (Correct answer)
- Command must be unified under a single agency
- All resources are controlled from one location
Correct answer: Each person reports to only one supervisor
Unity of command means each individual has only one designated supervisor, preventing conflicting orders and confusion.
Question 6: Which federal doctrine requires that emergency management build on what exists locally and only involve higher levels of government when local capacity is exceeded?
- Federalism
- Subsidiarity
- Tiered response (Correct answer)
- Dual federalism
Correct answer: Tiered response
The tiered response doctrine holds that emergencies are managed at the lowest capable level, escalating upward only when resources are insufficient.
Question 7: The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is significant because it:
- Creates a federal emergency response fund
- Allows states to request and receive mutual aid from other states (Correct answer)
- Establishes FEMA's authority over state emergency plans
- Mandates minimum training standards for local emergency managers
Correct answer: Allows states to request and receive mutual aid from other states
EMAC is an interstate compact ratified by Congress that provides a framework for states to share resources across state lines during emergencies.
CEM Emergency Management Principles & Practices 2
Which phase of the emergency management cycle focuses on actions taken immediately before, during, and after a disaster to save lives?