Emergency and Disaster Response is an essential aspect of emergency preparedness. This article outlines some principles that can help a community plan for disasters. It also discusses the organizational structure and responsibilities of emergency organizations.
Principles of Community Emergency Planning
Community emergency planning is an essential avenue for community preparedness. It involves analyzing the community’s hazards, developing a plan, and developing performance skills to assist the community during an emergency. The process varies widely across communities and may be formalized or informal. Some communities may assign responsibility for planning to one office, while others may divide planning among several agencies.
Community emergency planning should work with disaster response companies to prepare for disasters and respond to them. This is because disaster preparedness and emergency response go hand in hand. The former involves reducing risk and damage to properties and the environment, while disaster recovery consists in restoring the community to its pre-disaster condition.
Community emergency planning should take into account the unique characteristics of each community. By focusing on the core features of a community, emergency managers can better understand what makes it successful and implement policies and practices that build on those characteristics. Moreover, this approach helps local governments to strengthen their resilience and prepare for emergencies.
Organizational Structure
Emergency and disaster response is a complex task. This is where an organizational structure comes in. A response organization is composed of several levels, or supervisors, each with a varying span of control. One level of the organization is known as an incident commander and directs response activities throughout an emergency. Another level is a unified command, where multiple incident commanders work together under one control.
The organization structure for emergency and disaster response includes the following key elements. First is the planning and intelligence section, which focuses on analyzing and evaluating disaster information. It also focuses on developing specialized technical assessments of events. Second, the logistics section is responsible for procuring supplies, personnel, and material support. Finally, there is the finance and administration section, which handles documentation and finances.
The organization’s structure should guide response rather than hinder it. Since the demands of specific incidents cannot be predicted with complete accuracy, emergency managers must ensure that they have enough guidance to guide their efforts and provide sufficient freedom for field response personnel to take the initiative. For this reason, organizations should strive to avoid implementing too rigid or intricate plans because they often fail miserably in the field.
Responsibilities
In any emergency and disaster response, responsibilities must be defined to ensure everyone has the information they need during an emergency. This includes defining roles for internal and external agencies and ensuring everyone knows what they are responsible for during an emergency or disaster. In addition, all emergency personnel should have contact information readily available to ensure they are open to responding to calls and assisting. It is also necessary to define who is considered essential service staff to provide consistent coverage during an emergency. Another critical step is to explain a standard communication process. Ideally, this includes landline phones, cell phones, and radios so that all parties can access a standard communication method.
Emergency personnel should know how to control access to the emergency area and keep people away from hazardous areas. They should also understand building utility controls, including ventilation, sanitary systems, and emergency power supplies. Emergency personnel should also know how to operate security systems, which include fire suppression systems and pollution control and containment systems.
Resources
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a range of resources for public health professionals and disaster relief volunteers. You can also follow their social media channels to stay up-to-date on the latest news regarding emergencies. CDC’s disaster preparedness and response resources also include information on how to apply for disaster assistance.
These resources will help you better understand what to do during a disaster. The Field Guide to Emergency Response contains step-by-step procedures tailored to the type of disaster. It features a disaster response wheel and provides vital information about how to respond to disasters. You can also find a poster that outlines essential advice for your staff.
The Guide to Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies will help states and territories plan for disasters and develop recovery capabilities. The guide guides the organizational framework needed for comprehensive recovery efforts. The guide also provides best practices for establishing BEOCs and P3, which are both essential for human health and economic security.
