CPWM Emergency Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the 'span of control' principle in ICS emergency management?
- The geographic area an incident commander can oversee
- The optimal number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage (typically 3-7) (Correct answer)
- The legal authority granted to an incident commander
- The total resources deployed at an incident
Correct answer: The optimal number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage (typically 3-7)
Span of control in ICS refers to the manageable number of subordinates a supervisor can effectively oversee, with 3-7 being optimal and 1:5 being the ideal ratio.
Question 2: A city's water distribution system suffers major damage during an earthquake. Which continuity strategy should public works prioritize FIRST?
- Seeking federal funding for full system reconstruction
- Establishing emergency water distribution points while conducting damage assessments (Correct answer)
- Shutting down the entire system pending full inspection
- Issuing a boil water notice and resuming normal operations
Correct answer: Establishing emergency water distribution points while conducting damage assessments
Establishing emergency water distribution points ensures public health needs are met immediately while a systematic damage assessment is conducted.
Question 3: In the context of emergency management, what does 'mitigation' refer to?
- Actions taken during an emergency to save lives and protect property
- Long-term actions taken before a disaster to reduce risk and potential losses (Correct answer)
- Short-term recovery actions taken immediately after a disaster
- Coordination activities between agencies during an emergency
Correct answer: Long-term actions taken before a disaster to reduce risk and potential losses
Mitigation encompasses sustained actions taken before a disaster to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property.
Question 4: A public works department is developing a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). What should be identified FIRST?
- Alternate facility locations
- Mission-essential functions (MEFs) (Correct answer)
- Employee contact lists
- Equipment inventories
Correct answer: Mission-essential functions (MEFs)
Mission-essential functions must be identified first because they determine all other COOP elements, including staffing, facilities, and resources needed to sustain operations.
Question 5: During a declared disaster, a public works manager receives conflicting priorities from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and their department director. How should this conflict be resolved?
- Follow the EOC direction since it supersedes departmental authority during declared emergencies (Correct answer)
- Follow the department director since they have direct supervisory authority
- Seek guidance from FEMA directly
- Halt operations until the conflict is resolved through written directive
Correct answer: Follow the EOC direction since it supersedes departmental authority during declared emergencies
During a declared emergency with an activated EOC, the EOC typically assumes coordinating authority over departmental operations, and public works should follow EOC direction.
Question 6: What is 'right-of-entry' permission and why is it critical for debris removal operations?
- Federal authorization to close roads during debris clearing
- Written permission from private property owners allowing crews to enter and remove debris (Correct answer)
- State approval for using specific types of debris removal equipment
- Legal authority to commandeer private equipment during emergencies
Correct answer: Written permission from private property owners allowing crews to enter and remove debris
Right-of-entry agreements with private property owners are required before debris removal crews can legally access private property, and without them FEMA will not reimburse those removal costs.
Question 7: Which of the following is a key requirement for public works agencies to qualify for FEMA Public Assistance funding?
- The agency must be in a state that has declared its own emergency prior to the federal declaration
- The damage must result from the specific incident in the federal disaster declaration (Correct answer)
- The agency must have exhausted all reserve funds before applying
- Damages must exceed $1 million per incident to qualify
Correct answer: The damage must result from the specific incident in the federal disaster declaration
To be eligible for FEMA PA funding, the damage must be directly caused by the specific incident covered in the presidential major disaster declaration.
CPWM Emergency Management 3
Which of the following best describes the 'span of control' principle in ICS emergency management?