Lessons from the 9/11 Attack: The Importance of Comprehensive Health and Compensation Planning
Overview
This journal entry reflects on the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act and the critical lessons learned from the September 11 attacks regarding emergency management and victim compensation. The author argues that the U.S. government's delayed implementation of comprehensive compensation plans resulted in preventable deaths and suffering, and emphasizes the importance of proper safeguards for first responders and disaster victims.
What this reflection paper covers
- Analysis of the 9/11 attack's exposure of gaps in U.S. disaster and emergency management planning
- Critique of congressional mishandling of compensation processes and lack of consideration for victims' trauma
- Discussion of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act as a corrective measure protecting first responders and affected individuals
Preview
Journal Entry: 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
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Submission Date Journal Entry: 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
The 9/11 attack revealed the importance of a comprehensive disaster and emergency management plan. The plan must include compensating victims and helping to bury people dying from the incident. Further, the plan must cover medical bills and the costs of counseling services for the survivors to recover from the trauma and stigma. During the attack, the United States, a developed and powerful nation, lacked a comprehensive plan to address such emergencies.
Another issue that emerged in the aftermath was the misunderstandings on the compensation plans to the attack victims. Congress acted carelessly in processing the bills to ensure victims are compensated. There was no consideration of the victims' traumatic experience, including volunteers involved in rescuing others. PresidentTrump's administration undertook what the previous regimes never implemented to compensate the victims for the rest of their lives.
Another key lesson is how politicians take advantage of such situations to promote themselves. This should never happen because it hurts innocent people. James Zadroga died due to the effects of the 9/11 attack (Walter, 2011). If early administrations implemented the compensation plan, there would be chances for him to survive. Similarly, others who have succumbed to the effects of the attack would live longer. Through the implementation of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, individuals who responded to the attack and suffered illnesses as a result would get compensation.