Comprehensive Emergency Management Programs

Introduction

Emergency management is defined as "a process to reduce loss of life and property and to protect assets from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery." An Emergency Plan is simply documentation of the elements in the program.

A comprehensive emergency management program encompasses all hazards and all related planning areas including emergency and disaster planning and preparedness, hazard identification and mitigation, emergency response, disaster recovery, business continuity and resumption, crisis management, continuity of operations, and related areas. Good emergency management is required for day-to-day disruptions as well as managing response to and recovery from disasters. A sound program is needed to enable a business to deal with any emergency.

An Emergency Management Program is an overarching process that includes mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. A good program is essential if you want to stay in business during and after an emergency. 

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. 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 although 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.  FEMA has some useful information on emergency preparedness on their web site.

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.

Incident Command System

The Incident Command System (ICS) provides a management structure and system for conducting on-site operations. It is applicable to small scale daily operational activities as well as major mobilizations. ICS, provides command center and operational staff with a standardized operational structure and common terminology.  Because of this, ICS provides a useful and flexible management system that is particularly adaptable to incidents involving multi-jurisdictional or multi-disciplinary responses. ICS provides the flexibility needed to rapidly activate and establish an organizational format around the functions that need to be performed.

See a white paper on the ICS in Word format.

Emergency Management Consulting

All Hands Emergency Management Consulting and Training Services offers seasoned consultants who provide business continuity consulting, emergency planning and training, crisis management, threat assessments, contingency planning, and operational response services. 

All Hands is a consortium of emergency management and business  continuity firms and independent consultants and planners 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.

Services provided include:

• Command Center Software Selection and Implementation 

• Hazard Vulnerability Assessments

• Development of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

• Design Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Develop EOC Organization, EOC Manual, and Staff Action Guides for each EOC Position

• Development of Field Operating Guides (FOGs) for Disaster Responders

• Emergency Management Program Review

• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Review

• Development of Local Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Plan and Procedures

• Damage Assessment Plan and Implementation Procedures

• Training, Exercises and Drills

Emergency Management Mail List

We moderate the "Emergency Management Discussion List."  This list is intended to foster open communications among Emergency Managers and their related professionals. The list is open to all interested parties but is intended for emergency management professionals, risk managers, disaster specialists, fire/rescue and law enforcement personnel, emergency management consultants, safety experts, preparedness professionals, and related software vendors and other professions.

You may subscribe to the list here. 

Pages

Event Management 
Command Center Operations 
Incident Command System (ICS) - white paper in Word format.

Sample Emergency Management Plans

Emergency Plans and Forms (Texas)

The Emergency Manager's Toolbox

Sample Emergency Management Plans (New York)

Sample Emergency Plans (Wisconsin)

Emergency Management Plans (Austin, TX)

Emergency Management Plans (City University, London)

Emergency Management Planning Handbook

Sample Press Releases for Emergencies (Florida)

Sites

Development of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

Maptech MapServer - great topographical maps for any location. 

Emergency Net - 24 Hour News, Information, Analysis and Coverage of Disasters and Major Emergency Events.

GEMINI - The Global Emergency Management Information Network

Bioterrorism: Threats and Events

The Natural Hazards Center

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.  -  provides technical assistance, planning and training to educational institutions, emergency response organizations, business and industry, and local, state, federal, and foreign government agencies.

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