CMM Emergency Management & Preparedness 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a jurisdiction declares a local state of emergency, what authority does this typically grant a municipal manager?
- Authority to suspend all civil rights within the municipality
- Expanded authority to waive procurement rules and mobilize resources quickly (Correct answer)
- Ability to override state law without gubernatorial approval
- Automatic receipt of federal disaster funds
Correct answer: Expanded authority to waive procurement rules and mobilize resources quickly
A local emergency declaration typically enables expedited procurement, waiver of normal bidding requirements, and access to emergency reserve funds.
Question 2: Which FEMA grant program provides funding specifically to enhance state and local preparedness capabilities before a disaster occurs?
- Public Assistance Program
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
- Homeland Security Grant Program (Correct answer)
- Community Development Block Grant
Correct answer: Homeland Security Grant Program
The Homeland Security Grant Program funds planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercises to strengthen preparedness capabilities.
Question 3: A municipality's shelter-in-place protocol is MOST appropriate for which type of emergency?
- Imminent wildfire approaching the urban interface
- Hazardous material release with outdoor air contamination (Correct answer)
- Rapidly rising floodwaters threatening low-lying areas
- Structural fire in a densely populated district
Correct answer: Hazardous material release with outdoor air contamination
Shelter-in-place directs residents to stay indoors with windows sealed to avoid exposure to outdoor airborne hazards such as chemical releases.
Question 4: In emergency management, 'functional needs' refers to which population segment?
- Municipal employees with emergency response training
- Individuals who need assistance due to disability, age, or language barriers during emergencies (Correct answer)
- Commercial businesses requiring special permits to operate during disasters
- First responders with specialized technical training
Correct answer: Individuals who need assistance due to disability, age, or language barriers during emergencies
Functional needs populations include individuals who may need additional assistance before, during, and after a disaster due to physical, sensory, cognitive, or language-related needs.
Question 5: The Resource Typing System under NIMS helps jurisdictions by:
- Categorizing responders by their seniority level
- Standardizing resource descriptions to facilitate mutual aid requests (Correct answer)
- Determining which agencies receive federal reimbursement
- Establishing pay scales for emergency personnel
Correct answer: Standardizing resource descriptions to facilitate mutual aid requests
Resource typing classifies personnel, teams, and equipment into standardized categories so jurisdictions can request and receive exactly what they need during mutual aid.
Question 6: After a major disaster, the FEMA Public Assistance Program reimburses local governments primarily for:
- Economic losses sustained by local businesses
- Debris removal, emergency protective measures, and infrastructure repair (Correct answer)
- Lost tax revenue during the recovery period
- Wages of all local government employees during the event
Correct answer: Debris removal, emergency protective measures, and infrastructure repair
FEMA's Public Assistance Program provides grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and restoration of disaster-damaged public infrastructure.
Question 7: A Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) is best described as:
- A post-incident report completed after every major emergency
- A standardized process to identify threats, assess risks, and define capability targets (Correct answer)
- A mutual aid agreement template used between jurisdictions
- A federal audit of local emergency management compliance
Correct answer: A standardized process to identify threats, assess risks, and define capability targets
THIRA is a FEMA-required community risk assessment process that helps jurisdictions set capability targets and identify resource gaps.
CMM Emergency Management & Preparedness 4
When a jurisdiction declares a local state of emergency, what authority does this typically grant a municipal manager?