Discussion
Introduction
As the new emergency manager several items of business will be addressed at the agency level to
properly initiate an effective response and recovery plan to emergency incidents. These changes will be
categorized within the following functional areas: planning, resources, and budgeting.
Planning
The planning phase of the response and recovery component to emergency incidents will include agency
wide and intra agency training for all personnel in regards to proper procedures for an appropriate
response following the Integrated Attack, Active Response model. Agency members and cooperating
outside agencies will understand the procedures for appropriate communication protocols involving
commonality of radio frequency and emergency phone line location and numbers.
Agency members will also be trained in basic self-aid and buddy-aid procedures and will operate off of
the premise that the preservation of life is the top priority for all members.
The next item of planning a response and recovery of an emergency incident will be the creation of an
emergency call-up roster. All members will be allocated to a emergency staffing rosters, such that twelve
hour shifts (7 days per week) will be initiated. This would be created in a format such that day shift
members will remain on day shift, night shift members will remain on night shift, and evening shift
members will be divided amongst the twelve hours of day shifts and the twelve hours of night shift. This
allows for maximum personnel allocation in times of emergencies. The pre-planning of this allows for
limited confusion will emergency staffing is needed at a moments notice.
Emergency staging areas will also be predetermined based upon areas of town affected by emergency.
Reponses locations for city personnel will be pre-planned to eliminate confusion during high stress
incidents. City-wide email systems will be utilized to communicate effectively with all participating
personnel. Instructional communication and emergency operations directives will be disseminated by
the pre-planned emergency command center of which agency heads will be at immediately upon
notification of an emergency.
Resources
Resources including food and water will be pre-allocated to various areas of the city to be dispersed
appropriately without delay. Additional requests for resources will be made directly to the emergency
command center for dispersal. As the leader of emergency management, I will take it upon myself to
negotiate the cooperation of community businesses and federal partners in the realm of resource
donation and purchase. This will be a top priority, as resources tend to run short in an emergency event.
Resources to cooperating organizations in the emergency will be dispersed via the emergency command
center via divisional operation centers such as police and fire stations. Resources to the public will be
dispersed at large public gathering arenas such as community centers and sporting arenas. These
resources will be allocated immediately and without delay. Appropriate staffing of these facilities is to be
pre-determined to avoid confusion and delayed response.
Notification of resource allocation to city personnel is to be disseminated via departmental email
systems via the emergency command center. Notification of resource allocation to the public is to be
disseminated via social media and local news outlets. A pre-planning meeting between city public
information offices and local media outlets will occur to set up points of communication between the
media and the city so that the public can stay informed.
Budgeting
Budgeting for emergency management comes from a variety of sources. The first line of finances will
come from the city general fund. A meeting with the mayor and city counsel should occur to discuss the
history of emergencies and historic pitfalls of them in the city. Financial allocation should occur from the
city’s general fund and be approved by city counsel with mayoral support.
Understanding that money from the city is limited, city legal officials will discuss the process of federal
and state financial reimbursement during times of a declared disaster (McCarthy, 2010). Oftentimes,
when a disaster is declared, it entails the financial assistance of a larger governmental entity. City and
departmental financial staff members will keep strict records of costs pertaining to overtime staffing and
tangible resources. These documents, including receipts and overtime forms, will be collected and
provided to financial representatives of whom should be present at the emergency command center. A
request for reimbursement will be filed to the state and federal government when and where
appropriate.
The last means of financial support should come from participating members and businesses of the
community. The management of an emergency event is a community effort. Various community
businesses and members should be brought to the table to discuss what support they would be willing
to pledge. This support can occur prior to or during an emergency, depending on the resource.
Biblical Perspective
The most important concept regarding the management of emergencies is the notion that it is a
collective effort by all aspects of the government and community. Ecclesiastes 4:9 teaches “When
individuals work together, they can double their strength and get much more done as a team. They also
reap the value of having worked in unison, thus creating harmony instead of disorder. Working as one
people begins with the efforts of each person, as they work with another person" (English Standard
Version Bible, 2001).
References
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online.
McCarthy, F. X. (2010). FEMA's disaster declaration process: A primer. DIANE Publishing.
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