Essay - New York State Firefighting History Table of Contents - Overview...

New York State Firefighting History

***** of Contents - Overview

1. Thesis statement: New York State firefighting history is a microcosm of early and modern disaster preparedness.

2. Definition of ***** in the historic era ***** modern era.

3. Early *****al facts.

4. The need for un*****terrupted communication.

5. Response to needs.

6. Advent ***** the Internet.

*****. ***** *****, new responses.

8. Worthiness of Disaster Recovery and Contingency Plans ***** keeping communications flowing smoothly.

*****. Conclusion: The overall importance of communication.

***** firefighting department of New York City, generally considered to be ***** first ***** organized efforts to combat community disasters, can be seen as a microcosm of the country, reflecting ***** impact that information technology h***** had on disaster recovery and contingency plans. While the technological growth and development might have ********** gradual during the initial stages, growth has now matured into a state of extraordinary sophistication.

Because disasters - whether confined to a single individual or felt by an entire community - are by definition chaotic and confusing, the timely transmittal of pertinent information is of key *****. Three types of d*****aster ***** generally recognized: natural disasters such as floods, fires ***** earthquakes, human-caused disasters, and political disasters including riots. Constant review and improvement ***** not only the collection of input, but also the response following a crisis h*****ve been important methods of monitoring disasters ***** improving ***** measures and recovery efforts. With the advent ***** the Internet and the World Wide Web, a new and different area of concern has come about in the face ***** *****.

***** with ***** colonization of America, as soon ***** people began utilizing the land's timber resources to build *****ir lodging structures, the problem ***** dealing with resulting ***** was a real one that demanded attention. Among the earliest of recorded disasters due ***** fire ***** one ***** occurred in Jamestown, Virg*****ia in 1608. Because ***** people were completely without even the simplest forms of ********** and technology, ***** emergency could not be adequately address. By the time the fire was finally quelled, it had destroyed most of the Colonists' provisions as well ***** their lodging, thus leaving them ***** food or shelter ***** the harsh winter months.

Forty years later, Peter Stuyvesant, Governor ***** what was once called New Amsterdam, and is now k*****n as New York, established the first organized ***** team in America. The ***** in 1648 consisted of four men and their buckets. Their method ***** relaying information w***** lim*****ed to wooden rattles that were sounded as alarms, and shouts to rouse the citizens (PBS). ***** their methods of dealing with disaster would appear to be extremely antiquated by today's standards, the people were, never*****less, addressing the issue ***** remains key to the success of human life and community life: communication.

The four firefighters appointed by Stuyvesant were charged with various responsibilities in order ***** help thwart potential disasters, including inspecting chimneys, levying fines against citizens who violated the area's Fire Ordinance rules, ***** patrolling the