Week 13: Emergency Management
State government responsibilities
The State emergency management office is responsible for protecting communities and citizens within the State. The State office carries out statewide emergency management activities, helps coordinate emergency management activities involving more than one community, or assists individual communities when they need help. If any community lacks the resources needed to protect itself or to recover from a disaster, the State may help with money, personnel, or other resources. Financial assistance is available on a supplemental basis through an application process. The Governor reviews the local government's application, studies the damage estimates and, if appropriate, declares the area a State disaster. This official declaration makes State resources available. However, if damages are so extensive that the combined local and State resources are not sufficient, the Governor applies to the President for Federal disaster assistance. If the need for Federal assistance funds is justified, the President issues a major disaster declaration and Federal resources are made available. This system ensures that the State and Federal limited resources are used wisely and fairly, and the needs of disaster victims are met. State emergency management offices often have various names and procedures for operating. Titles commonly used include Emergency Management, Civil Defense, Civil Preparedness, and Disaster Services. In this text, the term emergency management is used to refer to these State offices. The State is the pivotal point between policy guidance and resources available at the Federal level and the implementation of comprehensive emergency management programs at the local level.
All types of hazards
There are many common features of technological and natural disasters and attack, suggesting that many of the same management strategies can apply to all emergencies.
Preparedness example
This phase includes developing plans for what to do, where to go, or who to call for help before an event occurs; actions that will improve your chances of successfully dealing with an emergency. For instance, posting emergency telephone numbers, holding disaster drills, and installing smoke detectors are all preparedness measures. Other examples include identifying where you would be able to shelter your animals in a disaster. You should also consider preparing a disaster kit with essential supplies for your family and animals.
Emergency management in the context of nursing
1. preparedness/Risk assessment 2. mitigation 3. response 4. recovery 5. evaluation and follow-through
Recovery
Recovering from an emergency Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following an emergency. Recovery includes getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs. Recovery activities take place after an emergency.
Response example
Your safety and well-being in an emergency depend on how prepared you are and on how you respond to a crisis. By being able to act responsibly and safely, you will be able to protect yourself, your family, others around you and your animals. Taking cover and holding tight in an earthquake, moving to the basement with your pets in a tornado, and safely leading horses away from a wildfire are examples of safe response. These actions can save lives. This is the actual implementation of the disaster plan. The best response plans use an: Incident Command System Are simple Are routinely practiced Are modified when improvements are needed Response activities need to be continually monitored and adjusted to the changing situation.
Goal of emergency management
to provide protection from all hazards for the citizens, properties, and governments within the United States. Effective emergency management includes a functional approach to all emergencies, cooperative planning, appropriate use of resources, and shared responsibilities among the three levels of government.
Federal government responsibilities
At the Federal level of government, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is involved in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities. FEMA helps the States in several ways. FEMA provides the following programs: Training programs and research information on the latest mitigation measures; Review and coordination of State emergency plans; Financial assistance; Flood insurance to individuals and businesses in communities that join the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Subsidies to State and local offices of emergency management for maintaining emergency management programs; Guidance and coordination for plans to warn and protect the nation in national security emergencies; and Coordination of services for disaster response and recovery activities. In addition, FEMA may provide supplemental resources when communities and States do not have sufficient resources to protect or assist their citizens, restore essential services that can get the local economy going again, and meet disaster-related needs of individuals. FEMA is your principal source of Federal assistance for education in disaster management. It provides a variety of training opportunities, including this course. Many of FEMA's courses are taught through your State emergency management agency. FEMA also provides classroom instruction and operates the National Emergency Training Center which offers higher level courses in emergency management.
Mission of NYS office of emergency management
For more than 50 years, the New York State Office of Emergency Management and its predecessor agencies have been responsible for coordinating the activities of all State agencies to protect New York's communities, the State's economic well-being, and the environment from natural and man-made disasters and emergencies. NYS OEM routinely assists local governments, voluntary organizations, and private industry through a variety of emergency management programs including hazard identification, loss prevention, planning, training, operational response to emergencies, technical support, and disaster recovery assistance.
Local government responsibilities
Identifying hazards and assessing their potential risk to the community. Determining the community's capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies. Identifying and employing methods to improve the community's emergency management capability through efficient use of resources, improved coordination, and cooperation with other communities and with the State and Federal governments. Establishing mitigation measures such as building codes, zoning ordinances, or land-use management programs. Developing and coordinating preparedness plans. Establishing warning systems. Stocking emergency supplies and equipment. Educating the public and training emergency personnel. Assessing damage caused by the emergency. Activating response plans and rescue operations. Ensuring that shelter and medical assistance are provided. Recovering from the emergency and helping citizens return to normal life as soon as possible.
voluntary agencies and organizations
One of the most important voluntary organizations in terms of disasters is the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, chartered by Congress and led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters. Each local chapter is responsible for providing disaster relief services in the community it serves. In large-scale disasters, volunteers from across the country may respond. The American Red Cross provides individuals and families with food, shelter, first aid, clothing, bedding, medicines and other services. Voluntary organizations like the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Mennonite Disaster Services, and other local church and civic organizations often help disaster victims by distributing food, medicine, and supplies, and by providing temporary shelter. Many voluntary organizations also conduct fund-raising drives to provide financial assistance to disaster victims.
