Comprehensive Emergency Management Programs

Introduction

A comprehensive emergency management program encompasses all hazards and all phases of related planning including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.  This includes business continuity, emergency and disaster planning, as well as all of the related specialty areas such as hazard identification and mitigation, emergency response, disaster recovery, business resumption, crisis management, and continuity of operations to name a few. 

Comprehensive Emergency Management deals with day-to-day disruptions as well as managing response to, and recovery from, major disasters. A comprehensive program will enable both governments and businesses to deal with any emergency thus protecting the entire community. 

Definition of Comprehensive Emergency Management

Comprehensive Emergency Management is a poorly understood term.  It is generally defined to be a broad process aimed at the reduction of loss of life and property and the protection of assets from all types of hazards through a risk-based program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. When properly implemented, CEM includes many of the related activities included in specialty areas such as business continuity and disaster recovery.

Definitions:

Comprehensive Emergency Management (CEM): An integrated approach to the management of emergency programs and activities for all four emergency phases (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery), for all types of emergencies and disasters (natural, man-made, and attack), and for all levels of government and the private sector.

Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEM Plan): Contains policies, authorities, concept of operations, legal constraints, responsibilities, and emergency functions to be performed. Agency response plans, responder SOPs, and specific incident action plans are developed from this strategic document.

Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP): Provides the framework for development, coordination, control, and direction of all CEM planning, preparedness, readiness assurance, response, and recovery actions

What's an Emergency?

An emergency is any unplanned event that can cause deaths or significant injuries; or that can shut down your business, disrupt operations, cause physical or environmental damage, or threaten the reputation or revenue. There are many but these generally include:

1.  Fire
2.  Hazardous materials incident
3.  Flood or flash flood
4.  Hurricane
5.  Tornado
6.  Winter storm
7.  Earthquake
8.  Communications failure
9.  Radiological accident
10. Civil disturbance
11. Loss of key supplier or customer
12. Explosion
13. Biological agent release (bioterrorism)

A "disaster" is a large-scale emergency -- even a small emergency left unmanaged may turn into a disaster. 

Emergency Management Steps

Any emergency management initiative must start with an inventory of risks and an assessment of the exposure form these risks. Infrastructure issues will likely be seen as the ones that present the most risk.  The key steps in emergency management are:

• Mitigation

• Preparedness

• Response

• Recovery

Mitigation is defined as "sustained action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects."  Mitigation is the ongoing effort to lessen the impact disasters may have on people and property.  Mitigation involves such activities as avoiding construction in high-risk areas such as floodplains, engineering buildings to withstand wind and earthquakes, and more.

Preparedness is simply preparing for an emergency before it occurs.  Obviously, it is important to not just plan, but to prepare as well.  The key to effective emergency management is being ready to provide a rapid emergency response.  Being ready includes training and exercises as well as logistics.  Government agencies at all levels have an obligation to prepare themselves and the public for emergencies.  Community groups, service providers, businesses, civic and volunteer groups, are all partners in this effort.  Everyone needs to be prepared.

Response includes the action of responding to an emergency.  Trained and equipped personnel will be required to deal with any emergency situation.

Recovery is the process of returning to normal.  Salvage, resumption of business processes, and repair are typical recovery tasks.

Emergency Management Consulting

All Hands Emergency Management Consulting and Training Services offers seasoned consultants who provide comprehensive emergency management services.  All Hands is a consortium of emergency management and business  continuity firms and independent consultants working together to provide a unique outsourcing resource for both public and private sector organizations. We have forged strategic partnerships with a number of firms to provide a full array of services.

All Hands provides CEMP support based on a comprehensive collection of experts and services that address all program elements. Our program is based on current industry standards and best practices. The CEMP builds upon the NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, FEMA’s Criteria For Business Recovery, and FEMA’s Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry.

All Hands Consulting provides consulting and training services in the following areas.

Emergency Management
Business Continuity
Disaster Recovery
Readiness Assessment
Emergency Response
Mitigation Planning
Threat Assessments
Search and Rescue
Command Center Operations
Risk Assessment
Crisis Management
Security
Investigations
Anti-Terrorism Training
Information Systems Selection and Implementation
Policy and Procedure Development
Training, Exercises, and Drills
Workplace and School Violence

Pages

Event Management 
Virtual Emergency Operations Centers
Command Center Operations 

Sites

PPBI Glossary - this combined glossary of disaster recovery, business continuity and emergency management terms has been created as a first step towards forging a common language that will represent and unite the private and public sectors.

Bioterrorism: Threats and Events

The Natural Hazards Center, located at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA, is a national and international clearinghouse for information on natural hazards and human adjustments to hazards and disasters.

The Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association

Organizations

International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)

National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Emergency Management Institute  

ERI International Inc.  -  in the forefront of CEM from the beginning, ERI provides technical assistance, planning and training for Comprehensive Emergency Management Programs.

Preparedness Center -  Disaster preparedness and emergency management, training and exercises for business, government and industry. Hazardous materials emergencies, catastrophic disaster preparedness, security, counter-terrorism preparedness and exercises

University of Wisconsin - Disaster Management Center

Emergency Planning and Management: Ensuring Your Company's Survival in the Event of a Disaster

Avoiding Disaster: How to Keep Your Business Going When Catastrophe Strikes By John Laye. Five stars! A must read for everyone who wants to ensure the protection and the continuity of their business.

Emergency Management Planning Handbook - This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to emergency management planning in the manufacturing, process, and service industries. It shows managers how to develop and maintain effective emergency management plans for all major hazards, and describes what various companies are going to implement programs. 

Emergency Planning on the Internet

See more book and products about risk management, computer security, business continuity, and emergency management