Minimizing the Impact of a Natural Disaster - The Risk Mitigation Research Paper

Minimizing the Impact of a Natural Disaster - The Risk Mitigation Phase - Research Paper Example While FEMA and other government agencies will aid in the response and recovery phases of the disaster, the planning and initial response will largely be a function of local officials. The need for response and recovery can be greatly reduced by adequate planning and risk mitigation. The emergency planning manager will need to be highly skilled in a wide variety of disciplines to be effective. They will need intense knowledge in fields as diverse as geology, political science, and social theory. The purpose of this paper is to better prepare the disaster manager by examining the steps necessary to implement a risk mitigation program and what role it has in the planning for and responding to a natural disaster. Planning for, and responding to, a natural disaster will differ considerably from a man-made disaster. Natural disasters are somewhat predictable and foreseeable, happen based on natural patterns, and their effects can be anticipated. Typical disaster planning and response include the phases of risk assessment, mitigation, planning, response, and recovery. However, natural disasters tend to be overlooked when budgets are tight, the weather is clear, and there has not been a disaster in recent memory. The type and severity of disaster exposure will vary depending upon the geographical location and time of year. Communities may be exposed to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, volcanoes, or floods. Recent construction sites may be prone to landslides, erosion, and runoff. These threats are often neglected as "the core concept of risk arising from natural hazards is not a fundamental mode of thinking or discourse for policymaking, and in addition is greatly overshadowed nowadays by the issue of terrorism" (Basher, 2008, p.938).  

Why Would You Decide to Use an Online Dating Site Factors That Lead to Article

Why Would You Decide to Use an Online Dating Site Factors That Lead to Online Dating - Article Example Online dating is a Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). This paper seeks to conduct a study that would unearth factors contributing to online dating. Several significant studies have been conducted to determine factors leading to online dating. Kang and Hoffman based their analysis on a study conducted by Pew Internet and American Life Project. The model used by Pew Internet and American Life Project studied individuals from age bracket 18-95 years old, their level of education ranged from 1-7 years after high school. Additionally, 54.3 of the respondents were women. On the other hand, the study by Kang and Hoffman which sought to find out factors that predict usage of online dating and based hyperpersonal CMC as its theoritical framework, tested six variables; age, sex, education, trust, total number of tasks that a person does on the internet and perceived reliability of the internet. Results showed that several significant factors played fundamental roles in predicting the likelihood of an individual to use online dating module; Several literatures demonstrates trust as a significant factor in determining online dating. Honesty poses a major problem in the online dating realm since many individuals assume that others are giving inaccurate information about themselves. Kang and Hoffman argue that individuals who generally trust others may also trust those they meet through the internet. Sex factor is a determinant of online dating; results showed that women use online dating than men. Exposure to the internet also predicts internet usage, since determines the number of tasks an individual performs on the internet. For instance, graduate students respond with tremendous positive attitudes in creating online relationships than undergraduate students who comfortably use internet for other purposes.