Emergency management
Personal disaster preparedness is the first and most effective intervention to reduce the impact of disasters. The local government is responsible for emergency planning response and continued assessment of its ability to protect citizens and property within the community. In some States, there are several layers between the local and the State level. You must become familiar with your State's structure. The State government is responsible for assisting the communities within the State by reviewing plans and providing guidance. The State government also makes plans and assesses its capability to provide protection from large-scale, statewide disasters. A State will assist communities within the State that do not have adequate resources to protect themselves or to recover from disaster. The Federal government is responsible for assisting the States by reviewing plans, providing guidance, making plans and assessing their capability to provide protection from large-scale, nationwide disasters. It supplements State assistance when State and local resources are insufficient to complete recovery. In the event of a response to a Federally declared disaster, FEMA acts primarily in a coordinating role.
Preparedness/Risk Assessment
Requires the evaluation of the likelihood of emergencies or disasters for the specific institution. Issues to consider include: Weather patterns Geographical location Expectations related to public events and gatherings Age, condition, and location of the facility Industries in close proximity to the hospital The best disaster management plans are developed for an all-hazards approach and then have specific appendices for the events that are most likely to occur in the area. Each appendix will address those procedures that are unique for that incident. Risk assessment also includes an evaluation of staffing under various conditions. Hazard vulnerability assessments need to be reviewed at least on an annual basis. The emergency management plan may have to be revised and an appendix may have to be added for newly identified risks. This process then leads to the next phase of disaster management - mitigation.
Recovery example
After an emergency and once the immediate danger is over, your continued safety and well-being will depend on your ability to cope with rearranging your life and environment. During the recovery period, you must take care of yourself and your animals to prevent stress-related illnesses and excessive financial burdens. During recovery, you should also consider things to do that would lessen (mitigate) the effects of future disasters. The disaster is over and the facility attempts to return to usual operations. The disaster manager must be attuned not only to transitions in the operations of the organization, but to the staff as well. Surge and volunteer staff are no longer needed. Plans should be in place to provide debriefing and any needed support for those staff members who were exposed to traumatic experiences or worked for prolonged periods of time and simply may be exhausted. A tally is made of resources expended during the disaster response. This includes employee costs, supplies, equipment, and external resource reimbursement. This is important for planning and justification for future budgets.
Who does the NYS office of emergency management serve
All levels of government, non profit and volunteer organizations, private industry
An emergency life cycle
Disasters do not just appear one day — they exist throughout time and have a life cycle of occurrence. This cycle is matched by a series of management phases: establish strategies to mitigate hazards; prepare for and respond to emergencies; and recover from effects.
Evaluation and follow through
Every time an organization engages in a disaster response, whether as an exercise or in response to a real situation, an evaluation needs to be done. This formal evaluation is critical to determine what went well and what problems arose. The evaluation should be formal and include all organizations and agencies that participated in the response. Each organization, agency, and unit should examine its own performance includes what went well and what was problematic. Finally, all organizations involved should convene to evaluate interagency performance. A detailed list of recommendations for changes to the emergency response plan should be complied. This detailed list should take the form of an improvement plan including who, what, and when as well as what resources are required to implement the changes. A final report that includes the critique and the improvement plan should be made available to all staff, as their continued investment in continuous improvement of emergency preparedness and response is key to the organization's performance.
An emergency management partnership
Finding resources for disaster management requires a partnership among all levels of government (local, State, and Federal) and the private sector (business and industry, voluntary organizations, and the public). This approach also allows the disaster victims to contribute to emergency management solutions. Emergency managers and the animal-care community can collaborate in such a partnership.
Preparedness
Preparing to handle an emergency Includes plans or preparations made to save lives and to help response and rescue operations. Evacuation plans and stocking food and water are both examples of preparedness. Preparedness activities take place before an emergency occurs.
Core services of NYS office of emergency management
Public Safety, Planning, Training Programs, Exercise Programs, Recovery, Mitigation, Radiological Emergency Preparedness.
Response
Responding safely to an emergency Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation. Response is putting your preparedness plans into action. Seeking shelter from a tornado or turning off gas valves in an earthquake are both response activities. Response activities take place during an emergency.
Mitigation example
This phase includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the likelihood of occurrence, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable hazards. Mitigation activities should be considered long before an emergency. For example, to mitigate fire in your home, follow safety standards in selecting building materials, wiring, and appliances. But, an accident involving fire could happen. To protect yourself and your animals from the costly burden of rebuilding after a fire, you should buy fire insurance. These actions reduce the danger and damaging effects of fire. Includes all steps that are taken to lessen the impact of a disaster should one occur and are considered prevention measures. For healthcare facilities, examples of mitigation activities include: Installing, maintaining, and testing backup generator power to mitigate the effects of a power failure. Cross training staff to perform other tasks to maintain services during a staffing crisis due to a weather emergency. Provisions must exist to maintain adequate staffing to meet the needs of existing as well as incoming patients. Notifications protocols must be in place to communicate with staff.
Mitigation
Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects Includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Buying flood and fire insurance for your home is a mitigation activity. Mitigation activities take place before and after emergencies.
