Are local authorities better placed to respond to crises and disasters than central government?

Essay from the year 2013 in the subject Sociology - Methodology and Methods, language: English, abstract: When crisis looms or disaster strikes, adverse effects that affect a community or a nation are likely to emerge. To reverse these adverse effects to health, safety and property and restore the community back to routine functioning a swift and unencumbered response is required. Few would doubt that especially in times of crisis and disaster, central government is responsible for protection of life and property, and has a duty to provide for the protection of its citizens. However, O'Leary (2004: 1) points out the importance of local authorities in this process stating that virtually all disasters are experienced at the local level, where many communities and emergency response services can expect to be on their own for the first seventy-two hours after impact.