Question

You have been assigned to a leadership post, running the Multiagency Coordination System for an Emergency Operations Center that has been set up in response to a category three hurricane strike. The disaster is widespread, and there has been a lot of competing requests for resources such as generators, law enforcement, food and water, as well as clothing.

When faced with these competing requests, how would you go about determining which to fulfill first?

What would be the main criteria for your decision?

How might you deal with any backlash created by those who you deemed lower on the priority list and – thus – did not initially receive resources?

Answer 1

Answer

Economics is all about allocation of scarce resources in such a manner that the needs and wants of maximum number of people is fulfilled in the best possible manner, leading to highest utility and minimum wastage.

Thus, in case of a natural disaster like a hurricane, the decision to allocate scarce resources at the earliest becomes even more a challenging. Resources like generators, law enforcement, food and water, as well as clothing are to be provided to the areas which are affected by the disaster.

If i was a part of the Multiagency Coordination System for an Emergency Operations Center and had to decide as to which are the resouces that i would first provide to the affected people, i would prefer providing food and water on priority basis. Thereafter, i would provide clothing, generators and law enforcement, in the order mentioned.

The main criteria for my decision would be to ensure that there is minimum fatality due to the diaster and thus, providing food and water would become my first responsibility. Life is the most important factor that should be kept in mind and therefore, protecting as many lives as possible would be my target.

Resources would reach some people early and others would receive late. The reasons could be distance, the extreme conditions, the urgency to reach out to a few before others are reached out etc.

Thus, we are bound to face backlash from those who are reached to a bit late than others. In order to deal with the backlash, a press conference by the Prime Minister/ PMO would be released which would provide the assurity that the disaster management team is going to make sure that resources are received by everyone. Nobody is being neglected. There would be assurance given to each and everyone that they would receive the required help at the earliest. It is only trust that would help the citizens to remain calm.