University Report: Emergency Preparedness in Bexar County, Texas

This report provides an analysis of emergency preparedness in Bexar County, Texas, specifically addressing the challenges posed by power blackouts or grid interruptions. The research examines preparedness in family homes, schools, and hospitals and assisted living facilities, highlighting the initiatives taken and the areas needing improvement. The report evaluates the student presenters' methodology, strong and weak points of the presentation, and offers recommendations for enhancement. It emphasizes the importance of a mandatory First Aid and Supply Checklist for schools and the need for more in-depth data analysis and visualization. Furthermore, the report concludes by discussing the application of systems thinking in addressing these issues and its relevance for problem-solving in the 21st century. References include research on climate change impacts on the electrical grid and related publications.

Running Head: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
Emergency preparedness in Bexar county Texas
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
Table of Contents
1. Discuss briefly the overall thesis of the presentation, the topic chosen and its coverage of the
research............................................................................................................................................2
2. How well did the student presenters define the focus of their topic and methodology used to
research the material?......................................................................................................................3
3. Discuss the presentation’s strong points (data, quality of research, the material discussed,
questions answered, the effectiveness of visuals, quality of data interpretation, clarity, ease of
presentation, etc.).............................................................................................................................3
4. Discuss the presentation’s weak points (data, quality of research, the material discussed,
questions answered, the effectiveness of visuals, quality of data interpretation, ease of
presentation, etc.),............................................................................................................................5
5. Then give a series of recommendations on how the overall presentation could be improved. If
there is data you know about that could help that team’s research, include it in your
recommendations.............................................................................................................................5
6. To conclude, discuss the systems thinking issues you have learned about this semester. How
will systems thinking help you in your life today and in the future? Especially as you have to
become a problem solver to survive in the XXI Century?..............................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

2EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
1. Discuss briefly the overall thesis of the presentation, the topic chosen and its coverage of
the research.
This specific research focuses on Emergency preparedness during Power blackout (or
grid interruption) in Bexar County, Texas. Texas has been making several steps to make sure that
they have the availability of the backup in case of emergency for which they have mainly
focused upon three of the objectives they are as:
 Family Homes- researched by Jessenia.
 Schools- researched by Theresa.
 Hospitals and Assisted Living- researched by Felipe.
Speaking in terms of the family homes, much of the initiative has been taken by the
concerning household sectors of the Texas economy; they make use of the past and previous
analysis of the situation to get ready for the future. This household sector comprises of the
children, elderly, disabled family members, and pets. The main motive is to seek ways that
families could utilize their time wisely before a power outage were to happen, to be prepared and
able to succeed in such a situation.
Speaking in terms of the school sector, power cut results in the lack of educational
activities such that the children are not able to focus on their studies. On the other hand, the
teacher is not able to impart the qualitative education that is required (Allen et al., 2014).
Speaking in terms of the Hospitals and Assisted Living, in case of the power-cut much of
the difficulties takes place for the doctors to carry out the required activity. Besides, in case of an
emergency, the doctors are not able to carry out the necessary set of job.

3EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
2. How well did the student presenters define the focus of their topic and methodology used
to research the material?
After much of the research, I found that many school systems in Bexar County have
limited their knowledge/attention on the topic by restricting their first aid and supply checklist to
fit other issues. Bexar County should create and issue a mandatory First Aid and Supply
Checklist to each school district for grid failures. Such a checklist would ensure that each school
in Bexar Country would be as equally prepared, adequately trained, and have enough knowledge
on what to do if a rolling blackout were to occur.
The student’s researched the critical analysis of the household sector and that of the
various areas. They made use of the primary as well as that of the secondary data, after having a
thorough analysis of the data it was found that the much of the improvement is required in terms
of the power cut failure. Besides the student even took examination using feedback from the
three major regions of the topic they are as Family Homes, Schools, and Hospitals and Assisted
Living.
Besides, the research was conducted by namely Jessenia for the Family Homes segment,
by Theresa for the schooling segment, and by Felipe for the Hospitals and Assisted Living.
3. Discuss the presentation’s strong points (data, quality of research, the material
discussed, questions answered, the effectiveness of visuals, quality of data interpretation,
clarity, ease of presentation, etc.)
A various set of questionnaires were address, some of them are as:
1. How every school has backup generators and more could be delivered.

4EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
2. CPS would work for hand in hand with the school officials, so communication goes
smoothly.
3. There is a warehouse with enough food and water for students in the case of a lack of
supplies.
4. Classes could be moved around to other classrooms with more natural lighting and better
airflow.
5. If temperatures were to get too hot, schools could use buses to transport students to other
nearby facilities.
6. The more schools impacted, the more likely of a shutdown. But besides that, classes would
most likely not end early due to transportation routes already set in place. Elementary gets
picked up/dropped off first, then middle school, then high school.
7. Each school in this district has assigned roles for staff in the case of an emergency. Ex.
School nurse and assistant, grab medications, AED’s, trauma kits, etc.
8. Mario Ward and his department have four meetings each school year with the Principal or
chosen official from each school and discuss safety measures and dangers.
Taking into consideration the nature of the questions, it seems like a thorough critical
analysis has been undertaken. Critical analysis regarding the upcoming temperature was
undertaken, and it was observed that “Temperatures reached 107 degrees in Del Rio, breaking a
more than the 50-year record, as historic heat extended across South Central Texas (McComb et
al., 2015), according to the National Weather Service. Scorching temperatures not only broke

5EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
that record, but it also set the monthly record high temperature for all of April. The high was 92
degrees in San Antonio, only 3 degrees off from the record of 95, also set in 1963.”
Besides, the use of the statistical data was undertaken and was observed that emergency
drug shortages increased by 435% in between the year of 2008, and that of 2014. University
Health System had a reduction of federal DSH funds of $2.8 million for the 2019 fiscal year. ⅓
of U.S. nursing homes have been cited for failing to inspect or test their generators in a
reasonable time frame.
4. Discuss the presentation’s weak points (data, quality of research, the material discussed,
questions answered, the effectiveness of visuals, quality of data interpretation, ease of
presentation, etc.),
The research fails to undertake the supervision, and that of the guidance of the external
party is the identification of future issues, and for the planning phase. On the other hand, there is
a lack of knowledge regarding the data report comparison. Comparison of the report is required
to be carried out. On the other hand, before undertaking the comparison of the report there is a
requirement for the possession of this specific report.
The quality of research is mediocre as much of the analysis has taken place, but the
research could have been much more in depth. The use of the feedback from that of the local
electrician authority body and that of the top authority body fails to exist.

6EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
5. Then give a series of recommendations on how the overall presentation could be
improved. If there is data you know about that could help that team’s research, include it
in your suggestions.
Thus it is being recommended that presentation can be much more efficient and effective
if the primary source of the data has been undertaken. On the other hand, the use of the data is
not specific; the point is required to be in more precise and in depth. The use of specific
visualization could have been made. The data obtained and recorded could have been used to
make statistical graphs, such that the dynamic changes within the uptrends and downtrends of the
graph could have helped in better understanding of the situations. The use of the trendy
innovational equipment’s fails to be used within the research. On the other hand, the research
could have been taken place in different perspective such that different methods could have yield
different outcomes. This distinct outcomes could have been compared with one another to
understand the different circumstances.
6. To conclude, discuss the systems thinking issues you have learned about this semester.
How will systems thinking help you in your life today and in the future? Especially as you
have to become a problem solver to survive in the XXI Century?
Thus, it is being concluded that the use of the various system approach could have been
undertaken in obtaining a better effective outcome. This obtained result could have been made
use by implementing it in our daily lives. Besides, the use of the system approach could have
been used to make life more convenient and ease in working.

7EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY TEXAS
References
Allen, M. R. (2014). Impacts of Climate Change on the Evolution of the Electrical Grid.
Allen, M. R., Fernandez, S. J., Fu, J. S., & Walker, K. A. (2014). Electricity demand evolution
driven by storm motivated population movement. J Geogr Nat Disast, 4(126), 2167-0587.
Cooke, C. N. (2017). Powering a City: How Energy and Big Dreams Transformed San Antonio.
Trinity University Press.
McComb, D. G. (2015). The City in Texas: A History. University of Texas Press.
SEN, L. E. (2017). Texas Public Safety Threat Overview.