| What is Emergency Management? To some, it is a disciple, to others, a process. I look at emergency management as a process, under the elected leadership, where communities manage complex emergencies and disasters. It is that ability to manage these events that separates emergency management from respond organizations. Fire, Law Enforcement, EMS, even Public Works are the subject matter experts in their fields. But they rarely work daily as teams in dealing with complex events. Nor do they generally work with the elected leadership of a community in their daily responses. Emergency Management (EM) is based on the concept of local disaster management supported by higher levels of Government to include State and Federal assistance when needed. EM recognizes that disasters are cyclic through phases. Those phases include preparing for disasters through training, exercises, planning, and public education to name a few preparedness activities. If disaster occurs, responding to the event and managing the immediate effects on the community. After the emergency phase has passed, often even during, recovery begins, the task of returning a community to the pre-disaster state that may take years. Reducing or eliminating impacts of hazards is a constant goal of EM though mitigation programs. A new phase of prevention has taken a more prominent role in the U.S. after September 11, 2001. From terrorism to disease outbreaks, prevention can involve intelligence, surveillance and detection, and even vaccinations. The job of Emergency Management is to improve the outcome of a disaster. These outcomes can be measured in lives saved, fewer injuries, reduced damages, decreased disruptions, shorter recovery time, to name a few. If we do not improve the outcome of a disaster, then we have failed. Warning Basics the event must be detected. nthe decision to warn the public must be made. nthe public must receive and understand the warning. nthe public must have somewhere safe to go to or action to take nthe public must act.
Unless we improve the outcome of an event, the system has failed |
• The public has a right to knowledge - so that they can
make an informed choice - on how to respond to
threats to their community. | Sometimes the obvious is the best response, over the years, these truths have kept me focused on the mission. With everything that can go wrong going wrong, usually at the same time, it helps to remember what's important and what's not. The Rules - Meet the needs of the disaster survivors
- Take care of the responders
- See rule 1.
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There is always much more that needs to be done, but these standing orders make sure you get started on the basics. Standing Orders Reestablish Communication with Areas Impacted 2.Initiate Search and Rescue /Security 3.Meet Basic Human Needs - 1.Medical
- 2.Water
- 3.Food
- 4.Shelter
- Emergency Fuel
- 5.Ice is a distant sixth (Unless its really hot)
4.Restore Critical Infrastructure 5.Open Schools / Local Businesses 6.Begin the Recovery
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While this seems an over simplification of a disaster, it helps when everything is needed yesterday and you have run out of options. There is also a big difference between needs and wants. Many times we get wrapped up over the public wants (money, ice, etc) and needs (shelter, water, basic medical care, etc.) Evacuation Basics - •Threat
- Protective Action Required
- Decision
- Warning
- Evacuation
- Sheltering
- Re-entry
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If you order an evacuation, start planning for the re-entry. What conditions will be required for the return of the residents. Disaster Response - Cost-effective
- Free of mistakes
- Timely
Pick One |
| Disaster Operating Environment - New Players in Unfamiliar Roles
- Heavy Information Demands
- Politically Sensitive Issues
- Changing Requirements
- Rapid Decisions
- Degraded Communications
- Unforeseen Consequences
- Public Affairs Priorities
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Then there is always the question of what is a disaster... How to Tell a Disaster From an Emergency
Disaster Emergency |
Is America becoming a nation of victims, will you and your family be next? The USA spends millions on preparing for disasters and billions responding and rebuilding after. Yet the cost of disasters continues to grow and lives are still disrupted. Part of the problem can be traced to the lack of preparedness on the part of the public. While most emergency management systems are based on government structures and how they will respond, the public still is unprepared even for the most basic impacts of common community threats. The case for moving towards community based emergency management rather than government base will require a change in public behavior, one that make take years. Use a Sledgehammer It rarely pays to be subtle. It’s better to have too much than
not enough. Push resources into the affected
area. Don’t wait for requests. A quick and overwhelming response
is better than a well-planned and well thought out response. If you wait until you have all the
facts, it becomes harder to change the outcome.
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